Looking Forward....

Time to leave a difficult year behind and look forward....

This is the view from my FRONT window...snow has arrived!

And here is a view of my lap!

   

 The Flowering Vine is blooming!

Happy New Year!

mary

Season of Buttons

Merry Christmas!

I have been a bit MIA this season....I think I have achieved a personal best - only three posts in the month of December - so far!  My New Year's Resolution shall be to do much better...more posts that is ;)

But luckily a couple of Bloggy friends did not forget that I am still here - even if I have been a bit quiet...

My Christmas tree was exploding with color with this special bag sitting underneath...

Just the bag was enough to get me excited! I am so lucky that I have people who think of me when visiting Liberty! And inside I found the most precious Liberty notion...

    

A jar full of buttons with a pincushion lid...how clever!

Thank you Clare for thinking of me this Christmas! You are truly one of Santa's most gifted elves...

tucked inside the bag was a sweet little crochet star...

and there was a package of yummy candy, but that hardly made it to Ohio before it was gobbled up! 

Clare, you helped make my Christmas very Merry and Bright!

And from a land far away, another package landed on my doorstep. A dear friend who has helped me in a difficult year...

I love getting packages from Susan! I always know there is something very special inside...

   

A fabulous cushion cover! Perfectly pieced and hand stitched!  How special....I am so lucky!

And if the design, the stitching and the fabrics are not enough...nestled in the center is a group of lovely buttons....

'tis the season of buttons!

Thank you dear friends :)

Since the hustle and bustle of Christmas has calmed a bit, I found the time to do a bit of applique...

.

The Flowering Vine!

More to come...

Merry Christmas

mary

 

 

  

Wordless Wednesday

mary

Caboose

 Christmas is coming....no slowing down this train!

But I am certainly feeling like the caboose...

I just can't get out to shop....settle down to sew....too busy with silly stuff.

But today I worked on a couple of little surprises...

and began playing with a sneak peek of Denyse Schmidt's new line {thank you Sew To Speak}

     

a new pattern, and new fabric...be still my heart...

  

Shelburne Falls by Denyse Schmidt....

and a special roll of 10 inch squares from Sew To Speak!

I can wait to get crackin' on this one!

I have such a sweet pup!

happy monday

mary      

Class Quilts!

I am a bit behind on sharing some pictures from the shoppe...

Some fantastic quilts!

I love this bright quilt made by Sara for her sweet daughter Lily. The bright green, yellow, and orange reminds me of lifesavers :)

Jennifer's quilt....bright hot pink, blues and greens!  

Jennifer designed a special back for her quilt :)

And this is Carly's quilt....so sweet...just like Carly!

Kim's Coin Quilt! Love the brown!

 

Meredith used some gorgeous Birch fabrics in her quilt!

I hope you can see the adorable horse fabric she used in the top and bottom borders. 

 

Sevy's quilt is striking with this Lotta Jansdotter border and the dotted sashing!

And Laura's quilt is yummy in Essex and bright pops of color!

It is a quilt you can just snuggle up in!

And, finally, Judi's quilt! So special in Sarah Jane Studio fabrics...complete with machine quilted waves!

And the back is very special as well...

I am always so inspired by the creativity I am lucky to witness!  Amazing!

happy sunday!

mary

 

Ruby Star Wrap-Along....It's My Turn!

There must be a forecast for snow....I have blogged two days in a row!

But for a very good reason...

Today it is my day to share with you the fantastically fabulous new book from Melody Miller and Allison Tannery!

Ruby Star Wrapping

Creative Packaging To Reuse, Regive and Relove

First, I must admit I have been known to judge a book by it's pretty pictures...I am a sucker for all those close-up shots of trims and stitching...

But Melody and Allison have combined a beautiful book with excellent content!

The concept is brilliant! Create creative wrappings {for any package} that incorporates reusing fabrics and items we have at home. Items that would ordinarily end up in the waste can.  

Brilliant, right?

Make your gift even more special with the wrappings you choose and help the environment...perhaps even pass on some of that fabric you have been hoarding in your closet....but I wouldn't know about that :)

As I said, it is easy for me to get the proverbial, 'thrill up my leg' by the pretty pictures in a book....but I want you to know this one is so much more than pretty pictures.

Between the covers you will find instructions for creating clever gift card envelopes, how to turn that empty food box into a great gift wrap, stitching up some drawstring bags, and fabulous trims.  And if that wasn't enough, Melody and Allison, have included yummy recipes and instructions for totes and a work apron! Heaven's to Betsy!!!

I was very fortunate to receive a copy of the book and, of course, I had to give a few projects a whirl around the block!

As many of you know, my daughter is getting married in April.  We will use an old suitcase which belonged to my mom as a drop off point for any cards or small gifts brought to the reception.  I thought perhaps filling the bottom of the suitcase with fabric flowers in the wedding colors would be a nice way to fancy up my suitcase.

