The Fall Nandina Shawlette

So, it's like this.

I craft.

I sew.

I cross stitch.

I CROCHET.

It all is important to me.

I am also cleaning and purging a lot of things. It's time. And its beginning to be very effective. The clean corners give me space to breathe.

Enough preliminary information.

I cleaned out an embarrassingly piled up corner of my kitchen. It's an awkward little space that I have hated for 20+ years and we pile stuff there. I dragged it all out and went through it an item at a time. And I found YARN (imagine that)

What to do?

Stash it - nope, did not ever seriously consider it.

Sell it - nope there too, I loved this combo of colors so much

And it was good yarn. 

Only option left was MAKE SOMETHING. 

But what? And this other project is not done. Hmm!

So I left it on the table by my chair and I studied and I designed in my head and I worked on finishing the big project I was working on and the car project I was working on too. 

And then I finished the car project and I started the head designed thing with this. 

And it looked like CRAP. 

Yes crap. 

So I frogged and regrouped. 

Enter Ravelry search. 

I found this free pattern over there.

She calls it the Oh!So Simple Crochet Wrap

And boy does it live up to its name. 

After the first four rows, I was off and running. 

It became the car project, because it was so easy. 

I changed my yarn colors at whim.

And it was fun. 

I call mine the The Fall Nandina Triangle Shawl, because the color remind me of the Nandina bush fall colors.  that link goes to my ravelry project page with notes about the yarn if anyone is interested. 

Below are some of my pictures of the thing. 

Just started - and that orange could easily be worn as hunters safety orange, it is that bright. 

A row of single crochet and a row of double crochet --- repeat.

I really love these colors so freaking much. 

 

And the yarn is so wonderful, both to work with and that the finished object feels like.

The japanese maple tree is starting its fall color showing. and the multicolor areas have this wonderfulness of color in them.

It even matches the pretty color of my new car.

I added a button for securing this.

The button allows for closing it in any of the double crochet openings, making this very easy to secure. 

And --- I listed this on my facebook and Instagram as a give away. 

People have been very generous to me over the years and I am returning that favor now. 

Heartfelt thanksgiving. 1/30

Food was the prompt. Wrote a note and gmail address on the card and left it on the bakery case in the grocery deli. We will see if I get an email response. 

I am tremendously grateful for every meal.

#STASHTAGS 16/31

Today's word ---- CREATE. 

Hmmmm - decisions, decisions. what to do about this one? Everything I make is a creation. I'm inspired to create by people, places, things. Ideas I want to capture. I work in multiple mediums, so there is not a single "passion" 

Then last night, I was working on cards for the youth fundraiser, and decided to simply gather some bits laying around and see if I could describe this thought. 

I have to CREATE. Even if the material options are limited, when the muse shows up, I have to find a way to express what she is telling me. While I try to always have a little bag of crafty bits with me, improvising is one of my favorite ways to work. 

this is a sample of that IMPROVISING - I had an antique shop add that I picked up that day, red cardstock, glue, and scissors were in my bag. I worked with what I had available. The whole process  is blogged here.

Anyway back to the tags - here's the listy on this one. 

-tan cardstock base

- dark green circle die cut from cardstock

- crochet rose - tutorial was found here.

- a bird punch 

- a butterfly punch

- a grungy washer that I picked up in a parking lot somewhere (I cannot help myself, I have to pick them up if I notice them)

- a seashell - some of my favorite inspirations come from Mother Nature herself.

- an ink pen 

- a felt tip marker

- the hangtag is some rayon string that I thrifted because it was green

use what you have in unique ways to make your own special artistic creations. 

Have a great day all. 

#STASHTAGS 15/31

Today's word - HAPPY

I wanted just a fun kind of card. And I do not normally work in these kinds of colors, so this was a bit of a stretch for me. 

But every - single - day is a gift and I am happy to be unwrapping them. 

Recipe

- tan cardstock base

- assorted bright papers

- a birdhouse die cut from some where

- a HAPPY shiny bit (cut down from confetti)

- a gifty sticker

- a swirly sticker

- the hanger is some sparkly wired stuff from ????

Hope you are having a great day.

#STASHTAGS 14/31

The word for today - PRAISE

My comment on the original post at instagram  "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

And I am so very blessed.

Materials
- tan cardstock base (I knew I was covering it completely and it wouldn't show and I have lots of them in the tan)
- a bit of silver hvac duct tape
-black letter stickers
- a bit of a hymnal page.
- vellum from a card - stamped with a cross
- black eyelets (can we just say I do not like to work with vellum - I have a hard time getting it to stick - so I used the eyelets to attach it)
- a red acrylic gem to symbolize the blood shed for me.
-the hanger is grey ribbing, black ribbon and a bit of silvery stuff.

This project is fun - and now that we are well into it, I am pondering what to do about the 30 days of Thankful November.

