Sparkle and Shine

A long time ago, I posted about using the "good stuff". See, like all creative souls, I hoard my greatest finds for that moment, person, or event that I deem worthy of using those things. 

I think my daughter's wedding is that kind of event!!!

And it just happens that she was interested in

a vintage look (check) 

Lace (check) 

Eclectic feel (check) 

Saving money by doing a lot of it ourselves (check, check, check)

So we start pinning -- and digging through the stuff. Let's just say creative mom has a really deep pile of hoarded stuffs (all being saved for that perfect event) 

Things like chandelier drops. Super nice papers. Beads from her Great Grandmother's stash (there is a long line of us gatherers) Props and such from her Nomi (she's in this line too) 

And I am overwhelmed. 

But I have started a calendar/checkoff list for this here project. And I and recording my musings and progress here. 

Last night I was making the dangly bits (imagine that - the spell checker does not like the word dangly) and thinking about how readily I am pulling materials out of the stash to use. I took the picture below a pile of prisms and some of the most stunning paper I have in my stuff. 

Then this morning, I decide to play with the image using BeFunky (its free online)

OOOOH look --- that is so freaking pretty. 

So then I made it my Facebook cover. Just because I like it. 

Back to the work at hand. I want to finish this light fixture this weekend. 

I made the top tier of dangly bits (there is that squiggly red line again) and attached them last night. 

Confession - I made six versions and went back to dig for goodness before I was happy with these. 

They do look like I imagined hanging on the fixture. 

Ya'll have a great weekend --- 

I plan to. 

Back to the real world ------- to rest.

Molly got stopped - for having no tailights. Dad fixed it but it resulted in the following fruit basket turnover. We drove Molly's Jeep - she drove Abby's car - Abby drove my Expedition. Reminded me of the way we used to go to bed when they were small - I would lay down with Abby - Charles with Molly - and at some point in the night everyone got to where they were supposed to be.

Speaking of supposed to be......

Poca, the Monster dog, on the sofa. I let her up there, Abby lets her up there, Daddy - no way in hell - Molly - hates this dog (the feeling is rather mutual). I am however wondering what the crap about this dog, I thought cats chased yarn balls, but this one loves to get into the crochet stuff and makes a huge mess. I have to put her in her crate in order to crochet.

Now the real news for the weekend. I got to kiss Liv for myself. Carrie, Dale, and Olivia came to the art market to visit with me. She is too precious. Mom had to hurry back to Atlanta to work, but maybe we can get together for dinner soon. I even had my camera, but got so sidetracked visiting, that I forgot to get it out. Thanks for coming Carrie --- kiss Liv for me.

Lessons learned from my first show -- check the wiring for the table lamps before you set the table up -- I was in shadows all day. Plan your display to be viewed from the front - the things on the side were not noticed - I think because the side was also the door to the "big room" in the show. Aside from that my experience was very positive. I made a little spending money.

I sold "tiny dancer" to a lady who proclaimed that "she takes my breath away" -- seems that was the very phrase I used to describe her too. That was exciting.

The charms that I piled on the plate for people to poke through sold better than the ones nicely mounted on cards.

The simple round tags with the leaves on them and the medium ones of the same idea - sold the best.

Spoon pendants - great sellers - I sold over half of what I took. I'll be choosing some of these to submit to some magazines as well.

This picture is horrible - but I wanted to show the bracelets as I displayed them - could have sold those insulators numerous times. Did not sell a single bracelet - that was surprising.

The composition books were popular as well -

I will do this show again if Lannae invites me.

In other news. In the last post of 2008, I stated a goal to make MaggieGrace more "public". That has taken me this year, but it is now happening. I have a piece being published (more on that once it happens). I have completed my first show and it was successful. I have been invited to speak before some groups. Today the latest news is - that I have been asked for an interview with a freelance writer locally - for an article to be published soon. This is all kind of overwhelming to me, but it was the goal and has begun to happen.

I hope this finds all of you having a wonderful day. Me -- I have a beautiful life.

