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.

College Girls Prom Dress

Okay, she is an adult. Her boy actually is as well, but he is a senior in high school and they were going to prom together. College Girl approached me and said, "I want to make my prom dress." And she had an inspiration photo. Grey and black and a sheer overlay and check out the bodice. My response OH MY GOOD GRACIOUS HAVE YOU LOST YOUR DAMN MIND. or some other adult language version of that phrase. But being the wonderful and kind and loving mother that I am. And having an enormous amount of spare time to devote to this project ----- I said sure honey. Knowing full well that her idea of making this dress was going to involve me way more than I wanted to be involved. A pattern was purchased. Fabric. Notions. And away we go. We had a pattern for a strapless under dress. But that bodice - the really important part - well she trusted her Mama to come up with something. Mind you - that picture was the inspiration. The finished dress only kinda has that idea. But it was very very pretty. AND I FINISHED THE DAMN THING AT 2:45 PM ON SATURDAY THE DAY OF AND PICTURES WERE AT 3:15PM. There ya go. Pictures from the day. College Girl and Softball Princess. The gunmetal grey was beautiful on her.

Mom's interpretation of the bodice inspiration.

The adorable couple - All pictures were made at Watson Mill Bridge State Park.

Ben's mom made his vest and bow tie from the same fabric as the dress. Nice attention to detail.

NOTE TO ALL PARTIES READING THIS - the covered buttons on the vest, Ben did those himself.

The lace is beautiful - I have some left - it will go into the stash.

I am pleased with the outcome. A dress that she will wear once. But we worked on it together and together time is limited when a girl child enters her twenties. Really the time spent together was the best part of this project.

I am really happy I jumped in and said ---- SURE, WE CAN MAKE YOUR DRESS.

Have a beautiful day.

College Girl

College Girl is home on her fall break. Morman Boy had a paper to work on and College Girl had a church project that she has found herself some what in a leadership role on. So she spent yesterday at home and then most of last night too.



She took over my studio and painted this bigger piece for the Penumbra Show. We are involved in this show because the Morman Boy's mom is the organizer of it. Anyway Jennifer has tried to get Molly to create a work for the show and she finally relented. I love this - it is a larger version of the one she painted for me back at Christmas. The sunrise or sunset glow at the bottom is stunning to me. Would it be wrong of me to purchase this just cause I like it??

Then she asked me to help her with her church project. She works with the younger girls and they are learning to sew. They picked out an A-Line skirt pattern for this beginning class. Already some valuable lessons are being learned.

College Girl is a size 6 really long jeans. But this pattern runs small. She bought a size 10 and we had to add to the measurements to make it fit my missy. I showed her how to do that and where and we cut out fabric.

Then a lesson in cussing the machine. Yes - she became well aquainted with that activity. This is a cheap WalMart Machine that I have had for years. It is functional but temperamental. Hence -- cussing required. (Please disregard the pile of crap in the background - it is destined for the studio but just has not made that trek. )

The pattern included two things I would have avoided if possible.

A zipper -- this machine has no zipper foot and they do not make one to fit it. Remember - I quilt and craft sew. I have no need for a zipper foot. A quick phone call to my Mama gave me the trick of hand sewing the zipper into place and then you can zip and unzip to get the tab out of the way. She did a pretty good job of putting this in for her very first zipper.

The other thing is darts - four of them bad boys. We measured and pinned. Her OCD tendencies were not a good match for my "winging it" style of doing some things, so a lot of compromise was required. I could not find my white chalk pencil, so she quickly learned that a bar of Ivory soap will work in a pinch on that dark fabric.

The finished view a la model pose.

It actually fits really well. We will be working on the hand stuff tonight. Hook/eye and hemming. Then she wants to put a skinny black velvet ribbon around the bottom. Not too bad for a very first garment.

I'll try to get a picture of her when they complete all the skirts and have the fashion show.

I had a wonderful time with her last night. She is fun to hang out with.

