HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

 Thanks you so very much for taking the time to visit my blog.
I love hearing from each of you with all your kind comments. it really means a lot to me.
Lets hope 2012 is full of love and wonderment for all..
HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL
xoxo
Maggie

Tutorial for Paper Christmas Tree

This is the cutest Christmas TreeTutorial (here) made from a paperback book. I am sure we all have a few of those laying around that we have read.
My library offers a grocery bag full of books from their discarded book table for $1.00
I get the hardcovers and use them for my altered journals.I only use the covers so now I have a reason to use the pages.I think you could really glam them up and paint them as well as adding some other bits.
I got the idea from Freda's Blog (here)
Thanks Freda.

Merry Christmas Card from the Robinsons

Hello Dear Friends,

Things are pretty good around here and I am feeling much better.

Thanks to everyone for your care and kind thoughts and prayers.

I imagine everyone is hurrying around in the Christmas rush....so...

I thought it was time you took a break and enjoyed the Christmas card my hubby made up.

It is so cute and a great way to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas.

All you have to do is click on the link .
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/5z4MFEHxegJ3Uhue

All Is Well and I Feel Lucky

Hello dear Friends.

It has been so long since I was here.

I want to thank everyone that sent good thoughts and prayers when I was down and out!

I am still waiting for an MRI, but as near as I can figure out from my diagnosis it was sciatica!!!

I never knew such pain in my life.

I am nearly off the oxycotin and am being very careful with my movements. I hope I never have to go through that again..

So.... as I continue to improve I do feel "Lucky"  to have this over with.

I did manage to get through the artist's sales I was committed to with the help of drugs and my walking stick!

They were very long days, but  it was a successful  occasion.

 I see my Etsy Shop is nearly empty...... oh dear... .

I will have to work on that in the new year....I promise

I have had time to sit around and do a lot of thinking and I  am planning some kind of a draw for you faithful "followers" in the near future....
I hope you will stay tuned...
Meanwhile, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope you have a wonderful time with those close to you.
xoxo
Maggie

My Blogoversary

Hello Dear Friends...
I can't beleive I forgot it is my Blogoversary! I have been so busy preparing for a Studio sale I guess I just forgot!
I have been blogging since 2006. It has been a great experience for me, meeting so many wonderful talented people from all over the world.
It has been a learning experience for someone like me who said a few years ago, I have no interest in computers, it is a waste of time............now I know how wrong I was..
I must admit I spend a little too much time here, but it is so nice to surf around and visit your blogs.. Always something exciting to see and do..
Thank you to all my followers, you are all an inspiration to me.
Stay tuned as I plan to have a draw for something nice in the near future..
Thanks again,.,., I love you all
Big Hugs
Maggie

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

More Handbags..New Design

I guess you could call me the "Bag Lady"

Here I go again!

I decided to use some faux leather and see how it went.

The red bag is faux leather with an alligator imprint . The fabric is a heavy duck with a giraffe design. I knew when I saw it I had to have it and I thought the red really complimented it..

The interior of the bag is a red silk with white polkadots which I thought was perfect.The bag has two large zippered pockets inside.

 Very roomy and comfy to wear.

The black bag is the same design.

It is black faux leather on the sides,flap closure  and handles,

The rest of the bag is faux mink  very luxurious looking

I used magnetic closures in both bags, they are so easy and look very nice,

 The lining in this one is a brushed cotton flannel with the leopard print, same two zipper pockets..
I may do some for my Etsy shop later but for now these will be for  a Christmas sale next month.
I really enjoyed using the faux leather. Not  too difficult to sew. It just took a bit of time.Hope you enjoyed seeing them.
Let me know what you think. That is always important for me.
Thanks for stopping by.

Birthday Here AGAIN!

Hello Dear Friends...

Thought I would share my Special Day with you..

Since it was my birthday DH  and my daughter Lynne took me out for dinner at one of my favourite places for chinese buffet the Mandarin.

Had a yummy dinner and my favourite wine topped of with

birthday cake and ice cream(of course!) The waiter was so much fun with his comments and to my surprise snapped a picture.LOL

This is the guy "my Robbie" that has put up with me for 57 years.VBG

Our daughter Lynne is the only one of our children that lives nearby and happily she shared the evening.

Gee being 76 isn't so bad after all!!!!

AND,,,,,More Bags

I think I could be called a "Bag Lady" as making bags is one of my favorite things to do. The pictures above are of my latest ventures..
Details are on my Etsy shop if interested.

More Bags

This oriental flavoured bag has a pocket in the front. The pocket is cut to match the background ladies... Neat eh?

 This is the messenger bag I was working on earlier, All finished now.It is a red wool and wool applique.

