tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25638299436641393112024-03-13T14:58:21.807-07:00Mama Jean's Threaded WordsWords from an old seamstress who's trying to make it in the world of handmade one of a kind treasures.. Sewing is the easy part, working with all the new technology for selling online, now that's a work in process.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-14019507253937923482013-12-15T12:46:00.000-08:002013-12-15T12:55:09.868-08:00Midnight Thoughts <style><!--
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Late nights, you either love them or hate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think there is much in
between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are either a person
who loves to see the waking of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sun as it streams up over the city, the sound of the birds as they
start to wake the rest of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The whirling magical hum of the night is slowly drowned out by the hum
of people, cars and things that go bump in the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t mean the whirling magic is gone, just so hard to
hear with all the clatter and chatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day carries on with every mechanical zip and zap you can
imagine, and some you haven’t even thought of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People get louder too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe because they can’t here themselves above the clatter, maybe
because they are overwhelmed with the amount of noise they are surrounded with,
never a moments rest, cars, phones, computers people all trying to be heard it
just becomes a buzz, like the ringing you sometimes get in your ear and no
matter what you try, it just won’t go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sun begins to set and some take the time to stop and watch
the fading and to take a deep breath, maybe the first of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The air cools the graying of the sky
begins and the night creeps in oh so slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The daily rush is over, people are home and the roads begin
to empty of the hundreds of cars and trucks, computers by the thousands are
down, even though thousands are on as people try to connect with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The roads are never really empty, the
night has an entire world of people who’s nights are their days and they are
striving to find their connection with the magical whirling hum too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The animals for the most part are sleeping except those who
thrive in the night as it’s home to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>City lights glow all across the city as the night continues to move in
filling up the corners and softening edges everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whirling magical hum that never
scenes begins to fill the air again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The daily grind begins to falter and the small remnants of star dreams
begin to flicker and fill the air touching all things and everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some are never aware of their magic,
others speak of this one special time they thought they felt something, others
speak of the times and long for more, and some are touched each and every
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small miracles of magic
filling them with thoughts of love and life. So overwhelmed with the sheer
magnitude of its beauty, no words could describe the feelings, and they tilt
their heads upward as magic gently caresses them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They linger in the night embracing each moment longing
for the dawn to never come. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The trick it seems is to be able to hear the whirling
magical hum no matter the time of day or night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, in the day the sounds of the ordinary can overwhelm us,
but the voices of the night that we fill our heads with can drown out the magic
as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the feelings of
inadequacy, lounging, loneliness, swirling around in our brains drowns out the
magic we were gifted with if only we would hear and listen for the whirling
magical hum. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have found
myself guilty of just such moments when the old records begin to play telling
me the lies I’ve learned to trust start to fill the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are never good enough, you’ve done
something wrong, you will never be loved, and you are not going to ever be
successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sound familiar?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have a few of those old records hanging
around?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been on a quest for
some years now to find new music for my heart and soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To find new songs to sing all the time,
not just in the quiet of the night or the break of day, but each time my eyes
and ears and soul are listening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some days are really quiet remarkable and I drifted off knowing that
this song is worthy of singing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other days, I have to pick up the chorus over and over, but the song,
the song is still there and I will continue to sing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old records are just shadows of sound I
use to know by heart, now, now my new song fills me. Like the magic that washes
over me in the deep of night it too comes and goes but I know now, it’s always
just a note away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-70368052424750414552013-12-15T12:36:00.004-08:002013-12-15T12:54:59.952-08:00Bells of Christmas<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><style><!--
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Putting up Christmas decorations last night I felt the magic
of memories flooding the room all around me. Memories of Christmas’s past when
I was a little girl bundled up riding up to the woods with my parents to find
our tree, or watching my own children run through the trees on a local tree
farm to find the perfect tree for our family laughing all the while.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This truly is a magical time of year. But it’s bitter sweet as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother passed away on
Christmas Eve a number of years ago, and I know she picked the day for it was
her favorite time in all the year and she wanted to always be close to us and
what better way? She taught us to believe in Santa Claus, as he was the spirit
of giving. She also taught me how to love, for she was a magical woman who
loved with all her heart and who touched the lives of everyone she ever came
into contact with.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My mother loved bells, never sure why but she did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Christmas Eve of the year she
passed, I got up to go start a fire in the fireplace and I had a bell that sat
on the mantle for Christmas that year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as I started to build the fire, it fell off and rolled across the
floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it was my mother
coming by to let me know that she was with us and that everything would be
OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, each time I hear a
bell ring two things come to mind, my mother and the classic movie, It's a
