Tea at Trianon: Tea Towels

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Tea Towels

My friend Karen has simple instructions on how to make the lovely tea towels, placemats and napkins. Share

8 comments:

Lindsay said...: Thanks for sharing! I have those very towels, and the idea to add a motif is just perfect!; January 23, 2010 at 9:33:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Karen has loads of creative ideas. Things I would never think of in a million years.; January 23, 2010 at 9:39:00 AM EST
Anonymous said...: I love those! And, she's right, the real ones are expensive.
I'm going to try this.
Thanks for the link, Elena!; January 23, 2010 at 10:25:00 AM EST
tubbs said...: Reminds me of my german grandmother, who used grain sacks for everything. I especially remember the pillows on my parents' bed ( wedding gift from her ) stuffed with goose down. Those pillows held up for oveer thirty years!

But ladies, I've always wanted to know, WHAT THE H$%# IS A TEA-TOWEL?; January 23, 2010 at 11:08:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: You are welcome, Susan.

Tubbs, they are just dish towels but a little nicer, and better for company.; January 23, 2010 at 11:42:00 AM EST
Anonymous said...: What a clever idea--and so simple!! I really want to do this. I am thinking the same technique could be used for applique of any graphic onto any fabric item. The possibilities are endless!

Thanks for posting this :); January 24, 2010 at 6:49:00 PM EST
Tristan Robin said...: These look terrific.

Another idea: I have put tea towels through the computer and printed graphics of crowns on them.

All you have to do is iron your fabric to a piece of freezer paper, and it will feed right through your computer.

Of course, you have to use Dura Brite (or some other dye-based) ink, or it will wash out.; January 24, 2010 at 8:02:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: You are welcome, Gette!

Thank you, Tristan, that is so brilliant and yet it sounds simple to create!; January 24, 2010 at 8:07:00 PM EST