Ideas?

#STASHTAGS 13/31

The word for Sunday was ADVENTURE

To me travel is always and adventure.

Tag Recipe
- blue cardstock tag base.
- a bit of a plain old fold up map (something my children don't have  a clue about)
- some red mesh ribbon
- a bit of a wallpaper sample featuring a travel journal
- a sliver of a postcard
- an AIRMAIL stamp from an envelope
- assorted brads (kind of like pinning a map)
- a simulated ivory bead and some leather cording.

This one also went together quickly - some words are easier than others to put these tags together.

Have a great Monday.

#STASHTAGS 12/31

October 12 - the word is CURIOUS

Sorry - I'm blogging this on Monday, but I played ALL weekend. Not really - I was in the studio and at church and with my mama - and - well, you get the picture. I did post these on the correct day on my instagram.

Now for the fun part -

-This one features my interpretation of lines from Alice in Wonderland and started with a snippet of text from the book.
- tan cardstock tag base.
- crimson velvet ribbon (the Knave of Hearts carried the king's crown on a crimson velvet cushion)
- a vintage wooden checker piece highlighted with gold Rub and Buff to accent the crown image
- a rather large and garish castle button I've been saving for a long time.
- tiny playing cards featuring the King and (a really ugly) Queen of hearts.
- hanger is simple picot edge red ribbon.

This one was quite simply just a fun tag to complete. And I used that hideous button that I had gathered from somewhere.

It also went together quickly.

Have a great week.

#STASHTAGS 11/31

I am SO happy with this one.

I've been pondering it since I posted the list of words then suddenly it's time to make it.

Here's the list of magic ingredients for this one.
 - blue cardstock tag base
- yet another cutout from a greeting card
- a stamp that I inked carefully (it says Thank you for your kindness)
- assorted heart die cuts left over from Molly's wedding prep and tables (the little ones in the center were punched by my buddy Luke - that was a great day with him helping me)
- the hangtag is some sparkly fuzzy embellishment thread.

This went together quickly when I decided what to do.

Kindness spreads like the ripples on a pond when you toss a tiny pebble in. I used the hearts to represent those ripples. It starts small - with just me being kind - and then grows and spreads. All the colors represent the different people and expressions of kindness. I mounted the hearts so they would have to be trimmed at the edge - a way of saying - we may never know how our kind act makes a difference.

I have been unkind in the past. I am so sorry for that. And I try to intentionally be kind now. I also try to forgive unkind actions toward me.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Is it bad that I am already looking forward to a Sunday afternoon nap?

#STASHTAGS 10/31

Today's word - INSPIRE

Here's the rundown
- green cardstock tag base
- red leather scraps from my mama (she used to work in a van conversion company and gathered up the leather scraps from the seat covers)
- plastic alphabet beads
- toothpicks (I wrapped the bits around them)
- paper, ribbons, and fabric strips from the scrap pile
- fine gauge wire
-assorted beads
-the hang tag is made from leather "thread"

Nina Bagley inspires me. She blogs at Ornamental and her instagram is one of my favorites everyday. She lives in the mountains and works in stunning layers of goodness, incorporating wire and metal and leather and fabric and lace and and and. She is also very kind and sharing. (I would LOVE to go to one of her workshops someday and i would love to own one of her wrap necklace or bracelet originals) Please go over to her place and take a look at the beauty over there.

Thank you Nina for the inspirations you share.

I decided to put a collage together of the first 10 tags. I have picked a couple of favorites. (ENCOURAGE and CONTENT)  Have you?

1. PEACE
2. BLISS
3. CALM
4. LAUGH
5. TRUTH
6.INSPIRE
7. CONTENT
8. STILL
9. BOLD
10. ENCOURAGE

Please share your favorites.

Have a great day.

#STASHTAGS 9/31

Word today: CALM

Silent Night
Holy Night
All is CALM
All is bright


Materials
- blue cardstock tag base
- silver paper scrap
-dark blue paper scrap
- dark grey paper scrap
- glittery bit from a scrap of gift wrap
- a tiny section of a greeting card depicting Bethlehem on the night of Christ's birth
- some stamped metallic tape bits for texture and for the word CALM
- stars punched from glitter ribbon
-  a bit of purple toned trim
- the hang tag is pale purple ribbon and silvery metallic threads

Obviously the stash includes greeting cards - kept by me - my Mom - and a wonderful lady named Hester Sartain.

Miss Hester was serene. She was graceful. She was a beautiful woman who took life seriously because she took God seriously. She taught both of my girl in Sunday School for many years and is one of my all time favorite people. Her passing left a whole in my heart and in the hearts of many. Our choir never sings the Church in the Wildwood song without me smiling and remembering her softly clapping or tapping along with the beat. This one is made from one of her cards she saved for me. Thank you Miss Hester --- you made a difference in my life and in so many lives.

