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Sunday, March 18, 2012

Rummage Sale! What to Do with Linen Panels?

Since I go to thrift stores all too much (though only on my regular errand route...usually), I have sworn off rummage and yard sales. The only exception is the Episcopal Church a few minutes away (on foot) whose members are the wealthy of my little town.

When there I see our children's pediatrician, who seems to be a frugal fellow and devotes a lot of time to medical missionary work. Lucky for me, because I bought 2 table lamps (they were on my "list") and 4 curtain panels that were too big to carry.

Mr FS and I got there about 5 minutes after opening and all the good stuff seemed gone. Mr FS bought a few CDs and left. I then spotted the lamps and panels. The panels (somewhat dirty and marked at 50 cents) were nice quality, I thought. When I got home, I discovered that I was right: they are Libeco linen from Restoration Hardware, 50 X 84.

The kind doctor dropped me at home. We gave him some greens from our garden (he doesn't seem too familiar with greens). We also arranged to buy some eggs from the chickens his children raise in their small backyard.

What do you think I should do? Have them cleaned and wait for the right set of windows? Or should I cut off the linen and use for something else? If I did that, could I wash them?

5 comments:

Northmoon said...

I say you could wash them, if they shrink a bit it's no big deal.

Northmoon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Duchesse said...

Restoration Hardware have a Customer Service feature on their website, you could inquire, especially since the curtains are still listed. (Usually they are not because of the interfacing in the pleated tops, but maybe these are.)

Unless you use the curtains, they are just clutter. The table lamps sound like they'll go straight into use, a wonderful find.

Diane said...

Congratulations! What a terrific find! I agree with you about rummage and yard sales; thrift stores can take up too much time even without them.
I would wash them in cold water. They'll be cleaner, and I agree with Duchesse -- it looks like these don't have intricate interfaced pleats to go all wonky on you when they're washed.
If that doesn't work, then by all means, repurpose them. And enjoy them!

Shelley said...

If you stitched them together might they be a useful tablecloth? I saw some amazing 'antique French linen aprons' in Sydney for $300...well, they were linen aprons alright and I might have paid 10% of that. Waiting for the right window to come along might take a while, mightn't it? Particularly if you're not planning to move anytime soon.