Less is More??

I have never been a Less is More person.

I have  never been comfortable in a "neat as a pin" creative environment.

 Although I like the words "neat as a pin".

But as I have spent more years in this world, I have gathered  more "stuff" in my life. 

And I now feel the need for peace and order.

And so, I am looking at the words of William Morris through new eyes.

I love beautiful.

I love beautiful even more when it is useful.

Still Magnolias - Gift Exchange

The Still Magnolias have a Gift Exchange when they have a Retreat.

You bring a gift (under $10) and you get to choose a gift.

They were wrapped up all pretty.

I had a gift to add to their exchange because I love surprises and wanted to play.

This was my gift.  I love this Scissor Holder.

Do I remember Myra telling me her husband had something to do with making this?

Can that be right?

Anyway, I am pleased as punch.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

On My Wall

On my Sewing Room wall.

Sweet Memories….like the picture in the right upper corner.

A picture Miah gave me.  Victoria, Miah and I. Together.

(two of my Granddaughters)

Watercolor I did at the beach with my sister, Kathy.

Picture of my Mother - taken in the 40's.

Business Card of my  Chef - daughter Emily.

A tribute to friends.

From a Mary Englebright calander.

American Ballet tickets from a performance I went to in NYC with my sister Kathy.

A picture Kathy sent me of the two of us in Paris.

A gentle reminder.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

My Sewing Room Shelf - Pretty!

On my shelf.

Isn't this gorgeous??

Made for me, specially!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

My Sewing Room Shelf

 My Sewing Room Shelf

On My Sewing Room Shelf

Isn't this always the case?

Do I even have a plan B??

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2014 Jeannie Baumeister

Old Needlework by Me

I stitched this wool embroidery when I was around 20….so long ago!

It's Vintage!!

It's still a favorite and hanging on my wall.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2013 Jeannie Baumeister

Pretty Tucked Sleeve

Tucks and Embroidery on a sleeve.

I am working on something new and pretty and stitching tucks on sleeves.

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2013 Jeannie Baumeister

Eleanor Burns Quilts and The National Quilt Museum

I can just see a little Smocked Dress with any of these fabrics, smocked in floss using this color combo.

I am in love with these color combinations!!

We went to an Eleanor Burns Quilt in A Day shop in Puducah, Ky.

Puducah is like...well, the quilt capitol of the world!!!

Not really, but there is alot of quilting going on there.  Which means alot of fabric.

This is a picture of the entire quilt I love.

Sometimes I find our Heirloom Shops to be kind of repetitious in the prints department.  Like they all buy fabric from the same place and carry much of the same thing.  That's where Quilt shops come in.  They are no good for fine Heirloom fabric but can be creative  and fun for play clothes and Smocked Dresses.  Especially Smocked Dresses!!

The walls are lined with fabric suitable for children's clothing.

Another wonderful color combination.

I see a little green dress, smocked with shades of pink!

(or was it a little pink flowered dress smocked with shades of green?)

An exciting morning for me was spent at The National Quilt Museum.  They would not allow pictures so you can only see what I saw if you visit.  I was mainly interested in the Civil War Quilts but there were many beautiful quilts to see otherwise too.  My mind ran away with me as I thought about the hands that stitched these amazing textiles so long ago and in such a troubled time.

Love this picture of the Yo-Yo's.

Kind of like my Sew Sew's Sewing group.

The Yo Yo's get together and quilt at the National Quilt Museum.  They are like - on display!   It would be like Smocking with the Sew Sew's in public!!

What fun!!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2013 Jeannie Baumeister

Cool Museum and Sunflowers!

I love eyelet embroidery!!

We went to a cool museum in Puducah, Ky

The eyelets were stitched on this little cloth used as the sheet for a Dolls Bed.  The hand stitched quilt was the cover for the bed.

The little bed is a miniature of the Oak High Back Beds used in the late 1800's.

Absolutely too cute!

Close up of the Doll sized Pillow case which  was edged in hand stitched Padded Scallops.

There was some period clothing and other interesting items in The Puducah Market Museum.  It was small but very interesting.

I am crazy about neat Water Meters!

A water meter in Puducah, KY

me and the Sunflowers

I think this was taken when we were lost in the back roads of  Illinois. But we could have been lost in the back roads of Kentucky...either way....you can have fun when you get off the highways and tour the back roads!

There were fields and fields of Sunflowers!!

Amazing!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2013 Jeannie Baumeister

Antique Stores Along the Way

This is an old Gown.  Not well constructed but I liked the design.

We stopped at quite a few Antique Stores along the way.  Me, always looking for Linens and Baby Clothes.

We stopped in a town and there was alot of excitement about this antique shop.  It is the home of the TV show American Pickers.  Who knew?

We waited in line...no kidding....just to go inside.  Nothing here for me though.

Another store  and again...Quilts. Piles of them!

I love the old fashioned patterns.  And the old fabrics.

Real 30's fabrics!

I like the simple quilts the best. 

 I have never bought an old quilt and really didn't know how to go about it.  I don't know how to know if it will fall apart the first time it is washed.  Or what a good price is.  But the mid-west seems to be the place to find them in abundance.

It wasn't the place to find Embroidered Linens or Baby Clothes.

I did buy this old pressed glass Biscuit Jar.

Perfect for Scones!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2013 Jeannie Baumeister

Iowa - Quilts and Pie

I love subtle stitching.  Like tone on tone embroidery.

The back of this quilt is like that.  The fabric is one piece but a design emerges from the quilting stitches (which are really  just a type of Running Stitch).

It's beautiful.

This is the front square of the quilt where the design was quilted.  I do love the colors and squares of this quilt.  But the back of it is my favorite.  

Subtle beauty.

This is a broader view of the quilt. (The red and green is a different quilt that it's sitting on).

Quilts!!

And who even knew my sister in law quilted?  And stitched by hand!!

Lovely, beautifully worked.

More baking.

This time a Bumbleberry Pie!

Must be time for Tea again.....

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2013 Jeannie Baumeister

Iowa Vacation - Quilt and Shortbread

Old quilts have been in abundance on this trip.

Have they always been everywhere I look?

Am I just noticing them now?

This is such a nice place to sit and read or stitch.  And watch the goings on in the neighborhood. 

The first thing I noticed after greeting my Mother in Law was the old faded quilt on the back of her porch bench.  Another quilt!! I love the way it softens up the porch.

I love the soft colors in this quilt.  Just my style.

I wonder who made it and how long ago it was. Every stitch by hand!

There was also newly baked Shortbread with  chocolate and almonds.

All ready for Tea!

(I'm always ready for Tea!)

"Come and share a pot of tea,

My home is warm and my friendship's free."

from  the book If Teacups Could Talk by Emilie Barnes

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2013 Jeannie Baumeister

Cute Sewing Bag!

This is my cute sewing bag.

When my sister came last summer - she brought me this bag.

Isn't it cute?  It's sturdy too.  Love the tape measure handles!

And I put cute stuff in it!

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011 Jeannie Baumeister