Wonderful Life.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just like George, my mother was the kind of woman that everyone
loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She cared for so many in
her lifetime and was loved deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Life was wonderful and magical with her in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One year, we celebrated Christmas in July because it was the
only time they could come to visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My mom went outside and cut branches off the Blue Spruce in the yard to
create a tree for the kids out of a potato and branches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids were so happy, they put
some of their favorite decorations on it and we hung the Christmas stockings
for Santa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We enjoyed a beautiful
Christmas with fireworks and Christmas candy she had made for all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That evening we all gathered together
with gifts and wrapping paper spread all over the living room floor and watched
our family’s favorite Christmas movie, Home Alone. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon my kids will be home for Christmas and the house will be filled
with joy and laughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I put
the ornaments on the tree remembering the year it was given a memory or two
might pop up to delight me and I will smile and thank all that is for the
blessings of those memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will make the kids favorite desert for Christmas dinner and make sure all the
special dishes are washed and ready to use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tree will be decorated and the gifts under the tree
waiting for Christmas morning.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So with joy and singing I will honor my Mother this season
and for all the Christmases to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You helped me believe in magic Mommy, and I love you and miss you every
day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-49716617706381655992013-12-14T23:02:00.001-08:002013-12-14T23:05:00.347-08:00Music to My Ears<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes, here at Mama Jean's, the regular duties of life
take the drivers seat. Today was
just one of those days. I have a big old house that has lots of character and
when I say character, I mean it’s old and things have a way of breaking. It really is a great old house and I am
lucky. I even get to rent rooms out to the best roommates ever. They are always so understanding when
things take a twist of fate, but I do feel I can’t really wait until I feel like
fixing it because lets be real, that might never really happen. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Today was just one of those days. Last night after working long into the wee hours on last
minute orders that need to get out for Christmas I went up into the kitchen and
was met with the smell of death around the dishwasher. Not the smell I was expecting but it
was late and it wasn’t going anywhere so I waited until this morning to deal
with it. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> When
I went downstairs I realize it wasn’t as bad as the
night before but still lingering and knew it had to be under the
dishwasher. The
cat had decided to bring us a treat a few nights earlier and brought a
rat into
the house. It escaped into the vents but that’s another story for
another time
so I kind of figured it never made it out. It didn’t look too good the
last time I saw it. So I gathered up my tools and pulled
the dishwasher out from under the counter. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I was lucky growing up. My
Dad taught me all kinds of things
and as a single mother for years I have often had to fix and replace
things in
the house. I would call my Dad and
he would walk me through it. From
heating elements in hot water heaters to entire shower units, over the
years
I’ve become a pretty good plumber, however I am not for hire. Sorry,
but a girls got to draw the line
somewhere. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> When
we pulled it out we found the poor little rat and I
felt sad that it hadn’t made it back to its own home but with the help
of a
housemate we had it out and ready to put the dishwasher back in. All
went as planned or so we thought. I went out to return the tools to the
garage which I had gotten out when it was light outside but in returning
them
realized the electricity wasn’t working, this means the extra fridge
wasn’t
working and since we have two and I use the other one, I had no idea how
long
it had been out. What I found wasn’t
pretty. It lives on the back porch
just off the kitchen and it’s outside so it’s been pretty cold so no one
really
noticed. They just thought the
bulb had burned out. So I began
cleaning up melted ice cream and defrosted meat. Not a pretty picture I
can assure you. Another housemate jumped in and
finished up the project and I headed out to figure out the problem. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Remember, I said it’s an old house with lots of character,
well one is that each room usually has one plug for the whole room and even
though the kitchen has a couple more, there isn’t one for the porch so we have
the fridge plugged into one in the garage and the garage is dark. So I took off my plumbers hat and put
on my electricians hat, another of Dad’s gifts and go out and figure out what’s
up. A wire was loose from a
connector. I reconnect and get
everything back on line. Feeling
pretty good about now until I go back in the house and head to my studio. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Water is leaking though the wood floor into the basement
from just under the dishwasher.
Really? Can’t the dead rat
be enough? Now I have to pull the
dishwasher out again because it has a leak in the intake pipe from moving it in
and out. It’s an old copper pipe
and I must have bent it. I
turn the water off, remove the pipe and it’s off to the hardware store for a
replacement. Thank goodness they
are open until 9 on Sat. Found a
new flex hose for the replacement with lots of adaptors to fit any size and back
to home I go. I put the plumbers
hat back on and dive under the sink.
Guess what, the value to shut off the dishwasher is behind the shut off
value to the water for the sink so now I’m tracing pipes in the basement
looking for the shut off value for the hot water. The whole thing wants to come off and it can’t with the
water on. I figure out that the cold
water into the hot water heater is the shut off as no water in, no water out. Can
someone tell me why are all the plumbing things in the hardest to get to
spots? Pipes are right next to
walls, hardly enough room for the wrench to fit, under sinks in small places, etc. It never seems to fail that one thing
leads to another at least in an old house, but with a bit of luck and a lot of ump,
the connectors are replaced, the water is on and the leak is fixed. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I put the dishwasher back into
it’s home, screw it back into place.
All the must keeps under the kitchen sink have been sorted and cleaned
up with several what was I thinking things thrown away. The fridge on the back porch is humming
nicely and clean as a whistle and the kitchen smells like bleach and furniture
oil from a little spill when sorting the haves and the have not’s for under the
kitchen sink. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
So,
maybe I didn’t hear the hum of my machine as much as I would have liked today,
but with the smell of lemon pledge in the air, the hum of the dishwasher and
fridge seem like music to my ears.
