HELLO DEAR FRIENDS

Hello Everyone....
Here I am at last after being away for too long...
Thank you to each of you for your kind words and prayers during my horrible ordeal. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to know I have so many wonderful friends out there in cyberspace rooting for me..
I am happy to report that I am feeling better. I am now on insulin which is controling my diabetes nicely and I am being weaned off the Prednisone . This can't happen quickly enough to suit me. It has so many terrible side effects, but I am learning "patience" ;-}
Meanwhile I have gotten so far behind in all I do, so I am trying to catch up.
I should have some interesting things for you to see real soon. I promise.
Once again I send great big hugs to each of you for your thoughtfulness
((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))
Maggie

The following links will explain the "Think Pink" collaborative project in support of breast cancer... all proceeds will go to the
Susan G Komen For The Cure.....

The Beginning

The Pink Doll Artist Doll Reveal

Parade of Artist Squares

About Susan G Komen

I'm Back...Glamour Shot and And All..;-{

Hello everyone...

(Boy I look like I have been through the Mill.....)

First of all I want to send a big thank-you to you all. Your prayers , good thoughts, candles and cards have given me strength and I will forever be grateful. I am starting to feel better and thought I should update my condition. I'm afraid I have been depressed and unable to put words to-gether until now. As some of you know I was taken by ambulance to the hospital 3 weeks ago . I was frozen with pain and could barely move. My diagnosis was Polymyalgia Rheumatica with the possibility of Giant Cell Arteritis.. The first part is very painful and the second part can cause blindness in a fraction of a second!! It is caused by inflammation of the arteries leading to the eyes as I understand it. Anyway, I had to have a biopsy to clarify my condition. WELL.... that was another story! The biopsy was to take one hour. NOT! ..........for me it was 3 1/2 hours on the table while they dug around in my temple trying to find an artery. The doctor was very unhappy and was not successful in that area......(He has done thousands of these surgeries and has not had a case like this in 20 years!) so he stitched me up and went to the other side where he proceeded to dig some more, finally achieving success he pulled up the artery, took a 3 cm. piece for pathology, tied off the artery, stitched me up and that was that. I heard him saying he was afraid the freezing was going to be wearing off... I thought YES!!! me too... I was so relieved when the whole episode was over and needless to say my DH was a nervous wreck!( Now I have 2 black eyes and a bunch of stitches!!!! I look like I should belong to the Munster Family!!)

The following week was a concern as to what the results would be. Thankfully I got a negative report and I can't tell you how thankful I was. The unfortunate part of the whole thing is the fact that I am on prednisone and being a diabetic it has shot my glucose readings up into the clouds... I have not had readings that reached high teens, low twenties since they first discovered I had the problem. I saw my family doctor on Friday to discuss everything. He tells me it will take a year to get me off the Prednisone~~! Not good news as far as I am concerned..... I DON'T want chubby cheeks for all that long!!!!!! but I guess if that is what I have to do I will just have to PUT MY BIG GIRL PANTIES ON AND DEAL WITH IT ;-} The best part is the miserable drug has done it's job and I don't have an ache or a pain anywhere...... yippee!

I am so looking forward to getting back to all the things I love to do and be a part of all my groups that I love dearly. Thanks again to all you wonderful, caring gals. I love you all more than I can say.....

((((hugs)))) Maggie

Bags, and More Bags

I am a bag nut!!!! I love making bags.....thought you might like to see some of my "favorites "

Between Bags and Jackets I love to sew....

MAGZ BAGZ

I decided to recycle some Jeans and incorporate a pocket from them on the front as well as the back of the bag, using a crazy patch style. All the seams are decorated with decorative stitches.

I used my embroidery machine to write the letters. the shoes and tyhe face. The size is 14"x14" and has a zipper closing. Isn't it cute!!!!

