A Place for Vintage Linen Towels

A pretty place for my towels is  my bathroom.

The fine linen makes them perfect for drying hands or face.

* I use my Good Stuff!!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2016 Jeannie Baumeister

Pressed Napkins and Tea

I didn't have to wait long before using my vintage blue and white napkins.

Two friends came for Lunch.

And my freshly pressed napkins showed themselves nicely!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2016 Jeannie Baumeister

Wash Day for Linens

Hanging out some freshly washed vintage napkins.

In the sunshine.

Laundry Soap. 

Yes, soap!  Hard to find in my neck of the woods.  Found in Walmart, of all places. Plenty of detergent available, but I like soap better.  It suds and cleans cottons so well.

I bought 5 boxes.  

Just in cases it disappears as mysteriously as it appeared.

These old linen napkins are new to me.

A thrift store find and I love them.

Don't they iron up crisply?

I love the hand embroidery stitched in blue thread.

You'll see them again when I have a friend for tea.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2016 Jeannie Baumeister

Old Featherstitching on Linen

This Featherstitching was on an old Linen Pillowcase. 

Real Linen, as in Linen fabric.

Oh to have had this Pillowcase brand new.  With gorgeous lace, fine hemstitching and beautiful featherstitching.  Who wouldn't have sweet dreams?

When the Pillowcase wore out, they must have cut off the end to save the lace.

But if you look closely at the top you can see that they cut right through the featherstitching! :(

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2015 Jeannie Baumeister

Cute Dish Cloth

I pulled this old Dish Cloth out of a drawer and have been enjoying it.

(not for drying dishes though!)

I like to put it on my Tea Tray when I have Tea by the Fire!

It makes me happy.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2013 Jeannie Baumeister

Ten Thousand Stitches

This is a vintage set of Pillowcases and Dresser Scarf on my bed and nightstand.

I love them!!

In a recent conversation with a friend, she was telling me about a book she read.

I don't think it was ever even used!  They must have saved it for "special"!  

Lucky for me, I guess.

The book was about talented people, such a sports figures in the hall of fame....etc.

I love the pretty colors and how the Running Stitch was done in black.

And love the machine hemstitched edge with a crochet finish!

The idea that these people are just born to fame and expertise was challenged.

More than one strand of floss was used for the embroidery which makes it more durable for wash and wear...an important consideration for bed linens.

It was pointed out in the book that the superb baseball player, for instance, had batted or pitched 10,000 times to perfect his skill.  It wasn't done overnight.

It's always nice to look at the back side to see how someone else carries (or doesn't carry) the threads from stitch to stitch.

The point I am making this morning is:  Talent can influence how well or how easy your stitches will be but it still takes 10,000 stitches to perfect your technique!

The other lesson here is:

Use your "special" things yourself or someone you don't even know will be using them after you are gone. 

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2013 Jeannie Baumeister

Pretty Pillowcases

Some old pillowcases picked up while visiting out of town.

I love linens. 

 I especially love pretty pillowcases.  

I love the way they look on my bed and I love the feel of the  nice fabric against my skin.

I am always on the lookout for them.  They are linens that are pretty and functional so they wear out and need replacing.

These will do nicely, thank you!

Notice the different shades of pink in the flower on the right. And the scattered flowers, also in different shades of pink.

The little flowers are simply 4 cross stitches worked together with a French Knot in the center.

Variegated  thread was used to stitch the embroidery as well as the crochet trim.  It gives such a pretty look.  I like the way the light pink floss is stitched over the darker pink.  It looks purposefully done rather than the random way the threads just happened to fall while stitching this design.  

You can do this using two different colors of floss and then you will control the color.  Use darker thread to stitch the bottom x's and  use lighter  thread to stitch on top.

The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions...

a kiss or smile, 

a kind look, 

a heartfelt compliment..

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

This is my White Wednesday for this week!

Join Faded Charm for more.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011 Jeannie Baumeister

A Gorgeous Hanky!

I think this is the most beautiful hanky I have ever seen.

It was my Birthday Hanky.

And for one thing...I love hankies!

And for another thing... I love Blue.

And of course I love anything that is  beautifully embroidered.

This is all perfectly hand embroidered.  I mean Perfectly! 

It would be beautiful framed and hung on my wall.

The Three Foxes

Once upon a time there were three little foxes

Who didn't wear stockings, 

and they didn't wear sockses,

But they all had handkerchiefs to blow their noses,

And they kept their handkerchiefs in cardboard boxes

by AA Milne

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011 Jeannie Baumeister

White Wednesday - Old Pillowcase Embroidery

This old Pillowcase is too worn for any use.

But I love the simple embroidery on it.

The use of simple stitches make a very pretty and interesting design.

Running Stitch, Lazy Daisy and French Knots.

The hem is finished with the Whipped Running Stitch.

Hope your having a good New Year so far!

"God be here, God be there,

We wish you all a happy year;

God without, God within,

Let the Old Year out and the New Year in."

old song printed in a joan walsh anglund book

I am joining with Faded Charm for the White Wednesday tour.  Join us.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2010 Jeannie Baumeister

Getting Ready for a Visit!

Vintage Pillowslip.

My sister is coming for a vist.  She lives several states away so I don't get to see her very often.  I am so excited she's coming!

I love this old bed.  I think it's from the late 1800's.  Its the kind you always see in old westerns.  

I hope it had a happy past!

I have the bedroom all ready for her with fresh sheets and ironed pillow cases.

I have a Granddaughter who I want to reproduce these for.  But in her 'room' colors.

These cute Pillowslips are vintage.  One says Good Morning.  One says Good Night.  I have planned to reproduce them and make kits for sale. 

Rose from my garden is Katy Road Pink.

Smells delicious!

She is my older sister by two years (on the left) and I am on the right.

Sisters

A woman's life 

is a

 patchwork of love

...remnants

of precious memories patiently sewn

with stitches of time.

joan walsh anglund

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2010 Jeannie Baumeister