visitors

The pictures have nothing to do with the post. 

My baby sister came to the house today. 

She visited in my studio.

She loved it.

I hope she will come back for a day of making. 

At least for some salty rim adult beverages.

I'm kinda fond of her. 

 rose crocheted from hardware store twine.

my daughters wedding bouquet.  I made from lace that was her Nomi's and rhinestone brooches gathered all over.

the spoon was damaged - but then so are we - still life and love are beautiful.

seems i have a "thing" for buttons. 

Much love everyone 

have a beautiful day.

Summer fun.....

It has rained in northeast Georgia for weeks now. Leaving us trapped inside A LOT.  Fortunately, Iv'e been quite busy playing in MaggieGrace World.

There has been play with glitter and glue.

Some serious paper and string play too.

A little bit of fabric and handwork fun.

Then there was one full day of pretty weather.

The table below was the bridal party table at my daughters wedding in December.  I have all this stuff still around the house. See that pretty "tin" piece under the lamps. Yes I even kept those. They were created from anaglypta wallpaper. I painted them with various spray paints to look like tin ceilings.

And my booth at Junk in the Trunk is in need of a new display.

I am also very determined to lose some "stash weight"

So I scrounged around and found a cutout from an oval whirlpool deck. I was going to paint it, but then I remembered that I had those wallpaper "tin" squares. And since my artistic focus is RECYCLED AND REPURPOSED, I decided to try and use those pieces.

I chopped of the bottom of the cutout.

I lay the "tin" squares out on it. (Making sure I had enough - let's just say I've been guilty of not doing this little step in the past)

Dappled sunlight on the front porch  - scissors - spray adhesive - brayer --a couple of hours in the muggy nasty heat and I had this. (to quote a comment from my facebook - a big knight's shield).

I stood back - and decided quickly that using those squares was genius.

Shelves for books were required and,  at my grown up girl job, we get pipe with these hardwood bands securing the shipments. So I snagged the chop saw and cut a few bands to length. A sample paint pot of a color called TWINE and painted the shelves.

I really wanted to mount them with L-brackets --- and again went to the wedding decor items. I took apart the barrel of bamboo that was outside the venue and reused the brackets and screws from that project.

Here is the resulting display.

Those huge shelves are on my porch ---- waiting for their move into my living room and dining room. One set is 7 feet tall by 11' long and the other is shorter but the same height.

They came from an old store building. See that story here.

I'm hoping this post  finds you having a beautiful life.

I still do make things and notes on stash busting....

We are getting nine beautiful new blessings in our life this year. That means 9 baby gifts for Miss Teresa to make. I'm well into it and have posted a few of them already. This is also a challenge in that I want to finish ALL of these from my stash. So far - so good. 

This one is the latest finish. Honestly - I had no idea if I would even like this one. I so rarely work in any kind of bright colors. The purple lustersheen yarn was in some that I was given a long time ago. The white was from an afghan that my mom started and didn't finish. While I had the pattern and the same size hook, I was not able to get the stitch size right. So I "frogged" it and kept the yarn. Plain granny square pattern, a fairly quick finish. The center is a strand of white and purple, the white band is two strands of the white, and the purple is two strands bright, all held together for the duration. (Is there some magic trick to doing that easily? My yarn kept tangling on itself.)

When I finished it, I do like it. Its for the next girl. 

I had quite a bit of yarn left from the "green" blanket. (yes, I know its not green - but there is green in there and that's what we wound up calling it.)

The next baby on the list is a boy. So I wrangled with myself and decided to go with the idea that these could be "boy colors" and maybe be used for longer than just the "baby" years. I love the basketweave pattern on the blanket above so I am using that same pattern and yarns on the smaller blanket. That's the travel project right now.

The pattern is basic double crochet in a variation. The blanket above was done in a 4 stitch block. Here is a link to a tutorial on the stitch.

There has also been a bit of studio work. A friend of mine wanted a spoon pendant with her husband and children represented. Here is that fun piece. --- a topaz, garnet, and turquoise drop (birthstones) completed the assemblage.

Then on a jaunt thru the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, I found these keys, The graphics on them were so pretty to me. Aged just right too. I haven't had much studio time, but I did sit down and pull some blingy stuff out and make two necklaces.

This one is a mix of a key and an earring single that I just couldn't toss. I mounted the bling on the less decorative side and left those gorgeous graphics uncovered, so this one can be worn either way.

 I also look for butterflies everywhere I go and find them often. This necklace is a mix of a butterfly and a skeleton key.  Loving this one too.

Both necklaces will be in my booth at Junk In The Trunk in Athens, GA .

