more cleaning
I get such good deals at the flea markets because I am willing to buy things that look un-remarkable and/or like lost causes. I've been up to my chin in bubbles and elbow-grease lately trying to prove there are hidden gems under the grime. The lace looks great, and I'm now getting it ironed, mended, measured, and photographed for Etsy. The napkins have been coming clean too and I'm contemplating embroidering the corners of the plain white ones.
One of my finds was what looks to me like a sleeve cut off of a costume with braid trim. The weight when I picked it up told me it was real metal passementarie. The first step was to carefully remove it from the fabric (a stretchy synthetic). Second was to search the internet for ideas for cleaning it. That was a time sink. I couldn't find anything. So I used what chemistry I know about cleaning metals, tested a few strands and then went for it! First piece looks surprisingly good considering how the internet told me it was impossible! Go me. ;)
One of my finds was what looks to me like a sleeve cut off of a costume with braid trim. The weight when I picked it up told me it was real metal passementarie. The first step was to carefully remove it from the fabric (a stretchy synthetic). Second was to search the internet for ideas for cleaning it. That was a time sink. I couldn't find anything. So I used what chemistry I know about cleaning metals, tested a few strands and then went for it! First piece looks surprisingly good considering how the internet told me it was impossible! Go me. ;)