I have a beautiful life.

Details

I have a stash problem. We all know about it. I got stuff, stuff, and more stuff. I have diligently worked on moving it and organizing it and -YES - even using it. Still, I got plenty to keep me busy.

Take the item below. I have one of these. One. Why?

Because I bought a bag of lace and this was in it.

I found it over the holidays and have decided it will be used promptly in an art piece. Thus begins tray number one for the new year.



A reminder of a more gentle era. When ladies really dressed up. And isn't it pretty against the silky blue of that fabric.

Come closer.

Those are tiny little pearl beads. All hand stitched onto the glove. Yummy. This is an exquisite glove. But we already know that details are what draw me in. What will I include in this piece?

I really have no idea.

I want a word. To stitch on linen. That sums up the feelings of this. I know just the lace edged handkerchief that I'll add to this. Simple. Meaningful. Mindful. And that blue fabric stays as a background.

Help me.

Or just leave a comment to let me know you are still out there.

I miss you guys leaving comments.

Have a great day.

2008 IS ALMOST GONE

This is my week to reflect on 2008 and start looking ahead to 2009. Instead of resolutions, I am choosing to focus on the more public marketing of MaggieGrace items. Items covered by the words art and craft. I am excited about this focus and I do hope to see results from this.

Christmas weekend was relaxing and very productive. I was up early every day and set about finishing some tasks that I did not want to carry into the New Year.

This pile is the sum total of my after Christmas shopping. WalMart had Martha Stewart Glitter and Holiday punches 1 /2 price so I bought the deer silhouette punch and a pack of the glitter along with the mica snow flakes. I also stocked up on some gift boxes in coffee mug sizes and jewlry sizes. The rationale was that I will use this - thus making them essential.

Christmas was managed with NO CREDIT CARD purchases at all. I love being able to say that. The girls did not get everything on their list, but they still were pleased.

Oh - I just noticed that there is a "fun" thing in the pile - those jumbo push pins were just for me and just cause I liked them.

Saturday morning found me up really early and with an agenda - finish a few UFO's. I had some items hanging over my head that just really needed a tiny bit of work to finish. I know that starting a new project gives a creative soul such a rush and I had shuffled these under way too many times. So I hunkered down and finished these.

My sister's wall quilt - all it need was the zigzag accent around the binding and the hooks sewn on the back. Check off as done. these photos are dark and grainy because it was a gray and rainy weekend. Sorry.



I finished a fun little baby afghan for a friend at church. A little boy. Cute open work mesh light blanket. This is smaller than some I have done making it good for a car seat cover and for taking onto places where you don't want to keep up with a big blanket. This was made using a super soft baby yarn - acrylic - so it will be easy to wash and dry.

The cowboy quilt. All I lacked was the binding. I cheated this one and machine sewed the binding on. While I regret that decision now - because there was an undetected wonkiness that a handstitched binding would have left invisible and the machine stiches actually show off in all its glory - I am not undoing this and fixing it.

This is a baby quilt - crib sized and will remain in use through the toddler bed stage - so it will get a lot of use and washing. I hope it will anyway. I washed it and dried it and drooled over that perfect puckered look. The ocd College Freshman doesn't "get" that wrinkled look - she thought the quilt needed ironing.

I also started a new project. Carrie thought she would be getting a quilt for little bean - she may get a blanket - not because I don't want to make a quilt - but because something else caught my fancy. It is a five piece construction thing and I finished one piece this weekend as well. I love how this is turning out and cannot wait to share it with you. I will post the color scheme - pale yellow, light green, and lavender. See it was a very productive weekend.

As we approach 2009 - I wish you health and happiness.

Current WIP

I have been working on FINALLY finishing the cowboy quilt. It kept getting pushed back because nobody in my circle was having a boy. We are finally due one and this will be his.


I finished all the hand quilting last night. Now all you "real" quilters, please don't be too critical of my stitches. I really like the look of rough and rustic hand stitching and that is what this is. The pattern came from one of my magazines when I finish the binding and give you the full photo, I'll share that information.