And last, just because he's cute and lovable, here is my sweet helper after a really long day of babysitting the cat. Isn't he sweet. Have to say, he's a great dog, but that tail is NOT coffee table friendly.

I hope you guys are well --

My life is beautiful ---- have a wonderful day.

about the stash busting --- What is it about creative "stuff"? I keep bringing it in and I can see all the incredible things to be made, but then I have a hard time using it. This is an issue I continue to work on. I turned 48 on Sunday. At a friend's suggestion, I am going to try and make 48 projects before my next birthday using nothing but stuff I already have. Goes along with HAPPY DO YEAR quite well, don't you think?


Teresa

prep work

not glamourous.

but a required tool in my world

Patti asked if I would help the youth with some items they can sell as a fundraiser.

I said yes.

So I'm cutting mass quantities of paper for cards, tags, garlands, and that kind of stuff.

She asked if she needed to buy any supplies. That question caused hysterical laughter on my part. I got stuff. I will share.

I'll be posting my designs as I create them. They will be "kitted" for the kids to then assemble. Hopefully this will move things along.

Look for updates on this as I go.

Much love --- Teresa

yes -- the muse awake --

There was a lot of activity this weekend, but I did manage to get into the studio.

I have a baby blanket crochet project that is traveling with me and is almost complete.

But the box below is sitting by my chair in the house --- there will be another garden blanket to happen from some of this. (all thrifted crochet cotton)

I'm stash busting too and that includes planning and gathering for a Youth Work Day at Jones Chapel UMC.

The youth will be making cards and tags to sell. Fundraising for their activities. I'm providing the sample and making kits, trying to make the work day highly productive.

Then there was some heavy metal work too. Not really. A few spoons stamped (one has some custom wording and I messed the spacing up on it - three times - but that's what's called a learning experience)

I am quite happy with the ones using these love charms from Hobby Lobby.

It's good to have her back --- and to be making things again.

have a wonderful week.

Snuggled Under Angel Wings.

As all of you know, I LOVE to crochet. 

It's portable. And if you choose the project carefully, it is mindless. 

And if your alter ego is MaggieGrace. And if the muse is ready to play. And you are stash busting. And you have baby gifts to make. Well you kinda go with the flow and respond to all of the above things. 

See.........

I had this idea.......partially triggered by a pin. 

angel wing sweater

I had this really pretty white yarn...... thrifted of course so there was not enough to really make something out of just yarn. 

So I sketched my idea and thought about it. I decided to use individual "feathers" for my wings. And a feather is shaped like a leaf. 

See...........

I made 20 feathers. 10 for each side.

I also made the center medallion (its an Irish rose)

I planned on this being a fleece blanket. I also didn't want the stitches to be "ugly" on the back side of the blanket.

Thinking again - I decided to make it into a one piece applique. So I grabbed a scrap of lace from Molly's wedding decor.

And pinned everything down in the shape of wings. This is not rocket science, I just "winged" it.

See the completely pinned unit below.

Then on a delightful early summer afternoon, I perched in the porch swing. And hand-sewed all afternoon.

(the medallion was in the way, so i took it off while I worked on the wings.)

After it was all stitched down, I trimmed it close to the edges. 

Then I attacked the blanket itself.  Let's just pretend this was a quick part of the project here (not even). I poked tiny holes in the edge of the pretty pink polar fleece. (note to self --- this cannot be done all at once. nope.)

Poke a hole - single crochet in the hole - chain one. Repeat - repeat - repeat.

After a full round of that, I then did two double crochet in each chain stitch. By doing two in each stitch, I created a slightly larger row around and that gave me a very gentle ruffle effect. (I'm loving this a lot.)

Just because I like this yarn I want to show you the close up. It's sparkly, but not scratchy.

I then  hand sewed the applique piece to the corner of the blanket.

Yes there will be a lot more of these. I really like the wing effect.

Now - I did not invent the component directions, so here are a couple of links for the components.

THE IRISH ROSE
another note - she has a ton of great information on crochet - great resource for us hookers.

LEAVES (FEATHERS)

I really hope you like this -- I'm quite happy about it.

Have a wonderful weekend.

the design team is announced....

I am so excited to learn from these three wonderful ladies. 

Please head over, follow the links, and congratulate them. 

A Gilded Life Blog

I will be making new things. And working on my photography skills. There is so much beauty and inspiration coming through this Mother/Daughter team, I hope another opportunity to work with them comes along. 

I congratulate the team ----- and send my best wishes for everyone. 

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.

TIME FOR CHANGES HERE.

No, MaggieGraceCreates is not going away.