This is done with wool applique. I just cut out shapes and used my embellisher to attatch them. I love this color combo. The main part of the bag is a heavy fabric which I did a lot of machine stitching on.
This messenger bag has so many possibilities, hard to stop making them.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING CANADA

Messenger Bag How To

first of all I can't seem to flip the picture! This new camera is a pill sometimes VBG
Anyway.... This is all you need to make a Messenger Bag... No pattern required...
This  happens to be my choice of size but you can make any size you want.I put the measurements I use on the little notes.
This is a lovely red wool and I thought I would do some applique on the flap. I will embellish it a bit more when I get it to-gether.
The lining is cut out the same way and I use a lightweight Pelletex  that I get from Joggles to give it a nice sturdy quality.
The Messenger Bag has so many possibilities. With the flap you can do so many things. Crazy pieceing would be nice too... Maybe I will try that.
 next.
Tell me what you think

DO YOU LIKE THIS...Tell Me

Hello everyone,
I had the BEST day yesterday..... Here's the story...
Last year I attended a Traditiional Rug Hooking Retreat. They offered 2 classes  and I chose to do a mermaid. Took me awhile to finish it but I was excited to try some different fibres rather than the usual wool. The hair is strips of sari silk and the fish part of the body is done with metallics some with little sequins embedded in the weave... You know what I mean I'm sure... These are regular fabrics one would use for sewing projects with. I cut the fabric into 3/4 Inch strips for hooking this piece. Anyway I thought it was absolutely perfect as it looked like fish scales. Not so much though in the picture, but trust me,,, it does.
When I got the piece done and it took quite awhile I thought hmmmmm...... this would make a great bag flap, so .... since the studio tour is coming up I thought this would be a great piece to display.... so I got busy...
I just made a simple messenger bag design , found some fabric that worked and away I went.. Funny thing is the fabric I chose was one that I had purchased to use in my doll bags for their hair! It is a cinnamon color and it looks like wool stippled all over on a black background. PERFECT....The inside has 3 pockets including one for a cell phone and I always sew in one of my labels.... So there you have it....
I would love to hear what you think of it..
Thanks for stopping by

Great Giveaway

Look at this giveaway..... FABULOUS... Be sure and pop over to pinkleart,blogspot.com
and enter 

Progress To Date

Hello Dear friends.

So happy you stopped by. It always means a lot to know you are there.

I finally finished the jackets...One favours pink and the other purple. I know the twins will have fun wearing them. Under the little backpacks is more applique and a "Gone Fishing" sign.. LOL

THEN....... last Tuesday my friend Heather and I took a beading class at our favorite spot in Paris((Ontario, Canada that is!))

It is going to be a necklace,,,,or I thought it would make a fabulous purse handle on a special little opera bag.... we'll see when I feel it is long enough for one or the other...

Now I have to get busy and work on some things for  the Studio Tour.....
Oh Yes.. I forgot to tell you the opening of the  Art Gallery was a booming success. I will get pictures later as the place was packed with over 1000 in attendance.I was so excited to see my contribution in a glass case ...Was I excited or WHAT!.... Yes!
I guess you know I had a toenail removed on my big toe.... Unfortunately it developed an infection so I hobbled over to Emerge and waited 5 hours to be seen..... Doc gave me a prescription and off I went.. Next day after using the drug I developed a terrible itch all over my body.... so..... off to emerge this time it was 1:30 AM.. Not a car on the road and nobody in the emerge! YEAH.. I got in right away and the doc gave me an antihistomine for the itch and a new prescription!! I seem to be able to handle that one ok and as I bathed the foot this morning the toe looks a bit better.....What a worry especially since I am diabetic...Honestly....  as Maggie Muggins told Mr. McGregor in the Peter Rabbit Book..........I wonder what will happen to-morrow!!!! Guess we will just wait and see ;-)
so that's all for now...... Thanks again for stopping by...

One Finished..One To Go

Goodmorning Dear Friends...
Well I am a bit groggy this AM as I was up quite late finishing this jacket. I was having a bit of trouble remembering how the backpack was constructed and after doing a few steps twice I got it done.... Worth every frustrating moment! The backpack is so sweet isn't it! It buttons on by the ears and the arms go through some of the rope fishing line. I forgot about that step (darn)and I had used all my rope...  I need to get more so the arms will have somewhere to hold on to.The jackets are made out of Kunin shaggy felt. It is a wonderful fabric, totally washable and so warm and cuddly. It has a soft nap to it.... Very hard to find I might add. I did find some on Ebay.
The jacket did not call for  any front closure but I have a jacket like that and it drives me nuts trying to keep it closed if it is windy, so..... I used some pink stretchy hair things for the loop and put buttons on. I think it looks cute and easy. I would have used a zipper but in my box of dozens I did not have the right length... Heard that one before?!?!?1
I took the first picture of the front and forgot to put the little fish pin on ... Woops I see I forgot to put it's bow tie on... Oh well.that is easily done...
Is this not the sweetest jacket ever!!!!! The twins will  look so sweet in them.They are 6 yrs old and just starting school this year.
This one is lined in pink and the one I am still working on is lined in Purple... because Emma likes purple and Haley likes pink....Hope to have them done and delivered soon.I should have the final update soon and hopefully I will get a picture of the girls wearing their jackets.

