Welcome, December : :

Each December, I spend my days busy making things to sell for holiday gift-giving. This year I started with new a Holiday Fox Pillow and Personalized Crown design!









I have a few pillows and crowns still available, if you're interested just leave a comment or email me at maureencracknell@hotmail.com. I'm also having an Etsy Sale (20% off with Coupon Code: Cyber20) and Crown Giveaway HERE, in case you missed it!

We've been slowly decorating the house for the holiday, with various handmade & kid-made garlands hanging from each entryway, placing the decor and traditions we've collected here and there throughout our house. It feels magical and extra special this year. My favorite thing is to listen to the kids, as they pull out each decoration from the boxes, sharing all that they remember about each little thing.







This is and will be a beautiful season full of celebration and the love all around us, of that I am certain!



Wishing you much joy and excitement as this season begins! ♡ Maureen

Getting Ready : :

This past week I haven't had much time to sew. I've been plenty busy playing catch up with the kids and housework since returning from Quilt Market. Although the trip flew by, it was such a long time for me to be away from home! Now this weekend is the memorial for my Dad who passed away in June, so we've all been preparing for that as well, gathering up all our family pictures and getting the house ready for guests. While we all miss him so much, it's been extra difficult to have to wait to have this memorial. I'm sure this weekend will be filled with far more joys than sorrow, as we celebrate his life together.



There's family & friends landing each day this week! Today my sister and family are arriving all the way from Hawaii. Her daughter Sylvia is my God daughter and now I have a new baby nephew to meet. I can't wait to see them all! I have a pile of handmade goodness to gift to them, including my recent Autumn Sun Quilt finish for Sebastian. I pieced it during the hours my sister was in labor and delivering him, so it had to be. Plus it matches the Sunset quilt I gave to Sylvia so perfectly!





Accompanying Sebastian's quilt are the set of quilted pillows I made in Sweet as Honey fabric with my favorite pillow pattern found in issue 8 of Love Patchwork & Quilting. The bright orange Gentle Breeze print binding really ties both quilts together, and I think these matching pillows will be perfect for them to share. I plan to harass my sister for a cute photo once they're back home!



I was lucky to catch a quick sale Bonnie had on Instagram a few weeks back for this sweet, super soft, organic knit Doe Pillow to add to the pile, as well. I think Sylvia's going to love it!

If there's time for sewing, I plan to break in the new Janome Skyline I just unboxed yesterday, photo above at the top. My friends at Janome were so kind to sent it to me to review and create a tutorial project with in the next week or two. As much as I'm looking forward to sewing again, I feel so inspired since Quilt Market, this weekend I'm hoping to find comfort in my family and friends most of all, sharing lots of tears and laughter as we share and listen to stories of how my Dad's presence influenced the lives of all who knew him.

♡  Maureen 

A Friendship Diamond Quilt : :

Each Summer, for one glorious week, my big, wonderful family rents a house right on the beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It's my most favorite week of the year, the only time I truly count down the days. It's always so special, but after the recent loss of our Father, we're enjoying every moment of this much-needed time together as a family.





And even though I vowed to spend my time this week at the beach, swimming, relaxing, being silly & carefree, I couldn't resist bringing along my most recently finished projects for picture taking!



This Friendship Diamond quilt is made with Pat Bravo's newest collection NouvElle, along with lots of pretty, coordinating Pure Element solids. I'm loving the ripple of pinks framed by these watery blues, and I'm so glad I added in the diamonds!





My quilt design was inspired by the friendship bracelet diamond pattern I attempted to make as a child, and is something I plan to continue to work on to offer eventually!



Once my quilt top was complete, I sent it out to Melissa Sew Shabby Quilting, and decided on an overall, feminine floral quilting pattern and I love the way it turned out! You can really see in my sunny photos how densely this one is quilted!



Now that it's finished & photographed, I've been enjoying using it here at the beach house!



And, now that it's blogged I'm heading back to the beach!



