'Gathered Prayers' A Lacy Book Album

Hello friends... Have you ever wanted to create something for a friend who is ill, injured, or hurting? I felt a deep draw this week to create this Lacy Book for my friend Sue who broke her elbow, has had surgery, and will be months recuperating. She is part of a huge Christian Church, I know she'll receive many, many get well cards. So this is a Lacy book that is full of many, many pockets for her to keep her cards in.  She's one of the dealers in my shop, so we'll all write little notes on some tags I've yet to make.  This whole process was such a 'feel good' project to do!

A sneak peek into the new studio....

Good morning dear friends. 

Welcome to a sneak peek into my new combo studio.

Combo, because I combined my tiny paper crafting studio 

with my tiny sewing studio.

Even though this space is not as large as the other two if they were connected,

Everything I'll need is in an arm's reach!

As you see these preliminary pictures

Remember, it's only about 2/3 complete.

(Meaning I've got loads of stuff to still incorporate.)

This first view is from the door.

 I'll be covering the windows with lace since the view isn't so hot.

 Along the back wall, my "lace station" and the antique music cabinet where I've just stashed a few items before finding their proper home.

 We're blocking out a North facing window here. I love the turquoise book shelf. The white cabinet is a 1950's kitchen cabinet I purchased at my shop (from on of the other dealers). I'm so excited to fill it with my treasures!

 This will be the main workstation. Great storage in the corner with the Ikea cabinet. Great light!

 And to the right, will be my sewing station.

 And here are a couple close-ups of my lace station. I think this is where I've spent most of my time so far. Pressing those beautiful antique laces and hanging them on an antique towel dryer.

The swivel arms of the towel dryer is PERFECT for hanging laces. 

The cake plate stand is perfect for my round doilies too.

 And, if I get bored....

Here are my Redwood Muses! A vision right outside my window!

 Well, thanks for stopping by today!

Much love, Chris

Sunday's stitching...

You'll love this eye-candy because it was so much fun to embellish. These are the first two pages I completed yesterday while watching the 49ers with my hubby. (They won!) I'm not sure if I truly want to say 'completed' because I hold the right to add more if I'm inspired.  Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions!
  Remember this page? I used a few new flower embellishments, but everything else is vintage... the pink flowers came from the seamstress estate, dating 1919! The abalone buttons from my stash. The ribbons are all bias tape ribbons, also from the 1919 estate.

 Even though it's lowly bias tape, I love the silky look. I just gathered and puckered, tacked it down, then added the buttons.

 Here's a great closeup of the 1919 flower mixed with the newer vintage looking flowers.

 You haven't seen this page yet. I just assembled it yesterday. I had never used these stitches on my Janome machine! I love, love, love them!  This is several layers of both vintage and newer fabrics. I love the heart stitches!

 At the bottom of this picture you can see the precious lace pockets. I've had about a yard of this lace trim in my stash for years.... never wanting to cut into it.  But I think it makes for a lovely pocket!

 And these little lovebirds have also been in my treasures box for a few years, just waiting for the right place to call home. I think they are happy nested in the pink silk ribbon. (The pin on the back was broken, that's how it made its way into the treasure box.)

I actually worked on one more insert, but wont show you until it's more fully embellished.
Happy Monday and Sweet Stitching!
Chris

A Reiki Center Blessing....

My friend Joyce just celebrated the opening of her SANTA CRUZ REIKI CENTER.

Knowing I would miss the Blessing Ceremony (attending my nephew's graduation) I wanted to create a symbol of the good works she is doing, and will do for many years in her new Center. I envisioned a scroll that she could display opened up, or rolled up and stashed in a secret corner.

In the style of KC Willis, I wanted to keep it organic and reminiscent of the Ancient Energies that Reiki embodies. So, with bits of this and that, and words lifted directly from her website, here is what I came up with.

 Here is a close up of the top and bottom. I used vintage raw silk, hand made lace, and some translucent brown organza.  Ah, I just realized I didn't get a picture of the backside. All was layered upon a piece of vintage upholstery fabric, all in shades of muted green and soft healing creams.

And here it is, all rolled up, able to be tucked into a secret corner, still emitting Sacred Blessings.