Have a wonderful day.

#STASHTAGS 8/31

October 8 - Tag 8 of 31 days.

Word today ---- BLISS

Materials
-tan cardstock tag base
- gold washi tape
- some textured paper from the scrap box
- a bit of cream meshy fabric with gold accents (from A Gilded Life)
- some cream lace from the scrap container
- BLISS stamp and dark brown ink
- a gold jump ring filled with seed beads
- a tiny tag
- a brad
- a punched heart
- a brass button flattened.
- a bit of sheer ribbon
- the hang tag is gold cording and brown yarn

This one represents one of my places to find BLISS. My studio and all it holds. Bits and bobs and boxes and bins.

I would love to empty the space and rework it, but right now, I simply love to go in and work to my little hearts content.

Still having a great time doing this project.

Have a wonderful day.

#STASHTAGS 7/31

October 7. Tag number 7 of 31 days.

Word 7 - TRUTH

Again - this was easy to illustrate for me. I believe the word of God to be true. 

The material rundown. 

-green cardstock tag base

- an open Bible picture from a greeting card. 

- gold toned alphabet stickers

- a tiny sliver of orange paper

- some russet rick rack trim. 

- a bit of scripture embossed on vellum (cut from the same card as the pretty church picture on the tag from

     day one)

- a scrap of "leather" textured card stock (for the idea of a worn Bible cover)

- my Disciple Bible Study pin. (a serious 38 week Bible Study - I earned that pin)

- the hang tag is from a candle box and of course I saved it for just the right project.

I am enjoying the challenge of coming up with ideas to illustrate these words and then putting it all together. Is it making a dent in the stash ----- not really. But it is still fun. 

If you are playing along - please let me know. 

Have a great day. 

#STASHTAGS 6/31

October 6. Tag number 6 of 31 days.

Word 6 - LAUGH

This quote always brings a smile to my face. And it reminds me of a night on my front porch staining nativity blocks. Laughter filled the air. I love laughing like that.

materials -
-white cardstock tag base.
- a cutout from an old "poise and beauty" book (thought the crossed legs and the covered face were perfect)
- I streaked the background of the tag with charcoal ink and red velvet glimmer mist.
- I used an old fashioned label maker to punch the quote
-the hanger is some scrap foldover elastic with two clear beads to simulate the "tears"

This one was a just for fun creation.

I'm having a great time with this project.

#STASHTAGS 4/31

October 4. BOLD Tag number 4 of 31


Today's word. BOLD.  I am.  Are you?

Here's the rundown 

-White cardstock base

- Lots of assorted bright paper strips

-felt and paper flowers embellished with sequins, beads, and bling

-bright colored letter stickers

-a fishing line swivel (yes like you find in a tackle box - don't judge) 

- a brad and a blue acrylic bead

- the hanger is a bit of colorful yarn I saved from "SOMEWHERE" 

BOLD - my immediate first thought was Tracy Porter  - I love her sheer abandon with color and pattern and texture. I wanted the deliberate mix matchy feel to come through on this one. 

I think I got that part right. 

Then I realized that this tag fell on the day, I start the process for rescanning for lovely little demon cancer cells. 

Either way --- I am bold --- and I hope you are too.

#STASHTAGS 3/31

October 3. Tag number 3 of 31 days.

Word 3 - CONTENT

Here's the list -
- tan card stock tag base
- $100 Monopoly bill
- ticket stub
- embroidery floss label
- old postage stamp
- definition blurb from an old dictionary
- dark amber bead drop
- a paper spool end with a tiny bit of thread on it.
- hanger is plain old cotton string.

Content --- to be "in a state of peaceful happiness"
  ----- to be "satisfied with where you are and what you have"

Saw the word - had no idea how to illustrate it. NO IDEA AT ALL.

So, I took the easy way out. I cut the definition from the dictionary.

Read it carefully and sat with it, waiting for the muse.

She showed up and brought guests - teaching guests - Karma and the Universe. UH-OH. When those two are along, things get complicated. (And I thought this project would be fairly easy.)

I know that this is art and there are emotions tied to art. It's only craft if you're just putting stuff together.

If you want to just look at the pretty picture - that's fine. But if you want to read some of the lesson from this tag you can see it over here

Have a great evening
.

#STASHTAGS 2/31

October 2. Tag number 2 of 31 days.

Word 2 -- STILL

Here's the list.
- blue card stock tag base
- winter forest scenery from a Christmas card. (apparently I hoard save lots of quite useful useless things)
- textured paper from the "little paper scraps" box. (doesn't everyone have one of those?)
- silver trim  and a bit of organza ribbon from the scrap container
- silver letter stickers
- the little "snowflakes" are from some white iridescent Christmas garland
- a snowflake charm from Fire Mountain
-  the hanger is made from punch needle thread - this time white with a bit of silver.
- glue
- glittery nail polish (I'm also an opportunistic crafter)


As soon as I saw the word STILL, I thought of the quiet that snow brings. All sound seems to be muffled by that blanket. Snow is not common in the south, but it happens enough for days spent inside with hot chocolate and maybe a snow angel or two. And snow ice cream!!! That was the memory I wanted to capture with this one.