For many years now, I have used this as a crafty place and as an ongoing journal.

I am now attempting to grow the MaggieGraceCreates side of my life to another level so there are going to be a few changes.

First I want to say --- I am fine. Thank you ALL for listening to me through the ups and downs of my daily life.Thank you for your unfailing support as well.

And the journal postings will not be going away, they will just be located at another blog address. If you want to continue to follow those, just comment here and I will email you the new blog address.

Now for the fun parts of this. I am applying to be part of some design teams. Please send good vibes and best wishes for that.

I've been invited to some juried shows that I didn't even apply for (ego stroke there).

There should be more goodness here to show. More good news - more fun thoughts - more celebrations of beauty. Like those pretty roses above.

Basically, I want MaggieGraceCreates to be wonderful celebration and inspiration space. A place of recognizing the blessings of life. Because there are thousands of blessing to be celebrated.

I hope you guys will celebrate and grow with me.

**********************************************************************
Now about those roses.

I saw a fun little rose on the Faith Grace and Crafts blog. I have made the Irish Rose open ones for years now, but her little roses curled up. So cute. I made a comment and Sweet Doni and I emailed back and forth a few times. I asked her for a tutorial and she jumped in and created one. Plus, in what I have discovered as very common in the craft blog world, she generously sent me a couple of her little roses, so I could have a visual to work with too.

Then, there is another beautiful lady that I have discovered who makes beautiful nests .  I have linked via pinterest because these are a total surprise for her. But please go through the link and look at her stunning work. So when I mastered the little roses, I decided to make a big pile of them for her and simply send them to her. I made crocheted 50 of them in all kinds of rosy colors. Gathered up vintage lace into "leaves". Dug through the beads, buttons, and blings stash and added pretty centers. Confessions of a craft supply hoarder - this seemingly massive project has had NO IMPACT on the danged stash. 

But with all that said, every single moment of this project was relaxing and every single stitch contains a prayer.

You can find the link for the pretty little rose tutorial by clicking HERE.  Be sure and say hello while you are there.

************************************************************************

So there you have it --- changes coming --- it's all good.


I have a beautiful life and I really want to live fully;

Teresa

daddy

i sure miss you.
every single day.
i sure wish we could talk.
still things i wanna say.

mama says i am a lot like you.
actually lots of people say that.

all i know for sure.
i wish you were here.
to see the fighter i became.
to see the girls i raised.
to see the things i learned.
to see who i am.

oh and to change the oil.
and paint on the house.
and hunt.
and play.
and be in my corner too.

i wish my girls could have known you.
i wish you could be a part of them.

oh how miss you.

just to hear your voice again.

i love you daddy.

happy fathers day.

a sweet sweet visitor

She saw me sitting in my porch swing.

I had Keith Urban playing on a big ol' boom box. (Sorry girls - no mp3 player for this mama.) I was singing and just relaxing and stitching on angel wings.

It was a beautiful spring afternoon. Not too much humidity. Late - with the sun shaded by the fully leafed out canopy of the oak tree. NICE.

As she walked across my yard, I turned down the music and greeted her. She asked if it would be an imposition if she joined me for a bit. I welcomed her with open arms - offered her a glass of something to drink - she said no thanks - I'll only be a minute.

Two women --- with 40 years of age difference. 'Cross the street neighbors. Good neighbors --- really. We bought this house from them some 20+ years ago. The house - no THE HOME - he grew up in.  A young couple - small child -- another soon added. They were older -- she his second wife -- kids grown and gone. He would cut our grass on occasion because "he remembered how busy life was with the kids." She cooked. They shared their garden bounty. Good neighbors.

We were away on a softball trip when he passed away. His health declined rapidly over what seemed like a short period of time.

As she sat down on my glider, she smiled. A sweet, beautiful smile of remembering. She started with the phrase "I get so lonesome"  - and continued with "I'll only stay a few minutes"

Two women --- 40 years of age difference.  40 years that did not matter.

I listened while she talked ---

About meeting him after his wife died.

About falling for him.

About driving her mama nuts with her indecision on accepting his proposal.

About an old boyfriend's suicide attempt.

About marrying him.

About an instant family and loving his girls as her own.

About creating home.

About his momma - Miss Myrt - the home I now live in is still called Miss Myrt's house.

About her daughter finding Miss Mrty when she died.

About his health declining.

About being alone after all this time.

She was there almost two hours. It was wonderful. It was special.

Two women -- sharing - loving - accepting - listening.

As she got ready to go - I didn't want her to leave.

She said something in the conversation that warmed me through. "this felt like all those years we visited on this porch."

