Red Work, Roosters and A Springtime Poem

Good Morning Friends!

I have been in my sewing studio all morning finishing up on a special order.

My customer loves roosters so I was able to fussy cut several from the fabric.

I Love this fabric ~ I have just about a half of yard left.

I got it years ago so I am sure it is out of production.

 This little Rooster tote will add an extra splash of "cuteness" to her  decor. 

One of my etsy customers wanted her bread bag personalized for her sister ~

I thought it was a great idea!

Since the bags are already constructed I can do initials only at the top of the bag for just $1.00 more.

                                                                                     Well back to fun work!

And Spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.


—Percy Bysshe Shelley

Angels

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware."

 Hebrews (13:2)

"Mother Teresa tells a story of walking past an open drain and catching a glimpse of something moving in it. She investigated and found a dying man whom she took back to a home where he could die in love and peace. 'I live like an animal in the streets,' the man told her. 'Now I will die like an angel'..."

- Mother Teresa of Calcutta ("Words to Live By")

 
"Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

"As to prophecy and good fortune: angels can only speak of it - only humans can manifest it."

- Anonymous


"We are each of us angels with only one wing and we can only fly by embracing each other."

- Luciano de Crescenzo

" He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone."

~ Luke 4:10`11

                                                                                                                                                                         

This little angel is on her way to another angel in Florida....

This beautiful Rose if from an angel named Lisa.....found on my doorstep last week.....in celebration of her anniversary of being cancer free.

"All of God's Angels come to us disguised."

The WINNER IS.........

And The Winner Is..........

Coralie Johnson from Charms of Days blog and

Vintage Cottage Home!

Thank you to all who participated ~ it was such a fun adventure.

Thank you so much Lisa for all the hard work putting this very special event together.

Lots of Love you YOU!

Oilcloth Shopping Organizer ~ Changed My Shopping Trips Forever!

I think this may very well be the most useful item I have ever made!

It's started with the whole economy thing ~ we've all been hit by it.

Well ~ I needed to start using coupons again.

I also needed a place for my reading glasses, shopping list, pen.

 It had to have a matching coupon holder,

 And Velcro straps to hold it securly to the shopping cart.

 It had to fold neatly to slip into my purse or back pocket.
It also had to be sturdy, cheerful and hold up to alot of wear and tear ~ oilcloth fit the bill!

Here's the one I made for myself and would not go to the store without !

Check out my Etsy Shop to have one of your very own in Pink or Yellow as shown here.

Would you prefer to try to make your own?


I made my pattern by first measuring the bar on the cart ~ then measuring how much space I would need for each item.


Oil cloth can be tricky to work with but the results are well worth it.


Let me give you some tips on sewing with oilcloth ......


You need a special foot since the oilcloth sticks with a normal foot as you sew.


For my Janome 10000 ~ I use a Ultra Glide Foot. It is plastic and cost was about $25.00.


I use a size 12 needle. My favorite brands are Organ, Schmetz or Kenmore.


Ironing is tricky if not impossible. I have done it with a cool iron and a pressing sheet but always finger press when possible.


When I will be sewing with oilcloth for the day ~ I will leave my stack of material near a sunny window.


The heat from the sun flattens it just enough. Also put it under a stack of heavy books if time allows.

                                                             This is the best sight in the world for Oilcloth Tips ~ Oil Cloth Addict

  Here is where I like to purchase oilcloth ~ Mendels      

"If you seek and angel with an open heart you shall always find one."

                                                                                                                     

Make Your Own Tea Stained Rose

Hi Friend's!

I wanted to share with you the Victorian Bags I have been working on.
I have them listed in my Etsy site.
Tea stained muslin was my first love back in the 90's.
Remember when tea stained dolls were all the rage?
I sold them at a local shop and spent hours dying muslin with tea and coffee so it has been a blast working with it again!

To make the muslin Rose like the one on the Fond Remembrance bag shown below  ~
you will need a muslin strip about 12" by 1 1/2 ".
Start by folding the strip in 3rds long ways so it is 12" by 1/2 ".
Roll about 10 times tightly  ~ this is your center.
Then roll and twist ~ roll and twist, letting the fabric loosen as you go,
you will begin to see the rose form.

Once the rose is finished ~
I use nymo thread and a heavy needle and from the back,
I run the thread through the layers from one end to another until it is secure.

For added embellishment use scraps of lace, vintage leaves from old hats, sequins for the center.

Does that all seem a bit too confusing?
Just rip a strip of muslin this size and begin to play.
Don't use scissors ~  for that time worn look.
You will likely create your own special flower that is all your design!

 Or just come by my Etsy shop and order one!

" I have now taken of the kernel of your life and planted it in mine.'

~ Margaret Fuller 1845

Mystery Reveled! Those Pic's I Posted And What It Was Like To Be On The Nate Berkus Show

Mystery Reveled!

Last week I started posting random pictures here and here of nooks and crannies in my home and pics of myself.

I wanted to explain but couldn't until now!

I was contacted by The Nate Berkus Show to participate in one of those swaps he does.