So far so good ---- where are you on the project?

Have a great day.

#STASHTAGS 1/31

October 1. Tag number 1 of the 31 days of tags. 

I love words - I love fonts - I love paper - I love embellishing - I am learning to love stash busting.

And the stash  - well it needs busting some more.

I chose my words from the list posted here. Then I randomized the list and made a calendar. 

Last night I die cut my basic tag shapes from solid card stock - tan, white, blue, and green. 

Word one -   PEACE.

Here's the list:

Blue card stock tag base.

A "fussy cut" from a parchment vintage greeting card. 

Pale pink scrapbook stickers.

pale pink lace bit. (2inches of lace from approximately 2000 yards - i won't even miss this) 

A bit of white tulle from the scrap container

A pale pink little bead drop. (I honestly think this was the very last one of these) 

and the hanger is literally the last of a spool of punch needle thread. 

Glue. 

I'm quite happy with this one - and I really can't wait to mount them all for display and see what they look like when I finish them. I rarely keep any of my art, but I think I will keep these and display them in some assorted thrifted frames. Guess what - they are already in the stash too. 

Have a great day and if you are playing along - please let me know.

www.instagram.com/maggiegracecreates 

              use tag #stashtags

www.facebook.com/teresa.atkinson.963

or leave a comment here. 

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I do know that my instagram friend Patricia is playing along in a photography format. find her at

 http://instagram.com/red_rowan

Have a wonderful PEACE filled day. 

Sept 30 --- forward we move

Simply Simple September comes to a close today - My last little bit of simplicity is APPRECIATE ENDINGS.

Why?

Endings lead to new beginnings.

As these flowers hit my desk this morning, they came with the comment that "this is the last of them."

I have loved every single tiny mixed bouquet all spring and summer.

I have shared many of them on facebook and instagram.

I will miss them. But I appreciate every one of them (and the fact that the original bed was planted with the plan to share them with me). And I appreciate that October and the Fall season bring new types of beauty.

And opportunity for new beginnings.

As part of trying to post pretties and inspiration more often here, I'll be doing another series in October.

I've a list of words to choose from ---- I've decided to make and post a tag creation for every day in October.

By tags, I mean gift tags. Sarah Lugg art type tags. Tags that after I get them all made, I hope will have meaning. Tags that I hope will continue to spur on my creative muse. But here is the clencher ----- 100% stash created tags. 

I'll be punching 31 same sized ones tonight from cardstock in the scrap boxes. Then on Tuesday the October 1, I'll start the making ---- (there are a few road trips this month - but I'll make a little box of supplies just for those) 

I do hope some of you will play around -- Just like the September Project - I'll post here - facebook and instagram ----

Here's the instagram fun part....... I'm using a play on the word hashtag for my hashtag. 

All of these will fall under #stashtags (stash busting tags)

Now for a super long list of words to choose from (my choices are in all caps)

Again there are no rules --- it's just for fun - and to spur creative energy. I have NO IDEA what mine will look like -- I'll just respond everyday. I do know that my word will be a part of the creation. 

Please play along --- it will be fun. --- choose your words from the list or add your own. 

But please leave your link info in a comment and let us know where to find your fun stuff. 

Have a great. 

Appreciate Endings - Anticipate Beginnings.

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CONTENT                        friendship                   COMFORT                   humility

serve                                  TRY                           LOVE                           JOY

blessed                               STRONG                  hope                              dream

WONDER                         faith                           thankful                          ENCOURAGE

GRATEFUL                      forgive                        PRAISE                        harmony

home                                 HAPPY                      give                               grace

family                                 PLAY                        dance                            journey

learn                                  BEAUTIFUL              smile                             LAUGH

rest                                    relax                           TOUCH                       believe 

CREATE                          PEACE                       PRAY                          INSPIRE

strength                             BLISS                         respect                         CURIOUS

care                                  BOLD                         read                              KINDNESS

apologize                          TRUTH                       brave                            HEART

focus                                 HELP                         courage                         STILL

special                              sing                              ADVENTURE             SPARKLE

improve                            enjoy                           work                             SHARE

excited                             sweet                           delight                           CALM

wish

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I randomly selected my words and as I was typing this list, I kinda wished I had made deliberate decisions about some of these. Oh well - the muse obviously wants to play. Now to decide which one is first. I may put them in a hat and draw them out for my "random order" list. 

Come on friends - choose - create --- share.

Links to all of mine 

October 1 - PEACE