♥ Maureen

With Thanks : :

This year, more than any other, our family has so much to be grateful for! I couldn't think of sharing anything other than a few favorite photos I took throughout the beautiful stretch of days we just had together, enjoying SO many amazing firsts for our little family!



















-- Our first Thanksgiving, snowfall, and Christmas tree in our own HOME!! More photos HERE!

-- I am trying my best to be in front of the camera more, than always behind it (where I like it). If you are like me, than you'll understand. I mean, how often when you look at a picture do you think of the person who took it?...um, never. I make such an effort to capture special moments and memories for my family, it never really occurred to me how absent I was from almost all them. I read an article (READ IT!) recently about Mom's being in photos and then stumbled onto this post, and it really made me think. So, I'm going to try to work on that more.

-- I DID take lots of photos of our sewing/craft room to share this week -- I'm excited!! And, some of our family room, pre-Christmas-y goodness. I'm glad I did, so I can plan out the projects I hope to make for that room for when it's back to it's usual decor after the holidays.

-- THANK YOU to those of you who took advantage of my little Etsy Sale! It ends this evening around midnight, or just before I fall a sleep, which ever happens first! :)

I'm headed back to soak up this last day with some sewing and crafting with the kids before their vacation from school ends!

Have a wonderful day!!  ♥ Maureen

Hi, I'm Maureen : :

I have thought about writing this post many times over the last year, but would always talk myself out of it. Convincing myself that it wasn't necessary, worried that I wouldn't be able to explain my thoughts on this issue well enough, insecure about how bundling all the things I want to share on this topic might read. In light of receiving several emails on this topic yesterday and the private discussions that emerged, I think today is the perfect time to finally share this post.

Honesty : : I really hope my authentic self comes across on this blog. It will always be hard for me to share negative personal things here. But at times, sharing the big things in very small doses, feels really important. As far as sharing any negative feelings that I might have within this sewing community here, well, that's easy -- I don't have any. My Mom taught me that if I didn't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.  I've lived that my whole life and teach that now to my children. That's not to say that open discussions and debates shouldn't occur. I just choose not to get involved if it might lead to taking sides, hurtful commenting, or the end result being "I'm right, you're wrong." The only real time I have felt a need to involve myself in this kind of drama, is when I have felt like I needed to defend myself, but even then I shy away. Life is much too beautiful to focus on the negative!

Our children playing in the leaves.

My story : : If you don't mind, I want to explain a little of my back story that I haven't shared before. I am one of eight children. I am the only one that knits or sews in my family. I have no "real life" friends that have a passion for the kind of things I like to share here. THIS is my only place to share and connect with people just like me! Out of the eight of us, I am the only one who never went to college or joined the military. I always just wanted to be an artist. Sometimes I considered teaching art, but new that I would much rather spend my days creating. Although no one in my life would ever make me feel bad for any decision I have made - as a mother who wants to be a good example to my children, sometimes it has bothered me. I got married at 20, had my first child and became a stay at home Mom at 21. That was my job. I got really into cooking and organizing. I was the hovering mother who made her whole life her children. And as fulfilling and wonderful as it is, I was losing 'Creative Maureen' during those early years. Sound familiar? I know many of us are or have been there.

A drawing I did when I was 17, and the only thing I still have from high school.

Finding my niche : : About 6 years ago, I jumped back into creating after my husband said these four words, "you need a hobby." lol  I started out by knitting, which I became completely obsessed with. I started this blog a little more than two and a half years ago, and began sewing a few months after that. I could have never imagined how making that decision would open up a whole new world to me and ultimately change my life! After about a year, using a few of the popular blogs I follow, like Soulemama and Posie Gets Cozy as inspiration, I started to blog more regularly and thoughtfully. As my reader number increased, I would wake up each day excited and motivated to create something new to share.

Each of you has been a gift to me, one more person to share with. Every comment has been read and appreciated, encouraging me to keep at it. I eventually became brave enough to share a couple tutorials, and that teacher-desire in me felt fulfilled. Those BIG dreams that seemed impossible and in some ways forgotten, were beginning to stir in me again and feel reachable.

