marie-madeline studio

my best friend's wedding.

She was so beautiful.  And it was the best day ever.  This was why we were gone for awhile at the end of last year.  I had the privilege of being Elizabeth's maid of honor, and Achaia was one of her bridesmaids!  We had intended on posting these pictures as soon as we got home, but time slipped away, and now they've been married for almost an entire month.  I guess we were just so full of the memories that we had to keep them inside for a little bit longer.  We love you, S and E.  Thanks for making us part of your special day!

xx Apphia

wrapped in love.

We were so happy that we were able to share Sarah Grace's most recent birthday with her, and that we were able to make her something special.  Mom's always said that a handmade quilt means you're wrapped in love everytime you put it around you, and we couldn't think of anything we would love better to do for Sarah Grace than to wrap her in love every night.

Sweet dreams, Gracie!  We love you.

xoxo

PS-- In case you are curious, the quilt is our happy scappy quilt pattern, and it's made completely in one of our favorite happy lines... Pam Kitty Morning.  Oh, and we did make decorative pillows too.  It just makes a bed seem finished.

Oh, oh, oh!  We forgot to mention that our entire sale room is 10% off this week! xo

Turning 22 properly.

*First off--- Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes!  I had a beautiful day, complete with cinnamon rolls, Anna Maria bias binding, a light box (to help with my embroidery, yay!), Mexican food & pop cake, Dr. Pepper, and Audie Murphy (yes, I'm a girl that loves classic westerns--- you can thank my Dad and brothers for that).  I feel so very blessed by your friendship and my family's love. xxx

You are probably curious about The Dress.  About a week before my birthday I decided I was only turning 22 once, therefore a new dress would be in order.  I'm so happy with it!  The bias cut skirt is perfect (and definitely worth the extra fabric usage!), and I decided to liven things up with making the sleeves hemmed with a subtle 'V'.  I've always loved a detail like that, and was so happy I could add it to this dress.

The fabric is my newest fabric love: Loulouthi velveteen.  I've always had a soft spot for velveteens, and having it designed by Anna Maria Horner, was just icing on the cake.  And, it just so happens that she always picks colors that I love to wear.  These velveteens are super great to sew with, and I'm always on the band wagon of recommending them for winter sewing!

I'm excited to see what God has in store for me in my 22nd year!  I just can't believe it's here.

hugs and kisses ~Achaia

Happy 22nd birthday, Achaia!

Here's what you might already know... Achaia is a precious, loving, joy-filled servant of Jesus Christ.  She loves her family and we are absolutely crazy about her.  We're so thankful to the Lord for creating her like He did.  Happy birthday to our dear, sweet Achaia Victoria!!!

And here are 22 things you might not know...

- Purple is her favorite color

- She is extremely well organized

- Took gymnastics as a little girl

- And she clogged (dancing)

- She is very witty

- She loves Dr. Pepper

- And adores Frank Sinatra

- She once dreamed of owning her own blow-up chair (but it popped)

- Her Indian nickname was "Talks-A-Lot"

- She was born at home

- Is as loyal to her loved ones as she can be

- And she can't resist a good bargain

- Achaia used to decorate Velveeta boxes for pen and pencil storage (she grew out of that)

- Once owned a fuzzy purple box purse that she loved to pieces (thank you, Mamaw)

- Is a shoe addict

- She has two crowns (as in, Jack fell down and broke his crown)

- She's a hat person

- Loves history

- Her favorite dolly was named Doll-Doll, and she liked to sniff her hair (Doll-Doll is now in storage, though)

- She loves vintage clothes

- Almost always wears deep, rich colors (think Anna Maria Horner)

- Anthropologie is one of her all-time favorite stores

 

We love you, Achaia!!

xoxo,

Mom, Apphia, Abigail, and Abiah

The winner! (& fabric sale news!)

Well, it's about time we announced our winner, isn't it??  Drumroll, please....

ROBIN! (chocolatechippers)

Congratulations, Robin!  A big thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway!  In case you didn't win, but would still love the book we're happy to report that we have a small supply of them for sale on our site.  We have been running around doing so many things lately we haven't had the opportunity to sit down and sew something from Tanya's adorable book, but we're so much looking forward to doing it in the future!  There are sooo many cute projects!

Now, on to what we have for you today...