Day three - and a midlife crisis announcement

I got an email asking for a picture of the studio exterior. Now for you ladies who crave your own space, think outside the box. This building was open to critters. It literally was a barn. I have done nothing to change the exterior character. And it was HARD WORK putting it into shape for a sudio. I fight spiders and other little critters constantly. I have not seen Mr Black Snake in a long long time - a good sign that the critters he would eat are gone too. The step at the door is a slab of granite that used to be part of a set of steps on the house. We did away with that porch and kept the slabs of granite. The light by the door is a solar light from Big Lots and puts out just enough light to keep me from breaking my fool neck when I come in late at night. The chunk of wood on the ground below the flag is waiting to find out where it is going to live. And the shutter in the right hand corner is scavenged and has hung on my kitchen porch for years.

All this to say - I love having my own space.


The next phase of the studio renovation is to make that shed to the right a covered lounge area. I'm patient - it will take time and WORK but when I get it finished it will be great.

I spent a LONG LONG time working in the studio last night. - I cut papers for altered composition books. (College Girl came in and begged for one - just how am I going to build inventory when she keeps taking stuff.) These fall colors are just my speed.

I glued the leave punches to the tags -- love how these turned out. I also have a maple leaf shape - more of these to come. I spend a ton of time digging out cream colored paper to make a bunch of these.

Does anyone else get that giddy feeling when you put something together and you realize it just "sings"? These are so simple in their appearance and I adore that.

I also completed one of the Halloween cards. More of these tonight.

Does anyone have items I can look for in my stash for you?

NOW MIDLIFE CRISIS ALERT (MCA).

I have always said I would plan my midlife crisis. Well here ya go. In addition to planning my own, I have recruited an accomplice - actually make that plural.

Margaret convinced me to start boot camp. Thank you my wonderful friend. As I am becoming stronger and have more stamina, I am remembering how a "fit" person spends time. It is not watching TV. I am out and about doing physical things. It is fun.

I saw an article about a place in Southern Living magazine. I mentioned it to Margaret. She looked at the website and shared it with her daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth talked to the Softball Princess. (the girls are the same age and play softball together for the high school) Now it's a girls trip. No boys allowed. I am glad the girls want to play too.

We are going for a weekend trip to the Len Foote Hike Inn. A no vehicle access lodge in the Amicalola Falls State Park - an easy to moderate 5 mile hike into the inn carrying your personal items - spend the night and hike back out. Now I have a goal - a something to do.

Upon hearing this Midlife Crisis Announcement (MCA), Local Best Friend literally laughed out loud. Yes, he hurt my feelings. But then he decided it did sound like something we would do.

Seems the beginning of my midlife crisis involves getting healthy.

Aerial view picture of the lodge stolen from here.

I have a beautiful life.

I know I said I would post a list for the art show - well that list is at home in the studio - get it tomorrow - sorry.

Have a wonderful day.

Medically induced memories....

Do what??? I know everyone of you is wondering what the crap that means. While I was in the ER, my bloodwork indicated that I had some sort of infection somewhere. They gave me a presciption for a broad spectrum antibiotic LEVIQUIN. I try so hard to be fully aware of what I am taking so I pulled this one up.

Here's the mumbo jumbo on this. (copied from www.drugs.com)

Less serious Levaquin side effects may include:
nausea, diarrhea, constipation;
feeling restless, anxious, or depressed;
headache, dizziness;
muscle pain;
sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares);
vaginal itching or discharge; or
mild skin itching.

Notice it indicates sleep problems and nightmares. In digging further the phrase "enhanced dreams" has surfaced. I dream a lot - I know this about me - I have even recorded dreams. Last night I dreamed my past in a "conglomerate fuck" (play on words to see if someone is still reading) mixture with my present and future.