The fabric is "Happy Trails" featuring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans combined with a blue chambray sheeting that I had in my stuff. (Got lots more of this blue - seems like I bought 12 yards for like 10 dollars) The Gingham check on the binding is a stash fabric too. I don't have very much of it left at all.

A quick look at the back shows the stars that are quilted into the alternating blocks.

Tonight will find me trimming the batting and ironing and pinning the binding for that hand- stitching. Then, I'll wash it. I do not prewash my fabrics because I like that wonderfully puckered look that the quilts get when you don't prewash.

A quick funny - Local Best Friend refers to this as a "cover up quilt" as opposed to one of those "artsy fartsy things" that are my art quilts. I really should make him a cover up quilt soon.

Have a great day. Off to surprise the College Freshman. We have a delivery in that area and I am taking the material.

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.

Winners post

So I got local best friend to look at the photo captions - per this post - and he chose Laura's caption. However - I laughed and giggled at all of them - so will the following people shoot me an email with your snail mail addy - and I will send you a small goody as well. - Karen (Junking in Georgia), Ellen, Carrie, Roxie. My email addy is available on my profile. (I actually could hear myself saying with sarcasm - Karen's comment. )



Now for goodies - the graduate has the camera so I pulled these from the stash folder on the computer. Last time we were at my in-laws - Ann sent home a pile of goodies - including this unassuming looking plastic bag.





Brown paper bag - from Mama Norvans stuff. She was the pro at recycling. She would turn the bread bag inside out and wash it to use for food storage. I think that behavior came from growing up during the depression.



Anyway - I sidetracked. The bag contains the pattern and three partially assembled blocks for what I thought was a cathedral window quilt. But this seems to be in reverse. I found a link to a lady who does wonderful variations on this pattern - go take a look - Shelly's Studio. The only thing I can find describing this variation (and no pictures at all) calls it a Secret Garden pattern.



I'll be attempting this.

I love these vintage fabrics - look at the details.

The green fabric one reminds me of an Amy Butler print.

Normally this kind of thing would be framed and displayed at my house, but for now, I'll be leaving this as is, so that I have the details in a way that I can "see" how the crap to put this together.

Looks like a great travel project to me.

Now - for those who may still be with me. Local Best Friend has a real name - Randy - he's on the right in this picture and today is his birthday. He is the kind of friend everyone should have. He thinks things through when asked for advice. He would rescue us off the side of the road in a heartbeat. Since my mom's stroke, I have asked for him to be the emergency contact person for both my girls. He loves his family, he loves his friends, he has a public faith statement and follows through when he feels God's nudge. He has old fashioned values that often are unheard of this day and age, his word and handshake are all that previous generations intended them to be. A genuinely good and kind person. I am fortunate to have him as my friend. I am fortunate that I took the time to listen to him one night as he talked about losing his Mom many years ago. I am fortunate to have his impact on my life and on the life of my girls. (Because he absorbs most of the bitching - they should be thankful too - mom is much more sane because of him) He never tells me "just what I want to hear", but will tell me the truth as he sees it, with integrity and no malice at all. He will encourage me, he will build me up, he is MaggieGrace's most loyal supporter, but he will also kick my butt when it's needed. He makes me think. All this and so so much more.

I respect him, I trust him, and I am glad to have him as a buddy.

Happy Birthday - my friend - may you have many more. We are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Okay MaggieGrace readers - pay tribute to a friend today. Remind them how blessed you are to have them.

Have a wonderful day.

Go DAWGS!!!!!!

Game one of the College World Series Finals ------ DAWGS beat the DOGS 7-6.

Requested shot of the softball princess and her teammates -- this was last Thursday night. She is at softball camp this week - watching. You have no idea how many people tried to get this photo. She just did not want to cooperate.