Thanks Dad. Sometimes
wearing hats can be a good thing. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGRIRSY3rMM/Uq1TA2vcYVI/AAAAAAAAAVY/4L-un1WbfRk/s1600/plumb:elec.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGRIRSY3rMM/Uq1TA2vcYVI/AAAAAAAAAVY/4L-un1WbfRk/s320/plumb:elec.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-74560574614886346472013-11-24T23:44:00.002-08:002013-11-24T23:44:42.828-08:00A Magician's Quest <style> <!--
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">All around the town it's starting to feel a bit like
Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here and there people
have put up their Christmas lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally, the lights I leave on my porch all year start to fit in and I
can proudly stand on my porch and say, Oh yes, I'm ready for Christmas
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For my business, it's a busy time working on getting out all
the orders for Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one
so eagerly awaited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each planned
for a special loved one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
hoping that it's the perfect gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am so humbled to be a small part of each of my client’s holidays and I
feel the importance of remembering this as I work on each quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I become the magician weaving and stitching my magic spell
into each quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May
blessings fall upon the giver as they unfolded it for the first time to look
upon their gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May the receiver
have sweet dreams that carry them into the stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May a memory be created so dear, that it lingers with them
through out the years to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May a tear of happiness<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>be
caught and hidden within the folds or a bit of comfort for a night when life
seems overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May
children play and laugh upon it and may love be made under it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As the magician, it's important to weave the perfect magic
for each so I must be ever mindful as I create each quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be fully "present" as I
create so the quilt becomes the perfect present for someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the creation time slips away quietly
as I am unaware of the ever-changing day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One moment I look up and the day is bright and shinning and the next
it's dark and the evening has drifted in and I stop to appreciate the magic of
this moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see the quilt that
once was just a bit of fabric here and there and now, it's a creation longing
for completion...longing for it's new home. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The magician’s
work is nearly finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas
magic fills the studio and I can just make out the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>faint sounds of bells, and children laughing.... as
the twinkling lights of Christmas shine in the window.</span>
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BVKey-gZ3Ec/UpL_14sSwXI/AAAAAAAAAVE/4n3WcVgh7kw/s1600/3639772562_f21f464354_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BVKey-gZ3Ec/UpL_14sSwXI/AAAAAAAAAVE/4n3WcVgh7kw/s320/3639772562_f21f464354_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-89984309181550292872013-11-15T17:48:00.000-08:002013-11-15T17:48:54.826-08:00Afternoon Memories<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><style><!--
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today, while working on a small baby quilt featuring a
lovely tree fairy and maiden, I burst out laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, for some of you that know me well, you might not think
this was in any way odd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those
of you who haven’t gotten to know me yet, you’ll come to know this might not be
such an oddity at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I had just stopped to listen to the song that happened to be
playing as I was focused on creating the intricate lines of the tree fairy,
“When You Wish Upon a Star”, Jiminy Crickets song from the Disney movie,
“Pinocchio”.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, as I
was putting the final touches on this sweet little baby quilt, all of the music
I was playing were lovely Disney songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Song I had grown up loving and singing and songs my children had loved
to sing as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Songs sung at the
top of their lungs in total abandonment. “Colors of the Wind” as we drove
through the forest on our way back from visiting Granny and Papa and they were Pocahontas
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or a “Whole New World” as they
soared in the heavens on an old throw carpet in the family room. Who could
forget, “Somewhere Out There”<u> </u>as they stood at the window and sang to
the moon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I smiled, closed my
eyes, and allowed the memories to wash over me as the songs gently played in
the background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
thought of the parents this quilt was for and all the memories they were
dreaming of as they awaited the birth of their first baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The memories they would build as they
watched their little one dance and sing to their own favorite Disney
songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A smile formed as gentle
tears fell upon the quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
each I sent a small blessing for the sweet little one and for the loving
parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my machine starting
humming again and the music and machine became one again, I knew that I was
fulfilling one of my greatest dreams for Mama Jean’s, making sure that a wee
bit of magic finds it’s way into each quilt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“One happy thought at a time." </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IHTFrMQbe2k/UobNiGwilNI/AAAAAAAAAT0/1ujPV5LJrMw/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IHTFrMQbe2k/UobNiGwilNI/AAAAAAAAAT0/1ujPV5LJrMw/s320/0.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">image Disney </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-41111234324393373412013-11-09T23:29:00.002-08:002013-12-15T00:54:39.032-08:00It's Beginnig to Feel Like Christmas Round Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf9DIc3R7SQ/Un81h0nqY9I/AAAAAAAAAS4/8F5H59-rcQs/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf9DIc3R7SQ/Un81h0nqY9I/AAAAAAAAAS4/8F5H59-rcQs/s1600/image.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Believe it or not, Christmas is right around the
corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sound of carols are
starting to pop up in my brain as I look at the order sheet, and then at the
piles of fabrics stacked on my worktable. How many days before Christmas orders
have to be out the door?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>41.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last possible date to ship and hope
it will get there before Christmas is the 20<sup>th</sup> of December for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to think; oh my it’s
beginning, the holiday hustle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Much like a dance with specific steps every minute seems to count and I
wonder, if only for a moment, will I get it all done?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there any way to push Christmas back a month?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sort of secretly wish this each year…
and then I just burst out laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You see, one thing that I’ve discovered is like most artists,
or at least a large percentage, I seem to work best with looming
deadlines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I plan and scheme in my
head, how this year will be different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This year I will be organized, I will do my bookkeeping each week and </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I will not lose any receipts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t misplace and find the same special order block I
need for the quilt I am starting next and will always have the right color
thread I need in the middle of the night when all the stores are closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will buy extra needles to make sure
I’ve “got it covered” and never and I do mean never, run out of coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I laugh again as I see my empty coffee
pot and think, oh yes, there’s that wonderful 24 hour store just down the road and
maybe I can pick up milk too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I
wonder if they have thread?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How incredible is it, that I’ve been able to create and sew
for Christmas dreams and wishes for the past four years? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each year I get so excited about
finishing up a quilt and getting it out in the mail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine it all wrapped up and waiting under someone’s
Christmas tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though they
don’t know me personally, I am part of Christmas’s all around the world and I
am touched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel a bit like Mrs.