At one time we lived next door to city hall and the firehouse in Franklin Springs, Ga. Jim's (bff growing up) dad was the chief of Police and his office was in the fire station. Jim and I spent hours just hanging out there. Last night I dreamed that my Mom bought me that building for a home and studio space and that all my current friends were helping me move in. There is no way this could happen - the building was destroyed a few years ago by a tornado. But all the details were there. The wall color - the leather covered chairs - the tiny access panel that few knew about between the city hall office and the fire station - the crystals in the top of the wall around the back of the area (set on point) - all of the fire equipment and tools. I even can bring back the smells of that place. We were cooking fish in some sort of cooker out back for all my friends from now. I awakened and then went back to sleep and the dream continued on the same path. A wonderful reminder of some memories. Way cool. I had kinda forgotten some of those memories and it was a very nice reminder of those day. Well before I figured out that life was really very complicated.

It has prompted a call to Joy - Jim's widow this morning - and I will get to talk to his girls tonight. I haven't done that in quite a while.

On to more fun stuff. Here is a close up shot of the scarf I made this weekend and one I have in progress. Lightweight and yet just a little warmth around your neck.

The bulky blue one is complete. I made it in about an hour and a half. All chains and single crochet. The multicolored one is a mohair blend that I had one skein of and this is the perfect use for it. I bought this yarn years ago just for the color - fell into lust - had to have it. It wasn't enough for anything major, but I think it will work on this scarf. The colors are gorgeous.

I'll try to get Lannae to model these and the really fun one I also completed.

Hope this finds you all having a wonderful day.

Run - to etsy - to her blog - to her mom's place

I read a lot of blogs. I look at a lot of photos over at flickr. I get a ton of magazines. I drool and wish at etsy. Yesterday - I happened onto a post on my google reader about Miss Caitlin Holcomb. The lampshades below are from her flickr set.

I gasped. My heart raced. I drooled. I want - I want - I want - and I have sent the etsy link for these to the people who most likely can buy this for me for Christmas.


What I did not know - and cannot figure how I missed it - is that she is Mary Holcomb's daughter. Yes Mary Holcomb - you know the one featured in many magazines - like Somerset Life and many others. She is the creator of one of my favorite blogs - Merci Notes.

I did not follow Mary's links out because I have around 200 blogs on my google reader and I was getting sucked farther and farther into the internet world. Finding this genius has changed that - I'll be following links again.

In addition to the accent lamps I have fallen for - Caitlin has paintings and banners and other fun stuff at her shop. I got a serious crush on this girl and her stuff.

No MaggieGrace goodness because I spent last night snuggled on the sofa watching tv with the College Freshman who is home on fall break.

Have a wondeful day.

I got mine --------

ETA - this took on a much more political and personal tone than I intended - the book is beautiful and well worth the purchase as a luxury. Remember that word - this book was a want - not a need and I spent money I had put back for this type of item to buy it. Luxuries are important but it is so important that you clearly identify wants and needs.

I love Magnolia Pearl. I clipped a photo of a bag years ago and still go back to it on occasion. I have drooled over articles about Robin's home and lifestyle. I have even posted about her site and blog here. So when I saw she was publishing a lifestyle book - it was a had to have one for me. I preordered my copy from Barnes and Noble. It came yesterday.

I have only had the opportunity at this point to quickly thumb through and look at the eye candy. There is a gracious plenty of it. The quote above will be added to my collection of quotes. I was thirty five years old before I figured out this bit of wisdom for myself.

I needed my mothers approval and company. We were so uncomfortable with one another (for so many reasons) that much of the time we spent together was centered around shopping - the distraction of pretty things was just enough to keep the disagreeing and nerve grating to a minimum. Her stroke a few years back has made such a difference in how we interact - in a good way.

Filling voids with buying stuff is such an adder to the budget strains many people are facing. Guilty. Me. Yes. But so much less of that occurs now than in the past. My studio is a prime example there. Spending only what we had available - finding ways around the budget constraints. Satisfaction of having all that knowledge and a place to call my own.

I have some beautiful frames that I'll be adapting this idea to.

I am glad Mom and I spent all that time together - and I am so happy that we have advanced to a better place that does not require all that distraction. Now that the studio is where I can work in it instead of on it, we can spend time there with the only distaction being the making of fun things.