A peek at my next Janome Project.

A shift : : Some of you wonderful folks who have found me and decided to read this blog, have also been people behind some really special fabric and supply shops. Some of them have become sponsors, whom I am so grateful for. Some are folks associated with amazing companies like Riley Blake, Art Gallery Fabrics, Janome, Aurifil, and Accuquilt, who have asked me to be a part of their design teams, gangs, or as an independent designers. And, I still can't believe they know I exist!

Through being shared by you readers, through sponsor giveaways, through tutorials I create for companies, you have found me. My HOPE is that because of what I make to share here each week, you COME BACK! I put a lot into this blog -- because of the connection I feel to you, because of how it has changed me and my life, because I am realizing my dreams through it, because of what I am teaching my children. By my husband's and my example, they are learning that it doesn't matter where you live, what you come from, how old you are -- you can be anything you choose to be, if you work hard and believe in yourself. It's not a cliche, it's true!

By valentinadesign

My future : : I've always been excited to announce the new opportunities that have come my way because of this blog, and I will continue to!

The fabrics I share always come from my sponsors. I purchase most of them, but some are sent to me in exchange for sponsorship, as well. Doing that gives me a chance to share what's new, but the fabrics are always of my taste and choosing.

The Fabric Giveaway's I offer each week, are picked by me, as well. I try to find things that fit in with my style, that I think you'll like. I get a chance to promote my sponsors individually. And, even with as much as I sew, I still don't have enough time just yet to blog five days a week. I think sharing a new sponsor giveaway each week, is a nice way to welcome the weekend. That's all. I know some of you don't like them, but I do! My plan is to eventually just blog them Saturday and Sunday, sharing my daily makings Monday-Friday, but I'm not there yet.

Art Gallery Pure Elements for Friday's Fabric Giveaway with Contemporary Cloth.

Tutorials for Fabric? Oh, I get so much more than that! I put a lot into each thing I make, and to have my creativity noticed and appreciated enough to be invited to design for companies I love, wow! I could never pass on an opportunity like that. And I think very few would. Sharing a tutorial on the manufacturers blog is no different than guest posting. The opportunity introduces me to their readers and vice versa. The fabrics I choose, always inspires me to make something new and to push myself creatively. Plus, I love creating tutorials! The only thing that stifles the complexity of my sewing tutorials, is my inabilities to use this computer, which I promise I'm working on!! I even plan to buy a printer for the new house -- yes, I'm that behind!

A Scrappy Chevron Tutorial that I'm planning to share soon.

So that's it! If you're still here? It feels good to share all of this with you today! Each day I am simply just doing my best. I'm making the best decisions I can for myself and my family, while trying my best to contribute in some small way, by doing what I love. The fact is, I won't ever give up on this dream now! I trust that all of you will respect and hopefully support that! Thank you! ♥,  Maureen

A Gifted Quilt : :

Yesterday was a very tough day for me, a very tough day. All three of my kiddos had their first day of school, my youngest started Kindergarten, and although I tried so hard to prepare myself, I wasn't. I'm not sure what I expected. Taking all three of them in for their first day of school, walking out without any of them. I couldn't have possibly imagined how it would make me feel.

There were several times this Summer when my kids were so wound up and noisy, that vacuuming was my only retreat to having just a little stretch of time to think clearly. I remember one particular day while I was vacuuming when I daydreamed about life with all of them in school. I would read books again, go for long walks alone, sew all day without interruption, go on coffee dates with friends and day trips with my husband when he had a weekday off. We could get kayaks? Kayaks would be fun!
I imagined that it would be peaceful. That I would feel like I could breathe easier. And then the day came.

I came home, a complete mess of emotions. Feeling the weight of realizing that this new chapter was here whether I was ready or not, that my baby days were officially over, feeling complete disbelief that this time was here so soon. It was hard to breathe. How were we here? It just didn't seem possible.

