Beaded Peacock scarf

I work in an opportunity shop in Eltham, one day a week.  Today this scarf was in a box of donated clothes, and the manager brought it out to show me.  Talk about being in the right place at the right time!  I'm sure if I hadn't been there today, and the scarf had been put out on the shelves, it would have been snapped up by a customer!

This blog is still active - just quiet!

I hope my readers understand that the reason I haven't posted anything on here for so long is simply because I haven't found any more embroidered peacocks since I last posted.  I still haven't, but I just wanted to tell you something....I've been invited by the Embroiderers Guild (Vic) to give a talk about my Peacocks collection!  It will be at their monthly meeting in June.  I've been wanting for a long time to do a talk about this particular facet of my linen collection, and here is my chance!  Now I have to decide which items to take along to display, as I won't be able to fit them all in.   I'll have about 40 minutes to present my talk, and there are large display boards where the embroideries can be pinned up.  Once I've made up my mind, I'll do another post here to show you what I'll be taking.

Peacock Duchess set finished!

A few years ago (I think?) I posted a photo of this duchess set here. I bought it on eBay, with only a bit of embroidery already done. I've been working on it all that time, in between other projects, but today I made up my mind I was going to finish it completely. I've even soaked it in Napisan and dried it in front of the heater, so I could iron it and take a photo!

Another embroidered peacock.

Today I received a parcel from a friend in Canada who like me, loves vintage textiles. Knowing my passion for peacocks, she thought of me when she found this beautiful embroidered table runner or piano scarf. I'm very grateful! We both think this was done around 1920-30, as it is stitched in real silk, not stranded cotton, and silk was rarely used for embroidery during and after WW2. The peacock design is repeated at the other end of the fabric length, but was unfinished at each end, so I have added a length of black lace to the ends to finish it off. (I thoguht it was an unfinished cushion cover at first, but a friend pointed out to me that it was more likely to be a runner).

Cupcake Peacock!

I have deleted the previous post inviting other people to contact me with their own peacock creations, as I only got one or two responses, and a Facebook link, which I don't use.  
Today I received an email from an American friend, who sent me a link to this website, showing cakes decorated to resemble peacocks. Amazing stuff!
Peacock Cup cakes

Not embroidered, but still peacocks!

My friend Sharon slipped these in with a book for my birthday last month, but I forgot to photograph them at the time. Paper craft embellishments...my mind is already buzzing with ideas for a collage of peacocks!

Assorted Peacock goodies!

A friend in the USA sent me some fabrics I needed for a project, and knowing my love of peacocks, she included some extras in her parcel!
A fabulous machine embroidered peacock which looks like it was part of a larger design of some sort. Beautiful!



Black button with a gold peacock on it. Hard to get a good pic of this.


New cross stitch kit - I don't know if I'll ever do this, as TW's stunning designs are incredibly complex, as well as being on very small Aida ct. fabric! It would take me years, but then again, you don't know until you try, do you?


A sweet cross stitched table runner. It's been a while since I added an embroidered peacock to my collection - thanks Cathy!

I'm not ignoring anyone!

Like most bloggers, I love receiving comments on my blogs, and always try to respond to them by posting a comment on your blogs. But lately it has become increasingly difficult to access some blogs, due to the enormous amount of graphics they use. The reason my blog headings are so plain is not just because I'm not clever enough to do fancy stuff on my computer. I also leave them as simple as possible because the downloading process is a lot faster for readers as well as me!


So, my apologies to those of you who post comments here but haven't had a response. If I get on to Ken's laptop (once in a blue moon), I can usually access most of my favourite blogs, and will leave a comment. But if I don't, it just means your blog is too complex for my ancient PC (11 years old) and OS (ME, cc 2000)!
I have another computer on order, which is about 5 years old and uses the XP Op.System. Yeah, I know it's old too, but not as old as mine, and it will only cost me $290 for the modem, LCD screen, keyboard and mouse, so hopefully it will do me for another couple of years, because I just cannot afford to buy a brand new one!