Releasing Attachment and Day Seven on CRESCENDOh!

Image Marc Chagall "Birthday" from Dover Books

I packed my daughter's room yesterday, with her assistance. I was relentless. We cleared out four big garbage bags of clothing she doesn't wear and a big Ford pick-up truck's worth of books, games and toys she no longer wanted. It was hours and hours of picking up things and saying, "Do you need this? Trash, Goodwill or keep?"

I was impressed with her new found ability to release her stuff. We've been trying for years to get her to give away some of her old toys and stuffed animals and suddenly it required no thought at all. Maybe it was those episodes of Extreme Hoarders we watched on the road this summer.

I like acquiring stuff, but I'm always aware of the great cosmic truth that we don't really own anything, we're just caretakers. I also like getting rid of stuff I don't need, it makes me feel lighter.

Lighter is always good.

It's my final day on CRESCENDOh and my artists today are two really phenomenally talented people whom I happen to adore. Corrine of Jafabrit, a mixed media artist who never stops amazing me with her endless creativity and Ben Sander a.k.a. Brini Maxwell the mid century modern maven with the impeccable sense of style and cheeky sense of fun. Please visit the CRESCENDOh site and follow the links to visit them both. I'm quite sure you'll be so glad that you did.

I must away to clean, clean, clean. We've already got someone interested in seeing the house! We put sheers in all of the 6 foot windows and finished painting the upstairs rooms. Everything upstairs is in variegated shades of blue, it's all a subtle shift in tone from room to room. It's so dreamlike. It's really been interesting seeing this house finally become what I'd envisioned when we moved in six years ago, and admittedly a little sad to have it look so lovely and know I'll never see it again.

Sigh. More of that releasing attachment stuff I'm afraid.

Enjoy your Sunday! Until next time...craft on with your bad self.

xoxo
Madge

Day Six of CRESCENDOh and Saturday TastyLinks!

It's day six of my guest curator stint at CRESCENDOh! One more day to go! Today's featured artists are two awesome creative dervishes Sister Diane of CraftyPod and Traci Bautista! Follow this link!


I participated in Fave Crafts "Finished on the 15th" blog hop this month along with an array of crafty folks who shared links to their favorite projects from October! You can join the fun too next month, it's easy! Visit Fave Crafts blog to see the projects and find out how to participate!

The delightful Lisa Crone of A Bead a Day Blog fame wrote a terrific post about my new gig at Jewelry Television. Lisa has a really terrific blog, go visit her and tell her Madge sent you!

We're knee deep in the big move and it's just amazing how much stuff I had ferreted away in my studio. I gave things to the local schools, the local library and some to our local Goodwill. Still, I've got craft supplies coming out of my hoo ha. Yup, I said it. I'm looking forward to being settled into our new home soon and be on the other side of the big relocation.

And now, without further ado, here's what the crafty bloggers have for your craftertainment:

About Family Crafts
Sherri is hosting a Make-It-Over crafts challenge and is calling for people to submit their Halloween crafts made using recyclables!

Aileen's Musings
Aileen invites you to jump in the Wayback Machine and revisit a past Halloween Card tutorial.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi figures out how to use paper to decorate an apron.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a chance to win the new big and beautiful book Quilts Around The World by Spike Gillespie, a knit boxed eyelet pattern, a bunch of ways to get a "handle" on your books and journals and tips on painting realistic blood just in time for Halloween.

Crafty Princess Diaries
There is a call out for professional crocheters, scrapbookers, and quilters.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Calling all totes! Eileen is looking for tote bag decorating examples. If you need some inspiration first, watch the video on how to make a recycled tote bag.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge muses about choices, consequences, regrets and living out loud.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has a really fun book to give away this week: Create Colorful Aluminum Jewelry

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make paper pom pom pumpkins inspired by the book Page Maps 2

Day Five on CRESCENDOh and Freaky Friday!

Halloween Hootenanny Card Copyright 2009 Margot Potter for ILoveToCreate

Well it's Friday again and I have no clue how the hell that happened when I wasn't looking. Sheesh, way to sneak up on a girl.

It's day five of my guest curator stint on CRESCENDOh and my featured artists today are both uber creative, smart and funny women! Jean Yates and Alexa Westerfield will both craft your socks off, seriously. Just follow this link and visit them both, you'll be mighty glad that you did.

Alas my studio is mostly packed and I'm finding it hard to craft with what's left, so I will share another oldie but goodie from my Halloween coffers for this Freaky Friday! This is a really cute card I created with old book pages, scrapbook paper and card stock. Follow this link for instructions! You can take this in so many directions and make cats, day of the dead skulls, crows...whatever spooks your fancy.

Until tomorrow...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

CRESCENDOh Day Four and Madge's Thursday Musings...