Here is a shot from this past Saturday between games. I was working on a scrap baby blanket and Renee wanted to learn. Her enthusiasm waned after about 40 chain stitches.

The finished scrap baby blanket. Made from those thick, chunky, bobbly yarns. I did have to buy some to make this one big enough to be useful. I will say - it is very soft and warm.

BTW - hop over to Carries' place - she has some wonderful news to share.

Then go look at Very Mary and David and tell her just how adorable they are. A message to Miss MaryAnn - you are allowed excuses if you would like. I think my message had a different intended audience.

Now for something new in Maggie Grace world.

Jason and Stephanie Danuser are (were) our pastor and his wife. The United Methodist Church moves pastors around routinely and they are leaving us. Stephanie gifted me with two huge boxes of yarn and stuff when her Grandmother passed away. In these boxes I found an unfinished doiley and her grandmother's hooks.

I wanted her to have them back - so I sorted through all the hooks and pulled out any duplicates (I gave those back too). I piled them on a tray - ya'll know how I work and then took a close look at the doiley. It was almost finished - two stitches - (her Grandmother was working on this and suffered a heart attack) - so I finished those last two stitches.

I found a shadowbox at Michaels and used a 50% off coupon to buy it very reasonably.

I fiddled around with the layout of the hooks and finally settled on a smallest to largest alternating arrangement. I measured and taped them together to keep them in order - then I sewed each hook to a piece of heavy felt that I had placed on some fabric in my oval quilt frame.
The doiley was pinned into place with some rust proof small pins that I beaded with seed pearls. I did this so that it can be removed for a "something old" in a future wedding if needed. What you cannot see is that I also placed a pin discreetly with a black bead marking the hook that I found with the doiley.

Here is a very poor picture of the opened shadow box (above) and one of the finished piece standing on my kitchen countertop.

It did turn out to be an amazing and touching memorial piece. I explained what I had done to complete the doiley and that everything can be disassembled if the need arises.

Jones Chapel will miss the Danuser Family - and we all pray them blessings in the future.

There has been much discussion in blogland about RAK - and while this was an act of kindness - it was not random. I am sharing it because the recipient was pleased with it - did not expect it - and gave me the permission to share it. The memories that go with all those things in that little box are important to her. I was concerned that she would find it to be "handmade" in that negative way, instead she was touch by the thought and the gesture. Reach out - if you feel led to create something specifically for someone - do it. Do not be afraid of the reaction - just put yourself out there. It will bless you in the making and them in the receiving. I dang well do not want to shortchange myself or anyone else of a blessing.

Have a wonderful day.

Happy Days are here again

MaggieGrace has been missing in action. She wasn't really lost. She simply took the turn that was labeled Mommy for a little while. But last night she magically reappeared, there was a vacant look in her eyes. Like a small bit of the fire has burned out. The embers were still there and with just a tiny bit of inspiration it was easy to fan the flames of creative fires again. The crinkle of pattern tissue, the sound of the scissors cutting fabric (vibrating against the wood of the dining room table - this is a sound from my childhood) the texture of the felt, hell even the heft of the felt. All of those fanned the flames very rapidly.

Remember these????????

Poodle skirts - I made a ton of them several years ago for an event at our church. Well a local theater group needed some more for a production. I got home last night after 9:00 and sewed like hell until 1:15 this morning. (I made three of the dang things.)

Red with a black and white poodle - blue with a black and white poodle - and purple with a hot pink poodle. These are full circle skirts. Since they don't have real owners yet, all are drawstring waists. The most time consuming part was the white piping trim. sewn on 1/2 inch in from the bottom edge. With this full circle design - there must have been miles of this. I did finally figure out a system for this. Of course I didn't figure it out until the last one.

Mentally I needed that creative time - plus this is a paid job - straight into the college fun money account. That is the agreement - all of the maggiegrace profits will be the extra money for the college bound lady in our house.

Am I tired today? - not really - I think the fact that it was creative was what my mind and body needed.

See ya'll tomorrow.