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Add your own line to any handkerchief or tote, up to 20 charactersTracked delivery across Europe, the UK and North America

KEEPSELLE
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A letter about letters

Our story

Dear reader, this is a shop about saying something with thread.

In the Minho, the green north-west corner of Portugal, young women once embroidered a handkerchief for the person they loved. They stitched hearts, birds, keys and flowers in red and black, and often a few words, spelled the way they were spoken. The handkerchief was given in secret. If it was worn in public, on a Sunday, the answer was yes.

Old letters tied with red thread beside an embroidered handkerchief

What we make

KEEPSELLE is based in Póvoa de Varzim, on the coast north of Porto. We draw our own motifs in the spirit of those handkerchiefs and have them embroidered on linen and heavy cotton canvas: handkerchiefs in sets of two, tote bags, cushion covers, napkins and zip pouches. Forty pieces in all, from USD 20 to USD 62.

Every piece carries one of six motifs, so a handkerchief, a bag, a cushion and a pouch with the same motif belong together and can be given together.

  • Coração, the heart. Two hearts, one in red, one in black, joined by a running stitch.
  • Andorinha, the swallow. Swallows always find their way back.
  • Chave, the key. A key, and a heart for a lock.
  • Cravo, the carnation. Carnations in a pot: a promise that grows.
  • Pombas, the doves. Two doves, beak to beak.
  • Carta, the letter. A stitched frame with room for your own line.

A line of your own

All handkerchiefs and totes, and some cushion covers and pouches, can carry a line you write: up to 20 characters, stitched in red or black cross stitch exactly as you type it. Spelling mistakes are welcome; the old handkerchiefs had plenty. How personalisation works.

Embroidery hoops, red and black thread and pencil sketches of hearts and swallows

What we do not claim

Our designs are original and inspired by the tradition. They are not certified “Lenços de Namorados do Minho”, the protected regional handkerchiefs made by certified artisans, and we do not present them as such. We do not use reviews, ratings or badges we cannot show you the source of.

P.S.

If you have a question about a piece, a line or an order, write to support@keepselle.shop or call +351 914 227 593 on weekdays. A person answers.

Yours,
KEEPSELLE