Valentine Handkerchief Card

Welcome fellow Georgettes to our St Valentines Day swap as suggested by @FairyDuster53

The use of the practical handkerchief was a vital accessory in the Georgian Regency era. Lace was a vital ingredient in the well mannered society and its original measurements were a fine linen centre square of around 6 inches surrounded by deep handmade lace to equal a 25 inches square or larger. Remember the paintings of the 18th C where the gentlemen hold a lace edged handkerchief rather foppishly? These magnificently expensive lace articles gradually dwindled down in favour of less lace width & more practicality over the next century to our current humble 9" ladies or 12" mens, handkerchief of todays standards.

During our period of focus embroidery by the maker was a typical "At Home" pursuit and many a lady worked on her latest design in seed stitch or bullion, when ever she had company or was 'the' topic if visited friends or family. Jane Austen was a keen embroiderer and her niece Fanny shared the letters her aunt wrote to her about her latest kerchief she was working on, especially proud of her full satin stitched flowers and fine beads of stitched bars.

For this swap we will seek out a Vintage delicate handkerchief that emulates the gentle work period. Op shops/Thrift stores are a good place. Either purchase or make a 3 fold blank card .... upon the third area inside - Write a sweet sonnet or poetry verse of Valentine yore for your partner. and send by the send date. to decorate you may then proceed with a following idea or come up with your own....

A) with a window, perhaps in a heart shape. Place the vintage hanky behind the window or softly pad the heart shape from behind etc. and close.

B) For those that have the knack you might incorporate the hanky into into a ladies skirt with a painted torso above. or into a parasol

C) You may choose to set the hanky as a table cloth with a paper jug or cup and saucer attached to a window border to appear as though sitting on a table.

Please join us for this delightful swap, and again thankyou to Beth for coming up with the idea. xx

Remember THE THICKNESS will encumber a HIGHER POSTAGE RATE regardless of its envelopes size or weight! Be mindful of this if you do not frequent the post office. Usually though our swaps are quite flat and light.