In July 2011, I received a phone call out of the blue from someone in a movie props department. She needed some handkerchiefs embroidered as props for a major movie that was being produced. Would I be able to help them?
Um, sure! I conscripted my sister to help me, and together we embroidered two handkerchiefs for an un-named “I’m sorry I can’t tell you what movie it is” movie. The designs were supplied to us, and we just did what we were asked. I did the flowers on both, and my sister Prue did the leaves.
On finishing the second handkerchief, I took a photo of the one I had in my possession. I’m hoping that Prue took a photo of the other one, which was a different design.
Daisy Buchanan’s handkerchief for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby
In time, we figured out that the movie was Baz Luhrmann’s production of The Great Gatsby. With the release of the movie already in America, and the impending release elsewhere, I decided now was a good time to finally show you the handkerchief.
We deduced that because it features daisies, and because one of the main characters in The Great Gatsby is Daisy Buchanan, that it is a prop for Daisy (played by Carey Mulligan). We have no idea if the handkerchiefs ended up being used in the movie. We do hope so!
If you see the movie, and if you see the handkerchief, I’d really like to hear that it made it in. Let’s do a bit of Great Gatsby handkerchief spotting! It could be my only ever starring movie role!
Added later: This is the second of the two handkerchiefs, with a different design.
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
not only did you do the beautiful flowers, but it looks like you also did the fancy edging. That handkerchief is a beautiful work of art. Well done Yvette and Prue!
Thanks Beth. Actually the hankies were supplied with pretty edgings. We just did the embroidery. 🙂
both are lovely designs. Congrats!
These are really beautiful. Well done! Can’t wait to see how they are used in the film. 🙂
Thanks Wendy, though I think I would say “…IF they are used in the film.”
Oh, they are beautiful! When the movie comes out. on DVD,, there’s going to be a lot of pausing going on!
LOL Bernadette! 😀
Beeeeauuutiiful is not the word. They are not embroidered but real,, I could smell it.
Congrats!!!!!!
Nirrmala
They’re delightful. Hope they get some screentime!
Yvette,
the handkerchiefs are so beautiful they better get some screen time
Regards Mildred
How lovely! I’m curious what stitches you used for the different elements. 🙂
In the first example, the petals, flower centres, and small leaves are granitos. The stems are back stitch. The large leaves are fly stitch. The bow is a very wide stem stitch.
In the second example, the large flowers are padded satin stitch, the small ones are granitos again, and I’m not sure about the rest of it. My sister did the green parts on each handerkerchief, so I am less familiar with them!