They needed lots of pics and as luck would have it ~ my email would not let me send more than one at a time so I had to post the pics as a blog post so the producers could see them!

I wanted to tell you soooo bad ....... I'm sorry!

So let me show you a tiny bit of the behind the scenes.

Someone met me at the door of NBC and brought me to the green room.

Am I dreaming???

I shared it with a fun classy gal named Ruth and her sweetheart of a daughter Alex.

The producers kept coming in to rehearse with us. Between rehearsing, these gals kept me laughing!

This was me trying to be "super excited" as they kept telling us to do.

They had sandwiches, hot and cold drinks and baked goods for us but we were far too nervous to eat!

Then it was time for hair and make up.

 Could this really be me??? Two stylist doing my hair?

 This was the make up artist ~  fun and upbeat like the rest of the crew.

Call me shallow but after I took this pic ~ I realized what I was wearing made me look fat!

I have lost weight since the holidays and weighed 115 that morning.

Then I realized I am going to look 125 on camera ~ a lot for my 5'1 frame.

Come on guys ~ you know you would be worrying about that too.

This is Jenny Pulos from Flipping Out  who I did the swap with ~

my card shuffler for her heart.

Let me tell you she is a sweetheart! Very down to earth and the girl can rap!

Really! She is a rapper and won an award at The Apollo Theater  several years ago.

Here's Jenny's heart in my window ~ I love it!

The producer kept telling me since I was the first swap ~ my energy would set the pace for the entire segment.
Normally my energy is always ramped at high rate of speed, but I was SOOOOO nervous.
Somehow, I got through my minute of fame ~ lol.
I mentioned what is always at the top of my brain ~ my kids.
I didn't say anything that was in the script they gave me and even though I had to slump down displaying horrible posture to show Jenny the card shuffler (she was a few steps down from my seat) ~ Nate was standing 1 foot away .
I got to look in his dreamy eyes and get a sweet Nate hug!
That made it all worth it!

If I ever had the chance to do it again ~ I would never be so nervous.
The producers and entire staff, Nate and Jenny were sweet as can be!

After the show was over ~ they asked us to stay so they could tape a few more segments for a different show.

They passed a basket around and we all picked one of these cards.

It was for  NEW CAR!!!!

The winning number was 71 ~ the girl next to me had 70!
Her name is Sharon Terry, a writer, editor and all-around nice person to chat with.
 I have great interest in writing and editing and she has since sent me wonderful info on the subject. 

After the taping was over ~ Ruth and Alex invited me to join them for dinner.

We ate at a great place across the street from the studio where I had the best seared tuna I have ever had in my life!

After dinner we shared a cab to Times Square where we said goodbye.

I decided to go to one of my fave spots in NYC ~ the red stairs in the center of Times Square.

This was the spot I said goodbye to my friend Lori from LA a year or so ago.

 Now her Mom is in the last days of her life and this seemed like the perfect place to call her and see how she was doing.

It was a highlight of the day to be talking to her here of all places.

As we talked, I soaked in the wonder of all the lights and excitement in the City  ~

even on a freezing cold Tuesday in February.

Thankfully Magnolia Bakery was still opened in Grand Central.
I have been happily sticking to a vegan diet since January 9th but had to have one of these baby's on the train ride home... it was the chocolate one that is missing ; O)

I came home at 12:30 am to dark house ~ happy to be Home Sweet Home.

As I cuddled in bed to my snoring husband, Teddi with bad breath in dogs and my IPAD for my nightly Solitaire addiction ~

I was so grateful for such an amazing day.

Grateful still more for my little home and seemingly little life in Conn.

which just for today...... didn't seem so little after all.

Show will be airing Feb. 23, 2011

Pat Winter's 1st Edition of "Crazy Quilt Gatherings" Coming Soon!

The Excitement Is Building Friends!!!!

This Spring gives us something special to look forward  to ~
the first issue of Pat Winter's magazine ~

 " Crazy Quilt Gatherings... celebrating Crazy Quilting of Today "

As is always the case with Pat ~ she has a talent that stands alone yet she is always happy to bring all of us along with her.
The generosity she has expressed through her blog and to many on line friends has endeared her to us all.
Though all of our jaws drop at her work ~ she moves from project to project seemingly unimpressed with herself.
She is always willing to share and really that is what this magazine is all about.
It takes tremendous dedication to put one of these issues together ~ it is truly a gift from her heart.

Let's all take this journey with her as she shares her techniques with us and uncovers new talents along the way.
As she opens the door and lets us all in to her Crazy Quilting world, her purpose is not to impress but to share.
However as her editor I can promise impressed you will be!

Follow this link for more info about submitting your own work or placing an ad for your etsy,artfire etc.

It must remain a mystery ;)

Places something special would live nicely .............

the distressed corner shelf in the living room

 the breakfast table where I plan my day

Grama's desk from the Sears's catalogue 1925.....

 already holding one glass heart in a tray of lavender and special beach finds

 the metal table next to my sewing chair

In my kitchen....

 on the tarnished silver tray that holds a dose of springtime and my coffee in the morning

the table in the sitting room that holds chalk for the message board and gives me a hard surface to for crazy quilting ;)