Claus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even have an elf this
year for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must
have been really good this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">So, I
may not be rocking around the Christmas tree yet, but I am starting to feel the
magic and hear the reindeer stopping on the roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if
when I’m at the store I should pick up carrots for the reindeer…. Do reindeer
eat carrots or should I think more winter greens?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-88641746783114897912013-11-05T13:23:00.003-08:002013-11-05T13:23:53.392-08:00Love Is All Around <style><!--
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Today as I was working on a quilt for a couple celebrating
an anniversary I am struck by the memories of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How amazing love is between two people, how we all hunger
for finding the one and how sacred the bond is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each wedding quilt and anniversary quilt I work on blesses
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New love with all its
possibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is
waiting for them on the journey of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Building a life together, buying a home, creating a family. Celebrated
love, the years of dedication and work, the family they’ve built, the bridges
they have learned to build and trust between each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try when building their quilts to
think of their journeys and weave and stitch blessings and well wishes into
each one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May the always find ways
to feel love in a new and exciting way, way they find comfort in each others
arms when the world seems to be tumbling all around them, may their children
and families be blessed by their love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May they know a love as deep and real as my parents shared. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My father loved my mother deeply until the day he took his
last breath. When my mother passed before him I didn’t honestly believe he
could survive without her, but I humbly asked him to stick around a little
longer for me, and he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
be eternally grateful for the time I had with him in his last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were a love destined by the stars
to find each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first time
my father saw my mother he knew she would be his wife and he would love no
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were married less then
six weeks later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had over 50
years together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They traveled the
road all lovers’ travel, with highs and lows but through it all they were
joined together in a bond no one could deny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents loved to dance and often people would stand back
and give them the floor when they were dancing because they were so beautiful
to watch together, flowing and in perfect rhythm with each other, never a
missed step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My father had a love of poetry and would leave my mother
little love notes hidden through out the house where someday she might find
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a book she might open or
at the bottom of the flour canister because she loved to bake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one dated and each expressing his
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he passed away and I
was cleaning out their trailer, I found just such a note hidden away in her tea
tin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was dated several years
back but I know the words he wrote to be as true then as they were the day I
found them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I placed those words
in a pair of shoes on a desert mountainside the night I spread their ashes on a
trail they loved to hike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
watched the ashes drift to the top in swirling wisps I could see them dancing
together into the heavens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
mother and father together again and for always, watching out over the family
they had created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So to
each client I have the honor of building a quilt for, to celebrate their love,
I place a seed of the love my parents shared in hopes that one day in the far distant
future they find themselves dancing into the heavens together as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vg6668iutII/UnlhW8Dtm2I/AAAAAAAAASQ/kWFXP16hilM/s1600/shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vg6668iutII/UnlhW8Dtm2I/AAAAAAAAASQ/kWFXP16hilM/s320/shoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-77652519442384806882013-11-01T20:47:00.000-07:002013-11-01T20:47:03.031-07:00Never Be Afraid of the Road<div class="MsoNormal">
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--></style><span style="font-family: "AHJ Calgary Medium";">Some years
back, I attended Marylhurst University and received my degree in Human
Studies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the classes I had
the honor of taking, awoke an inner dialog that was rich and full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the years past, even though the
voices were never quiet they began to fade into more whispers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over this past year, as I have
concentrated on building Mama Jean’s into a viable working model, one that can
support me full time, I have also been longing to reawaken the voices and
continue the work I feel calling me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Recently I’ve had the opportunity to attend a Shamanic Journeying Class
focusing on Writing our own creation myth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mind and heart feel as if they have exploded into an
awakening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as with any
awakening, comes the awareness of dawning of all the shadows we have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lingering work we still need to
touch and work through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "AHJ Calgary Medium";">Sewing
endless hours in a day allows for the mind to wonder to and fro or linger in
places that allow for creating a new way of honoring the voices that call out
to be heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find the act of
sewing and especially the act of quilting the quilt becomes a very Zen
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A time to release, breathe
and contemplate life in all its wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "AHJ Calgary Medium";">Yesterday
I saw a car hit a small squirrel and as I started to drive by realized it was
still alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I stopped to
remove it from the road. Earlier in the month I had the exact same situation
happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also stopped and placed
the dying squirrel back into the park he was from under a lovely tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lifted up his wee spirit and said a
prayer over him as gentle tears streamed down my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, the level of emotional
outpouring was almost overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was at first confused and distressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why was this coming into my life, not once but twice? Why
was I here a second time? What message was I not hearing or giving enough
attention to? What have I done wrong? In reality I hadn’t done anything
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things happen in and around
us everyday that we may or may not be aware of but when or attention is caught
I believe it’s important to try and understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I contacted a friend who helped me just allow the feelings
to flow and to help me process it in the moment but later I spent some time
meditating on the whole experience and all the experiences that had been
bubbling all month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In refection,
these are the words I shared with the friend who had helped me in the moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "AHJ Calgary Medium";">I lit
a small candle for the wee one and made a cup of tea and sat in the sun for a
time allowing the emotions to wash over me and through me. I forgot the
intensity of spirit. As I feel the need to once again walk in the ways of the