Yup, it's day four on CRESCENDOh and my featured artists today are the craftylicious Cathie Filian and Kathy Peterson's inspiring Craft for Health blog. Please follow the link to visit these wonderful artists!

Madge muses...

The funny thing about life is that things are often not what they seem. We build up these grand expectations about them and then we realize that the shiny toy is maybe not so shiny at all. Expectation is a slippery slope. It can make us ignore our intuition and get caught up in our personal mythology. People can't actually know what we want from them if we don't speak it out loud. Things can't always unfold the way we'd like them to because we aren't the only ones in charge of reality.

I hear people often say that they have no regrets. I think that's pretty impressive, really. I surely have regrets. I think a life worth living almost always results in at least a few regrets. Living out loud means making choices that might not always end up the way we'd like them to. I think we all sometimes say something we didn't mean or forget to say something we did or opt for that shiny thing even when something in our gut tells us it might not be wise.

It's part of the deal. We will, if we march boldly ahead, make a few unfortunate turns and we will, if we live passionately, make a mistake or two. Yes, it's a dichotomy. There are no mistakes, but there are choices and consequences and some of the consequences are rather unpleasant. So perhaps we might call them mistakes, for lack of a better word? Those mistakes or consequences are opportunities and we can grow from them, learn from them and most importantly use them as a way to fine tune the practice of unconditional love. Practicing love for ourselves and love for those we encounter, especially those whom we don't much like.

We just keep making our way here through the wilderness and if we use our heart as our compass and our intellect to tender some of the intensity of the heart, we will at the very least end up having a most interesting journey.

I'm feeling introspective today. It is fall and this is what happens to me as winter starts lurking around the edges of my reality. I'm making huge changes and they're not going to make everyone happy. I'm probably going to step on a few toes without meaning to and I'm not quite sure how to prevent that. My entire reality and the entire fabric of my family's reality is shifting, and it is a huge thing. I have to hold on to the power of serendipity and the knowledge that no matter what choices I make, no matter where we end up, as long as I maintain the compassionate heart, all will be fine.

"My religion is kindness." The 14th Dalai Lama

"There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. We seek problems because we need their gifts." Richard Bach Illusions

“There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go.” Richard Bach The Bridge Across Forever

Love
Madge

CRESCENDOH DAY TWO and Terrorific Tuesday!

Today's CRESCENDOh spotlight artists are Kathy Cano Murillo a.k.a. The Crafty Chica and Claudine Hellmuth. Just follow this link to visit the site and do check out these wonderful creative women. I adore them both.

I've decided to join the Terrorific Tuesday fun again this year. Check out this fabulous array of spooky crafty goodness!

Silvia Chenault turns a toy bat into an instant neckpiece (but will it bite your neck?)

Phyllis Dobbs shows us how to recycle a t-shirt into a really cool Halloween trick-or-treat bag!

Kate Pullen brews up adorable Paper Cone Witches!

Messy Missy makes a super spooky wreath with Duct tape!

Avalon Potter goes glam with her Halloween Masquerade Ball mask!

Patty Cappelluti goes bat crazy making this spooky bat door decoration!

Crafterella is a ghoul gone wild in her Ghoul Scout Costume. Download the custom patches she made for her costume!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner upcycles a Starbucks bottle into a swell Halloween vase!

Cheryl Ball delights us with yummy candy corn cupcakes!

Pattiewack upcycles an apple tray into a festive cupcake carrier. So inexpensive and easy!

Ann Butler crafts up a boo-tiful holder for your ATCs complete with a black cat!

Glory whips up a super fun and healthy pumpkin-inspired muffin meal for her kids. Love it!

Crafty Chica makes the perfect mask to celebrate Dia de los Muertos.

Maya in the Moment has some face painting fun with her little cousin and of course, hilarity ensues!

Eileen Hull has a ghostly good time creating this cute diecut necklace!

That's it for this week! If you are interested in playing in the fun Terrorific Tuesday roundup, e-mail Alexa at swelldesigner (at) gmail (dot) com and she'll send you the details!

CRESCENDOh! Day One!

The Inspiring and Amazing Jenny Doh

I was incredibly honored when creativity guru Jenny Doh contacted me about being a guest curator at her wonderful CRESCENDOh website. Jenny invites people to share the power of the creative and to shine a light on artists who inspire and excite them. I've started this week with links to two of my favorite creative people: Kate McKinnon and Andrew Thornton.

Please visit CRESCENDOh this morning and follow the links to their blogs. You'll be mighty glad you did.