YES -- I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY. I HAVE A BIG FRONT PORCH. I HAVE GREAT NEIGHBORS. I HAVE A SWING AND CHAIRS AND I WANT A TABLE. I WANT FRIENDS TO SIT THERE AND SHARE. LAUGH. LOVE. MAYBE CRY. I WANT MY HOME TO BE WELCOMING. NOT BECAUSE IT IS PERFECT. NOT BECAUSE IT IS FANCY. NOT BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS CLEAN. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE WELCOME AND THAT ALL THAT OTHER IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE TIME SPENT WITH THEM IS.

I WANT MY HOME TO BE FILLED WITH FRIENDS WHO WILL JUST DROP BY AND "SIT A SPELL"

 Not just us, but as a culture people don't take the time to just visit. Or they combine visiting with "filler" activity. Eating out, shopping, a party, a movie, let's go somewhere. Goodness we need to slow down some.

As a part of my HAPPY DO YEAR - I'm gonna try and see if I spot my neighbor out in the yard, just so I can stop for a quick visit. Or yell across the road to join me and sit a spell on my porch again.

I so enjoyed that time ---

So if any of my readers happen by that there front porch --- come on up the steps. If I'm inside, come on in. Have no idea what conditions you may find, there may be dishes in the sink or I may have to relocate some laundry so you will have a seat. But hey, those dishes and that laundry can wait a little longer. You are far more important than that.

well then.......

image from this site made by this beautiful lady 

I had this wonderful, sad, hopeful, reassuring and all other kinds of words post in my head. But then something happened.

This necklace says it all ---- it's what I want for me and for each of you, for those I love, and for those who love me.

I really just want to live a happy life.

Four words.

Filled with so much potential.

Four words.

THANK GOD MY MAMA DIDN'T DO THIS......

I am the oldest child. The one in the middle is my sister, Tracey. (shhh... we can talk about her later) the one on the right is my mama. She's a character.

Smart. She sure is.

Funny. Got that covered.

Inspirational. That too.

Strong --- uh-huh. My daddy was killed in an accident when I was 15. she suddenly found herself on one income with two teenage girls.

I look sooooo much like her. At times I go by my reflection and I literally see her. Those moments are very eerie.

And --- Girls I am so sorry --- but at times my mouth opens and my mama comes out. Ok ladies --- you know you said it ---- "I will NEVER say that to my kids". Then you do and then you remember. And most of the time --- then you smile.

But the one thing about my MAMA I am celebrating today.

SHE DIDN'T KILL ME WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

and there were times that was a distinct possibility.



oooh --- I knew EVERYTHING. And, "Bless her Heart", in my world she had to be the dumbest, meanest, most difficult person there was.

Bear with me ---- she is none of those things.

I had a smart mouth, kinda still do. That was punished.

Forge my mama's name on a paper --- NO WAY --- got my butt whipped for that in the third grade. She made a believer outta me.

14 --- wanted to date a 23 year old. Mama --- lets just let that one go for now. I married him, we have two beautiful girls, and they are the very essence of my heart.

Ran out of gas one time. She rescued us, got a friend of hers to open the service station, and then made sure we went by there and filled up after that.

Oh I thought I was slick  but --- I cannot count the number of times I wanted to do something and she said NO. Every single time I went against her will, I got caught. EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Got home one night and she asked "just what happened between you and The Man at the Dairy Queen?" damn small town America --- and this was BEFORE cell phones. We had a little (loud) disagreement in the parking lot. Somebody reported it to my mama. Man --- that was some speech. About behaving in public. And how mortifying that phone call was.

Tried the whole "but so&so's mama said she could" ----- she didn't fall for that either.

It snowed one time and they did not cancel school --- the last words out of my mouth were "don't worry mama, I won't wreck your car". Twenty minutes later I'm on a strangers house phone, calling my mama, to get her to get someone to pull same car out of the ditch.

Did I say I had a smart mouth? Still kinda do. Well, that is still reprimanded.

Again --- today I am celebrating the fact that

MY MAMA DIDN'T KILL ME WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

Thank you Mama.

And besides ---- just look at how many really great and embarrassing stories you get to tell now.

Mama -- I love you.

I thought.......

When they were little, I thought I might never sleep again. I heard every change in breathing. Each time they turned over.

I did sleep again ---- but, oh my, these two ARE my very breathing.

I watch the car commercial of the little boy asking his dad all the "why" questions and I remember that I thought "WHY DO THEY HAVE TO ASK ALL THESE QUESTIONS?" And I answered them over and over and over.