intuitive seer and I feel her presence more and more each day I am reminded
that big work requires heart. My heart is pouring out opening up and
allowing for new to grow in a way that I would have never foreseen. I am
not asking for this cup to pass from me. This wee little spirit with a
heart of gold allowed me the opportunity to reflect on it's beauty and wonder
and joy it experienced each day of it's little life. How it lived fully
each day, not hiding from the road or the dangers but boldly living and in
living with pure intent no hidden agendas, no shadows of things long past, no
worries of what may come. I too want to live freely experience all that
life has for me. Does it mean my heart will feel deeply, I pray so, does
it mean that I will love deeper than I've ever love, may this too be so, will I
know pain, only in knowing can I appreciate the life that I have to experience
it in the first place, May spirit always be near to remind me of the worlds
that are all connected and traveling here and there is just a part of life that
will forever be richer for the knowing. May I be open to seeing all those in my
life and how I can honor them each day in thought and deed. Tender is my
world and I always want it to be so. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "AHJ Calgary Medium"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As I reflect upon these words again I am reminded that I not only want
this in my personal life, I want to reflect this in Mama Jean’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to live with open heart and
mind, and embrace the every day moments that occur and how privileged I am to
be experiencing them each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
days when I feel like for every seam I put in I tear out two, the days when it
hums like a fine tuned car, or the times when the sound of my sewing machine
reminds me of a song and I find myself singing and laughing as I sew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, how amazing and incredible it still
is that each day I wake, I get to choose to do something I love and hopefully
in the doing, share the magic I feel when creating a quilt for someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So like my sweet little squirrel
friends, I want to never be afraid of the road or the dangers but boldly living
and in living with pure intent no hidden agendas, no shadows of things long
past, no worries of what may come. I too want to live freely experience
all that life has for me.</span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-17431216534880960222013-10-26T23:20:00.003-07:002013-10-26T23:33:58.467-07:00Dreaming Once Again<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
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--></style> It seems a lifetime since last I
wrote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a way, it has been
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's been over a year of
working and changing and growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only in Mama Jean's but also in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My business is still growing and believe it or not, I still
love what I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How amazing is
that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To have built a life that
allows me freedom to create all day long, anything I can dream. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dreaming
has changed my world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
dreams of how I want to grow my business and what projects I want to try and
create.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set goals for the year
based upon my dreams and then, when the dream comes true I question is this
real or am I still dreaming until I accidentally stitch my finger while working
on a new project and I smile, for the dream has become my reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I dreamed one day of my work being
in a gallery, and in just a few days, that dream will come true as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many people over the years have
called my art “crafty” not true art. Alas, I know this to be untrue but still
the lingering desire to be validated in the realm that others deem reality has
lingered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As part of a collective
show, with other artist, who also long to be validated and who create from
their heart feels amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I had dreams of my work being
filled with magic and wonder for each person who ordered one. Either for self
or as a gift for others and within each quilt I strive to weave love and wishes
for a life full of blessings and memories that will be carried on through the
quilt as it is passed from one family member to the next. Each wear and tear
will only elevate the value of the tattered quilt in the eyes of the family
thus creating the true magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The amazing messages from those who
have purchased a quilt have touched my heart and guide me to remain true to my
mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To create, unique quilts,
with no two ever being the same honoring the individual who has ordered it. To
help build a world full of magic and joy. Where laughter is tickling at every
corner as sweet dreams drift gently upon them as the slumber through the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I have also found my daily life to
be filled with dreams again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dreams
of spirit and worlds unknown; yet familiar in every way. Bringing me back to a
place I had almost forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of magic and mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seeking truth through spiritual growth has touched me deeply and re-awakened
the longing of seeking truth and understanding of the worlds we live
within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of living from the heart
in all we do. Of walking gently upon the earth and being touched deeply by the
sweetness of life allowing an innocence of life to fill me again. To once again
walk in the wonder of spirit and to see through eyes that have for to long been
dim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am listening, I am
breathing and I am hearing and the songs and stories that are coming forth rock
my world at a core level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Embracing spirit again has brought utter joy into my heart and tears of
gratitude flow freely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work is
worthy of the time and though the journey isn’t always clear the view along the
way is breathtaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I feel as if I am creating a quilt
of life full of magic and wonder for myself again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stitched in love and full of secret messages and blessings
in each piece I choose to add.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spirit swirls in the patterns of the quilting and the lining is dipped
in stardust and dream magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I
be dreaming now, may I never wake for this is the world I long to live in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FhVJkBpyq-4/UmyzqwpqxhI/AAAAAAAAARE/6CDNxniPVB8/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FhVJkBpyq-4/UmyzqwpqxhI/AAAAAAAAARE/6CDNxniPVB8/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
photo by Jhada Addams<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-77900129413832384392012-04-22T21:51:00.001-07:002012-04-22T22:18:18.531-07:00Quiliting Lessons I've Learned Along the WayTwo years ago, I got a quilting frame for my machine to work on large quilts. It was scary at first, trying to figure out all the ins and outs and loading a quilt took me hours to try and figure out. Kind of makes me smile today when I think back on those days. Now, I can load a quilt in about half an hour and start quilting right away. I will admit I have learned a few tricks along the way that help and so I thought for anyone else who might be starting quilting on a frame I'd share a few of my thoughts. <br />
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Remember, you like to sew and quilting makes you happy. This is important to remember because as little things come up it's easy to lose site of the good stuff. <br />
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Don't start with a king size.... be real that's a lot of quilt for anyone even the best so find something smaller that you can handle. <br />
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Always buy extra thread no matter what. You'd be surprised how many mistakes you will make getting tension right and have to start over and that thread that you knew would be enough will be gone and it will be 10pm and you know you can't get to the store until morning. <br />
