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Monthly Archives: February 2014

A Fabulous Friday.

Happy Friday, everyone!  Since Nan left on Wednesday we are going to spend the day thinking of all the things we love (we miss her so).  xx

PS  All Lakehouse fabrics are 20% off through the end of the month… enjoy!

{Kristie's picks}

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1. KL linen

2. I love this CD

3. my fleece lined slippers

4. Cheerios!

{Apphia's picks}

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1. giant flowers make me happy

2. Yes, please

3. I'd love this Anthro jacket for chilly end-of-winter and early spring days

4. my new favorite blush (and it's on clearance!)

{Abigail's picks}

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1. the perfect graphic tee!

2. my new favorite skirt!  I think I'll wear it all summer long!

3. I simply adore my grandpa, Paps!  I love and miss you and Nan!!

4. Snowcones!  I'm ready for summer!

{Abiah's picks}

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1. Bangs… I love mine!  Thanks, Nan!

2. Boden is so cute!  Love their florals!

3. I like this quote

4. Converse tennies… these are so cute!

{Achaia's picks}

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1. I love the vintage costume designs on the wall

2. Lately I have been inspired by everything that involves handwork!

3.  this is the best chocolate.EVER

4. my best flea market find ever… a framed Rocky poster!

Color Wheels

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I finished my quilt!  I was jabbering about picking my fabrics here.  (Which I am sooo happy with!)  I didn't do any quilting to speak of last summer, because I just think of it as mainly a winter sport.  It's the perfect excuse to be bundled up underneath a big quilt, right? 

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Oh, and that big fluff of white fur in the left hand corner of this above picture is a dog's tail.  Those three dogs of ours are always curious as to what we're up to, and they were probably even more curious as to why Abiah and I were out on a windy, cold day taking pictures of a blanket.  

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I decided to hand quilt all the wheels with coordinating pearl cotton.  There are 16 wheels total, 2 of each color scheme.  So I used 8 different pearl cotton threads.  This was the first time I've ever used pearl cotton for hand quilting.  At first it seemed a bit more difficult to start/stop them, but once I got used to it, I loved it.  It's a great way to add extra color to your quilt!

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I used one of my favorite Anna Maria Horner Loulouthi print on the back, a Denyse Schmidt leaf print for in-between the wheels on the front, and this Dowry fabric for the binding (that print makes a great binding, by the way).

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I'm thrilled with the finished product, and it's now happily keeping me warm at night — an absolute necessity along with my down comforter, two fuzzy blankets, and a sheet.  See, I finished the quilt just in time for the cold weather to get here!

In other good news, Nanny's here!  She flew in this weekend, so we have all week to play! 

xoxox Achaia

Seams Unlikely Blog Tour!!

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Everyone in the sewing industry has heard of Nancy Zieman, right?  Of course.  Maybe you've seen her on TV, ordered from her website, or perhaps just seen her picture. Nancy Zieman just released her autobiography, Seams Unlikely.  And, she's hosting a blog tour to celebrate!

All five of us read the book from cover to cover in a matter of days.  We couldn't put it down!  We all wanted to take a moment to give you a glimpse into what we came away with….

Kristie says-

I just LOVED Nancy’s book about her life. I think that even more than her business side, I enjoyed getting to know the little girl Nancy and the young lady Nancy. Even though some of my daughters have met Nancy I have not had that pleasure, but I did feel like I “met” her while reading this book.
 
Most of all I loved how Nancy weaves her faith and family into every part of her business and her life. The love she has for her family is just wonderful! You just have to read Seams Unlikely…especially the part about “Gotcha” Day!!
 
Apphia says-
 
All I can say is… I LOVED Nancy’s book!! I couldn’t bring myself to put it down, as a matter of fact. Reading about Nancy’s life was so inspiring. Seams Unlikely is an all-around great book. I laughed, I cried, and I now have a nice number of lines from Nancy that I like to insert into everyday conversation with my sisters! What stuck out most to me about Nancy was Nancy herself. She is a woman with remarkable abilities, strong faith in God, and true humbleness. She is just the kind of person you want to have as a friend. Reading about her struggles with health issues, balancing family and business, and staying true to herself was really an encouragement to me. As soon as I finished Nancy’s book, I mailed it to my best sewing friend so she could enjoy it too! (And she read it as fast as I did!)
 
