i love you tammis keefe

This is Tammis Keefe. She was a textile designer during the 1940's and 50's.  She is one of my design heros.  I love her art more than just about any other designer from the mid-century.

Have started collecting Tammis Keefe linens. I mostly have vintage handkerchiefs because they are more affordable than full table cloths and runners.  I was looking at my collection yesterday and wondering how to display them.  I love the idea of making them into a quilt, but I don't want to sew them because I don't want to devalue them.

I have enough other vintage hankies to make a quilt so I think I make one with those. You know, as if I could actually make a quilt. Sheesh. I really suck at making quilts and I love them soooo much. It kind of pisses me off a little. Anyone out there want to sew the quilt top for me? I will pay.

My friend Tara sent me this idea to frame the hankies and I love it.  The thought of an entire wall covered with Tammis Keefe hankies makes my heart race.

source

In fact, I am now convinced that I cannot go on living without a Tammis Keefe hankie wall.

If I've piqued your interest, you can see a collection Tammis Keefe textiles on my Pintrest board.

Just don't bid against me on Ebay or I'll have to cut ya.

"Color is the most important factor 

in design generally, 

and in handkerchief design, specifically, 

color prepares the emotions for the design itself, 

as music sets the mood of the Play."

~ Tammis Keefe, 1952 Craft Horizons

plangonology and other cute stuff

secondsister

I guess I am a born collector.  As a child I collected M & M wrappers, chewed gum (my own, I know, gross), clothing labels and at one point in my early childhood, I collected black and orange fuzzy caterpillars. Another gross. What can I say? I was a gross kid.

My son has inherited my collecting genes.  He collects many things, some of which I am fond of, others of which I could totally do without. He's a gross kid too.

I have a true affinity for Russian nesting dolls.  My brother lived in Ukraine for a couple of years and he gave me my first set of nested dolls.  Matryoskas have become somewhat popular as of late so they are much easier to find.  I personally like the real Russian or Ukrainian dolls, however, I recently bought these and these which are so cute I am happy every time I use them.  Also, I have these cute key covers and this set of dolls for the Bird to play with.

secondsister

I have ornaments and salt and pepper shakers and t-shirts and boxes and ribbon and...

Oh heavens, I could go on and on.

I think it's really a doll thing. I like wooden dolls. I also collect Japanese kokeshi dolls. But when I think about being a "doll collector" I find it kind of creepy. I've happened to know a few "doll collectors" in my day and man are they weird.

secondsister

A plangonologist is a doll collector. Yes, there is a name for this neurosis.

Oh well, I can always rest assured in the fact that I will never be as weird as the plangonologist who collect those freaky little Blythe dolls. What's with those anyway? Ew.