30% off all fabrics!! (through January 20th)

We've been so happy to see so many new wonderful fabrics showing up at our house, but we need room!!  You'll find a ton of great past collections, coupled with several fabulous new lines, including... Calypso, Ooh La La, Loulouthi velveteen, Girls World Vibe, and Folk Heart!  And, we want to introduce you to our newest fabric-related love: ruffles.  Oh my.  They are so wonderful and great and easy and fun taboot!  We have plans for a formal introduction on those shortly.  Stand by.

xo Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, & Abiah

'cause I got the urge

I sew when I get the urge. (And I'll admit it -- sometimes I sew when I don't have the urge too.)  That's when I do it best.  And when I do it fast.  But faster is better, right? 

A good friend, Vanessa, gave me the inspiration for this scarf.  She'd found her scarf in Paris, but since Paris (sadly -- sniff) isn't next door, I decided I'd try and make one.  The next Friday night I came up with this. 

And I love it!  

Of course, I used these few different fabrics: velveteen, voile and cotton.  Call me silly, but I love mixing fabrics.  love it.  Call it an obsession.

The weather was just perfect today.  We're having a beautiful January!  It's fun when you can just wear a cardigan over your shirt and a light scarf and still be comfortable.  I like cold weather ... when I can crawl under a quilt (or blankie) on the couch and watch a good movie. In front of a fire, none-the-less. I can't forget the fire.  That's most important.  How's the weather where you are?  And what have you done lately, just 'cause you got the urge?

hugs & kisses-  Abs

pardon us...

...while we talk about cheese.

Yes, you read that correctly.  You see, we just have to take a moment and rave about our wonderful new cheese.  In our house, cheese is a must-have staple.  It's like running out of stick butter or chocolate chips (just ask Abigail) or milk-- no good.  We've always been big cheese eaters.  In fact, if you slapped some mozzerella or cheddar on a rock, we would probably eat it.  And oh my.  It makes everything taste better.  Or, in some cases, it makes somethings bearable.  The amount the recipe calls for?  Well, that's just never enough.  You always need at least 1/2 a cup more. 

See?  Once we get started it's hard to stop.

Okay... that was just a little background for you so it's time to move forward.  Some of our good friends (that live in another state-- just miles away) just happened to start making their own raw cheese.  Enter jumping-for-joy excitement.  Our particular favorite, naturally, is their mozzerella variety as it's wonderful on burritos and our pizza.  It makes the pizza even better (we hardly thought it was possible).  Is there anyone out there that doesn't like cheese??

Thanks for listening to our cheese raving.  We plan to be back with wedding pictures or the giveaway winner soon!

xox the Long ladies 

Celebrate! {a giveaway too.}

Whew!  Here we are back again after a somewhat whirlwind trip (we'd do it again in a New York minute).  We had the extreme pleasure of joining in the festivities of a beautiful wedding just last weekend, and hope to give you a few shots to look at, after we go through the 700+ pictures that we took.  But, you'll have to be content with off-the-cuff poses most of the time, as we were completely having way too much fun to stop and smile!

So, we think it's high-time to celebrate.  Anything and everything.  Be it a beautiful wedding, good friends, the New Year, or a new piece of fabric.  That's where we come in.  We've already talked about how much we adore Tanya and were itching to get our hands on her book, and right before we hopped in the car to leave on our trip what do you think showed up on our doorstep?  You guessed it.  Not just one, but several copies of her lovely book.  We want to share one with one of you.  Sound good??  Read on, friends! 

It also seemed fitting to throw in an adorable fat quarter stack of Tanya's latest fabric collection, Sugar Hill. (If you want to celebrate something extra hard, Sugar Hill's 25% off starting tomorrow until January 13th!)

Here's what you gotta do to get your name in the hat....

::leave a comment {1 entry}, telling us one of your favorite Christmas and/or New Year's memory

::become a fan on Facebook {2 entries}

::sign up for our newsletter {3 entries}

::post about it on your blog {10 entries} - don't forget to send us a link, please!

::spend over $25 dollars at marie-madeline studio {20 entries}

 

Let's get started!!

And a very Merry Christmas to you.

"And the angel said unto them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."  {Luke 2:10-11}

His name is JESUS.

We hope you all are blessed with the loveliest Christmas Day ever!  We'll be stepping out for awhile to be part of a very special event.  (Of which we'll plan on posting pictures.)  So, it's time for us to say goodbye till the New Year.  Orders placed anytime after today will be shipped out the week of January 4th.

With love and joy from our home to yours~

Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, and Abiah 

Tuesday night....

...seemed like a good night to roast hot dogs in our fireplace.  Once adding some baked beans and yummy homemade chip dip we had ourselves a meal. 

Hope your Tuesday night was as good as ours!

xoxo the Long ladies & family