Fabulous embroidered peacock!

This arrived from the USA today (eBay purchase). If you've been reading this blog since it's inception, you will have read the following words before, so I apologise if I'm sounding like a broken record! This embroidery has to be the most beautiful and perfectly stitched peacock I've ever seen. It is on a large piece of fine material that is big enough to make a cushion cover of it, but I won't be doing that. I'd rather frame it, but as I have so many other things I'd like to get framed one day, I'm going to run out of wall space!

A beautiful website about real Peacocks.

My husband was searching for something on the Net the other week, and stumbled on this website. He sent it over to me, and after reading it from start to finish, I decided to put a link to it on my blog, as I know the people who visit this blog not only love embroidered peacocks, but the real ones as well. Go here for a big heap of peacock eye candy!

Another blog for lovers of embroidered peacocks!

Whilst surfing the Land of Blogs last night, I happened to find a blog which features finished works of art as well as works in progress - all embroidered Peacocks - beautiful! Some of the people who read my blog already know about the other, but for those of you who don't, the link is on my sidebar. But to save you the trouble of moving your cursor over there, you can click here.

Peacock Beaded Shawl

My friend LeeAnn gave me this stunning vintage beaded shawl for my 60th birthday, and although I posted this pic on my other blog, I forgot to put it here as well! Well, it IS a peacock, so this is where it belongs!

A pair of matching doilies and a little notebook.

These two doilies arrived from the USA last week. You've heard/read it here before, but this will be the last lot of embroidered peacocks I buy for a while. I have an enormous collection, and I'm finding that most of what I see on eBay now is a duplicate or very similar to what I already have, or a design that is so way out it doesn't appeal to me. As well as that, after our trip away this week, I'll need to reign in my spending (again) for a while. The only exception to all this is if I find something really special in an opshop in Darwin, and I think that is highly unlikely!





Now for something different. My friend Val had a very busy blog for a year or so, but got a bit 'blogged down', so she has discontinued her blog activities for a while. But we have stayed in touch, and sometimes meet up for a coffee at the library, or go for a walk and picnic on a nice day. One of Val's many hobbies is paper-making and other paper-related crafts. Last week she presented me with this little notebook she'd made just for me, cutting a peacock motif from pretty paper and sticking it on the front. Inside is a blank pad and pencil. What a beaut gift! I love notepads - I've got several, and they all have a separate purpose.

Another Table runner.

This is one end of a lovely runner that arrived from the USA today. The seller has just created a blog of her own collection after seeing my blog - go here to see Vintage Linen Treasures!

Two little doilies.

Surprise, surprise! These are from here in Oz, not from the USA!

Four matching doilies.

I couldn't resist bidding for these doilies; they match something else in my collection. Without pulling everything out and checking, I can't remember if it was a tablecloth or table runner/centrepiece, but I know I've got this pattern somewhere.

Slightly better picture - after they had been ironed!

ANOTHER Peacock table runner.

Arrived from the USA today. This is a real beauty, with the same design at each end of the runner, but in partially varying colours. In pristine condition, beautifully stitched, and hand crocheted around the edge.

Egg on my face...

I don't know if it is just a coincidence, or if my husband has a photographic memory, but he was right about the peacock design on the runner I've just received. I do have another one very similar! But the other is on a pillowcase, and the colours are slightly different, so I still feel justified in keeping both.

I have two more peacocks on the way - another table runner which looks superb on the eBay photo! And a set of four napkins or doilies, which match a tablecloth I bought last year from a different seller. Watch this space!!

Table runner from the USA.

This arrived yesterday. Ken remarked "It looks the same as all the others you've got". Well, peacocks look like peacocks, of course, but I guess he doesn't appreciate the subtle differences between embroidered designs and the real thing. However, I must admit even to me they are starting to look similar. I think it's about time I took the whole lot out of storage, laid them all out on the floor and made sure they are all different!

Stunning stitchery on this centrepiece!!

I must sound like a broken record sometimes, but again, this is a very special piece I'm sure you'll agree - and for once it is 'home-grown' - not from the USA! Ebay of course - from N.S.W.

Finally - some more stitched peacocks!

Gosh, I didn't realise it had been so long since I posted any photos here! I think I'd better do a stock take of my peacock embroideries; I'm sure I had more than this since last October.
In the meantime, these two arrived today from the USA via eBay:


This is what Americans call a scarf, although whether or not they mean a head scarf is unclear to me. It could also be a table centrepiece, or a cushion cover...whatever it was supposed to be, it is in very good condition.



This is a fairly large table runner; quite old I think, but in pretty good condition, apart from some dye run where it has been washed inappropriately. One of our Guild members has advised me on how to fix that, so I'll give it a go someday.