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Wind two extra bobbins from what you think you will need. Never fails. I've gotten down to the last two passes and I have to stop and wind a bobbin maybe even two and it drives me crazy. I would rather have a bit extra on a bobbin that I can use up in the future then have to stop one more time. <br />
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Take the time to bring up the bottom thread when you have to load a new bobbin or the thread breaks. It makes it so much nicer looking in the end. Keep at least two pair of sharp trimming scissors near by. You will be surprised how often you will have to look for them. Locking tweezers for helping to pull up the bobbin thread when you are start can't be beat. <br />
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Floating your quilt top is by far the easiest way to quilt hands down in my opinion. You can find loads of tutorials all over the internet to show you how. <br />
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Invest in the large zippers that help you put load a quilt on your frame. Again, tons of tutorials to help you work it out, in the end you will be so glad you invested the time to set up your frame with the zippers. <br />
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Don't forget to keep oil around for your machine. Quilting takes a lot out of your machine and you need to keep her happy <br />
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When the string breaks a hundred and one times, walk away. Take a break, go walk around your garden for a bit and breath the fresh air. It will clear your head of the cob webs that are starting to take hold in your brain and when you go back to the machine, rethread from top to bottom... almost always works. <br />
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Don't be afraid to play with the tension it's the only way to really understand it and you will have to adjust according to the type of thread you will be using Even the bobbin tension and yes, I know, Mom told us never to touch. Touch it you might need to to get everything just right.<br />
<br />
Invest in good coffee it really does make a difference as you take a moment to look over your work and enjoy a break. <br />
<br />
So when all is said and done the most important thing in the world to me is to stay positive and send all the love and good wishes you can into your quilt. Your quilt will be a gift for someone you love or will be on your own personal bed and you don't want to look at it and remember all the broken threads. But remember, you just made a quilt. All those ripped out seams or broken threads were worth it and pat yourself on the back and get back out there. So much fabric, so little time.<br />
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. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-64968587505925506322012-04-16T20:19:00.000-07:002012-04-16T20:19:02.025-07:00Custom Designed Men's ShirtsA customer needed shirts, custom designed, for her 6'4'' husband and all in all think they turned out nice. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-81135108418682808932012-04-12T20:05:00.000-07:002012-04-12T20:05:53.644-07:00Who Inspires You?Every person has that one person in their life that inspired them to try
something new. After sewing for 40 years my dear friend convinced me to
try quilting. A few fumbles and sketchy efforts later, I fell in love
with it and haven't looke<span class="text_exposed_show">d back. Just look
at me now, maker of things that go bump in the night. Day of the Dead,
skeletons an skulls, wicked dead things and pagan beauty, All in all, not a
bad life.<br /> Thanks dear friend for all your love and support. For always being there to encourage me through all, not only quilting, but life. It's a journey I would never have imagined and yet one that brings me endless joy and a world of possibilities. </span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-62322059488755534452012-04-05T19:03:00.001-07:002013-11-06T01:59:28.108-08:00New Ideas<br /><style>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's a great
one in Vancouver Wa the Recycled Fair and your products have to be made using
upcycled items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, this
means: Day of the Dead Potholders, Scrappy Quilts with lots of the leftovers
from other quilts and bits and pieces of batting tucked together to make a
small quilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also take my little
Sewphies, all scraps and the cute little booties from woolen end bits and
pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year I will be adding
a new item, Men's dress shirts with appliquéd skulls and Day of the Dead images
on the back or sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be
great fun to see all the different options and I will be using dress shirts I
picked up at Goodwill as the base.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of this, because a customer asked me to doll up a coat for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it refreshing and fun to
work on and inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Another customer asked me to help him create a wall hanging
for his office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a Dr. of
nutrition for kids and it's a veggie face and it's been such a joy working on
this silly face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My spirits can't
help but be lifted up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got me
to thinking that I want to try and have more wall hangings for fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the detailed quilting and using
all the amazing threads out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also appreciate that they are smaller and easier to complete.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So,
this year for fair I am trying to work smarter not harder and have fun new
items for my customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems like
a win win to me.</span>
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<span style="background-color: yellow;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-12185984176697657232012-03-21T14:58:00.001-07:002012-03-21T14:58:29.000-07:00March Madness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, lets say your friends tell you that in a year or so you will be sewing for a living and making quilts featuring Day of the Dead, skeletons, spiders, custom art and pagan stars you might have said "are you nuts?" But as I reflect back over the past two years and the journey I've been on to get to this point right now today, I realize that that is exactly how I am making a living. Am I surprise, yea a bit. I always thought when I started out on this journey I would be sewing dresses for women of real sizes and shirts for men of real sizes this was quickly converted to really, a Day of the Dead quilt, brilliant can I have one too. So the dresses and shirts sort of took a back seat and the quilts took over my life. I am covered, literally in fabrics with smiling, laughing, dancing skeletons all about and let's face it.. they make me happy. I can't help but smile when I see them, I love let me rephrase I LOVE working in bright happy colors and the feeling of taking another quilt off my quilt frame well I'm not going to say it beats a good cup of coffee and a piece of great chocolate but hey, there needs to be a few sacred things left in the world, but truly it's incredible. I adore seeing them come out of the dryer covered in the magic of quilting I just can't help but give each and everyone a big hug. The warmth of the dryer lingers in the quilt and I give a little thanks to the person who order it for making my dreams come true. So, for all those who say dreams don't really come true, maybe just maybe it's right there a bit different then you thought you saw but there still the same just waiting for you to embrace it and dance away into the sunset. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-21924403943649034302012-03-13T09:38:00.000-07:002012-03-13T09:38:33.973-07:00New Location for Mama Jean's to be FoundIt's such fun to be asked to participate in a new store. I new gift shop in Depot Bay called Gifted will be carrying some of my creations and it's exciting. I love the idea that I am finally out if only in a few places, it's still fun. A sweet shop on Hawthorne called Mag Biggs has baby booties and a new shop in the St. John's area called Collect Craft has a quilt on display. <br />
