Decorating with and Interesting Uses for Vintage Ladies Handkerchiefs - By: Luanne Reilly Oda

Vintage ladies handkerchiefs make a wonderful collectible, and they are still quite affordable. Maybe you were fortunate enough to inherited Grandmas vintage handkerchiefs collection. People often ask me though, What do you do with them? How can you display them? Here are a few ideas for you.

For a dramatic wall arrangement you can display hankies framed in clear acrylic clip frames. They can also be stretched over a square painters canvas using double sided tape to hold them in place. If you need an inexpensive headboard, you can arrange 8 of these above a bed to create a headboard.

Use them as doilies on tables and nightstands, pretty as well as protecting the furniture or covering small blemishes.

Show then off under glass on a coffee table.

Sew into quilts, pillows, sachets, tablecloths, or potholders, these make great personal gifts for friends.

Make a baby bonnet from a white lace trimmed hankie to be used years later as wedding handkerchief. Directions for making these bonnets are readily found on the internet.

Make a valance by clipping them onto top of curtain with clothespins.

Display hankies tucked into a glass vase or hang them from a towel bar or vintage towel rack.

Wrap small gifts with them, make hankie angels or hankie dolls.

Make a baby's first blankie - applique a vintage floral hankie or child's handkerchief to the top of a pretty fabric, back with soft chenille, so cute! Another idea for children, sew a monogrammed hankies onto the front of bib overalls, to girly them up a bit.

Use handkerchiefs to line baskets, Trim the edges with beads and make a "cozy" for your teacups , use as a curtain topper or curtain tieback.

Tie them onto your ponytail, belt loop, or purse,

Tie a hankie to your suitcase handle so you can identify your suitcase at the airport!

Tuck them into birthday, get well or any holiday card, or give for the "something old or something blue" for a bride to be. My daughter was fortunate enough to have the same initial as her great grandmother, so she was able to use her vintage handkerchief for her wedding. We incorporated the hankie right into the bouquet.

Display them hung by little wooden clothespins on a vintage indoor clothesline, or satin ribbon . This is especially cute in a laundry room, but can be used in any room.

Handkerchiefs look lovely draped over a nightlight for soft romantic lighting.

You can display vintage hankies on any kind of rack or display. Just use your imagination, reuse a former collectors spoon rack, old store displays, pegboards, or vintage Victorian clips.

I hope you enjoy the ideas, now have some fun with Grandmas old hankies!

Vintage ladies handkerchiefs make a wonderful collectible, and they are still quite affordable. Maybe you were fortunate enough to inherited Grandmas vintage handkerchiefs collection. People often ask me though, What do you do with them? How can you display them? Here are a few ideas for you.

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