MT Design Group, etc….

As daylight arrives earlier each evening, shadows grow deeper, the weather seems dark and dreary let’s take a look at what could be depressing and discover a delightful and calming palette.

Hope you can find inspiration in these scenes from a winters day.

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Pamela Berger, creator of  Sweet Peach Blog .

Pam dropped a note on my porch while out scouting for shotgun houses in my neighborhood.

 She mentioned that she adored my porch and would like to shoot for her blog.

 Of course I said yes, because I love  sharing my home with others.

Take a look at the link to her blog  for the article.

www.sweetpeachblog.com

It is such fun seeing my home from another eye.

  Be sure to post comments and please forward to your friends.

Oh my goodness.

Several days ago, a couple of days after our last post, my entire data base disappeared…..has that ever happened to you? It feels horrible…like you have been robbed or something.

Panic and aggravation! Then lots of time trying everything to find the articles and post again until you could pull your hair out. Frustration, anxiety….my I should get severance from Worpress!

But of course there is always the shadow of a doubt……did I do something? Most times , especially with computers, this is the case…. But this time I honest have no idea what happened.

There in lies the reason that my posts stopped abruptly …. Like MT Design Group left town.

Good news, I think I am back up, at least for now……WP gets one more chance.

Classic and Sophisticated

I look forward to this time of the year starting in October…..time to decorate, spend time with friends and relatives, entertain, create and share.

Getting those boxes out of storage can be a hassle if you let it, but for me, opening the treasures that we have collected over the years brings the whole season in  with a bang.  Don’t know about you but, every year, we seem to add more and more to the collection, the little Christmas Village has grown into a full blown city, the tree hardly has room for another ornament to be hung, knick knacks and mantel decor have their own boxes, but we keep on adding…..Good thing is that there are children making their own homes and Grandchildren to hand down to.

One of the projects that we decided on this year is this festive fabric wreath.

The rich colors in this wreath will make it an heirloom to be handed down for many generations.

So easy to make it would be a perfect project to do with children or those “not so crafty.”

Proving again that simple ideas can have a large impact,

this charming fabric wreath instantly creates a sense of occasion.

All materials used for this project

were purchased at a local Thrift Shop.

1 foam or vine wreath form

( Ours was wrapped with some lace for an Easter decoration.)

Festive holiday colored fabrics….try used clothing instead of buying fabric.

( The garnet and emerald fabrics in our wreath are from old Choir dresses … what a lucky find.)

Directions.

(Get ready….this is so easy!)

Rip or cut the fabric into strips of various widths.  Ours ranged from 1/2″ to 2″.

Then cut in lengths long enough to tie a knot around the wreath form and have a decent sized tail.

(Ours are 10″ long…the wreath was only a 10″ form….use longer strips if  using a larger ring.)

As you see above, we just began tying the strips at random onto the ring.

After you have tied a few, push into a tight bundle and then keep adding more strips.

Trim the loose threads and long ends according to your taste.

Guess What…..That’s it!!!!!

Completed Project!

Perfect for a door, mantel, or as a

Hand Made Christmas Gift

Our imaginations are soaring with this one. Other Ideas are …..

All White fabrics

Mini Prints in Festive Colors

Plaids from men’s shirts.

Lace and trims instead of and with fabric.

The sky is the limit ….. maybe add bells?

Hope you enjoy making your own, please comment or ask questions.

Next Post:    Fabric Corsage Pins.

Until Then:   Happy Crafting xoxoxoxoxo

It is a Sign of the Season when the Christmas cards

from friends and relatives begin to flow into our mailboxes.

The Old Tradition of The Christmas Card

is a wonderful way to touch base and catch up as the year comes to a close.

It is especially nice when there is a letter or note included

.

Each  year, we like to Hand Craft A Card using a fun photo that we hope will bring a smile to the recipient.

These cards are so easy, personal, and fun to make.

Begin by choosing a photo that you especially think relatives and friends will relate to.

It can be a lifestyle shot, or a photo taken especially for the season.

Copies  of a great photo can be sent out to any photo center or you can print from your own printer.

This photo of Sam and Jess came out at $.10 each when sent via computer to Target.