One is a Chemistry grad student, the other an environmental science major. They are still asking questions ---- many of them way beyond my abilities to provide answers. 

Oh and the toddler years --- they climbed EVERYTHING. I thought I might climb the walls. They ran and danced and twirled and learned. They fell down and got back up. And I thought "how in the world am I going to keep up with them."

And one runs marathons and one is a college level softball player, and there is no way I can keep up with them, but I can cheer them on by my presence, with a text, a phone call. 

Oh the elementary school years --- bringing exposure to other kids and an introduction to independence that mama wasn't sure about at all. And I thought "I sure hope they learn to make good choices in people."

And one volunteers with special olympics and includes ALL kinds of wonderful people in her life and the other has chosen her eternal mate and together they include kids and wonderful adults in their circle of friends. 

Middle school --- wow --- and I thought that they thought that I was the meanest and dumbest mother in the the world. Because ---- well ---- because at sometime during the middle school years the aliens from the Raging Hormones planet abduct your sweet little girls and replace them with these "THINGS". They looked like my girls, but I thought quite often, there is NO WAY that is mine.

And occasionally - one would let me catch a glimpse of who they were struggling to become. And those glimpses --- well those glimpses gave me hope that we might just make it through these years. 

OOOH ---- sixteen, and I thought my heart may just stop on that first solo trip out of the driveway in the car.

And now one jokes about "road rage" and how stupid drivers bother her and the other one is driving home to see me as often as she can.

I thought there would always be shoes by the island in the dining room.

I thought the washing of uniforms would never end.

I thought that ........

I thought that ........

I thought that I would absolutely be bored to death if we had to watch these videos again

grandpa's magical toys part one

grandpa's magical toys part two

grandpa's magical toys part three

grandpa's magical toys part four

I WAS WRONG ----

And I am so glad that so many of these thoughts were never given a real voice.

I do sleep --- there are STILL questions ---- I cannot keep them safe ---- occasionally a bad decision will happen --- I still have worries when they drive out of the driveway --- I haven't tripped over any of their shoes (or backpacks or batbags) in years ---- and the aliens have returned them  ---- and I am more than likely a pretty average mom and not the meanest or the most stupid one on the planet ----

I am still glad that washing and trying to get red mud out of uniforms is a thing of the past.

Oh, and the videos --- I've been watching them and they are not at all boring.

See ---- in this video --- ABBY learned that the HOKEY POKEY IS WHAT IT"S ALL ABOUT.

They grew up --- I'm their mama --- I AM SO PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE

I LOVE YOU MOLLY AND ABBY ---- AND I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT JUST LIKE TO HEAR IT AGAIN. 

heart shines

Four months into my happy "DO" year, lots has been accomplished and much stash moving, organizing, using, and purging has occurred. 

There have also been mutterings and curse words and phrases like "damn --- where did all this crap come from?"

For instance --- the box shown below.

I have moved this box at least 50 times over the years. Tucking it in this drawer or that one. Or on this shelf or that. Shoving it to the side to fit in "one more thing". 

Well..... about two weeks ago, as I moved the dang box AGAIN, I decided that my DO year needed to include the word FINISH as well. The studio table was piled with the stuff I was putting away and sorting through, so I took this box in the house and decided to sit down and just make the ornaments in the kit. 

I dumped it all out and read the instructions........ yes I DID READ THEM and FOLLOWED them.

I pinned and pinned and pinned and pinned. 

Resulting in this. It really is very pretty. 

And it's a very generous size too. (see below) 

FYI --- although the directions for these do not include glue, I have found it to be valuable for these in the long run. I have several beaded ornaments from my mom and over time the pins can loosen and fall out and then you have gaps. To avoid this, I squeeze a dollop of glue on a scrap of paper and after I make my bead and sequin stack up, I touch the tip of the pin into the glue just before I pin it into the foam shape. Just a bit of extra security. 

Then - because Teresa is "MaggieGraceCreates" and  ---- because MaggieGraceCreates has a GINORMOUS stash of stuff and ------ because making two of them "just alike" would be incredibly boring, I pulled out some corded trim and proceeded to design my own ornament.

I glued some red and green trim diagonally across the ornament and then beaded between them.

Then a solid green top half and a solid red bottom. 

The result 

I think this one is pretty too. 

One of the pair is winging its way to a new home as we speak. 

I'll reveal which one, when the new owner lets me know it has arrived. 

Now --- would you have simply made them both alike and called it done or are you like me and would have taken off and tried your own artistic design? 

As for myself ---- I'm just glad I can add this finish to the DO year list and move the box one last time ----- to the recycling bin. 

It's a beautiful day.