Love
Madge

Tastylinks Sunday, Square Pegs and Pumpkin Day

We hosted the annual family Pumpkin Day celebration yesterday. There's been a medical emergency in Drew's extended family and the big event was canceled, but with our move and the kids being disappointed we thought we'd just have the immediate family over for a day of carving, snacking and enjoying tasty beverages. Our Amish neighbors have a wall filled with pumpkins and gourds, so we went shopping there. Avalon had a few friends out and they created an entire wonderland of carved pumpkins and gourds, I didn't have time to change my camera settings for night shots, so unfortunately there are no pictures.

Sometimes I think it's just nice to be in the moment and not worry about racing around with the camera. We are so driven by the need to save everything and record everything these days, memories are sometimes best recalled without electronic assistance. The moment is what's real, the pictures are just pale shadows of our experience.

We've been working so hard getting ready for the move, it felt good to unwind. I've got the studio mostly packed except for the supplies that live in the big Ikea armoires and the beads that I need as I work on my projects for the DVDs. There is still so much to do, but more than half of the work is done and that's something upon which to hang my jaunty beret.

I've been busy and of course, that means my blogging hasn't been as regular as it has in the past. My Wikio rankings and my traffic have slipped and it's quite frankly exhausting me trying to keep pumping out free content, pack for the move and work on my new full time job. Blogging is a tricky thing and people like consistency, but at some point you also have to ask yourself what you gain by giving so much away? That's the thing about the internet, people have come to a level of entitlement and expectation of free information, art, ideas and inspiration and giving it all away for free surely doesn't pay the mortgage. So over the next few months, I'm going to work on finding a balance. If that means I'm not one of the popular kids anymore, so be it. I've never much cared about being one of the popular kids. Growing up as the proverbial square peg was actually pretty damn cool.

"Square pegs, square pegs, square, square pegs
Always, never, quite right."

So without further ado, here's what the fab crafty bloggers have for your perusal:

About Family Crafts
What is the most unique Halloween costume you have ever worn or seen someone else wear? Share your ideas and read about others...

Aileen's Musings
Aileen shares this year's Herm and Ethel Freebie Halloween Postcards with you!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi experiments with her own images to make a 3D card embellishment.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a chance to win a copy of the new book Creating Glamorous Jewelry with Swarovski Elements, info about getting involved with conservation work with your dog and the upcoming ReuseConex event, and a recipe for cognac Cherries.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy gives you the low-down and her favorite picks from Drew Emborksy's new crochet book.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
If you’ve been hesitant to try decoupage on wood, check out Eileen’s tips for beginners.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
It's 'fallish' and Madge has created a fabulous fashion friendly fall jewelry set for Jewel School.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi finished up her series on altered books with a flourish ;-)

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to crochet a bead and Soft Flex bracelet inspired by Heidi Boyd's new book Wired Beautiful

Rice Freeman-Zachary reviews Bead Chic!

I know, this is supposed to be Freaky Friday...but I'm terrible at following rules, even rules I make up. That's why I wrote my new book Bead Chic. I like to color outside of the lines and I want to help others give themselves permission to do the same. Multi-talented and incredibly charming Rice Freeman-Zachery just posted a terrific video review of the book on YouTube and I wanted to share it with you. She gets it...and I think you'll get it once you get the book and start exploring new approaches to design!

ILoveToCreate Teen Crafts: Hallowe'en Masquerade Ball Mask

I was really impressed when Avalon showed me the mask she created and the outfit she styled to go with it! Tres chic, n'est pas? I must admit, seeing my little girl look so sophisticated and grown up was a little tough to take, but I'm so very proud of her creativity. Here's this week's fabulous teen craft created by the lovely and talented Avalon Potter!

Hallowe'en Masquerade Ball Mask
Copyright Avalon Potter
ILovetoCreate Teen Crafts
"Teen crafted, mom approved."

Since I created an invitation to a Halloween masquerade ball last week, I decided that this week I would make a mask for the ball. Every girl needs a sparkly mask to complete her fabulous ensemble. This is a great project because you really make it your own, for example you can switch up the pattern or size of the crystals or you could even change the color pallet of the mask. I had a lot of fun making this and I hope you will too.


Materials
• A plain mask of any color (preferably fabric)
• A fabric flower of any color
• Tulip Glam-it-up™ crystals
• Tulip Glam-it-up™ cordless heat setting tool
• Aleene’s Liquid Fusion glue


Instructions
Step 1. Once you have gathered all of your materials get your mask, hot fix crystals, and applicator. Plan out where you want your crystals to go so you know where to apply them ahead of time.

Step 2. Apply crystals using your applicator. Designer Note: If your mask is plastic or made of plastic do not use the applicator it will melt the mask. Use Liquid Fusion glue to apply the crystals instead.

Step 3. Once you have finished applying your crystals, decide where you will want your fabric flower to go. I put mine in the upper corner of the mask.

Step 4. Use Liquid Fusion to glue the flower to the mask.

Step 5. Allow glue to dry. Once you finish you’ll have a beautiful mask to complete your costume.