2nd Annual BLOG PARTY to Share Your Creative Space

WELCOME to The Party

It's exciting to know we will be visiting blogs from all over the world ~

being a fly on the wall in that most sacred creative space we all share ~

our studio,sewing room,kitchen table ~ wherever the beauty happens for you!

Be it Big or Small, it's special and it's Ours!

I had big plans to do a redo on mine before the party but it was too nice outside

unfortunately I never found the time.

 The mascot of my space is Teddi.

You will see him in almost every picture somewhere ~ the tapestry chair in the photo belonged to Jake

who just passed away this April.

I had a red metal love seat that matched the room much better but replaced it with the chair for Jake so he would be more comfortable and I don't have the heart to change it for now.

The red magazine rack was just $10.00 and holds my most loved books and magazines for inspiration.

Storage Places

Wicker baskets with supplies project ready,

 threads for machine embroidery,

dowel rods glues to a wood block for ribbon, 

a red Chanel box filled with vintage pearl buttons,

a closet cubbie with stacks of fabric,

 box of thread for crazy quilting,

plastic bin of velvet ribbon from my Aunt Gert's hat making business in Chicago,

silk ribbon stored in a barbers glass,

my 4 favorite trays to use when beading.

What Do I Create ?

Like most of you ~ 90% of what I make I give away.

Most times for me ~ I feel the Lord inspire me to create something for someone and often it

is someone I don't really know. I love that ~ am thankful that He trust me to touch that person.

He has also sent people along the way that have done the same for me ~

Pat Winter has been one of those people.

Her work decorates many areas of my home ~

to the left of my threads above you will see 4 of her beautiful pouches.

SO what do I create?

Crazy Quilting, sewing and machine embroidery are my favorites.

I desperately want to learn soldering ~ I have all the supplies and just can't get the hang of it.

I like mixing machine and hand embroidery.

I made these little purses about 6 years ago. 

What started it all 10 years ago ~ my first crazy quilt ~ still not finished!

The most recent things I have made ~

this lavender heart last week for a special couple.......

and this Mini wall quilt 2 weeks ago for my Aunt Shirley.

And here is a sampling of my unfinished crazy quilted items ~

All my work in between is posted somewhere on my blog but you don't have time for that ~

There is a long list of blogs to visit from all over the world so get going!!!!!!

And Thanks for Stopping By!!!!

Love you Lots ~

Come Back Soon!!!

Collection Addiction Friday

I have a "Farm Scenes painted on metal" addiction........

.... a Cast Iron Door Stop  never stops me from buying it.

A White Vase for every corner of my home.......

I never met a Pretty Box that I could throw away.

What's YOUR  addiction  Collection ?

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

- Anaia Nin

Chocopolagie Cafe in Historic South Norwalk

Come on In ......

for a little Chocolate Love.....

a little Strawberry Joy dressed in their Sunday Best.....

an explosion of Butter Cream Bliss.

With  Fritz Knipschildt ~ resident Chef & Chocalatier at the helm....

all your chocolate fantasy's will come true!

He has been written up in every form of print including Martha Stewart, Oprah, New York Times....

had smack downs with Bobby Flay...

and rumor has it when he was in school, he would put Hershey Chocolate bars in his pants and when  properly melted ~ make Star Wars figures out of it.

Now that's genius!

My daughters Cheri and Ashley are enjoying dessert ....

while  Leather woman guards the lady's room.

And if you were thinking of just ordering a salad ~

This is just for you.

My mouth is watering for one of these French beauty's right now!

Historic South Norwalk is a classy mix of restaurants, shops, galleries and museums

anchored by The Maritime Aquarium ~ over looking the Norwalk River .

The South Norwalk train station is right there ~ less than an hour to Grand Central Station.

A production crew was filming the day we were there. 

Fall leaves were placed strategically up and down the sidewalks.

Some shops in town are a bit highbrow but simply act like you own the joint

and you will be just fine!

Cheri and Ashley are posing with my Aunt Shirley's dream truck at Lillian August Collections.

How many home decorating stores can you go to and buy a truck?

I highly recommend stopping at the SoNo Baking  for a fresh baguette.

What a fabulous place to go for breakfast ~ Frank and my favorite spot!

Also BeadWorks ~ the Best bead shop this side of New York City.

The Norwalk Museum is full of nostalgia and has a wonderful gift shop.

The Maritime Museum ~ you can breeze through in an hour or spend the whole day there.

All of this and SO much more within a 4 block area!