Look at that shirt/jacket. Vintage embroideries. Yes the vintage is beautiful, but unfortunately expensive. But what is to keep me from finding a plain white shirt and embroidering my own - there may even be a shirt hanging in either a closet at home or local best friend's closet that can be repurposed? Nothing. I have the skills. God knows I have the floss. What will I get out of the deal? An item I will love to wear and the knowledge that I made it. Economic gains - very little spent on the item except time.

Shredded - tea dyed - muslin. Got tons of muslin at my house - time spent with my mom - I have some outdated tea bags too. MMMMMM - see things there. And no need to worry about what others think about the new curtain toppers in my bedroom. I like the look and I have the stuff already - see how this new thought process works.

Economy issues abound because we were living so far beyond our means. This was the American way. The banking people told us (misled us is a better way to say it) that we could pay the minimum and still have what we wanted. Notice I used the word wanted. We used to joke about how Mama Norvan kept tinfoil - washed and reused it. Now everyone in America is conserving and trying a "green" approach. Personally - I have not used a credit card in at least 9 years. The scary part - I just paid of my last individual one. We have some joint accounts to go. NINE YEARS OF FOCUSED PAYING. OF ADDING EXTRA MONEY TO PAYMENTS. NINE YEARS TO PAY OFF A STEAK DINNER ON A FRIDAY NIGHT THAT I CANNOT REMEMBER. NINE YEARS TO PAY OFF A DRESS THAT I CANNOT WEAR NOW. NINE YEARS TO PAY OFF THINGS I WANTED. The banks made those little luxuries become so common that I cannot even remember what we spent money on.

An outdoor sitting space would be a luxury - but instead of instant gratification - how about spending some time with my Mom and others cutting the trees off of our property - then assembling them. I have so many fabrics (remember the spending sprees) that I can easily duplicate the fabric accessories without spending any MORE. Sure I would love to buy some more pretties, but I have plenty of stuff I can use.

This is a luxury I have longed for. An outdoor bathing space. I have several clippings of outdoor tubs and showers. And I wait. I have a great space for one, but the money is just not there. And I wait.

This book is a serious eye candy book. But the lifestyle and look are so achievable for me. Maybe that is a sign that I am finally overcoming the demons that create the hole in me that needs to be filled with new stuff. The demon that needs instant gratification has been quieted too. Maybe that is why the look and lifestyle featured in the book are appealing to me - with patience and hard work - I can have it too.

Now to find a white shirt.........

Have a great day.

I am a happy happy girl ....

This is the vision of pink goodness that I am working on. I'll share the full scoop. Last year during soccer/volleyball season I was really working on the use what I had idea. I had a huge box of miscellaneous yarns that had accumulated at the house. I carried those everywhere we went and finished this afghan. I am so happy with it. It is bright - colorful - fits perfectly across the bed - and I used up a ton of yarn. Successful stash busting it was. I was excited to see the empty space where that bag of scrap yarn was.



Well the universe is so very generous. Immediately after finishing that blanket and being so excited about using up the excess, I was gifted by the pastors wife with two big copier paper boxes of yarn. A customer rescued two lawn and leaf bags full from the garbage and gave them too me. I found a box full in my attic. Add all of that to the still massive pile that I still had and you still have a ton of yarn. I have finished three baby blankets - made some 40 beanie hats - bunches of bird nests - and made a neck warmer. Have I made a dent in the pile???? Maybe - but it is still massive.



There was one yarn in particular that I passed over and over time and again. A red heart brand in varigated dusty rose. I really did not like this yarn. I used a little of it in the big blanket, but I had several skeins still. I was just flat tired of looking at it. Crochet is so easy to travel with. For me, once I get started, I can pick it up and put it down easily. So here is the result. A "random" stripe lap blanket. Simple, single crochet then chain. The next row is an opposing pattern crocheted in the chain one opening creating a fairly dense but lightweight blanket.