A New Month Begins

The leaves are changing their colors from green to beautiful shades of orange, red and gold...
Oh My!! where did the summer go?
The fall season is packed with obligations for me... All the guilds I belong to are starting up. It will be so nice to renew friendships.. Studio Tours, Gallery Openings  .. sigh....I love every hectic moment.
Right now I am trying to finish a pair of whimsical jackets for a darling set of twin girls age 6. They are the grandaughters of one of my special clients and I just love making things for them...
I am almost finished with the jackets and will show you  how cute they are ASAP.
Until then.... I hope your day is filled happiness and pleasure.
BTW I had the problem big toe nail removed last week. I was surprised how painless the procedure was even the needle used for freezing! However , I am still bathing and dressing it a few times a day and it is very sensitive.
I am stuck wearing the worst pair of sandals that allow my toe to be free!!!! Oh Dear!!! you know how it is with a girl and her shoes!!!! I hope I can wear something more fashionable this week but it doesn't look like it!Oh well....c'est la vie!!

Another UFO Completed

Hello Dear Friends...

I do so many different things I find it hard to get everything done on time....If it isn't beading, it is doll making ... or making fabric postcards.... or... or... or.....

Here I am at last with the latest project completed....

I bought this quilt kit ages ago . I thought it would be perfect for the new baby boy on our street.Well the new baby boy"Austin" is now 6 months old!!! About time I got the top  finished... Hopefully I will  get it layered and machine quilted on Thursday night...

BTW... I am having a toenail removed to-morrow... .. Not looking forward to that!

Guess I will just have to put my big girl panties on and deal with it! VBG

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a note...

catching up

I have wanted to try one of Terry Grants birds for ages and I finally got around to it.... It was a fun time.. I want to do more.

I had more pictures of my activities lately but cannot find them. I guess they will turn up eventually so stay tuned

More Fun

I was so excited to finish this beaded necklace.

It is done with silk embroidery, beads swarski crystals, a gold  honey bee and a swarski crystal butterfly

The chain is an assortment of lovely crystals and specialty beads. It measures 30" long.

 I have listed it in my Etsy Shop.

 

 I was in LOVE with this bracelet pattern and have completed four. I plan to change the clasp on the gold/silver gray bracelet from silver to gold. I thought  the gold would be a better compliment. I put the slilver clasp on the pink one. Looked nice there. I am thinking I can use alcohol inks to color clasps to match the other 2 bracelets. One has sky blue swarski crystals and the other one is amethyst crystals.

The pictures do not pick up the true beauty but believe me they do sparkle and shine.I will be adding them to my Etsy

Thanks for taking a peek. Have a great week-end.

Stitch Tutorial

Goodmorning Dear Friends

I have been trying to learn some embroidery for crazy patch and decided to browse some tutorials on stitches and this is what I found..

http://www.needlenthread.com/videos

It is  "Mary Corbet's Needle 'n Thread"   link

If you have time go take a look .....there are videos of any stitch you can imagine. I just had to share.

It is a wonderful link. I have picked out a few to practice.... stay tuned for my progress ;-}

Happy Stitching

New Bracelets

Here is the bracelet I learned in class on Tuesday.
I just LOVE  the design. The centre is swarski crystals surounded by delicas and seeds..
I'm not sure the picture captures the beauty. The one I finished is done with 24kt. gold delicas, silver plated silver delicas, and grey seed beads. The centres are clear swarski crystals that sparkle so beautifully.
When I finished that one I looked in my stash and picked out some other colors I could try. These combinations are lovely too...I would have finished the next two I started but it is very intense beading and since I broke my glasses the cheaters I am using are not the best for close work!! Better take a rest....
I would finish these this morning but my DH and I are off to the city.
He has an appt. to see the specialist and discuss all the tests he had regarding the year long bout with migraines and a heart valve issue..
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

CATCH OF THE DAY

Finished another fish bag.
I love the colors in this one... very summery.
This one is swimming over to my Etsy shop.
I am off to Paris to-morrow(Paris, Ontario, Canada that is!)
I'm excited about taking a beading class learning a new bracelet design.I will share pictures as soon as I can.
Hope everyone ios having a great summer.. It is sunny and hot here in Southern Ontario and I am loving every minute!
Now I am off to finish some fabric postcards,
Toodles for now

Summer Retreat at Crieff

These are some pictures from my annual quilt retreat with friends.

We  have a lot of fun with lots of quilting and eating..... and eating.... and quilting!

We stay in a wonderful century house called House Of Prophet.

Upon arrival we have lunch and open our goodie bags we share with each other.

The first morning one of the gals always treats us to eggs benedict.... YUMMO!

The weather was very rainy but we didn't mind as we were busy with our sewing projects.

 This  is Carol's quilt

 Here is Karen with one of her quilt tops. She won the prize for the most productivity(She pieced 3 quilts tops!)

 This is the one I was working on... a postage stamp.. Still have a lot ot do but those little 1 1/2" squares take a lot of sewing to make one block.

 This is Karen with her challenge quilt

 Here is Heather's

 Lunch  outside. It was nice and sunny the day we arrived

This is the housewe stay in for 3 days. We have 4 tables set up in the sunroom at the far left. SEW MUCH FUN...