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Each year, I create a magical goal sheet of things I would like to accomplish for Mama Jean's and it's so incredible when I can look up and already see one of my goals checked off. I wrote that I wanted to be in at least two new stores before the end of the year and it's March and I am. Dreaming now of even more. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zMVcONEZwY/T193_0PzkNI/AAAAAAAAAOw/sqaJZ9yh59A/s1600/il_fullxfull.310159314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--zMVcONEZwY/T193_0PzkNI/AAAAAAAAAOw/sqaJZ9yh59A/s320/il_fullxfull.310159314.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-62246849208527094972012-03-05T23:28:00.001-08:002012-03-05T23:28:03.185-08:00Green and Blue Sugar Skull with Butterfly Details - $45.00<a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaJeansKindThreads' title='My Etsy SHop'><img src='http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.318039814.jpg' style='margin: 0px 20px 20px 20px; float: left; ' /></a>A fantastically fun wall hanging celebrating Day of the Dead with the lovely Blue and Green Sugar Skull with special butterfly details . This is a custom printed fabric that has been quilted to feature each detail of the design using multi-colored thread. It measure 12 by 18 and is ready to hang.<br/><br/><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaJeansKindThreads' title='My Etsy SHop'>Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-69629145119143250142012-03-05T23:15:00.001-08:002012-03-05T23:15:56.022-08:00Everythings Coming Up Sugar Skulls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Maybe it's spring fever but I have been wanting to create new sugar skull wall hangings because every time I see them I love the colors that are exploding on them and I just want to get lost in them. So yesterday and today has been flooded with color. I have so enjoyed working with the. The orange one made me smile just quilting it, and today the blue and green one with pretty butterflies made me thing of all the beautiful fairies from festival and how I can't wait to go again this year. The last one I worked on was white with roses and it reminded me of the upcoming Rose festival, a very big deal here in Portland and then I think of the Recycle Fair that I am part of that also happens in June. Yup, spring is about dreaming and hoping for a new and bright day ahead and today, I was able to escape the down pouring rain if only for a few hours to dream of sunny days and flowers and fairies and fun. Who could ask for anything more. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-25273942308319001522012-03-05T00:00:00.001-08:002012-03-05T00:00:04.746-08:00Orange Sugar Skull Wall Hanging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pUGG7GdV1tM/T1RyApatyXI/AAAAAAAAANw/K0lDoKY_NwE/s1600/eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pUGG7GdV1tM/T1RyApatyXI/AAAAAAAAANw/K0lDoKY_NwE/s320/eyes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVc3gtKkmic/T1RyR62d5II/AAAAAAAAAOA/BufATjAdXjM/s1600/orange+face+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVc3gtKkmic/T1RyR62d5II/AAAAAAAAAOA/BufATjAdXjM/s320/orange+face+a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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A new wall hanging for those who love Sugar Skulls is now available. I have several new skulls to finish up this week and can't wait to start working on them, so it was great fun finishing up this one tonight. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-41080329418165310102012-03-01T01:51:00.001-08:002012-03-01T01:51:02.635-08:00<a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaJeansKindThreads' title='My Etsy SHop'><img src='http://www.shopmarketinghelper.com/uploads/-20546-424499_351379351549980_150927894928461_1141148_693335215_n.jpg' style='margin: 0px 20px 20px 20px; float: left; ' /></a>Hi Mama Jean
<br />
<br />Wonderful news! The quilt arrived safe and sound yesterday and it is AMAZING!! I am soooooo happy with it! My mum was with me when it arrived and she cried she thought it was so great!
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<br />I am serious when I say that Bec is lucky I had it embroidered as I would be keeping it for myself otherwise!
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<br />Thank you again for the most amazing job, you really are a quilt-making genius! I promise to send you through some photos of the wedding and Bec and Andy with the quilt after the 31st March!
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<br />Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!
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<br />xx Sharon <br/><br/><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaJeansKindThreads' title='My Etsy SHop'>Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-15893176489595012802012-03-01T01:49:00.001-08:002012-03-01T01:49:04.376-08:00Custom made Jumper for Robin Fabric provied by Customer - $50.00<a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaJeansKindThreads' title='My Etsy SHop'><img src='http://img1.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.316335097.jpg' style='margin: 0px 20px 20px 20px; float: left; ' /></a>You pick the colors and I do the work. These jumpers are fun and easy to wear with or without a t shirt. The are designed for a woman of size that wants to enjoy the summer sun and have a bit of fun. Each dress is made in 100 cotton pre shrunk and made to order. Custom orders are completed in two weeks or less. The dress is built in a panel style that allows for multiple colors or color theme. We work together ...<br/><br/><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaJeansKindThreads' title='My Etsy SHop'>Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-27057549668851132172012-02-17T09:45:00.000-08:002012-02-17T09:45:27.311-08:00Wedding Dream Quilt<style>
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In life we often speak of dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dream big, dream of the life you want to see, dream of a
world with out hate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the
opposite dreams that didn't come true or shattered dreams. Dreams have
messages, dreams have power, and dreams can be quiet goals we hold in our heart
or ones we shout to the whole world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dreams can be a form of escape or what we wish we could escape
from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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For me, dreams are full of magic and possibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dreams can come at night and we are
transported to a different reality than we may know in our waking hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My whole life I've had a reoccurring
dream of floating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take a step
off the top of a tall staircase and instead of touching the first step I float
down to the base with ease or I start to jump up and each jump I go higher and
higher until I can float at a very tall ceiling height.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some dreams interpretation would say it
means I am satisfied and happy in life and light hearted others would say it
means you are a drift and need direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe in the yang and yang of life that it’s probable a bit of
both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny how our
mind works because thinking about dreams all came about because yesterday I
sent a quilt off to Australia that I have been dreaming of making for over two
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wedding quilt featuring
couples but not just any couples, Day of the Dead couples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not your kind of dream you say, that’s OK. To me, that is the beauty and magic of quilting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For everyone who’s ever dreamed of creating a double wedding
ring quilt there is someone like me who has had a dream of a different sort of
quilt.</div>
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Quilting is all sorts of dreams to all sorts of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some love the traditional types like
flying geese and log cabins. Others like the new improved styles using all the
latest cutting tools and shapes. Hand quilting is the only right way for some
from beginning to end, and let’s not forget those who make only kit
quilts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Art quilts created with
hundreds of pieces of fabric or countless hours of stitching hold a place in
some peoples hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hand dying
your own fabric or using old t-shirts and creating a memory quilt is the only
way for others. Mini quilts, felted quilts, quilted wall hangings embroidery quiltingb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do they all have in
common?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dreaming.