I found some more pieces of skeins in pinks and am using those to break up the varigated yarn. This will not be perfectly symmetrical but still eye catching. I have twin cousins and this one will be a Christmas gift for one of them - I'll do something similar for the other one. oth of my girls have similar scrap blankes on their beds or carry them in car for naps. I'm just happy to be checking more stash busting off the list.



In other news - I registered for my etsy shop this week. Paypal setup completed. Now I just have to figure out some stock for that shop. More to come. Just having the addresses and accounts open is huge for me. Making that step makes me happy.



The bottom picture is making me the happiest of all. One whitewashed wall in MaggieGrace Studio. Way back in November - we started hanging walls from the lumber recycled when we remodeled the house. It was so dark in there that I decided I wanted a whitewashed effect for this. I finished one wall last night. Look at this. To me it looks like a beach shack and I am so in love with it. This is rough cut lumber so in reality it is very textured and irregular. Did I say I am in love with this?? The peak of the roof will be filled with syrofoam insulation board and will have a patchwork of wall paper scraps glued to it. ( Thank you Pam Garrison and Alicia Paulson). I do not have vintage wallpaper, but I do have two big boxes (boot boxes) of 80's wall paper pieces. I have used wallpaper paste on a test piece and discovered that covering the styrofoam needs the paste designed for pasting border over vinyl paper. I think because the foam insulation has some sort of vinyl or plastic protective coating one it.

Is it just me or does this look like a beach shanty to you too? And did I say I am so in love with this?

I AM A HAPPY HAPPY GIRL.

Have a wonderful day.

Still pictures from the weekend

A detail of a yo-yo quilt in an antiques store.

Look at the lovely colors. I have a quilt made in this style on the wall in my hallway. Another post. This was way out of my price range. This one is made from vintage flowersacks but it was an unusually large size and price tag. I have tons of scrap fabrics and want to make one of these someday.

Looking at it made me wonder. You know how I get. I ponder things. Saturday was a good day for that. Charles and I often ride in complete silence. When we go into a shop it is not a stay right together thing. We all spread out and only discuss as we bump into one another. Anyway - I got sidetracked.

The kinds of things I wonder. Did the maker of this quilt buy the flour with thought to the colors she wanted in this quilt? Did she plan the layout and execute that plan? Was it a project she worked diligently to complete? Did she make a few of these yo-yos as she had the time and store them? How/where did she store them? Are these made from the leftovers of other projects? These quilts (coverlets) are basically useless - did the maker just want something pretty to look at? Is this the way she relaxed at the end of the day? I lay scrap projects out and then move them around until the look appeals to me - did she work that way? Why do I always assume the maker was a she? Those are the kinds of things I think.

I will say that my mental and emotional outlook is much better. I am creating again, but I wanted to share my finds and inspirations from the weekend through this week. There will be made by me items next week. It feels good to have that mojo back.

I will say about what happened last week - trust and forgiveness are easy for some things - other things make it a much more difficult process. I find myself obsessing about what happened and when I get it on my mind, it is as if it just happened. The person who betrayed me reads this and is even more upset that I have shared it. Reminder to the guilty party - this is my space. I am really glad you read it. I welcome you here. If you will just absorb what you read here, you will have a much better picture of who I am and what I stand for. You will see the message I want to share with the world and the message I want to share with my girls. And you will find that I have a low tolerance for behaviors and attitudes that are not under the umbrella of right, fair, empowering and encouraging. You have children - try hard to think what you would say to them if they brought this kind of situation to you for advice. I'm not sure what you would tell them - at one time I thought I knew - but now I really don't feel like I know you at all. I am trying and you need to know it is an act of sheer will to not attack over and over again. And when I am hurt - I will attack and saw your legs off at the knees. I don't like that part of me, but it is there and I accept that. Enough already about that.

I jump from project to project so often and last night I started yet another one. Miss Vallen has a birthday coming up that took me by surprise, so I am pulling something together for her. The louvered cabinet is finished. Am I the only one who has several projects going at one time? I will be traveling again the weekend of July 27th and I want to get the cowboy quilt ready to be what I work on at night. Somehow stating that as a goal here gives me the incentive to make that happen.