Salute to Vincent

I just finished another page for my Beaded Journal Project. My theme for this project is "Song Titles" and this one is "Starry Starry Night"

I admire Vincent VanGogh's work and I decided to use his work for this page. I love the song that goes with it too.

I think I should have chosen to work in a smaller size. The postcard size (4"x6") takes a long time to complete. However I am commited and I will see it through.

I am not a real experienced beader and I found achieving the swirls was a bit of a problem. I think I redid a few areas twice!!!! No fun there!

I am about 60% happy with the finished piece.

Love Squared.

Hi Everybody....

Seems we are really in the "Pink" these days.

This post is dedicated to all who have experienced breast cancer or knows someone that has.

It is a dreadful disease and the journey continues to find new ways and means to raise money to try to stamp it out.

I personally am involved in making quilts for "The Quilt" held in Stratford ,Ontario, Canada each November. The quilts are auctions off and all money goes for breast Cancer Research. Anyone can be a part of this and quilts come from all corners of the world. It feels good to be a part of a worthy cause.

When Monica Magnus came along with the "Pink Square" project I couldn't wait to jump in.

Monica, you are to be congratulated on this magnigicent doll. I realize it is as you put it "Our Doll" but your expertise has certainly shone here. I love her and I can't wait to see her in the spotlight completing her journey. One lucky person will eventually own this beauty when it is auctioned off on EBay...... but only after she has her day in the sun in the ART DOLL QUARTERLY......Oh the excitement of it all.. I'm sure everyone who made a contribution is as happy as I am to have been a part of it all. Thanks Monica, You are a doll yourself and I love your creative abilities. You are truly and inspiration and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To see everything about this project please take time to visit"Love Squared" on Monica's blog

Ho Hum....... I wonder what will happen to-morrow!!

In The Pink

Hi Everyone....

Here I am at last with one more thing finished to show you. This is going to JoAnne Owens's

"In The Pink" collaborative book she is creating. This piece is in the form of a postcard. I chose a dragonfly theme because as I know it " Dragonflies" mean friendship. I hope she likes it.....

Now onward and upward.... I wonder what to-morrow will bring!

Hello, is it Spring Yet???

glitter-graphics.com

I'm not sure if it is Spring yet! The snow is still around and it is still cold. I think I will go back to sleep!

Angelbelle.

I am excited about this doll I will be teaching at one of the local quilt shops in October,2008.

Last year the shop hosted a group of Russian quilters for a week. It was a gala event attended by hundreds. It was there I took the russian doll class (in a previous post). This year the owners have just returned from Africa where they were organizing another event for their shop. The theme of course will be Africa and there will be workshops running all week,along with displays and vendors. There will be teachers coming from Africa as well. It is a very exciting time for this little town of Ailsa Craig, Ontario Canada.

I have been invited to teach this particular doll which is a Julie McCullough design. A few years ago I made this angel doll for their shop, and she has been perched atop bolts of fabric overlooking the shop all along. Normally I would use more angelic fabrics, but because it will be an "African" theme,I thought I would make an"African " sample and I had this terrific fabric just sitting here waiting to be used. Isn't it perfect?!?! I really love the finished look. I think the kits that will be offered will be more traditional , but I am going to have a draw in my class and one of the students will go home with this doll. I am really looking forward to the event.

I will have lots of pictures to share when the time comes .

Raggy Jacket Workshop

Hi everyone... Did you wonder where I was??!!

Well I have been busy and thought I would show you what I have been up to. This was a workshop I took with a few other gals to make this raggy jacket. The fabric is batik flannel. The colors are so beautiful and it feels so soft a cosy. The pattern had a collar but I chose not to use it. I prefer a plain line. The pictures show the front, back and inside. It can actually be reversible but I like the raggy look. I had enough segments left over to make a bag.... That will come later... Stay tuned.

REJOICE!

glitter-graphics.com

I have been busy elsewhere and thought it was about time to at least wish everyone a "Joyous Easter".
I have lots of new things going on and will share them as soon as I can....