I followed the easy instructions for a newspaper flower and made a few fabric flowers.

Spray starch helps make the petals a bit stiff....so simple and so lovely! These would be sweet toppers on a package too!

Who doesn't love a clever envelope?  This book includes instructions for any size envelope you might need.

  

I made a couple....one out of felt....I didn't even have to get out my sewing machine!  I love it!

My felt envelope is adorned with a cute little embroidered bird in a hoop {transfer from Aneela Hoey}.

I could go on and on....but I want you to know that this Blog Hop includes a couple of ways for you to win your own copy of Ruby Star Wrapping...PLUS a bundle of fun extras. You can read more about the prizes in yesterdays post on the Sew To Speak blog! 

All you need to do is head over to SEW TO SPEAK and leave a comment... www.sewtospeak.blogspot.com http://www.sewtospeak.blogspot.com/2012/11/molly-flanders-wraps-along.html

Be sure to leave your comment there :)
You may leave one comment per post per day!
and please be sure you are not a no-reply blogger so we can find you...or leave contact information in your comment.   

Continue following all the fun on this Hop!

Here is the schedule....what a line up of talent!!!

Monday, Nov. 26 - we will kick it off with the first post on the Sew To Speak blog.
Tues, Nov. 27 - Mary Dugan of Molly Flanders
Wed. Nov. 28 - Meg McElwee of Sew Liberated
Thurs. Nov. 29 - Kara of Me and Elna
Fri. Nov. 30 - We will announce the first winner on the Sew To Speak blog
Sat. Dec. 1st - Amanda of Sasikirana Handmade
Sunday Dec. 2nd - April Rhodes
Monday Dec. 3rd - Sew To Speak again ;)
Tues. Dec. 4th - Made by Rae
Wed. Dec 5 - Ericka of Low Beam Studios

Thurs. Dec. 6 - Emily of The Boy Trifecta
Friday Dec. 7 - and finally the second winner announced on Sew To Speak blog!

Be sure to visit Meg McElwee of Sew Liberated tomorrow!

happy tuesday! 
mary

                    

  

Slim to None....

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately :(

It has been a busy time at home and at work....

But tomorrow I am taking a turn at a blog hop!

    So please forgive me and stop by tomorrow for lots of Christmas inspiration and info about a fab giveaway!

You don't want to miss it!

  cheers

mary

this has nothing to do with the giveaway...but it is Christmas-y! heh. 

Sharing....

I want to share with you a little bit of fun...

I am so lucky to spend part of my week stitching with some awesome women...

This week I had the first of my annual stocking classes...

  And Michelle of Little Blue Feathers participated.

We had 5 fantastic stockings by the end of the class...but I forgot to bring my camera!

Today Michelle posted a great synopsis of the class!

You will love looking around her blog and her etsy shop....talk about talented!  And a sweetie to boot!

Enjoy!

http://littlebluefeathers.blogspot.com/2012/11/handmade-christmas-stocking.html

happy friday!

mary 

      

Coffin Star....

I began working with this block a while ago...

you have to look past the name and just take in how sweet and simple....

   

when I brought home Chicopee, I knew Coffin Star and Chicopee would look terrific together.

Chicopee is a Denyse Schmidt fabric.  I love her fabrics...she is one of my very favorite fabric designers...her designs are always my go-to fabrics.  Even though I am not sure her Greenfield Hill line was a big hit. I LOVE IT!

Today I have been trying to put together a few projects started but not finished....

Coffin Star is one...

It began like this....

I thought it needed something in the negative space...

so I filled the four corners with hourglass triangles...

 

I like it.  I like the traditional look of it.

It should be fun to quilt!

 

As I was cleaning out drawers this week, I came across this picture of my mom.  Hard to believe she has been gone only 6 months. She would have been 81 today.  What a beautiful person.

 Cheers!

mary  

 

Mini Zig....

Every girl needs a blanket for her special buddies...

petite chevrons....

in pink....

for Lily....

 

happy wednesday!

mary

The Season of Giving.....

 It is unmistakable that Christmas is approaching.  The stores are fully decked and I have caught a few commercials on television...oh my!

To usher in the season of Joy....I stitched a new Christmas Tree Skirt....

I designed a woolen, bow-tied bow wow to circle the skirt....

   
I added some pebble stitching and a bit of rik-rak around the bottom...Woof!

And what would Christmas be without a new stocking to hang on the mantle?

       
Some Art Gallery fabrics, Essex Linen and a wee Dresden....
top it off with a lovely crochet trim...

   And you have a Molly Flanders Stocking!

Thank you to all our Veterans on this Veteran's Day!
Just like many American families, I am proud to have had many members of my family serve in the military.
Thank you!

   


happy Sunday!
mary