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To see in your head and your heart a finished quilt when you
look at a pile of fabric or a bit of color is to dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dreaming is the jumping off stage for
any quilter and all the arguments about who is a real quilter or a wanna be are
just so silly. I believe we all are just dreamers making our way in this world
through quilting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quilting makes
us smile and warms us from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quilting fills our world with beauty and love and maybe just
maybe we can dream of a world wrapped in our quilted beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-12696951641337578692012-02-16T11:04:00.000-08:002012-02-16T11:04:15.706-08:00Mama Jean's Threaded Words: Learning to be Mama Jean<a href="http://mamajeanskindthreads.blogspot.com/2012/02/learning-to-be-mama-jean.html?spref=bl">Mama Jean's Threaded Words: Learning to be Mama Jean</a>: So you would think that after a bit of time I would have this figured out... well I just now feel like I might have a glimmer of an idea of ...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-60722785772827050192012-02-16T11:01:00.000-08:002012-02-16T11:01:39.459-08:00Learning to be Mama JeanSo you would think that after a bit of time I would have this figured out... well I just now feel like I might have a glimmer of an idea of how to. I discovered through the fall that when you go to festivals and you are successful. yea, that you sell out of stock and if the winter takes you by storm in orders, you don't have time for anything else. It was an incredible holiday season of filling quilt orders ad I loved it. What I learned is as I start this new year, to be prepared for festivals, small local shops and being able to create new items that I want to try, I have to dedicate days of my work week to creating. <br />
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I know, seems like a no brainer but hey, it took me a bit of time OK? I am trying to dedicate two days a week to creating items that I can offer at festivals or at small shops as well as creating custom orders for people. Quilt after quilt is fun but being able to stop and make a Sewphie or two perks up my spirit as they always make me smile for the unique spirits can't help but shine out. I have wonderful pieces waiting for me to create and I am enjoying being able to start and finish something in a short amount of time compared to the time it takes to make a quilt from start to finish. It also keeps the creative juices flowing.<br />
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So, this past week I made a few new potholders in a great orange jean fabric that was fun to work with and started a few Sewphies. Finished a couple and have a few more in the almost done stage. Not having all the felts I needed it gave me the opportunity to go out to a fabric store and who doesn't love that? I especially like visiting a local store that really has fresh and fun fabrics and seeing all the new designs and colors well let's just say I only came home with two new pieces and anyone who knows stashes, knows that's not even a drop in the bucket. <br />
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Now, it's time to start a new quilt for a woman and I can't wait. A queen size featuring my famous deadly dating couple. Should be great fun to work them up and have them out into the world again. <br />
A beautiful wedding quilt goes into the mail today and my little Sewphies that were finished made it down to Trillium Artisans store. All in all, not a bad way to spend a week. Maybe I'm getting the hang of this after all. <br />
http://www.facebook.com/trillium.artisans<br />
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http://www.boltfabricboutique.com/Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-35808665087740618502012-02-08T10:28:00.001-08:002012-02-08T10:28:04.655-08:00Queen Size Quilt Custom Orders Featuring Incredible Images Build Your Dream Quilt Today - $350.00<a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaJeansKindThreads' title='My Etsy SHop'><img src='http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.310037291.jpg' style='margin: 0px 20px 20px 20px; float: left; ' /></a>Have you ever dreamed of owning a queen size quilt that features an image that you love? Well dream no more. Art quilts are now available for you. <br>
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<br />All quilts are made with 100 % cotton fabrics with warm and natural batting and machine quilted in all cotton threads. Queen size quilts to Throw you make all the choices. Need help with a payment plan, no worries. I will create a lay a way plan that w...<br/><br/><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaJeansKindThreads' title='My Etsy SHop'>Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2563829943664139311.post-22639162489217527192012-02-07T05:00:00.001-08:002012-02-07T05:00:07.120-08:00A New Carbarlick Acid Quilt is Now AvailableI am trying to make sure that I am creating new items as well as filling orders and have decided that I need to create at least two days a week with that in mind, and with that in mind, the first quilt for sale is finished and will be posted by 1pm. It turned out so beautiful with black and green botanical fabric as the frame around the image and the detailed quilting just makes it pop. <br/><br/><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaJeansKindThreads' title='My Etsy SHop'>Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12314717448133318197noreply@blogger.com0