Letter to the Unknown Crafter

Dear former owner of the treasure box,

I never knew you but enjoyed walking around your home and perusing the many items on display on folding tables throughout.  I hadn't planned on stopping but a friend told me about a good estate sale that was on my way to work.  Certainly a quick swing through the rooms wouldn't make me late on a Saturday.
The large hat box on the floor caught my eye.  It was overflowing with trims. lace, ribbon and ends of plastic baggies.  Marked at only $20, it looked like a good price for some fun fiber pieces to play with.  Before I could find someone to pay, I noticed a folding table piled high with all kinds of fabric and needlework.  Some little vintage needlepoint started my creative juice flowing.  How could I incorporate some of these in my projects?  The gentleman taking the money offered up the entire pile of stuff, along with the hat box, for a fair bulk price.  Not having time to sort through things, I agreed and his friend materialized with two garbage bags to haul my lot.  I watched all sorts of material be shoved into the plastic, include some yucky coated table cloths and discount store table runners.  Everything went into my trunk and  as I drove to the store I wondered what kind of person you might be or might have been.

It wasn't until the next morning - Sunday, my day off - that I unloaded my car to see what I purchased.  Not knowing the condition, I set up on the counter in my patio area.  Starting with the hat box, I pull out pieces of lace and trim and sorted them.  There were lots of pieces that were interesting in shape and texture and suitable for dying.  Some eyelet, some battenberg, a few doilies.  Pieces cut from old garments.  I imagined you saving bits of dresses that you hated to throw out.  I hope you don't mind but I think I may turn much of what you saved into bright colors.

I think I got to know you a little more as I went through the bags of needlework and home items.  I tossed the plastic coated pieces and will donate some of the mass produced items.  I will upcycle some of the needlework, because there was a lot!  I am imagining you did much of the needlework yourself.  Us crafters often enjoy the making and don't always finish the items and find them a home.  There are many needlepoint projects that were well done!   Many look like they were from the 70's, especially the crewel pieces.  It's the colors and motifs that give the hints!

So dear crafter (or collector) please know that these items that you kept for so many years - finished projects and pieces for future ones, are in a good home.  I have already started to enjoy them,, having dyed some pieces pink and some green.  Some may be used in art quilts, others perhaps to embellish garments.  The possibilities are endless!

Sincerely,
Johanna
(who has more supplies for 'endless possibilities' than she knows what to do with!)

P.S. I started playing with some dyes and this is some results! Pink and green pieces of lace and eyelet.  They turned out great!