I noticed the local antique shop was open again. (I moved from a town with 5 antique shops to a town with 1.) Turns out there is a new owner. As I wandered, I saw this heart shaped frame in a little basket. It was such a sweet example of Victorian fancy work, I had to have it. Plus, it was only a dollar. Ya. Really.
The heart is 3 1/8″ tall and about the same wide. The 1″×3/4″ opening for the tintype photo sits about an inch above the point of the heart.
It is made of two layers of pasteboard. The back is covered in dark blue velvet. The front is covered in off white silk taffeta that has disintegrated.
The threads pulling the silk and velvet around the pasteboard can be seen through the photo opening as the photo has slipped.
The whole is bound with a bright golden yellow embroidery floss, likely silk, in a blanket stitch.
At the top of the heart is a red ribbon hanging loop and bow. The ribbon is a silk grosgrain with picot edge. At the bottom is a gold silk pom hanging from cord.
I recreated this heart frame from materials on hand. (Directions in pdf coming soon.) I think they came out quite darling.
I plan to do a semi-regular Fancy Work Friday series with Victorian fancy work focused posts on Fridays. Sometimes these will look at originals, other times they will be about making pieces from original directions. I may bring back some previous favorites for new readers.
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If I Had My Own Blue Box: 
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