Kevin, who is home recovering from a surgery he had this past Friday, was completely sweet trying to make me feel not crazy. We drank coffee, while I unloaded. I shared the pictures I took of the kids. I felt better, so he went to lay down. It was silent. And, instead of doing any of the things I had dreamed about. I vacuumed. This time to escape the silence.

I worked my way up to my sewing room, which was nearly abandoned this last month. How could I sew without my brood. Without my little girl who was on my lap the very first time I turned my sewing machine on. I couldn't begin to tell you what a huge part of all of this she has been. My anything but silent partner in this sewing adventure. The decider of unsure fabric selections and so many of my daily projects. I could make something for them and cry the whole time. I could work on a number of different projects that needed to be made.

And there it was. Someone to sew for. An unexpected gift, just at the right time! A follower and friend of this blog knew.. somehow ..exactly what I needed. And I am so grateful!









This quilt was gifted to me from Jodi. It traveled all the way from Australia and arrived perfectly, with a card so sweet and wonderful, I can't even begin to tell you. From the little bit I have shared here about my struggles, Jodi has kept me in her thoughts and added me to her prayers. Out of pure kindness, she decided that this beautiful quilt should be for me.

How could she possibly know how much I would need it? And, then I read her post and I was even more amazed. She really did.

And, so I knew just what to do. I would start a new quilt for Jodi. A friendship quilt full of our favorite Anna Maria Horner fabrics, love, and appreciation for giving me a great project to start off sewing solo and so much more.





Thank you so much Jodi! And thank you ALL for the well wishes you left me here and for all the facebook messages and emails you have sent me throughout these last few weeks!

While we all adjust, I am so happy to have and to be back in this space with all of you! ♥,  Maureen 

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Be Back Soon : :

The last several days have been so full, I can hardly wrap my head around everything.

First, there's the wonderful! My husband ran the Buffalo Marathon a little more than a week ago and then another as part of an amazing relay team for our little town's God's Country Marathon this past Saturday. We are all so proud of him. There is no one who inspires me more than him!



Here he is on the cover of this year's brochure. This picture was taken at the finish line of his very first marathon, a year ago this past Saturday. Amazing, right?!



Now for the bad news... I actually haven't had the chance to sew a single stitch since last Thursday, when I finished my first little project for Janome. By today I had hoped to finish up all my orders, a few other projects, and maybe even my last quilt top. With a little embarrassment, I didn't even get my May bee blocks out the door.

For the last few weeks we had been pretty consumed with buying our first house. It can be such a challenge to keep something so huge private, especially when it's all you're thinking about. Unfortunately, as it turned out those dreams of picking paint colors and curtain making and all the things that flood your thoughts during the process, just weren't for this house. It's hard not to be a little disappointed, which I am, but it simply just wasn't meant to be.

Then this past Friday morning, the first day having all the kiddos home for Summer vacation, we found out that my husband's Gram passed away. We are headed out of town, so I'll be taking a blog break for at least tomorrow.

Thank you, as always, for taking time out of your own precious day to stop and say hello. I thank you and, I'll be back soon!  ♥ Maureen

Five Days : :

Oh, what an amazing and insanely busy stretch of days I have had! Beginning in the wee hours of this past Thursday, this is what the last five days have looked like!

Thursday we welcomed a new nephew to the family! Baby Liam -- born April 19, 2012 -- Just look at his tiny feet!



Isn't this the sweetest picture!? Here Liam is with my husband, just 4 hours old!



Friday my husband and I celebrated our first decade together as a married couple! April 20, 2012 -- 10 years!! This weekend we have a relaxing trip planned -- I can't wait!

Saturday was all about celebrating our little man Jacob! April 21, 2012 -- Jacob turned EIGHT!!!



Sunday after a brunch to celebrate everything above, I came home to work on a long list of Birthday Crowns to help so many others celebrate as well. This is what my desk looked like Sunday afternoon. Please tell me this looks like a lot of work! It was!!



And, this Monday morning, after a very late night followed by an early sewing session, I am happy to have this large order finished! Well...with just eight more crown orders to go tonight!

 

Then, I think it's finally time to make that baby blanket!