43 Comments

I love tea towels though I never thought to wonder at their history. This is one fascinating and gorgeous rabbit hole, Jolene! I enjoyed the detail about Van Gogh painting on them when he couldn’t afford canvases. Now all we can afford is tea towels (and coffee mugs) with copies of his masterpieces on them!

It’s always great fun to spend time in Jolene’s Wonderland! 🤗💕

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“Jolene’s Wonderland” !!! I love that, Ruth!

Really touching about Van Gogh, finding a way to create in spite of everything.

And, yes! I own a couple of “Van Gogh’s” of the printed tea towel variety! xx

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Apr 14Liked by Jolene Handy

The tea towel rabbit hole has my interest, thanks…I think?

I have a collection from places I’ve visited: Paris, Glacier National Park, various Maine islands and more. Maybe it’s blasphemy to actually use them to dry dishes and whatnot, but each time I do I get to relive the vacation memories…

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Amie! I got your gorgeous card and recipe! Thank you, it was so nice to receive ☺️ now it’s my turn!

I lol’d at “I think” about the tea towels 😆 Not blasphemy at all to use and enjoy them! ❤️

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Apr 14·edited Apr 14Liked by Jolene Handy

Ahhhh I loved this, Jolene! I am also a big fan of tea towels (love to find fun vintage ones in thrift stores!) and of Vera!! Back when I was a vintage & antique dealer, I found a set of incredible stretched canvas screenprints with the Vera signature and ladybug on them, I think they must have been for a store display at one time, and I went back and forth on selling them. I did end up passing them on but it's one of those finds that I always think about! I have a lot of Vera scarves though to make up for it.

I never knew the bit about Van Gogh and omg that is so lovely. Will be thinking about that for a while! xoxo

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Wow! You are having such an interesting career, Katy — I knew about what you’re doing now, but had no idea about your previous work. Love the Vera story and how great to have a collection of her scarves. The Van Gogh story really moved me, too. Apparently there is another work on a tablecloth at the Cleveland Museum. So poignant that he found a way to create till the very end. xx ps When is your trip? Soon, yes?

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Apr 14Liked by Jolene Handy

You have inspired me, Jolene, to take stock and organize my kitchen towel drawer! I like the way you have displayed yours, and I even see Mary's little towel peaking through. The dish caught my eye, too!❤️

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I love Mary’s towel, so glad you saw it, Pam! Proving once again what lovely gifts tea towels make ☺️❤️

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Apr 13Liked by Jolene Handy

I have such a wonderful selection of tea towels from my daughter, who lives in NZ. I try not to use them as much but since she has lived there for 20 years(and won't be moving back to the States any time soon) she says"Use 'em, Mum"!

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I love that! “Use ‘em!” More and more I’m using the “special occasion” stuff everyday. Would love to hear more about your/your daughter’s collection, Carla!

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What a glorious post….I feel like we had tea with Isaac Mizrahi….I loved that post so much! We should go see his cabaret show at the Carlyle! Also….VERA😭😭😭

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Wouldn’t that be THE BEST to see him there!? Love Isaac! Also: the more I learn about Vera, the more I love and appreciate her. 🐞 Thanks, Christene! xx

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I'm definitely feeling the daffodil cake and plan to give it a try. Right now I'm hung up on what's called Sunshine Cake from the Epicurious website. I found it several years ago and made it on repeat, then it fell off the radar and this month, not sure what sparked it but there I was, looking up the recipe. It's the easiest cake I've every made and a wonderful base to be creative. It doesn't rise very much but it holds its own in a pinch. Can be made in under 30 minutes. I use less sugar than it calls for and it still comes up great. Always love your posts. Food, history + knowledge....

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Thank you so much, Dina! Let me know how it goes either with the Daffodil Cake. I love these names: daffodil cake, sunshine cake—just instantly welcoming. Is sunshine cake a sheet cake? With pineapple? I’m going to hunt for the Epicurious recipe now. Thanks again for your comment 🌼

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Jolene, here you go! Let me know what you think I"m not sure I would call it a sheet pan cake so I wanted to share. I use less sugar as mentioned.....https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/sunshine-cake

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Thank you so much, Dina, looks so good and I love the touch of almond - almond extract!

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I adore tea towels - they are brilliant functional story tellers. What I didn’t know was that there was a book about them which is now in my list. Lovely post Jolene 💕

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That is such a great description, Julia: functional storytellers. The book is PACKED with pictures, diving in more tomorrow. As always, thank you so much, Julia! xx

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May 14Liked by Jolene Handy

HA! You fooled me. When I saw the color of that coffee I ran out into the kitchen to make a cup, with half & half. Only to discover after reading that you likely have tea with milk in it. No matter, my coffee tastes great as I write this comment. These pix and stories are so evocative and make us long for the flavors we see and read about. I love tea towels and vintage, clean ladies embroidered hankies, too.

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😆 I’m sorry, Joanne! But glad you’re enjoying your coffee! Thank you so much for your kind words, really appreciated! ❤️

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Another lovely and heartwarming post. Jolene. I enjoyed the part about tea towels because I've looked for and bought those with sentimental meaning - a map of the state I was from or lived in, wild animals such as wolves and moose we saw in Wyoming on a trip with my son, and a photograph of the family. Now I have one of colorful fruits and vegetables that came from my mother's kitchen which I adopted when she died two years ago. The other has big, bright, yellow lemons that a friend gave me when my mother died because my mother's favorite color was yellow and we had lemon trees in the yard. Not as artistic as Van Gogh but they still bring beauty and joy. And they're priceless in another way.

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So many great visuals and stories here, especially loved the Daffodil cake. Always a pleasure to read your Substack, but reading this week with a few Thin Mints (from the freezer) was the best!

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IN THE FREEZER 🧊 THIN MINTS ARE THE BEST!!! Thanks, Melanie!

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Apr 14Liked by Jolene Handy

Daffodils are toxic?! There’s something so poetic in that!

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And the harbinger of springtime and new life can be, well, a problem ☠️ 😂

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Right!? Dangerous beauty! 🌼 ☠️ I always like to mention because so many people decorate cakes with fresh flowers now, I want to make sure they don’t!

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daffodils might just be the happiest flower!

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I agree, Amelia, with Daisies right next to them! 🌼

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Apr 13Liked by Jolene Handy

Oh tea towels ❤️

My fave gift to give (and get!)

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I’m with you, C.L.! Love giving, getting and scoring vintage ones!

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I love how all the gems of information tie together so beautifully.

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Thank you, Vicki! I was so touched by the Van Gogh story.

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This post was like a warm hug. Loved it and cant wait to try the cake. I truly think fresh flowers are the easiest way to create a little cheer in your home. I have them in my closet even!

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I love the idea of flowers in a closet! Would put me in a good mood every time I opened it. Let me know how it goes with the cake. Thanks so much for your kind words, Stephanie, and here’s a virtual warm hug! 🤗

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