Kindness Quilt Square #4 -- aka my favorite one.

It only takes ONE person, and ONE act of kindness, to inspire others and create change.

@jennifer_hogan

That quote illustrates a great way to live and one thing I have discovered in the 

creative blogging community, is that they are some of the most

generous and kind people around. 

My friend Vicki, over at the 2 Bags Full blog is one of those wonderful

people.  

So when I was invited to be a part of her KINDNESS QUILT PROJECT, I was thrilled and honored to participate. An immediate "YES' was my answer. 

4 squares - crochet and embellished.

Roughly 6 inches square. 

These will be gathered by Vicki, assembled, and gifted to a special person. 

What a wonderful way to share our love of creating with others. 

I immediately went to work. 

Details from Square #4

This looks NOTHING like my original idea for the 4th square. 

It's all Cindy Kirk's fault. She gifted me this gorgeous novelty yarn.

And it screamed Sea Water to me. 

So I made the foundation for this one to resemble the sea. 

And then I wanted a tidal pool with all kinds of treasures.

A base of some sand colored linen.

 I edged it with some rough thread bordering. 

I did the border in single crochet and left the loops and bobbles free to simulate the splash of waves on the sand. 

Sew on some clear bead "bubbles".

Then I ran across these seashell patterns 

Designed by Susan Whitlock. 

I made mine from bedspread cotton. 

I LOVE IT. 

I also crocheted a little spiral of seaweed. 

Gathered fun little bits and bobbles to embellish this.

Look there's a lace "sand dollar" 

And a crocheted bit of a "sea fan coral"

This project was so much fun. 

Having an idea.

Seeing the idea come to life as I worked on it. 

There's the full view of my "Mermaid's treasure, tidal pool"

Thank you Vicki for inviting me to be a part of this. 

I cannot wait to see the finished quilt. 

Kindness Quilt Square #3

It only takes ONE person, and ONE act of kindness, to inspire others and create change.

@jennifer_hogan

That quote illustrates a great way to live and one thing I have discovered in the 

creative blogging community, is that they are some of the most

generous and kind people around. 

My friend Vicki, over at the 2 Bags Full blog is one of those wonderful

people.  

So when I was invited to be a part of her KINDNESS QUILT PROJECT, I was thrilled and honored to participate. An immediate "YES' was my answer. 

4 squares - crochet and embellished.

Roughly 6 inches square. 

These will be gathered by Vicki, assembled, and gifted to a special person. 

What a wonderful way to share our love of creating with others. 

I immediately went to work. 

Details from Square #3

I made the base for this one from some wool blend, sock weight yarn using a C2C pattern. 

Then I went into the stash. 

I knew I wanted to make the roses from my friend Doni's, Tutorial . I've made a lot of these in different sizes since I first got the tutorial from her, so I consider this one tried and true. 

So I gathered some cobweb weight thread in assorted colors from the stash.

I wanted this to feel like dried rose bouquets that we save from those special events. 

I crocheted six roses and added vintage buttons for the centers. 

For the "leaves" I crocheted a lacy doiley center from some nice, silky thread. The sheen and color perfectly fit the idea I was trying for. 

Then a fussy cut from some vintage lace that my friend MaryAnn sent me. 

The final bit of detail is a FAVORITE button that I have been hanging on to for YEARS. 

Look again at those colors.

Does it give you the keepsake faded roses feel I was seeking?

I promise this is square - but it sure looks wonky in this picture.

I am really happy with how this turned out. 

It is so exciting when the idea in your head really works out. 

Kindness Quilt Square #2

It only takes ONE person, and ONE act of kindness, to inspire others and create change.

@jennifer_hogan

That quote illustrates a great way to live and one thing I have discovered in the 

creative blogging community, is that they are some of the most

generous and kind people around. 

My friend Vicki, over at the 2 Bags Full blog is one of those wonderful

people.  

So when I was invited to be a part of her KINDNESS QUILT PROJECT, I was thrilled and honored to participate. An immediate "YES' was my answer. 

4 squares - crochet and embellished.

Roughly 6 inches square. 

These will be gathered by Vicki, assembled, and gifted to a special person. 

