Canvas Project - Patty Griffin Lyrics

I just finished this canvas set for my best friend's birthday. It's based on one of her favorite Patty Griffin songs - we are both are huge fans - called "Carry Me" (from the album Flaming Red).

I took lines from the chorus and broke them down into separate ideas...and then created a fabric collage for each one.

"fading into the tall grass"

   "slipping into the twillight"

  "carry me over the ocean, over the sea"

I added a handmade tag to the back of each canvas :) 

-M

And the winner is....

Susan Cahill! Congratulations Susan, you are the very first winner of the very first alberta alberta giveaway! Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and for all the kind words about my car, I really appreciate it :) I had such fun with this giveaway...gathering and organizing and waiting. I'll definitely be having more giveaways in the future...

-M

Fall Giveaway...or, how to put a spin on car theft

so my car was stolen just over a week and a half ago. from in front of my house, from a neighborhood that for the past 2 years has always felt very quiet and safe. the good news is i did get the car back, in basically the same condition i left it...the inside was pretty trashed and a few items were taken but otherwise it's almost like it didn't happen (except for the $500 we had to pay to get it out of impound :( what a way to add insult to injury!) 

however, to celebrate the return of my wheels i am having a stashbuster giveaway here at alberta alberta! fabric, buttons, trim, and beads in fall colors - great for a fall quilt or adding to an existing project. 

if you'd like to enter the giveaway please send me an email at albertaalbertahandmade@gmail.com and use the subject line "fall giveaway". i will draw names on december 10th and announce winners that day. 

this holiday i am so grateful for so many things; my family, my friends, a good job, a car with some street cred, and the opportunity to have this blog :)

-M

WOOHOOOOOOOO!

Wow. Just wow.

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

(from http://www.designforobama.org)

we woke up to a little more foot traffic than usual today - our polling spot is right across the street from our house. lots of excited voices and shuffling of sample ballots :) my hands were shaky when i was filling in those little ovals, so anxious! i kept my t-shirt zipped tight inside my sweater until i walked out the doors of the polling station but i've been proudly displaying my vote since, along with my "i voted" sticker.
looking forward to chewing off my fingernails tonight watching those returns come in.

hope, change, and a new president...

-M

No glass slippers, just glass pumpkins...

I haven't gotten an actual pumpkin yet this Fall, over the weekend I was really wishing I had one. I came up with these cute little guys instead.


Very shoddy tutorial follows...



1. Gather your fabric and clean jars in various sizes (mine once held beans, spices, and artichoke hearts). I simply wrapped the fabric around the jar and cut to size.



2. Make a little face...
3. Cut out little face (I started with an exacto knife and then trimmed with scissors).

4. Wrap fabric around jar and glue at seams (I used epoxy which is still holding up, hot glue or fabric glue would probably be fine too).


5. Add a votive, light, and enjoy the glow :)

-M

It's Birthday Season (Part 2)

My godson, Val, had his 3rd birthday party this past Sunday. I was pressed for time and low on funds so I dug deep into my stash and came up with a crayon roll. I don't think he quite knew what to make of it but he did have fun pulling the crayons out and putting them back in their homes...and his mom liked it a lot so that works for me!

All wrapped up, I love that green ribbon.

The front with his name.

My first time with machine applique...don't look too closely!

The inside: I only had that one strip of the alphabet fabric, so glad to have found a home for it. 

-M