Mugwhys Vintage: My Vintage Tea Towel Collection

Old Eagle Heights

Old Eagle Heights

02 April, 2012

My Vintage Tea Towel Collection



There is something, calming, about watching your wash flap around in the breeze as it drys on the good ol Hills Hoist.  Things just smell better when dried in the fresh air.

I have "a thing" for tea towels, I can only use a tea towel once (that's one washing up and drying) and then I have to put it in the wash.  I know, call me compulsive.  I'm not a germaphobe, I just don't like reusing tea towels.  So knowing that about me it's no surprise that I would start collecting vintage tea towels, most are souvenirs from places visited by their previous owners.  This is only a small portion of said collection.  I love the colours and graphics.  I'm seriously thinking of making them into aprons or even bags.  I'll have to think some more about that one.











32 comments:

  1. What a fantastic collection! I haven't really got into the tea towels so much mainly because I never seem to find any! I do have quite a few aprons though, Funny you have the pic of the washing basket thingo. I was really close to buying one from a garage sale on the weekend because it reminds me of my Nana BUT 1. it probably wouldn't have fit in my car and 2. probably wouldn't get a lot of use because of how our backyard is. Seeing this pic though makes me wish I had grabbed it. :)

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    1. The washing basket thingy is great. I also have the old wicker laundry basket that sits in it. Saves my back when hanging out the wash.

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  2. Those are so pretty. I love them. I'm really liking the old cart too :)

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  3. You have a lovely collection! Love the basket too, I have a similar one.

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    1. Thank you. Tea towels are quite inexpensive and easy to collect, but are getting harder to find in good condition.

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    2. A great collection of tea towels so many different designs. If you are chasing more check out my shop at www.theteatowellady.com.au I am listing more designs regularly

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  4. What a great collection of tea towels! When you have such a fun collection, why not use a new towel each day? I love that idea, maybe not the accompanying laundry, but I do love the idea. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you, this is only a small portion of my collection, I will post photo's of the others soon, if I get myself organised.

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  5. Beauties!
    Have a Suneday!
    Carly

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    1. Thank you, they are getting a bit harder to find, but I still get a thrill when I find a new one in good condition.

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  6. Why do you taunt us with all these fabulous tea towels!? They are just too much! I want to come outside to your clothesline and bask in the fun of all the prints and colors. I'm with you, it would take me some thinking to decide to actually make something from them. I would have to have two or three of any I remade so I could still have one to keep. :) I found your post at Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday.

    Liz

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    1. Thank you, you have helped me make up my mind about what to do with them, nothing, that is until I get at least a double to keep.

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  7. When Laundry can look this good and Festive it makes it a Joy to hang out and enjoy! Your Vintage Tea Towel Collection is awesome. I have a compulsion to Collect Vintage Tablecloths and Tea Towels whenever I find one at a good price... there are so many Lovely designs and my Family joke that I'm on a Mission to have one of every one that was ever made and I'm in serious need of an Intervention! *Winks* I store most of them on shelves where they can be seen since even stacked they make a Beautiful Visual... just like your Clothesline full of them!

    Thanks for Sharing... Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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    1. Thank you, I also have a thing for tablecloths and napkins, if I have one tablecloth I have one hundred. The graphics and colours are just beautiful and make me smile when I firstly iron and they lay the table, sometimes I don't whant to put anything else on the table that might distract from the tablecloth.

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  8. Those are lovely! What a fun collection to have. And I absolutely LOVE that metal cart. I want one!!
    Blessings to you today:)

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    1. Thank you, they are definitely creating a bit of interest and I love the response I'm getting from them. The cart is a real back saver when hanging out the wash.

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  9. Oh I love your collection, very pretty, especially the tea themed ones.

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    1. Thank you, the graphics and colours are lovely, my favourites are the calendar ones. The oldest is from 1974.

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  10. what a beautiful collection! I've been looking through your posts... what a gorgeous property! would you like to be featured as a guest collector on my blog with your towels or any other collection?

    http://ilovecollecting10.blogspot.com/

    thompsonstudio@comcast.net

    Emily

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    1. Thank you, I would love to be a featured on your blog. I'm very flattered.

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  11. Replies
    1. Thank you, it still brings a smile to my face when I look at this post, especially now with all the interest it is getting.

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  12. I love your tea towel collection. I found two in new, unused condition and now I'm hooked.

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  13. What a sweet collection! This makes me miss my clothes line... I loved it!

    Tania

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  14. Hiya! Nice tea towel collection :) I'm not hooked on tea towels, but good quality bed linen, oh yeah! I'm a new follower (I love finding fellow Australian bloggers!) if you have a minute it would be great if you dropped by my blog too :)
    Cas x

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  15. I love your tea towel collection. They are pretty enough to be on display or maybe some of them framed.

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  16. Thanks for sharing your wonderful collection at the Knick of Time Vintage Style Party! I'll be featuring you this week and there will be an "I Was Featured" button waiting there for you.

    Blessings,
    Angie @ Knick of Time

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    1. Thank you, looking forward to it. My first "I was Featured" button.

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  17. I forgot to mention, please add the party button or a link to the party to this post so others know where the party is.
    Thanks,
    Angie

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  18. Love your vintage tea towels, collect them myself! Drop by my blog and link to visit the Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club. A group of fun linen lovers! Love the vintage towels on the line, tablecloths are on my line. Signing up to follow! Pam

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  19. Your tea towel collection is wonderful. I'm in love with the butterfly towel. And, the towels hanging on the line is simply picture perfect.

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I look forward to hearing from you. Mugwhy