What a wonderful way to share our love of creating with others. 

I immediately went to work. 

Details from Square #2

The base is crocheted from a soft, baby sweater yarn that I had leftover from a baby blanket.

(I've also used it in a Moogly Sweater that I made) 

It matched some sweet rose fabric scrap that I had. I actually think that this is the very last bit of this fabric. 

I took some beautiful coordinating Perle Cotton and crocheted an edging around the oval rose cutout from that fabric. Giving it a "frame" effect.

A tiny PEACE advertising token from an insurance company was attached along with a vintage button and a blossom from a silk hydrangea. 

I then beaded a tiny little butterfly (or moth) and attached that as well.

I mounted the framed rose a bit off center to allow the colorful striping to be seen . 

A fairly quick and simple square. 

My Kindness Quilt Square #1

It only takes ONE person, and ONE act of kindness, to inspire others and create change.

@jennifer_hogan

That quote illustrates a great way to live and one thing I have discovered in the 

creative blogging community, is that they are some of the most

generous and kind people around. 

My friend Vicki, over at the 2 Bags Full blog is one of those wonderful

people.  

So when I was invited to be a part of her KINDNESS QUILT PROJECT, I was thrilled and honored to participate. An immediate "YES' was my answer. 

4 squares - crochet and embellished.

Roughly 6 inches square. 

These will be gathered by Vicki, assembled, and gifted to a special person. 

What a wonderful way to share our love of creating with others. 

I immediately went to work. 

Here are the details of the very first square from me. 

A luscious, soft, pink cotton yarn. I crocheted in a single stitch basket weave pattern. 

(Looks like an Easter basket to me.) 

Once I had the base completed, I then set about embellishing.

I have made hundreds of these melty fabric flowers over the years, (here's a HOW TO link if you like) and I had these warm pink fabrics left over from making some for a wedding, so I made one for this block. 

( Trying to be stashsourceful, so I made all four blocks from assorted stash materials.) 

The flower kind of disappeared against my base, so I crocheted a circle for the "leaves"

I went to the scrap box for a bit of linen and added a bit of cross stitch to this. 

That little glass button was gleaned from my "favorites" jar. 

I then called this one complete. 

Although, Vicki may add more embellishment to it as she assembles the entire quilt. 

Again, I am so honored to have been asked about being a contributor to this project. 

I'll be back in a few days with the next block. 

Have a fabulous weekend. 

Life is crazy beautiful

Still on my hook .....

The four points blanket is still being worked on. I am very much "over" all these rows after rows of single crochet. But it is turning out really cool. I have decided that it will still be a gift, just not a baby gift. This will turn into a very adult sized sofa blanket and I will post pictures here in full color once it is finished. But not on my facebook, because the recipient does follow me there. I can rightfully cover up with a single panel of this one.  One of the repeated questions on the PurlSoho.com post with the pattern was how to make this bigger than baby sized. Easiest way ---- change the yarn to a larger one. I have/will use 8 skeins of worsted weight yarn and it is wonderful.

 THE PERFECT SNUGGLY WEIGHT 

In my Serenity location, I have these on deck. My friend Vicki is leading a wonderful project - THE KINDNESS QUILT and she invited me to create a square. Well I am stash busting and I crocheted these four very different squares. I will begin embellishing them for the project. I have some ideas that I think will make these really pretty when they are finished. 

Embellishing will feed my creativity as well. It's not just crochet, this will let the "artist" in me have a bit of fun. 

And last there is this brightness. Yes it is damned near safety orange. This is the car project. I keep a box in my front seat with a project that I can do a few stitches on in the bank drive thru, or fast food drive thru, or even to grab when I will be riding with a friend. 

This is a triangular shawl pattern that I found for free on Ravelry. It's the Oh So Simple Wrap pattern and it is so easy. I am making it from 4 balls of a cotton blend yarn that I found while I was cleaning the corner in the kitchen. (Let's not talk about how long they were buried in that corner.)

I refused to add this yarn to the stash, so it spent a few days beside me while I worked on all that single crochet. I spent those days "designing in my head", then when it moved to the car project box, that designing was not working out. I went on the search for a project that I could easily pick up and put down, Where I could change colors as I wanted and that could expand or contract in size depending on the yarn I had. I could have done an old fashioned granny square shawl, but I wanted something with slightly more style. This is turning out to be perfect. 

I sure hope you are having a wonderful day.

Remember LIFE IS CRAZY BEAUTIFUL

Grateful Hope Planning and Praying

This counting of blessings - it's contagious - my friend Patti has/is reading the book --- I am re-reading it. Looking for things to focus on for the retreat. Trying to plan the details. 

Details - all the details - and this is to be a low stress event -----

For my friends. 

Me - well this s a GIFT for them. Some of the details may go unnoticed, but the prayers that are in those details --- they will be felt from now until the event and hopefully well past it. 

Which brings me to today ------

This is me. 

Let's just recap the week. I forgot to write a transaction down in the check book - the warehouse for shipping material to us at my grown up girl job left a CRITICAL item off the truck (4 hours in the car to make that right - windshield time) - Mr Dorsey has had another stroke - one of the youth from my church had a GI artery bleed and is still in the hospital after emergency surgery - a friend of mine spent Wednesday night and all day yesterday trying to find her elderly father (who left going to church, became disoriented, and was finally located miles and miles from home), another friend lost a job, and  add to this ---- I feel puny. (hope I am not getting sick).

I am quite empty ---

And yet I am blessed.

Patti posted her NOTICING on facebook last night. Simply beautiful.
I tossed a grungy sock with the bucket boy --- both of us enjoyed that play time.
Andrew's surgery was successful - he will be ok - again
AND - they found Beth's Dad safe - he wandered into a Historical Museum in a small town and the lovely people there searched until they found Beth's number (please please people - program an ICE number into your phones.)

Blessings through the HARD, EMPTY, TRYING moments.

I want this seeing of blessings to be shared with the ladies in attendance at GRATEFUL HOPE.

So yesterday - while praying over so much difficult stuff - I tried to pray over an easy craft for the Retreat. I put up a picture collage of these and asked for votes. I'm still asking. See some of these ladies are not "craft" oriented ---- but I really want them to feel like they can make something pretty as a memento of the day together. Something that when they see it, they are reminded of the JOY, GRATITUDE, and FELLOWSHIP of the day.

Note - I will put together kits for whichever one I/we decide on. The actual craft will be INSPIRED by these - not an exact duplicate.

So please vote in the comments on this ---- list your top three in order of what you might like to make if you were a part of the gathering.


1. A BEADED HEART ORNAMENT - inspired by the one pictured. I found the original link at Mayahelena on ETSY

A note prompted by Patti: This can be completed in brights or neutrals. I already have everything I need for this craft. I would form the hearts ahead of time ----and the completion would be stringing the beads and wrapping the heart to your liking.

2. FABRIC BUNTING - I found this image at The Natural Wedding Company - it linked to BHLDN - but the bunting is no longer available there. The one shown is sewn to the hanging string, but we would glue ours. Again we can do this in brights - or neutrals. I'm thinking at least 10 different fabrics for each one. 

I have everything needed for this one too - I would precut the fabric shapes  - and the completion would be the gluing together - I most likely would cut all the pieces from assorted fabrics - then randomly package the kits - but you ladies could swap at the tables ---- 

3. BEADED MOBILE YARD ART. I found this on Pinterest, but in searching Google images - I located the source - on ETSY.  The most difficult part of this will be stringing beads (I'll add buttons to the ones we would make because - well - I have them - and I like them)

I have everything for this one too - I would predrill the branches and completion would be stringing and tying these on. Again - these can be brights - pastels - neutrals.

4. HANDSTITCHED TINY CHARMS - be still my heart -- I love these. These were made by Becky Shander - actually I love ALL her stuff.  Now these are tiny - and this would definitely be a handstitching project.

But once again (imagine) I have all the stuff. to make assorted versions of these.

Matter of fact - I'll be making some of these anyway. Just because.

5. WORD BLOCK ORNAMENT - this one came with a FULL TUTORIAL and I like it. it can be expanded to say HOPE - PEACE - GRACE - LOVE - really anything.

I have "most" of this readily available. Although there may have to be a bit of adaptation to use from the stash. it might not be multi-sided and we may wind up using scrabble tiles for the letters.

6. MELTY FLOWERS -- I made over a 100 of this type of flower for Molly's wedding.  I found this picture here.   Circles of petals - fun button and bead centers. These are a little more "laborious" - but NOT difficult to make.

I would bring the precut circles - and candles - you would melt the edges (who doesn't like to play with fire) and hand stitch together to make a pin on flower. again these could be done in any color scheme and I have all the stuffs for them.

Crafts for 15 people - from the stash - well yes - I can EASILY be accomplished.

This event is in October - it is a LABOR OF LOVE for me. I have felt called to do this from the first chapter of the book. Please help me get all these details right ----

I am investing my heart into this --- God is investing His love through me ---

Please comment with your 'PINIONS even if this is not an event you can attend. I need your help.

I am working through all my details - most will not be seen here until after the event --- surprises are fun.

Life is beautiful - busy, but beautiful - stop and NOTICE the beauty.

I've been waiting for many years for this......

Years ago I found a blog that resonated with me. 

A lady with an amazing talent for ephemeral art, crochet, and appreciation for nature, and for living a beautiful life. 

This lady has a wonderful name too

Margaret Ooman

you can find her here

or here

Anyway, back to the story. I saw a post on her website and fell head over heels in love with the idea. 

Now, she lives where it get COLD (as in -6 degrees C) and I live in the southern United States. 

There was an issue with completing this idea at my house --- it may get cold, but it often warms well above freezing during the day. 

So the artwork would really be "ephemeral" and vanish quickly. 

But not now.

We are having a huge freeze here in good old northeast Georgia.

It was 8 degrees F here this morning. and not going out of the 20's all day.

This was my chance. 

I took a pie pan. 

A crochet snowflake. 

Snowflake flat in pan. 

With the hanger draped over the edge. 

Sprinkle Glitter across the water. 

Sit outside. 

Go to work.

Come home to this.

Crochet ice sculpture. 

It makes me smile every time I see it hanging on my kitchen porch.

I'll be doing this one again "SOMETIME"

    Here's the link to the post I saw over at Resurrection Fern. 

What do you guys think?

Happy Tuesday!!!

Life is very Beautiful.

Gifts from the stash.

I've been steady working in the studio. 

Crocheting and working on all kinds of things. 

Some just could not be shared yet. 

(Trying not to spoil the surprises.)

This was one of them. 

Plus posting everyday for Simply Simple September has been easy and fun. 

And has allowed me to take a bit of a break on working up posts.

Way back here I talked about the babies joining our life. 

I also mentioned nothing would have to be purchased. 

Well - so far so good on that. 

I am one blanket behind. Little Eloise Ruth's blanket is NOT finished and she is here. But it is still warm weather, so I'm not panicked. 

I decided to do some words art for a few of our little ones. 

(the decision was made after "stalking" mommies to be pin boards) 

I have 100's of word art images pinned as well. 

And - I happen to have all the stuff to make these

IMAGINE THAT

So for Miss Kris' next new grand baby. 

I grabbed square canvas and painted it pale blue. 

Then cut my letters for an easily recognizable children's prayer

And because this is me - I used my CRICUT and the basic cartridge to cut these - I trimmed the "tails" off some of the letters. 

Mod Podge it all on the canvas and look at it and decide it needs "SOMETHING"

Go dig in the stash

(yes it is a seriously deep stash) 

And find a star shaped ornament.

Add lots of extra fine glitter to the star.

I also added a layer of metallic ModPodge in silver to the canvas. 

Because I like texture and depth. 

Here it is all glued. 

At this point I let it dry

Then Spray it with clear sealer.

An important part of the process in the humid south. 

The ModPodge can get tacky (sticky) in the heat and humidity and the sealer stops that. 

I just use a clear spray paint  top coat for the sealer.

Then pondered how to attach the star. 

A hole drilled in the edge of the canvas with a skewer glued in turned out to work best.

Then I glued the star to the skewer. 

Voila

Cute little boy artwork. 

(I'm kinda fond of texture of my studio siding too)

I also agreed to swap an ATC with Kim over at ArtJoyStuff.

I have not done one of these swaps in ages. 

I dug into a deck of vintage playing cards

and put this little art together. 

Go here to see what I got in return.

Totally different styles. But I think that is what the swapping of art is all about. 

I hope this finds you enjoying a beautiful life. 

a creative break and a really sweet friend

I love junkin'

I mean I REALLY love junkin'.

So, a couple of weekends back, I blew off work on Friday. 

Took the Softball Princess for a followup visit to the oral surgeon. 

Wisdom teeth - all four - gone at one time. 

All good - well almost all good - she has a little numbness around her lip from some nerve damage. 

Anyway - after her appointment - piled into the big white truck and took off to the mountains. 

There were several junkin' stops and there was silverware bought. Along with some odds and ends. Just stuff. 

The ultimate destination - my friend Tipper's girls were playing a concert. Those twins, Chitter and Chatter, and their parents are such a blessing. 

Made it an overnight trip and took off on Saturday morning just looking for some more junk. 

Ended up at the flea market in Murphy, NC. Now this is a real flea market. We wound up spending some four hours there before taking off toward home. 

Blogger uploaded these strangely and I refuse to fight with the internet today. 

But here are some favorites from the trip.

I spied this box and knew it was most likely way too expensive for me to take home. It is all wood and has pencil markings on the edges of the little compartments. Made from bits of cigar boxes. And OMG they left the labeling on them. FELL IN LOVE  LUST. 

Then the guy said 5.00 ------ and I grabbed 5 bucks from my wallet and yes sir eee - this baby is MINE.

After the concert, Tipper said she had something for me. She brought me a gift. She is an artist as well as a gifted writer. It was a beautiful mixed media angel. I love her ---- and she will hang with some other angels and gifts from angels soon. 

This stunning pink and green cabinet stopped me in my tracks ---- just look at it. Now - I have ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE to put this. But it took a lot of self control to not buy it anyway. 

There were several gasps and giggles that escaped on this little trek. There was a tiny bit of tequila consumed. There was rest and relaxing. I really recommend taking a time out for yourself and just do something FUN. 

And an FYI the spending was well controlled - I think the flea market total was 38.00. 

Have a great weekend.  I'm heading out to a festival Saturday - more on that next week. 

A MaggieGraceWorld playdate

This is Luke ----

He calls me Miss Teresa (or Miss T)

I'm blessed to have him in my life.

He spent the summer a Y Camp, but the camp ended before school started back. His Mom and I talked about it and I took a day off to babysit Luke.

I put babysit in parenthesis for lots of reasons

1. Luke is not a baby.
2. Having him is not work at all.
3. I really get to play all day when I have him.

Well on this day, the weather sucked ---- rainy and muddy and generally gross.

Well Miss T has this great place to play. So off to the studio we go. Luke loves to make things.

This time he picked an unfinished box to make a treasure box.

I grabbed an old tshirt and popped it over his clothes and then let him go.

He painted his box - then lined it with paper.

Add fun stickers and we have a cool little box.

I can't figure out my deal though. I have the hardest time using some of my stuff. Saving the "good stuff" for whatever reason. But invite a guest into the studio - I honestly have no anxiety at all about what they might use from the stash. Wondering why that is?

Anyway, I captured this great image of Luke Boy concentrating so hard on his project. This may be one of my favorite pictures of him.

I'm glad he's a part of my life and I can't wait to spend another day "babysitting" for him......

Have a great weekend ---- I've got lots planned for mine.

craziness

I've been collecting fabric for years. I've had in the back of my mind that I would make a crazy quilt "someday".

I own a fabulous book on crazy quilting. I have looked at the pretty pictures thousands of times. and drooled over what MY QUILT will look like draped over the end of the bed. 

Yes - that quilt - the one I haven't even started. 

Then on my blogroll I saw a link to this online free stitch along class. The picture below is Sandy's picture from that class. 

I may not be inspired (right now) to start a quilt, but a cuff, well that is quite do-able.

So I gathered my fabrics. And following the really well written instructions, I pieced my foundation for the cuff.

Then I started following the step by step (clearly written instructions - Sandy is a great tutorial writer). Because it is the type of personalized project that allows it, I picked the parts best suited to what I wanted mine to look like.

There was coarse linen - some velvet - eyelet - even some loose woven damask type fabric. (Note - loose woven was HARD to work with in this manner.)

I then added pearls and teeny rick rack.

 Laces and trims and medallions. Some ribbon.

 Always some buttons and beads.

Metallic floss for a bit of sparkle. I cut four tiny hearts from a bit of lace and made a little flower..

Then I ran across this bottle ---- Now who would give me an empty whiskey bottle. Well - someone who knows that the etching on this from being buried would make me happy. (Discovered under an old house) The front of this is frosty looking from that etching while the back is clear.

I decided then - that this cuff would not be a bracelet for me - but would be a removable cuff wrap for my bottle. (another note - I can slip this off and wear it if I choose. I chose to adhere it to the bottle with double stick tape)

I finished the final assembly of this last night before bed.  Sandy's tutorial uses some glue, but I actually hand stitched every single bit of this.

The detail below is the center medallion of the cuff. Layers of lace - tulle - and silk flowers.

But I think my favorite detail is the tiny beading along this ribbon. So dainty and sweet in reality.

This is a wonderfully well written tutorial --- I'll be going back and making more of these.

Enough about that --- Here is my "cuffed" bottle. I have a big ugly pickle jar with some beads in it. I'm thinking this will be MUCH MUCH better looking on the shelf.

Please go see Sandy if you are interested in making your own.

CRAZY QUILT CUFF CLASS

i'm really happy with mine.

What if I die?

I know. That's a creepy post title. And, I wish I could take credit for it. But I stole it from Mary over at the green paper blog. Mary collects and shares vintage ephemera and scans of her things. It is a beautiful blog for us paper hoarders.

There you go - I said it. I am a hoarder. I collect stuffs. If you read through MaggieGrace from the beginning, you will spot the "i really need to get rid of stash stuff and use what I have and quit collecting and and and" pattern.

Well, without the actual cost of some serious couch sessions with a qualified therapist I may never get well. Just joking. In the last 18 months there have been some major changes in my life that have made me really pay attention to things. (cancer is a fine perspective builder)

Then reading Mary's post yesterday really resonated in my soul. Go on - click over and read what I'm speaking of.

I have stuffs. Lot's of stuffs. And I KNOW my girls will not hesitate to chunk it in the dumpster if I were to die. Hopefully some of you crafty friends will show up to rescue some of it. There's a list of names and numbers if you want to sign up for a phone call "just in case."

I'm getting ready for a Market and I went and grabbed a box of "GOOD STUFF" last night. I took a really deep breath and jumped in.



The results of using the "one of a kinds" out that box were wonderful. See the oriental girl in the center - thats a bookmark. The heavy textured paper in the background - a composition book sized piece was right there in the "nice papers" stack. Some stamps I was saving - a piece of Chinese Joss Paper - a textured die cut.

And then it all sang. See!!!

Now I was off and running - On the next one I determined to use all "one piece left" of my paper stash. I love this one. Let me repeat --- I love this one.

Now for a huge thank you to my buddy Tipper. Tipper blogs over at The Blind Pig and the Acorn and she is just a super nice lady. I love it when you meet a blogger friend in a "for real" setting and they are just as nice or even nicer than you expected.

Well several weekends ago, we took a little trip to the John C. Campbell fall festival and I took some stainless flatware to Tipper's daughter. She has been making rings and since I don't use the stainless for my bracelets and pendants, I was looking for a way to use the ones I had accumulated. Yesterday the most perfect and wonderful spoon ring showed up on my doorstep.  I love it. It fits my index finger perfectly and has a wonderful reminder on it.

A "D" - Now I know there is no obvious reason for me to wear a "D" monogram, but Tipper chose it as a reminder to me. See the "D" stands for "daring" and she wants to remind me to be daring enough to go for the kind of life I want to have.

Thank you Tipper and Chitter. I love it.

I am blessed - I am loved - I am sure of both those things in my life.