Achaia says-
 
We were happy to hear about Nancy Zieman’s autobiography, and were even more excited at the opportunity to get a copy. But, really, I was blown away by it as soon as I started reading…. I couldn’t put the thing down. I loved reading about Nancy’s trials and triumphs, because they are such a part of our lives. It made Nancy all the more real to me. Not just as a fabulous, incredibly talented sewing icon, but also as a normal person who has had a normal life in so many ways. There were so many times I just wanted to jump into the pages and hug her! Mom and us girls talked and talked about what we’d been reading (there was a scream of “don’t tell me!” if someone talked about a part someone else hadn’t gotten to yet…), and decided that every sewist we know needs a copy!
 
Abigail says-
 
What a fascinating read! I couldn’t put it down. I laughed, I cried, I felt like a close friend. What an inspiring story about a lady who puts God and family first, and knows how to work hard. At the end, I loved Nancy more. Not just for her fabulous business of notions and more that I’ve been able to enjoy, but for who she is as a person. You have to read it too!  She's beautiful inside and out!
 
Abiah says-
 
What an awesome book! My sisters couldn’t believe how I carried it around with me wherever I went! Anytime I had a few spare minutes, I’d pick it up to read a few more lines. What an amazing lady! Nancy really came alive for me in the pages of this, her autobiography. I’ve heard of her for years, and even seen her picture, but I never really knew her. Reading about her life was truly inspirational to me. She’s had so many struggles, yet trusted in God to bring her through. Nancy is sweet, kind, humble, and so funny, too!! I can’t imagine not being inspired by her life story…not just for a seamstress, but for anyone.
 
 
Nancy (she has officially just become "Nancy" after reading her book!) has some peeks into why she wrote Seams Unlikely on her blog (plus, some adorable pictures!).  And, be sure to stop by all the other wonderful blogs that are joining in the tour!
 

February 5 Eileen Roche http://dzgns.com/blog/

February 5 Pat Sloan http://patsloan.typepad.com/

February 6 Melissa Stramel http://melissaslilaclane.blogspot.com

February 6 The Long Ladies http://www.mariemadelinestudio.typepad.com/

February 6 Tori Thompson http://totallystitchin.net

February 7 Amy Barickman http://www.indygojunction.com/blog/

February 7 Melissa Mora http://mellysews.com

February 8 Shari Butler http://www.doohikeydesignstudio.com/blog/

February 8 Vicki Christensen http://www.sewinspiredblog.com/

February 9 Carolina Moore http://alwaysexpectmoore.com

February 9 Kate Mclvor https://theconfidentstitch.squarespace.com

February 10 Amy Ellis http://amyscreativeside.com/

February 10 Melissa Mortenson http://www.polkadotchair.com

February 11 Ilene Miller http://happyvalleyprimitives.blogspot.com/

February 11 Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/

February 11 Rachael Pannepacker http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

February 12 Bill Gardner http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/blogs/insideqn/

February 12 Elizabeth Evans http://www.simplesimonandco.com

February 13 Amy Webb http://www.amylouwhosews.com/

February 13 Lindsay Wilkes http://thecottagehome.blogspot.com

February 14 Gertie Hirsch http://www.blogforbettersewing.com

February 14 Veronica Philips http://cloverusa.wordpress.com/

February 15 Jenny Gabriel http://www.sewvacoutletblog.com

February 15 Laura Wasilowski http://artfabrik.com

February 16 Frieda Anderson http://www.friestyle.com

February 16 Rita Farro http://ritassewfun.blogspot.com

February 17 Cindy Cloward http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/blog/

February 17 Joan Hawley http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog/

February 17 Patty Young http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com

February 18 Nancy Zieman http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/

 
You all want a copy, right??!  Well, we are happy to announce that we have one copy to give away here at marie-madeline!  Just leave us a comment on this post and you'll be entered!  Be sure to go over to Nancy's blog and comment for more winning opportunities (they are giving away 20 books total!).  Of course, Seams Unlikely is also available for purchase on Nancy's website.
 
We want to leave off with a quote we just love from Nancy.  It reminds us of how WE should look at life's difficulties.
 
"Each of us faces challenges.  Some are larger than others.  But what happens to us does not define us, unless we let it." ~Nancy Zieman
 
 
 
We love you, Nancy, and are inspired by your story!
xox Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, and Abiah
 

Little Sproutie

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Talk about the cutest little hats (and girls!) EVER!!  Our friend Krista has opened up an Etsy shop, Little Sproutie, selling her adorable handmade hats and little girl aprons.  We squealed with delight when Krista sent us these pictures of her girls wearing their darling hats, paired with our gracie ruffle skirts.  Can it get any cuter??!

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We think every little girl needs a hat like this (we already have sent two to some of our favorite little girls….). 

Krista is having a sale for the month of February!  Just use the code LOVE15 in the check out to receive 15% off your order.  Oh, and be sure and favorite Little Sproutie on Facebook!

xox Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, & Abiah