I hope you have enjoyed the inspiration of the pictures from the weekend. I have an image in my mind that I didn't capture on camera though and I regret that. This color combo keeps haunting me though and I think it might appear in something. As we were walking back to the car on Saturday, we passed beneath a deep red/fushcia crepe myrtle. Individual tiny blossoms had fallen off that tree onto the weathered concrete sidewalk below. That mottled grey of the sidewalk sprinkled with those dark fuschia blooms is hanging around in the back of my brain.

Is there that kind of image that haunts your memory? Share it with us. How many hours do you spend on Flickr, chasing just those kinds of images? Have you stumbled across something on the web that you would like to share? Do you ponder things like I do? Share some of your ponderings with us.

Have a wonderful day.

Journey, Adventure, Experience - planning a map

Journey - any course or passage from one stage or experience to another.

Adventure - a happening, a daring undertaking, an unusual, stirring experience, to take a risk.

Experience - personal involvement in or observation of events as they occur, all that has happened in ones life to date, the effect on a person of events that have happened, the reaction of a person to those events.

Map - to arrange or plan in detail, to survey or explore for the purpose of making a visual representation.

There is no map for this journey called life. It is an adventure that must be experienced along the way. Only by following the heart and soul can we find our way through. Listen to what yours is saying and follow your true path. Then you can show others that yours is not the one right way, that the way is different for each and everyone.

I'm listening to my heart. It is time to make some inroads on the journey my heart is telling me to follow. MaggieGraceCreates is becoming a sharper focus in my life. While MaryAnn is becoming freer in her creativity by pulling back from selling her work, I am feeling the need to explore more of my creativity as an additional source of income. Maybe some shows, an etsy shop, not really sure. (Could it be that the reality of sending a child off to college is telling me that I need more income?)

Soul searching, planning, defining. How to market? What to market? That's where I am today. Not heavy, just focused. A really good place for me.

Photo above - a map fabric in my day job showroom. I painted a cheap frame with black spraypaint and framed this gorgeous green and gold fabric. But it sure did photograph beautifully in black and white.

Have a beautiful day.

Happy Blogday to me.

Well the blog birthday was yesterday. I have been at this for a year. I really am having a very hard time believing that. How did the blog start? How did I name it? Why do I keep blogging?

How did it start? - I found swap-bot and joined a few swaps. Some of the people I swapped with had blogs and I started reading. Then I decided to create my own. Those first few posts were so bad.

The Name - a memorial to a baby I miscarried. My real name for those who might wonder. Teresa Atkinson.

Why do I blog? It started as a connection to those swap partners. Then as I read and commented, I met more and more people all over the world. I get so much inspiration from this medium and I hope I have provided some inspiration to others. I love the visiting that occurs back and forth from my friends here, and I do consider all of you my friends. There have been times when I thought I might quit, then someone leaves a comment and I realize that, however small it might be, this small site might have a positive impact.

Where do I want to go in the next year? I want this to be a kind place, a place of positive messages, I want to meet even more people who are attracted to a handcrafted and upbeat lifestyle. I want to continue my journey towards being the best I can be, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I want to create more. I want to give more. I want to be fully aware of the smallest blessings in my life. I want to share a good message with those who need to hear it. I want to spend time with you my cyber friends and those I can see face to face.

Special thanks to a few who have been fast friends. There are so many, it is hard, I don't want anyone to be slighted here but there is a special bond that just happens sometimes.

MaryAnn you are amazing, generous, kind, and you give me so much inspiration. I have been challenged and encouraged by you through your blog and personal emails as well as notes and care packages. You da bestest. A daily check in with you happens every weekday. (Professor MaryAnn on my sidebar)

Vallen - the queen herself - a fairly new buddy who shares so much humour and inspiration on her blog. Vallen makes things - lots of things. Vallen loves her family. Vallen cooks - I could learn how if I chose to. Vallen makes us all feel like we are royalty too. (Queenly Things on the sidebar)

Shula - my Aussie pal - Crochet and dolls and wit and wisdom - her beautiful crocheted wedding coat caught my attention on Flickr and I have been to visit her blog over and over - each new post amazes me. (Poppalina on those daily reads)

Corey - an American who gave all to love and moved with that love to France. She makes me think with every post and the eye candy that she shares is forever inspiring. Of course, I would have given into that love too. Look at him. (Tongue in Cheek on the blogroll)

Emily - the black apple - a fellow Athenian. I was a fan long before she moved back here. And she is just as adorable in person as she comes across in the blog. Every new painting or doll is my favorite.