The History of Buttons ~ Inspired by The 26th Annual Northeast Regional Button Show

The 26th Annual Northeast Regional Button Show

" Earth, Fire, Wind & Water "

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Southbury, Ct.

June 4th ~ 6th 2010

We have all been to quilt shows and the like that sell beautiful buttons ~ but I can PROMISE you

You've never seen a true masterpiece button until you have been to one of these Button Shows!

I counted 24 dealers there from all over the country.

Each had huge displays of buttons as well as a bargin bins you were able to go through for great deals!

Let me first apologize for the worst pics I've ever taken my awful pictures.

The folks that ran this show were so accommodating to me as well as the owner of this collection.

I did not want to be disruptive by pulling all his trays out to get better lighting so I snapped pics
looking downward and hoped for the best.

This entire collection belongs to Gary Brockman of Mineral Point, Wi.(tinajas@mhtc.net)

I would not hesitate to order from him on line ~ his collection was superior in every way with prices ranging from a few dollars to thousands.

(look carefully and you will see the prices marked in pencil next to each button)

This LINK will give you an excellent view of some amazing works of art, buttons that is, up close.

Go Here for a fantastic list of all the variety's of buttons and corresponding articles compiled by Bead and Button Magazine. You will find an article by Gary there as well.

Did you know round objects believed to be buttons were found in pre-historic burial grounds.

They are round and made of gold,bone and clay.

There is a vast history ~ you can find it Here .

From 1860 on ~ they became a decorative item on woman's clothing and well  ~ that's all it took!

They then began to be mass producted!

Just a mile from my home  ~ here in Naugatuck, Ct. USA ~ Charles Goodyear's father Amasa had a button mill run by our very own Naugatuck River.

(Our town was called Salem's Bridge at the time.)

Just a few miles up the road ~ in Waterbury, Ct ~ Scovill Manufacturing Company was known around the world for their buttons. Here is an excerpt from their web site ~

"Scovill's buttons have adorned many U.S. military uniforms since the war of 1812, but among the most famous pieces produced by Scovill is a set of closures made for General Marquis de LaFayette and presented to him when he visited the U.S. in 1825. These 17 closures featured the head of George Washington and were acclaimed as masterpieces of their time. They were made of solid gold which was obtained from a single nugget unearthed in North Carolina."

Go Here and find out when a button show will be near you.

You may even want to join the National Button Society in your area.

By the way ~ have you picked a favorite?

Mine is the beautiful Cottage Button trimmed in gold ~ $400.00.

Can you find it?

The MOST Important Thing ~ My Daddy

You ~ my blogging friends are more special to me than you will ever know.

I have gleened so much wisdom, joy and inspiration from your writings, creative work, family pictures and bumps along the way.

Though I have shared so many of the important parts of my life with you ~ it occured to me recently I havent shared the MOST important thing ~ My Daddy . 

I have always known my precious Jesus.
I remember at age 4 ~ being the only person I knew who did not have a father.
Then my Sunday School teacher said God was my Father. That's it (!!!) I thought ~ everyone else has an earthly father but mine is God!

I spoke to Jesus always ~ but my fondest memories as a very young child are speaking to him in my Pop-Pop's garden and while swinging on my swing.
His voice is soft and true ~ as real as the ground below and the sky above.

Even at 51 ~ I know I am still His little girl!


In 1979 ~ I was at a Jimmy Swaggart Crusade in Greenville, SC.
My Mom's church was ushering and I attended with her.
I was living in Aspen,Colo. at the time and doing things I knew conflicted with my faith.

During the crusade ~ I experienced the sensation of being lifted off of the ground.

My Mom's friend Marge Hill brought me backstage in this little hallway behind the stage and began to pray for me.

She said "Terri ~ say the first thing that comes to your mind."

All I kept seeing was the word ABBA written across my brain like a huge banner.

I was embarrassed to say it because that was the name of a famous rock group at the time.

Mrs. Hill kept insisting so finally I said "Abba "

It was at that time she told me the meaning of that word in Hebrew ~ Dear Father or Daddy.

We both collapsed in tears and wonder ~ no word could have ever been more meaningful to me.

As we drove home from the conference that night  ~ a heavenly prayer language began to flow through my mind. The term "speaking in tougues " that I had read in the Bible became a reality.

It was this night that I learned about a new and powerful dimension of being my Father's child.

 

I have failed and fallen short countless times since then but He never leaves me ~ never walks away.
 
He will do the very same for you.

 

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions ~
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Lamentation 3:22-24 (King James Version)