Other Supplies:

Card Stock, cut to size

Envelopes

Twine, ribbon or rickrack

Greenery

Adhesive Photo Corners

Tiny Velum envelopes

A hole punch

Scissors and Glue Stick

(All of theses materials can be found at your local craft store. )

Once you have materials together, begin by hole punching the top of the card stock.

Make sure that the holes are no more than 1/2″ apart making it easier to tie the twine and ribbon.

Next, cut a piece of twine and ribbon into a 8″ length.

Thread through holes from back of card.

Place a sprig of greenery on top of twine and then secure by tying it with the twine only.

Now take ribbon and twine and tie securely  into  a bow.

This doesn’t have to be a perfect bow….we think the messy look gives it character.

Trim if necessary.

Next we will attach the photo.  We used craft colored stick on photo corners to secure our photo to the cardstock.

This makes it easy to remove  the picture and put into a frame for year round enjoyment.

Place photo on cardstock just under the ribbon and greenery.

Ours  looks as if there is mistletoe hovering above Sam and Jess.

Final Touch….Using a glue stick, place the tiny message envelope

just under the photo.

In the envelope goes a little note or greeting.

We also love to fill the envelope with a little faux snow or

holiday confetti, adding one more little seasonal surprise.

FINAL PRODUCT…..

Hope you enjoy making your own Hand Made Cards and will share pictures with us.

Feel free to comment and ask questions……….

Next Project:  Vintage Fabric Wreaths

Happy Crafting xoxoxox

As and Artist and Designer,  my mind is always flowing with ideas and my eyes are always open searching and cataloging inspiration.  A trip to Nashville this past weekend turned out to be just what the Doctor ordered.  A simple two day excursion to spend time with my daughter and son in law, turned out to be a delightful example of what can happen if you just open yourself up and take it all in.

Inspiration # 1.

Beginning with the drive into Nashville, it is a tradition to leave a little early and stop by 2-3 antique markets along the way.  It is always hit or miss, but this trip seemed to take on a magical aura.

Textiles and lace are always something that am always using in my work.  Found these lovelies in a little basket, all covered up waiting for me to discover them.  You will be seeing these pieces incorporated in my next blog, A HomeMade Holiday.  My daughter and I will begin the first project tomorrow.

As a collector, Old Silverware is on my top 10.  These pieces were exceptionally well priced and William Rogers for heavens sake……not to mention that the stall that I bought them from was having a holiday 20% off sale.    YEa!!!!!

Another little find, sure to find their way into years of crafting and use.  An entire sandwich beg chock full of little leather covered bobbins wrapped in silk and linen threads.  Can it get any better?

On to Nashville, a city that I find totally charming.  Nashville is a tiny BIG city.  You can get almost anywhere within the city traveling back routes lined with darling bungalows and enormous mansions.  It is always green and lush and full of energy.  I never come away without wanting to move there.

Inspiration #2. My daughter and I are polar opposites, but totally compatible as well.  I truley look at Jess as my Best Girlfriend.  When we get together the creative juices start flowing.  We cook, sew, learn embroidery, try to knit, and shop, shop, shop……She is such a bright spot in my heart.  Take a look at the smile when she discovers a single stall at Lamplight Antique Mall in Nashville.  Jess LOVES Christmas……..ya think?

Inspiration #3.  Nashville has hands down the BEST Farmers Market that I have visited in the SouthEast.  Truely local, consistent, amazing variety and full of character  AND characters.  We scored a 17 lb. Organic Tom Turkey for Thanksgiving, based on last years, the very best Turkey I have ever had the pleasure of eating…..$3.00 a pound……not your Butterball at $.80  or another huge Grocery chain who sells a comparable bird at $ 6.00 a lb or more.

Inspiration #4. After the market, we spent the day doing what we do…laughing, exploring, learning and sharing.  My husband and I often remind each other of how lucky we are.  Great kids and a beautiful and healthy family.  This week is about Thanksgiving and we are truely blessed and thankful for all that we have been blessed with.

Check in over the next few days as Jess and I start the first posts for A HomeMade Holiday.  (Little Hints…..Homemade Christmas Cards, darling gifts made from vintage and gently worn textiles, Holiday Decorations made in the Old Fashioned Way, etc….)

Until then……XOXOXOXO