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!!!

Here's What's Been Happening In My Garden This Week

Sweet Heaven On Earth

I can't stop taking pictures this time of year. It's the simple things that move me so much. The blue sky and pear tree blossoms as a backdrop behind my garage ~ forsythia bright as sunshine ~ a fern plant unfurling ~ and a sweet as pie daffy. If you only could have heard the bird's singing as I was taking these pictures ~ honestly ~ it was heaven on earth : )

(oh please do supersize the photo of the daffy ~ look at the amazing center of the flower and also the fern ~ it is breathtaking up close!)

Grandmother's Garden

When I redid my bedroom a few years ago ~ I purchased a lovely bedspread from Country Curtains . It was on the pricey side but matched my paint color perfectly. I used the same paint color as the walls at Restoration Hardware ~ a greenish blueish grey that remind me of the ocean.
It wasn't till a cold winter night ~ when I pulled Gramas quilt out of the closet to stay warm ~ that my bedroom really "felt" the way I had always wanted it to.
Grama hand crochet this for me probably close to 20 years ago. The pattern is called "Grandmother's Garden" ~ how perfect!
My pricey bedspread sits in the linen closet now ~ as I prefer to wrap my Gramas careful and loving "stitches" around me each night!
As you can see ~ Jake agree's!

The Sweet Side of Being Sick

It is day 6 of being sick ! It has come in waves ~ chills, fever, chest pain.
I have managed to have a 49th birthday, go to work, and spend 4 glorious hours of working in the yard and have lunch out with my husband. The rest of the time ~ this has been me ( except I am wearing warm Victoria Secret flannels and matching slippers with my sweet Yorkie Teddi cuddled at my side ) All week-end I have carried from bed upstairs to cozy chair downstairs the following ~ a crazy quilt square to work on, the new Cindy Brick book, another written by Zig Ziggler, a new Country Living that just arrived, a water bottle with Vit. C mixed in, and a blanket. Haven't read but a few words or stitched a stitch ~ just looked at pictures and day dreamed.
I have dreamed about my garden this year, changes I will make to my little pond, how I will lose 10 pounds, new projects I want to work on, life changes I'm ready to make, noticed how God is blessing my kids extra special this new year. Frank made me Chicken Noodle Soup ( from the can) but poured eggs whites in the boiling soup ~ it was SO yummy!
I think I will give in to laziness for the rest of the day and just enjoy my runny nose for all it's worth. All said and done ~ there is a sweet and nurturing side to being sick.

My New Studio

My Sweet daughter Ashley agreed to switich her bedroom with my old studio ~ I gained just a few feet but am a bit more spread out ~ which is nice. I wanted to wait till it was "perfect" but have been so busy sewing ~ we may be into fall before that happens!

So here it is ~ a bit of a mess and still unorganized. My rule was I would not spend one dime other than a gallon of paint. I stuck to it ~ ~ ~ until I paid a visit to Kimberly Niesz web site. Bye bye rules ~ Hello vintage curtains!

I ordered the panels and like so many of you wonderful ladies that I love in blogland ~ extras came with the panels! I used a runner she sent as a valence and a small bit of fabric was perfect to sew with some chenille for a pillow cover! You MUST pay her a visit at http://www.niesvintagefabric.com/.

The clear boxes I got for free at Office Max with a coupon (they retail for about $15.00) are Wonderful!!!! I used them for crazy quilting supplies and projects I am working on.

My serging area is between the silk hand dyed ribbon from Pat Winter (she often has them on her Etsy site http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=80476) My book/magazine rack which has proved to be a God send! It is meant for a retail shop but is perfect for home use!

The ribbon holder was simply made by Frank. Just dowels drilled into a wood base.

The wrapping paper organizer over my cutting table was on clearance at Pottery Barn for $99.00! I had a $100.00 gift certificate from my visit to The View this past spring so it was Free! I have to say ~ it is made so well and hangs with ease ~ not always the case with something so heavy.

I am going to share how I made my sewing machine cover in another post soon. It is an easy ,fun project.

This little room is where all my family knows where they will find me and where I am able to "talk to" some of the dearest folks in all the world ~ YOU!!!