I Love You Enough to Let You Go… 14 Days Of Love Event

I am very excited to be participating in Ashley’s

 

14 Days of Love

event…  14 Days of amazing projects via 14 different bloggers followed by a ginormous giveaway!!

 

My project is a love tribute of sorts.   Since my grandmother passed in April, I haven’t been able to cope with my grief all that well.  Every time I think I’m ok,

 

WHAM… it hits me    

 all                

over         

again. 

 

 

So, I’m going to share with you a multi media LOVE project today.  I call it

 

I Love You Enough to Let You Go.

 

Not to forget, but to let go of the sadness that paralyzes my every effort and live my life in a manner that brings honor to what she taught me.

 

I started out filling my mind with as much inspiration as I could possibly absorb.  Check out  Sew Somerset magazine (I love all of the Somerset magazines!!) for some amazing ideas.  I also read Delight in the Details by Lisa M. Pace cover to cover about 10 times.  I outlined and sketched my ideas over the course of about a week.  I identified the components I wanted in my project (to represent my feelings) and scoured ebay, antique shops, and craft stores to find them.

 

I used a quilting hoop, but you can use canvas, cardstock, or whatever medium you want!  There is absolutely

NO WRONG WAY

to complete this project… that’s what I love about it.

 

 

I grabbed an old feed sack, hooped it, and arranged my components.  This process took a day or so while I rearranged things about 20 times until it “flowed.”  My poor sister probably has pictures of all 20 different arrangements as I asked for her input along the way.

 

Layers are good.

Texture is better.

Variety is vital.

Details are KEY.

 

After everything is arranged, take a picture so you can remember exact details and spacing.

 

 

I outlined the perimeter of my hoop with a water soluble pen so I knew my exact work space after I unhooped the feed sack. 

 

 

I then sewed my components on one layer at a time using a variety of stitches, stitch lengths, and neutral thread colors.  This is part of an old quilt top found in my grandmother’s sewing room.

 

 

Here is her birthday stamped in metal.  I stamped it, colored over it with a black sharpie, and then wiped the excess off with a damp cloth.

 

 

A copy of a picture with my grandmother holding my mom and uncle.

 

 

“Love Lifted Me” sheet music, trim, lace…

 

 

BINGO and Bling…  (as far as my grandmother was concerned, the more the merrier on both accounts!)

 

 

1938 Sheet Music, antique button, tulle, ric rac

 

 

Chiffon and pearl flowers

 

 

Cherub clipart courtesy of The Graphics Fairy with a vintage handmade doily and jewelry charm.

 

 

The one thing I didn’t get a chance to tell her before she passed from this life to the next…

 

Never pass up an opportunity to share your love!!

 

If you missed Kim from The Sasse Life yesterday, go check out her upcycled love picture frame!  Don’t forget to come back to tomorrow and see what Aimee at It’s Overflowing has planned.

 

Thanks Ashley from Cherished Bliss for coordinating this fabulous event!!

 

I’m also linking this project with a few of these ladies this week!  Check them out.

 

 

This event is sponsored by…

   

   

  

Pick Your Plum Challenge ~ Menu Board

A few weeks ago, I received a a little surprise in the mail from my bloggy pal Janette.

She and Ashley are hosting a Pick Your Plum link party with a chance to win a $25 PYP product box!!  If you have blogged about a PYP product or completed project, you can link it up the whole month of February!

You can learn more about Pick Your Plum on their Facebook page.

Anyways, when I first received my free challenge project, I thought,

“Holy Crap, what have I gotten myself into?!?”

Then, I calmed down and focused…

[In case you didn’t know, I’m a night crafter.  It is VERY difficult to get good pics at night, so I don’t have a step by step tutorial for you today.]

Here’s what my project morphed into!

I spray painted the metal with black chalkboard paint, spray painted the wood purple, glued one of my mustard resin mums onto the magnet, and mod podged away. 

I have some vintage sheet music (circa 1939) that I have been “saving” for the right project.  I have a tendency to collect, stash, and then NEVER use my coveted possessions.  Not today my friends!  (In all honesty, I had to seriously talk myself into cutting up the music for two straight days before I could actually do it.  C.R.A.Z.Y, I know, but I’m just keeping it real for ya.)

Vintage just isn’t complete to me without a little cotton lace.  Oui?

Ok, ok, I just really like the look of it.

Do you blame me?

This little “Menu” sign is one of The Graphics Fairy’s bazillion FREE clipart images.  If you have never checked her out, NOW is the time to do so!  I printed it out on tagboard and inked the edges to give it the look I was going for.

The menu board in action, with a clothespin to keep the dessert recipe handy.

Originally, the title of the sheet music drew me in… “Do as Thou wilst with me, O Lord!”  I use the mum magnet to attach the “Menu” sign when I need a menu board or take it off when I need an inspiration board.  The kids actually stopped to read it and smiled.

Bonus mom points!!

 

I’m Linking Up With A Few Of These Girls Too!

14 Days of Love

I’m beyond excited to be partnering with all of these fabulous ladies to bring you the 14 Days of Love!  Ashley over at Cherished Bliss has been diligently working and coordinating to make this event an amazing one.  This series will begin on January 25 with each blog posting a love themed project and of course,

there will be giveaways!! 

I have taken a sabbatical with creating/selling coffee cozies as of late, but I have been working feverishly on a “new line” in support of Ashley’s love efforts.

Here’s a sneak peek of the new look (not to mention the very cozy you can win during this event):

So, stay tuned!!!

Sweet Baby Girls

 

There are so many sweet baby girls being born lately it seems.  I really love designing and creating girly things.  I still lean towards simplicity with my girl things as well…

For the burp cloths, I repurposed a vintage bedspread (just like I did with Sage’s Goodies) on the first and utilized a traditional cloth diaper with the baby’s monogram for the second.  The reversible bag is large enough for a couple of diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes.  It has Ryan’s name on one side and her monogram on the other.

My FAVORITE part of this gift is the onesie! 

It has a reverse appliqué pink heart with a green “R” to represent.  It actually turned out exactly how I had it planned in my head (which doesn’t always happen, btw).  Now, I want something for myself with a reverse appliqué heart… seriously!

Vintage Baby

Remember my vintage finds at the local antique mall??  I FINALLY found something worthy of the bedspread that I fell in love with!

A burp cloth for my dear friend’s baby!!  Alicia absolutely LURVES everything vintage and what better way to celebrate her first (and only) little girl with my much coveted find?!?  I used Amy Butler fabric to line the back and kissed it with a tweet tweet appliqued bird (accented with Amy Butler fabric as well, btw).  I smiled the whole time I made this little gem for Sage.  I was actually proud of myself for happily parting with a bit of my antique chenille bedspread!

Here’s a peek at the rest of Sage’s gifts.  She is the prettiest baby and I’m so thankful she’s here. :)