It was the forty-fathom slumber, that clears the soul and eye and heart, and sends you to breakfast ravening. Rudyard Kipling

{HISTORY}

You may be asking yourself... how did two pillowcases wind up in the kitchen?  Did they get lost on their way to the bedroom? Did they fall out of the laundry basket? Did they accidentally get tucked in with the table linens?

Not exactly. There are two very specific reasons why this pretty pair of vintage Mr & Mrs pillowcases have come to the shop.

The first is breakfast in bed. Throughout history, people have enjoyed peaceful moments spent in the early hours of their bed chambers to collect themselves before the activities of the day began. Coffee, tea, something light to nibble on in order to perk the appetite... food and waking up in the comforts of one's own room have been a part of the civilized world for centuries. In modern-day, just like when you would set a table for a dinner party by adding festive dishes and some cloth napkins,  maybe a floral centerpiece display or some candles to add a little glow, so deserves a similar ambiance of extra flourish when it comes to setting the stage for a decadent breakfast day in bed. A sturdy tray, some pretty dishware, a cozy blanket, and some crisp linens add cheerful serenity to a relaxing morning wakeup and a sweet treat surprise for your sweetie.

The second reason is the sleeping porch. In many old rambling Southern houses, you'll find a little screened-in alcove tucked away on some quiet, secluded side of the house that is often referred to as the sleeping porch. There, you can usually find a bed (or two), possibly a table, some comfy chairs.  This breezy outdoor, yet protected make-shift bedroom, is where you go on sultry summer nights to escape the interior heat that has become trapped inside during the day. For practicality, these porches help you sleep, thanks to the free-flowing air and the breeze. But for frivolity, they also act like little vacation rooms thanks to their camp-like feel and automatic air of whimsy. On these sleeping porches, if you commit to such an endeavor, you usually drag out a whole array of entertainments for the night - books, music, games, baskets packed with snacks, cocktails, camping lamps, candles ... and you make a fun night out of the hot weather.  Everything on the sleeping porch is designed around keeping you cool,  so the beds are usually only dressed in the lightest of linens (ie sheets and pillows) or fabrics gauzy and delicate that only suggest the thinnest of coverings. Typically emoting a casual vibe of mismatched items, the sleeping porch is more about comfort, necessity, familiarity, and joy than it is about pretension and perfection. It's where pillowcases like this might not have intended to start out but where they lovingly wound up. The first time we ever encountered a pair of his & her pillowcases like this pair here, it was on one such Southern porch wrapped up in the scent of night-blooming jasmine and magnolias.  Laden with dusty books, a bed nightstand outfitted with candles, fresh carafes of cocktails and frosty mint julep cups full to the brim with ice, we spent the night making up stories about the Mr & Mrs emblazoned on the pillowcase set.

This pair of vintage pillowcases has its own stories ready to be imagined. Traditionally, they began as a wedding gift or trousseau companion in the 1940s or 1950s. A sweet nod towards newly married status, they marked a new beginning in a couple's life. As years progressed they traveled the decades with ease, encountering, we are sure, at least a few food-themed experiences along the way.  But it will be up to you to imagine all their exact adventures. Whether you have the luxury of a sleeping porch in your space or a personal affinity for breakfast in bed, we know regardless, that these two linens will be ready to enhance your experience.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Set of two 

- Matching his and her designs

- Features embroidered lettering and flowers in the shades of ice blue, pale pink, peach, spring green, and white 

- A very unique feature of this set is the name of the previous owners stamped in black ink in the inside front flap of each case. At one point, these linens were most likely sent out for laundry service and we were marked with the owner's name so that they would not be lost or misplaced.

- Made of a cotton/poly blend that is soft to the touch and irons easily

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. Bright and clean with no spots, stains, rips or pulled

threads. Previous owners named stamped in black ink on the inside of each front flap opening. Please see photos. 

{SIZE}

Each pillowcase measures 32" inches (length) x 18.5" inches (width). 

 {FOR THE BRIDE & GROOM}

Looking for other fun gifts for the newly engaged? Find these vintage wedding-themed wonders here...