I am not a compulsive collector. I don't have to own every single item of a collection to be satisfied. Mostly, I like bits and pieces of things. Hence, I began on a limited basis with purchasing vintage handkerchiefs from various states and regions. Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming? Why not.
People who know me know that I carry handkerchiefs. My mother always had one or several in her pockets and her purse. I think women used to carry these things. I tend to sneeze a lot, especially paroxysmally, and handkerchiefs come in pretty handy for these outbursts Tissues don't work as well when you sneeze twenty-two times in a row. I keep handkerchiefs near my bed for sneezing fits there and I almost always have one tucked under a pillow.
I started making handkerchiefs recently, and mine are a little heavier than the store bought kind though I still use relatively sheer fabric. When I started making pocket squares for dapper Mr. JBN, I realized that the same dimensions and techniques can be used for hankies. I have made some strange looking items in this pursuit.
However, the state handkerchiefs are special and cannot be duplicated by me. They are not used for noseblowing. There is an antique store around here which has all the states and the display caught my eye. Most are unused with the original tag still on them. They're kind of wonderful (but not inexpensive). Which state shall I purchase next? Oh, I also started to buy old clothing patterns. Maybe I need to stop with the collections.
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