I chose five, but I have so many others that I read everyday. (like about 100 of you) I appreciate all of you and what you bring to my life.

Now the picture above. If a certain someone looks carefully, she will see that this is in response to a challenge I am participating in. Look carefully at the colors ladies - see if they speak to you.

Thank you all for visits here. Thank you for your comments. Thanks for prayers. Thanks for encouraging me. Thanks for everything. As I celebrate my blog birthday - I am really celebrating you.

Have a wonderful day - Teresa

my own little world

Welcome to the view from the world in my head. On Saturday, we were sitting at the ballfield and I was crocheting. I finished the last of the squares for my granny afghan. The youth minister from the church was there to watch the girls play and was talking to me.

I have no idea how long he talked, but at some point the conversation finally caught my attention. I had no idea what he had said and I confessed that fact to him. I apologized and said "I was in my own little world." His response - "I think that could be scary." See I am known to be blunt about my thoughts. I can be loud and rowdy and outspoken. Teenagers don't bother me, I see them as the greatest challenge. I don't mind being onstage or in front of a crowd. I can laugh at myself and allow others to laugh at me with no problem. I can prank with the best of them. So in an instant, I assessed that - Yes - my own little world could be interpreted as scary.

But it isn't. So I have been journaling thoughts about my world this weekend and I thought I would share the reality of that dream world.

1. It's quiet. The sounds I want to hear. Birds singing, a waterfall or waves lapping on the shoreline, the squirrels rustling the leaves. No radio, tv. This was a very surprising revelation for me to give the youth minister.

2. A small cabin perched in a thicket of trees. I don't need a lot of space, just a lot of comfort.

3. I awaken on my own and pass the day in complete sync with what my body tells me to do. I rest when I need to, work when I need to, eat when I am hungry, and center all of it with an afternoon stroll and some creative work.

4. Coffee in the mornings, sweet tea the rest of the day.

5. Fireplace (gas logs)

6. Sharing all this with loved ones.

7. A big ol' bathtub, a table small enough for one but large enough for many. Quilts, candles.

8. Furniture you can move easily for a nap in front of the fire or an improptu waltz across the floor.

My little world is full of grace and passion. It centers around taking care of myself and those I love. My little world very much resembles those days of history, when early settlers were far apart, self reliant, capable, hard working, used what they had available, they were adventurous, and determined, and they created the history of this nation. I think the biggest attraction for me is the simplicity of the idea of that lifestyle.

Maybe I really need to go and read Walden again. Or the Little House books. Even the Tahsa Tudor books. I do know that I could not function in that world - current day demands really make it unavailable. But I do enjoy the escape in my mind regularly and MaggieGrace world will capture some of the things I am so attracted to.

I escape there often just to rest and relax my mind. So where do you go when you visit "your own little world"?

Home

Here it is. The yard needs work. Time for a coat of paint. You cannot tell but it is covered in this horrid yellow dust right now. Welcome to spring in the south. Pollen count today - over 5900. I turned the wipers on this morning and the pollen literally caked on the blades.

When we bought this house the yard was "clean swept" - an old southern thing. All of the top soil was gone and what remained was a concrete-hard clay expanse. If it was dry. If it was wet - think slime - slick and nasty. Tthe bare spot you see is the only remining bare spot and we continue to try and get the top soil to stay here. We have put 14 large dump truck loads of soil on this part of the yard. We have sodded and sown grass many, many times. We make progress every year - maybe someday we will get there.

