Linda Makes Baby Daygowns.

I do agree with Linda that Daygowns are a good place to begin  when learning Heirloom Sewing!

The Daygowns above are for the  twins her niece is expecting.

Won't her niece  be excited?

Pink Fairy Fabric for the little baby Girl.

White Fairy Fabric for the little baby Boy.

She used the OFB pattern "Baby's First Daygowns".

Very sweet!

Linda said she was pleased as punch with how they turned out. 

I can see why.  They are both lovely. 

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

Linda's First Heirloom Dress!

I received a sweet note from Linda, and some pictures of the garments she made.

This beautiful dress is the First Heirloom Dress she had ever made!!

The pattern is my OFB  

"Antique T-Yoke Gown, BabyDress and Christening Gown" 

Truly lovely work!

For a photo of the original antique dress and the history…click Here.

Linda game me  permission to use her photos…she had told me in her first email that she made numerous mistakes and learned from every one of them.  That is the mark of a true stitcher….you don't throw your hands up and say "I just can't do this"….you keep on going!

Linda's words in her reply email:

"Wow!!!  There just may be others out there who are somewhat terrified to give heirloom sewing a try. If I were able to re-think my pattern choices I sure would not have picked the T dress for my first attempt! But it is so, so sweet!! The daygowns were much easier."

You will see the Daygowns next post!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

French Handsewers Smocking Arts Guild Meeting

Suzanne made this beautiful Bib in  a class with Saga Teacher Marie Yoland.

At our last SAGA meeting, we began a project to learn how to do Boutis.

I love this lovely technique!

All set and ready to stitch!

Our project will be a Pin Cushion. And we have homework.

Stitching homework is fun!

This little gown was turned in at the meeting.

Part of our mission as a SAGA guild is to stitch Wee Care items for local hospitals.

I love the way the sleeve was finished.  

Two Buttonholes were stitched in the sleeve, one inch apart.

Then a ribbon was laced through the two buttonholes, pulled up and tied in a bow.

This tiny Bonnet was made to go with it.  The brim folds back.

"As each one has received a special gift,

 employ it in serving one another as good stewards 

of the manifold grace of God."

1 Peter 4:10

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

Stitching Day

I finished the hem on my Baby Day Dress.

next….embroidery.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

Old and New Daygowns

This Daygown is a Raglan style with tiny pintucks and inserted lace.  Every stitch by hand.

A Friend was over recently to discuss a layette for her  new Grand babies. 

Above is the daygown she hand stitched for her own little baby boy, who will be the new father.

The fabric is a very fine batiste and the hemstitching is tiny and delicate.

She told me the happy parents are expecting twins!!

I love the raglan style. It's comfortable and seems to fit longer than daygowns with shoulders.

This sweet little daygown will probably be worn by her Grandson, just like his daddy.

She is over the moon excited about sewing for the new little ones and was very happy that she joined the "Sew A-long" I did using my pattern "Embroidered Raglan Daygowns". 

Because there are after all…... TWO of them.

She is going to make another one just like this one, so she will have one for each baby!

 And she has several other Daygowns all planned out to sew.  Mostly with tiny hints of pink on one and blue on the other.

I can't wait to see them.

This little daygown was worn by my Friend (the Grandmother) so Baby Girl has a sweet handmade family Daygown to wear too!!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014Jeannie Baumeister

Old State Capitol/Stitching Exhibit -Four

This will be my last post about the Stitching Exhibit in Baton Rouge at The Old State Capitol.

To see the others.  Click on the post you are interested in.

Day 1,  Day 2,  Day 3.

Click on Photos to enlarge.

There was a little booklet (reproduced from the original) that has all kinds of ideas of things to make using the Feed/Flour Sacks. 

I love the term  "Bloomer Frock"!

Teach The Children to Sew!!

All For The Baby.

Aprons were a popular item to sew with Feed/Flour Sack fabric.

   I couldn't show you every part of this exhibit but hopefully you will be able to visit for yourselves.

It is open through the month of February.

I hope you enjoyed my tour!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

Old State Capitol/Stitching Exhibit - Three

This is Post Three of my Old State Capitol Stitching Exhibit in Baton Rouge.

See Day 1  and Day 2

Not all of the Feed/Flour Sacks were made from printed fabric.  

A person needed solid fabric too.

Click on photos to enlarge.

I imagine it was alot of work just preparing the fabric for stitching.

The quilt backs must have been pieced together to make them large enough.

Up close you can see that the fabric was rather coarse.  Some fabric was a better quality than others and I wonder if that was intended to influence the purchase.  

This quilt has only two colors in it. 

 How long did the housewife save up her fabric to make this quilt?

There were books printed that gave you ideas of what to make with your sack fabric.

More on the ideas inside this book on my next post!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

Old State Capitol Stitching Exhibit -Two

This is a follow up from yesterdays post about the Stitching Exhibit at the Baton Rouge Old State Capitol.

Pictured above  was my favorite Feed/Flour Sack.   I love the blue and white print!! 

Click on picture to enlarge.

It would take alot of Feed/Flour sacks to get plenty of the fabric of your choice!

So, I'm thinking I would make my dresses from my favorite fabrics.

And the left overs would go into quilts.  

That might be why so many of the old quilts are scrappy.

This is a great exhibit and there is lots of interesting material to read.

Hope you are able to come see for yourself.    

More to follow in my next post….

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

Fun! Old State Capital/Stitching Exhibit

It might seem odd.  

But one of my favorite things about the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge was the marble floor in the Ladies Room.  The entrance had WOMEN engraved in it as you entered.

No question I was going into the right toilet!

It is a beautiful building. The Baton Rouge Old State Capitol.

Stained glass ceiling and rich old wood.

My eye was pleased everywhere I looked.

I am  looking down from the top of the spiral staircase.

Every room is artistically done.  You would be hard pressed to find the artisans who could reproduce the workmanship in this building. It is fabulous.

Imagine working in it everyday as was once the case. Shoes clicking importantly on the marble floors.  I can imagine it.  Women in smart dresses  and men in suits.

One thing I wish we as a people would do, is to appreciate  the beauty of the old buildings we have and keep them.  We tend to tear them down and replace them with something "new" or "efficient" but not nearly as lovely.  We need beauty for our soul.

That is the message I received from this exhibit.  That women could find and create beauty from whatever was available.

Women know this!  We need beauty for our soul.

A Friend and I went to the free exhibit titled "Our Quilted Past" but it is really about how our Grandmothers used Feed sacks for clothing as well as Quilts.

Our Quilted Past

An exhibit of quilts made from feed and flour sacks between 1925 and 1955 and the story of recycling cotton bags into household items.

February 1-28, 2014

info:225 342-0500

www.louisianaoldstatecapitol.org

Anyone who has ever held a needle in their hand would love this!

More….next post.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

Pretty Dresses!

This lovely Dress was made using the OFB pattern "Antique Toddler Dresses".

Here you can see that the lace frill on the yoke creates a false round yoke look.  

My Friend made two of them.  

I think she told me they were Flower Girl dresses.

This hem is exquisite!

Made of Maline lace, tucks and Swiss Insertion.

Can a lace be more beautiful than this??

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister