Cuffed (again)

IT'S NOT CANCER.... Those words will also echo in my brain. The masses in my lower abdomen are scar tissue and ovarian cysts. Watchful waiting right now - I will be reevaluated in 6 weeks. I have homework to do in the meantime. Decisions about hormones and ovary removal and long term whole body health (I had no idea that hormones could affect dementia and your heart health). So we breathe. On Friday, I have my lithotrypsy and then move on.

Now for fun stuff.

I played in the cuff swap and received beautiful cuffs from my partner. I have sent off her package and I hope it is loved by her as much as I love mine.

In addition to her cuff, I included a Belle Blanc inspired bottle.


Not a vintage bottle, still pretty. I created a "stopper" using rolled up lace. Tied it off with Tulle and a silk flower and bead. The bottle contains a few vintage pearls from a thrifted necklace and some gorgeous german glass glitter. I spritzed everything with some Glimmer Mist in a shell color.

Here is a view of the finished cuff. I crocheted the medallion backing for the cameo. Glued the cameo into place and then hand stitched the creamy glass beading. I folded linen into the cuff and crocheted the tiny ruffles down each side. The lace is vintage and I wove in some silk ribbon that matched the color of the backing. The lace was then stitched to the linen.

The backing is crushed silk in a golden color. I interfaced it for some extra rigidity, but I used a light weight collar interfacing so it is quite comfortable to wear. The buttons are non working, I actually used snaps as the closure. Everything is hand stitched together (no sewing machine was harmed or verbally abused in the construction of this.)

Another view of the parcel.

See that rose medallion. A crochet rose. I love making these and often will do those with a remnant of yarn.

Here is how I used it.

A pretty little package.

Linda - I really hope you are happy with this.

I am having a wonderful, low stress day.

I won't be back here before next week - I'm spending my weekend recuperating.

Enjoy yours.

This Little Light of Mine

Good morning. I have blogged about the UHU Glue product Samples before. I sent an email responding to a product sample post at the blog and they sent me the January sample and other goodies to try and report on my experience with the UHU GLUE ROLLER with the permanent adhesive. The sample also included some papers, a "candy" box, and a few embellishing goodies. You will see in a few why I put candy in quotes.

I opened my sample and was immediately apprehensive, see I have a problem with other tape/glue rollers. Apparently I am not coordinated enough to get a clean break at my stop point. When I read the packaging it shows an enlargement of the microdot system which is supposed to help with the problem I have.

I already knew what I was going to attempt - even before I knew I had been slected to receive a sample. So here we go. I took these last night and everything is so dark - I apologize for the picture quality in advance.

I took my blank box box apart at the glued seam. Then using the UHU roller I covered the outside of the box with one of those really pretty papers. I went around each edge and then a few lines in large spaces on the box. Then using my brayer I smoothed the paper.

Product Review note. YES YES YES the microdots eliminate the problem I have had in the past. Clean stop points were effortless.

After covering the box, I trimmed everything. Then using my Sizzix die cutter and a Spellbinders die, I die cut a hole in each of the longer sides of the box. (I kept the little pieces I cut out to use later.)

Then I experiemented with an idea. Nothing like experimenting after you start a project - right? Using an ink color that coordinated with my paper and some sparkle embossing powder, I stamped LOVE on a piece of lazer jet transparency film and embossed it. (it worked like a charm).

Cut out my words and mounted then to the wrong side of the box using the UHU GLUE ROLLER.

Product Review Note: the roller adhesive worked wonderfully for the acetate transparency too.

Fold the box up again and reglue the little flap.

Product Review Note: initially I tried the roller adhesive for this task -- not very effective. (If I had read through the notes on the GLUE WITH UHU blog post about the sample, I would not have made this mistake.) So then, I grabbed the UHU TWIST AND GLUE and used it for this part. Error corrected.

See the Love in the little clear window below.

Using more of the paper and the little reserved punch out from the window, I made a little tag for my package. I attached the little paper with the UHU GLUE ROLLER. I stamped a matching LOVE on the tag and embellished with one of the bits included in the sample. I used the UHU TWIST AND GLUE to attach the "bling" . I used the same adhesive to attach a heart bead that was also included.

The back of the tag has my handwritten message on it.

Now for the reason I put the word candy in quotes. I had some of those LED VOTIVES in my stash. We used these for an event and I had them. I punched another strip of the lace edging using the same red paper as the tag. Ran a strip of the UHU GLUE ROLLER across it and attached it to the side of the votive base.

Product Review Note: Again the adhesive worked wonderfully attaching the paper to the plastic of the candle.

Turn the candle on. Drop it in the box. Close Box. Using ribbon I had that coordinated with the paper, I made a hanger for the closed box. Because the intended recipient is a crafter and I know she will hang onto the ribbon to use, I simply ran it through the opening underneath the closure. I ran some bakers twine through the hole in the heart bead and tied it to the ribbon hanger.

My message "you light up my life."

Below you see it hanging from my mantle.

A better view of my little tag. (below)

And in this last one you can see the little flicker flame really well.

I love my little "light" package. You can do this type of thing with any little box. Fun isn't it.

FINAL PRODUCT REVIEW NOTES. (PART OF THIS KEEPS THE FEDERAL FOLKS HAPPY) My sample was sent from the UHU people at no charge for the purpose of my review of the adhesive. The UHU GLUE ROLLER design addressed the one issue I expected to have (the microdot system allowed for much cleaner terminations. )I tried it on several of the surfaces listed on the applications information on the package and found it to be effective for the all of the ones I tried. Definitely an adhesive I will add to my arsenal of goodies.

If you try a little light of mine package, please let me know. I would love to see other folks take on this idea.

Have a wonderful day.

DAYS 5 - 6 - 7

And a puppy shot - Poca "helps" load the dishwasher. I don't allow her anywhere near when we unload. We are having a terrible time with biting, chewing, all that puppy stuff. She constantly gets a whack with the newspaper and hears the words "bad dog" - and just so you know we are equally aquainted with "good dog". I had forgotten just how demanding getting to a well trained puppy really is. Please don't look too closely at that damaged floor - the kitchen in the 130 year old farmhouse is going to be our last big expense and we just are not ready to go there.

Now for the USE WHAT I HAVE weekend accomplishments. I finished these up - yes they are drying on a really ornate silver plate tray. I needed a large flat suface and that was the first one I found. Anybody else guilty of that?

After I cut out all those oval birds I was left with this detritus.

Still very pretty scraps don't you think. Well being the true scrap saver, I could not just dump these.

So I dug in the stash and found these springy bright solid cardstocks, a Martha Stewart lace edge punch, and came up with these larger gift enclosures. Liking the look of these a lot and I like the size these finished. They are not fold overs, just flats with room for a short message on them.

Well all that trimming left me with this little pile of scraps again. Still very pretty. Again the scrap saver in me couldn't dump them.

This time I pulled neutral card stock - being a paper whore, I have plenty of card stock - and my sizzix tag die and made these small gift tags.

So from 20 misprinted images I got 60 various sized gift tags. I think this qualifies for turning lemons into lemonade.

I have been gathering up composition books at various locations with the intention of making those covered journals. Again this month's USE WHAT I HAVE focus is a good thing for me. It has forced me to really buckle down and get some things made. I pulled a dozen of those compostion books out and some scrap book papers (remember I got a huge variety of papers to pick from) I went through the stacks and just pulled some I liked. I trimmed them and using YES! Paste covered the fronts.

That was Sunday afternoon. I let them dry overnite and then yesterday I started digging in the stash for embellishments. That stash digging is so much fun. I mixed and mached and finished 3 journals.

Two Christmas ones. The Santa was an embossed sticker. The Christmas tree one is (guilty of saving what people might say is trash again) a recycled Christmas card that was a perfect color coordinator.

My favorite one so far is this one. A postcard (I save way too much crap). I added the little rhinstone "blings" to the card and punched a few birds.



I learned a lot about me with the projects.

I really hate to toss anything I deem to be "pretty"

I have a problem USING things I buy to use. Not sure what that is about. I found myself thinking "if I use it then I won't have to use in the future." Weird.

No matter how hard I try, I cannot force myself to do lots of layers and really over the top "froufrou" items. I am drawn to well placed and more simple designs. I hope customers at this Artists Market are drawn to this look as well.

I LOVE MY STUDIO.

I have a beautiful life -

You all have a fabulous day.

whew - glad that's over

The good is always beautiful,

The beautiful is good.

from The Garden by John Greenleaf Whittier

Sure am glad the weekend is over. Busy - hurrying from one task on the do to list to the next - just to try and get it all done. I marked all of them off the weekend list too - that feeling of accomplishment is great - but I sure am exhausted.

I packaged up all of my swaps for en LeJardin. The are going to the PO today to head off to Andrea's and be combined with all the others participating. Too fun.

A close up of the little boy picture that I attached to the outside of the bags. Talk about inexpensive (but way cool) packaging. A brown paper lunch sack - lace - and a stem of the flowers I made for my home show.



I stacked them all along my ironing board - set up in the living room for the project - I needed another surface because the dining room is full of an 8ft x 10ft mural being painted. College Freshman came in for the weekend and stopped dead in her tracks. "Those are really pretty"

God I love it when I get that kind of validation. I liked them, but to have another of my household members give me positive feedback is great.

I am getting more excited about this workshop. I have orders to take good notes, lots of pictures, and start thinking about having a local workshop. Lannae has even offered to help and participate.

Have a wonderful Monday.

FREEBIE FRIDAY SCAN

Right click for your freebie image. A scan of one of my favorite button cards in my stash.

I am such a sucker for vintage graphics and this is one of my favorites. There was one lonely broken button still attached, which I tossed. Kept the card just because I loved it .

Here's how I am using it....

Crocheted flowers ---

Here is the packaging of them and the veneer cards. The flowers to the front and the veneer cards to the back. I saw a brooch the someone made and underneath the pin back there was a little embroidered message. A secret message to the wearer. I loved that idea and that is what I am attempting here - reminding people to look at all angles because beauty IS all around.

One more quickie - a round do dah pendant featuring a vintage daisy trim flower. Wish I had done some of these for Easter. I know some little girls (and some really big ones too) who would enjoy this. In the background. My rose is literally covered with buds. So pretty.

I have a busy weekend - concessions - banquet - shop for the banquet - paint. But not before we go see Reservoir Dogs playing tonite.

Have a beautiful weekend.

I learned somethng new last night - pg rated

Look at the color in the photo below. Yummy.

I got home at a decent hour last night - like 6:30 pm. The first thing I noticed was this package of yummy on my side porch. Love the colors on that paper. My buddy Jen sent me inspiration - even the note gives me a wonderful idea for a baby quilt.

I immediately grabbed a water bottle and took off to the studio to accomplish something I have been intending to try. One of the items in this package was a fabulous soldered bird charm/ornament/pendant.

I keep picture frame glass when I mount mixed media work. I had it all in a file box. I had already aquired the little glass cutter thing. I bought the SallyJean book way way long ago. But apparently was afraid of the entire thing.

Well last night, I decided it was time to learn. And learn I did, and heck this is easy. I did kill one 8x10 piece of glass in the process of learning. But after several tries I finally figured it out. Tonight - I'll try to get back out there and attack the soldering.

Here is where I left it last night. Handmade paper, vintage lace and sheet music, a leaf punch -- this is the intended "front" of the charm. It is approximately 1.25 inches square.

The back still looked unfinished to me - so I dug in the little jar of labels (yes, I have a problem - I keep "trash") and found this old floss label. I like how it finished. I did get it all copper taped.

I have my jump ring taped on, but I did mine turned "the other way" than most people do it. I often thread my pendants on and off chains and ribbons and the ring turned this way means I don't have to use an additional jump ring that often comes open. Am I breaking any kind of jeweler's rule doing this????

Last photo - a new embellished compostition book cover started. I'm going to try and spray paint (hey MaryAnn) those metal snowflake brads gold to work better in this design.

My friend Lannae is giving away a new piece of her stamped jewelry. Mention that I sent you and she will put me in a bonus drawing too.

Have a fabulous day everyone.....

WHY BOTHER WITH THE BOWL????

Okay ladies and gentlemen - most people would consider me to be at least somewhat intelligent. I have had a terrible time with the freakin' blogger picture placement. I do not know why, but I have had a terrible mental block about it. I have a college degree in computer applications - so what was the deal? Be ready to insert your roaring laughter where ever you choose. I have been blogging for over two years now and have NEVER clicked the little tab that says "edit html" on my entry screen . I did that by accident this morning and discovered that I can cut and paste the text and picture code and put those bad boys any where I choose. STOOOOOOOPID - Now I am on a quest to really learn what all that code means -- I see all those pretty blogs out there and I know the secret is locked in all those strange looking codes. Confessions of an html beginner.



On to fun stuff. I got my package yesterday from Raesha's Ribbon Swap. Goodies galore.







I loved all of the different packaging of everyones' ribbon. One even contained my very first incoming MOO card. I just ordered and received my first shipment of those based on my flickr photos - man are they fun.

I do not know who bundled up this little joy. Great presentation. I love that people pay attention to those kinds of details.

What I never expected to get in a ribbon swap ---- beads and buttons - what a wonderful surprise. The wave ribbon pictured here came with fish beads - now how much fun is that.

next - the monsters are at it again - playing with the camera.

Quite obvious - the softball princess loves applesauce. Hence the name of this post - I do not know why she even bothers with the bowl -- she brings the jar, a spoon, and a bowl to the sofa. Her justification - fewer trips to the fridge for refills. Because of this type of eating habit - exhibited by both of them - I buy duplicates of many of their favorites (2 rolls of cookie dough to eaten out of the wrapper with a spoon, etc). Just random babble you probably have no interest in knowing.

Ya'll have a great weekend - my plans include a softball tournament AND worrying about a group of teenagers driving 6 hours alone to the beach on Saturday. Please remember them in your prayers.



See you Monday.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming

She's back -- MaggieGrace that is. Not really sure how this became the graduation family chronicals. Really I am fully aware. This blog is about me and the interactions with those around me. That includes those lovelies that are my children.

The graduate got her first paycheck last night - we laughed and laughed about her reaction to the taxes. Too funny. Today's order of business for her - a checking account.

I know I promised a picture of the dorm room blanket - did not happen. But I do have goodies to share.



A stamped tag with tulle and a crochet flower. I owe the winner of the leg warmer challenge a package of tags. I have not forgotten - I promise. This was a quickie project for a baby shower gift last night. I used a partial image from a large rubber stamp and simply tied it on. The flower is from the motif book I bought recently.

More of the little flowers. Made from thrifted bedspread cotton. I'll be making tags with these - and including them in a certain mailer I need to complete. Some will also make appearances on 5"x5" art quilts.

Loving the macro setting on my camera. These little 2 round flowers are about the size of the first joint on my fingers. Perfect little accent medallions. It takes only a few minutes to make one so there will be an abundance finished on Saturday at the softball princess' tournament.

I love my little project boxes - here is a picture of the WIP of the flowers. All different colors are planned. I have plenty more of the thread spools to use as well. The perfect portable project - and not too hot to carry with me.

Tonight there is no church - Maggie Grace will be painting in the studio. There's a shelf and some walls. We just keep plugging away on it.

Have a wonder filled Wednesday.

Paying it forward

Hey everyone - Wednesday after a long Tuesday. I have been feeling icky for several days - but last night, one of those migraines that requires the phrase "stop the car I'm gonne puke" took hold of me. And while I never actually threw up - I prayed and begged God to please let me so I would feel better. Thank you for lovely prescription drugs that will take care of those headaches.





Soccer season has started - last night's game was almost two hours from home. Molly scored the only goal - from her midfield position - GO MOLLY. I did get a few rows done early on the pink blanket.





Back in July - I posted a pay it forward challenge . Suzanne from the JuneAugust blog was one of the commentors on that post. Well I am finally mailing her materials.





I had this light and lofty yarn - one skein only - in the stash and decided to use it. I love the colors. I made a beanie hat - of course - cause I have been the queen of beanie hats. This stuff is a nightmare to work with - the thick and fuzzy bits make it hard to see what you are doing. I used much profanity in public while making the hat AND I had yarn remaining. That would never be used unless I simply buckled down and used it.



Here is the second half of the gift.






Wish I had made this first. There was NO cursing. The neckwarmer/cowl/cervical collar was easy to finish. Double crochet around the previous rows post. So Miss Suzanne has on the way a lovely hat and neckwarmer set. Lucky for her - she lives in Canada - and in my impression it gets cold.






Look at the close up -are these colors wonderful or what. I had the best time playing in the buttons too. Vintage coat buttons sewn on with wonderful heavy cotton upholstery button thread. Honestly - I almost kept this for myself.






As everyone who knows me can vouch for - I love a pretty package. I have posted gift packing and tagging ideas over at CIP and I used one of my favorites for this package. Old pattern paper and lace. The really pretty tag was a gift from JenB.

This lovely will be going in the mail this afernoon.

Tonight is church - then a little decorating for the winter wonderland next weekend. The man is supposed to hang ceiling in the studio (that is what Iwant for Valentines day.)

MaryAnn asked what I was going to call the studio - I have referred to it verbally as MaggieGrace World all along - but do any of you have ideas. The blog and the soon to be opened etsy shop both go by MaggieGraceCreates - I am open for suggestions. Please throw your ideas in or simply vote if you agree with the direction I am off on.

Have a wonderful day.