The gravel here is the driveway and the MaggieGrace studio is even with the side porch, just across the drive.

You can see the bench I posted the other day here. And the front porch where I spend a lot of time during some evenings. Complete with porch swing and a screen door that slams. Its a typical southern farmhouse.

I chose this to post today, because it is easy. I am struggling today with some things, so I needed easy. I keep my camera with me all the time and I save some of these kinds of photos for days like this.

I have an enormous amount to say, but I need to sort it out first. I am emotionally tender, fragile even today. I made a decision this week that was hard for me. I resigned from my duties as a youth volunteer at the church. I know in my heart it was the right decision, but it is still hard. I told the kids last night and have taken a little of a beating from their parents about it. I did not leave them alone, if you go back through the archives here, you will find that the church hired a youth minister almost a year ago and eliminated my job as director leaving me as a volunteer.

I am sure more of this will surface here in the next few weeks as I ponder my feelings and hopes and dreams about the next door I will be opening.

On to a nicer note, cruise over and see Vallen . She is putting together a neat ATC swap. I already know where I am going with mine. I have been wanting to make a quiltlet and now I know how I am going to incorporate that desire into a goodie. While you are there. let her know that you continue to remember the Queen Mother, who is still recovering from an infection.

I got the most wonderful package yesterday from MaryAnn. Thank you dear - love the purse - can't wait to fill up my apron pockets with crafty tools, and maybe some lucky person will get a note on one of those fab cards. I have your fabric spread out and I am drooling over ideas.

I still have my spring birdie pattern laying on the table and I am thinking I might have to complete some more birds. Then maybe some fun stars for July. Not really sure.

As for my CIP posting - Go over there next week. I hope to have some wonderful goodies to post by Friday/Monday.

Happy Thursday All - Have a wonderful day.

A look inside

I promised a look at my sketch for a quilt. I ALWAYS have something to sketch on and with. All three of these are quilt ideas. The top will be a baby quilt inspired by one at Pink Chalk Studio. The lower left will be an art quilt and the lower right will be a full sized quilt and could be adapted for a baby or art quilt.

When will I make these? I do not have a clue. Maybe never. Maybe tomorrow. These sketch books / journals / picture books are for inspiration and notes. They are a conglomeration of my thoughts, quotes, mag pullouts, pictures I have printed, fortune cookie fortunes, notes, phone numbers, addresses. You name it - if I found inspiration - if it was something I needed to remember - if I found it worthy of writing down (even a shopping list) - it could be in these.

They are a lot of fun to go back through too. The most amazing thing about the older ones, I can still look at the sketches and immediately "see" what I was trying to catch at that moment. I can refer to these much like an Illustrated Discovery Journal referenced many times by Sarah ban Breathnach in her Simple Abundance writings.

There are creations, decorating ideas, gift ideas referenced. The RED RECLINER that I sit in everyday is one of the things that has appeared over and over in the books. I clipped photos of red leather chairs and kept them for years. So when I found that recliner and it was sucha great deal - I knew without a doubt that this was IT. No indecision - no fears - no regrets.

What is not in these books. My dream career. Not in that format. I can see the direction my life has taken by looking at these, but there is not actual reference to my "DREAMS". I think having recognized that fact, I will focus some energy on defining that path. I have spent years slaying demons and now am ready for that serious look forward to plan my future. Pity you have to get to be 40 before you can decide what you want to be when you grow up.

Really - I want to take an active role in planning my future. I want a comfortable retirement. I want to be able to travel. I want to be able to help my children with their children when needed. I want my house to be the place all the grandkids remember spending time at. I want time to be creative and a place to work on that stuff. I want the people around me to encourage me wholly. I want to help others get on this nurturing path earlier than I did. I want a better life for all my loved ones.

I may not get all the things I want from my life. But I can identify the steps to take to try and accomplish things. Then I can blame no one but myself - that's the scary part - when you take control of your life, you have no one to blame.

So what are your dreams for the future? What do you want to be when you grow up? Are you in control of the plan? Are you ready to take that control?

Have a wonderful day.