A Snowy New Years Eve

Today we spent the day in the snow. It was wonderful to see the kids enjoying playing in the snow and sledding. My daughter Annie is now 2.5 years old and she really got the sledding thing. She will be my little dare devil I am sure! Anyway, it was a beautiful, sunny, crisp winter day and we all had a ball playing in the snow.

This is our 19th New Years eve for my husband and I. Looking back, it is hard to believe there was a time where we rang in the new years until all hours of the night with friends. And now tonight we spent the evening doing puzzles and eating spagetti with the kids!--it was pretty cool! Welcome 2010--this post is dedicated to my wonderful husband and best friend who I just adore! Thanks for 19 great years...

A New Project For a New Year

A year ago I began sewing upcycled gloves from recycled sweaters--it was so fun. I loved hunting for the materials and figuring out which vintage buttons would go with what. Now I have found another green sewing project to work on. However, I am still in the hunting and pairing stage--so I don't have any final pieces to post yet, but hopefully I will soon. --If all goes well. Something I have learned in this last year is even if I visualize how something will look, after I sew it up, it could be a total disaster or really cool--but I will really never know until I collect my materials, sew them up and try them out. Here are some fun pictures I took while documenting this new project.

A Letter From Samaritan House

I wanted to post this letter that I recieved from Samaritan House for my first donation project for MAD Stitches in 2008. I made the upcycled gloves from sweaters and some of my dearest friends and family purchased them as Christmas gifts(A SPECIAL THANK YOU AGAIN TRACY AND LIZ) Anyway, Lyn Engel at Samaritan House wrote this note for the donation. I am getting ready to sit down and clear the dust for 2009 to see how much I will be able to donate to Samaritan House and STaRS. So I wanted to end out my blog posts for 2009 with SH's nice letter. Thank you to the people who bought the gloves last year--it is because of people like you, I can help to make these small donations by sewing and selling what I make. Here is the letter.


1511 S. Claremont Street
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 341-4081


October 22, 2009



Dear Vanessa,

You have now opened your heart to us at Samaritan House and we are so very thankful! Your donation of $140.00 dated April 18, 2009 certainly makes a difference in the lives of our families and individuals who are searching for assistance.

Your gift from the HEART allows us to provide critical services such as food, shelter, medical and dental and rental assistance “free-of-charge”. Our individuals and families look to Samaritan House to help them recover from crises, build hope, and set forth on a path to self-reliance.

Vanessa, Samaritan House is very grateful for your care, compassion and support. YOU are “Neighbor helping Neighbor”.

Warmly,

Lynn Engel
Annual Giving Manager

Your donation to Samaritan House is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Tax I.D. is 23-7416272. You received no goods or services for your donation. This letter will serve as your receipt for tax purposes; please keep it for your records.

MAD Stitches on Etsy

.: New Apronshttp://www.etsy.com/shop/MADstitches

New Aprons

It has been a busy few weeks. I had a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Baywood Vintage Holiday Boutique. It was a two day event. The first day of the boutique was a private shop and cocktail party. I was able to dawn a holiday dress and vintage apron(the apron was a lovely gift from my dear friend Laura and it was her moms in 1938). It was so neat because I was able to be a vendure and a parent at this spectacular evening affair. One of the Baywood parents donated their beautiful home and all of the rooms sparkled and glowed with gorgeouse vintage decore: ornaments, feather trees, fabulouse jewelry, featherd and jeweled wreaths, childrens toys and MAD's aprons. The house sparkled, people were dressed up, champagne flowed and wonderful Christmas oldies played in the background. All of the vendors were asked to work at the cocktail party as part of the ambiance. What luck!!! I had a chance to bring MAD out in the evening--My table was dressed up for the evening with glitterd glassware housing cookie cutters, hand stamped labels and sweet hand knit cupcakes(knit by my mom). The next day holiday shoppers returned; cocoa, handmade christmas cookies(made by my dear friend Jaz) and holiday cheer swirled through the rooms. I was so grateful because MAD did well and there will be many little girls opening up aprons in their stockings this year. I want to send a special thank you to Michelle Murphy and Jennifer Rayborn for allowing me to be a part of the wonderful Vintage Holiday Boutique. I have listed some of the aprons that were selling at the boutique in my Esty Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/MADstitches