marie-madeline studio

A Fabulous Friday.

Happy Friday!!  We hope it's the start of a beautiful weekend.

xoxo

{Kristie's picks}

 

 
1. This is THE ultimate lamp (Plus, it's ruby and electric!)

2. fabulous shirt

3. I love this sweatshirt

4. Spending time with my parents, just like we used to.

{Abiah's picks}

 

 

1. One of my new favorite books!

2. I could spend all my money at Boden!  Practically.

3. This hair is perfect... love the bangs!  I'm completely stuck on mine!!

4. Steve McQueen.  One of my favorite actors!

{Achaia's picks}

 

 

1. '70s hair and make-up (love this show!)

2. Making me think.

3. My family.  I loved spending time with them the past two weeks.  So many lovely people missing from this picture, though!

4. The new bag Paps bought me.  I LOVE it!

{Apphia's picks}

 

 

1. Cartography Buttondown, my new fave.

2. The perfect nude heel --- can these be like 80% off now?

3. A beautiful leather clutch for all seasons

4. On the hunt for a sterling silver locket. (thank you, Jill.)

{Abigail's picks}

 

 

1. My first SEWING BOOK!!!!  I love it.  I look through it and see my best friends.  It makes me super duper happy!!!

2. It’s no secret that our family is big into music. Our Paps had a fabulously cool band in the 60s. It’s a really fun and unique heritage that me and my sisters are super thankful to be a part of. This music will want to make you jam! Have fun!

3. I heart this skirt!

4. My Paps bought me this jacket.  I absolutely adore it!!  I've been looking for the perfect denim jacket FOREVER.  (Alert!  This is it!)

Saying it with Red.White.Blue.

Happy July!  Ever since we were little, Independence Day has always been fun.  Mom's always been a red, white, and blue fan (that's an understatement), and has always taught us the importance of never, EVER letting July 4th roll around without proper clothing to go with the day.

See?  Now we have this thing about us (we tease Mom and call it a 'complex') -- we just can't let Independence Day roll by without wearing red, white, and blue.  It just isn't happening.

We spent some time this morning looking at all the fabulous July 4th party ideas on Pinterest.  Here are some of our favorites to put some firecrackers in the day...

We are definitely trying these Sugar Cookie Bars out.

This bunting is pretty enough to use all year round.

Boots.  What else can we say?

Popsicles are a must. (And red, white, and blue makes them tastier.)

Tablesettings that make us happy.

And, we can't forget the fancy wear.

Happy, happy Independence Day!

xoxo Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, & Abiah

hello, again

Happy Summer!  Wow.  Since this spring/summer started we felt like we have caught ourselves coming and going.  Some good stuff.  Some tough stuff.  But, always promising to never be dull.  Just to give you a quick overview....

-We've had a relative staying with us for the past 5-6 weeks, while he's waiting for a job.  Which definitely makes things interesting.

-Including giving him the use of one of our bathrooms, which leaves the other 7 of us to ONE bathroom.  Things get kind of exciting getting ready for Church on Sunday morning....

-Wednesday we went swimming for the first time this year, which was wonderful!  It was a much-needed relaxing time. 

-We went at an earlier hour in the day then we are used to (about 1:30 to 4:00) and we all came home with amazing (is that the word?) sunburns.  Thankfully, we're almost all recovered.

-We said good-bye to our brother Joe for the next five weeks, while he's off interning for a North Carolina farrier.  We're going to miss him!  

-Our Church is having a cantata for Independence Day, and we are involved, so that means practice, practice, practice!  Especially since Achaia, Abigail, and Abiah all have solo parts.

-We are just now getting somewhat caught-up on all of the custom sewing we had to do for the Bundle Event!  Whew. 

-Some of us went with people from Church last night to Lendonwood Gardens for the first time!  So beautiful.  Sadly, we only have about 30 minutes to go through it all.  We could have stayed so much longer.

-We think that must be the reason that we are itching like crazy.  Mosquitos apparantly like us.

-How has your summer been so far?

xoxoKAAAA

BIG NEWS... Our Abi wrote a BOOK!!!!

!!!!!!!!!  She'll be back with the details in the next couple of days, so hang tight!

xoxo

Flowers Make Us Happy.

Especially when they are two weeks old (like these), and still look pretty.  None of us were gifted the green thumb that Nan and our Aunt have, but we are happy to see that we can purchase flowers at the grocery store and keep them alive for this long. 

Hope you all have a fabulous long weekend! 

xox

Happy birthday, Abiah!!

To my sweet baby girl, Abiah~

Happy 20th birthday!!  How very much I love my little red haired baby.  There's never been a day when I haven't been so very thankful for my fourth daughter - a precious part of life that I hold so very close to my heart.  I love you, dear Abiah!

xoxo Mommy

 

And we love you too!  Somehow, in all your cute tiny-ness, you manage to complete the rest of us.  We're so thankful for you, Abiah!  We don't know what we'd do without you.  We hope your birthday is fabulous!

Love, Apphia, Achaia, and Abigail

Of course it's Nanny's birthday too!!

Dear Nan, we hope you know how MUCH we love and miss you!!  Even though you're far away today, you're always in our hearts and you're always and forever part of our team.  We wouldn't be who we are without you.

 

So!  All our love and a bunch of X's and O's on your birthday!

Your girls, Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, and Abiah

 

Hello, May.

May has us happy for warmer weather!  Spring here in MO is crazy.  We were just talking about it the other day when we were driving to Church.  It starts warming up and flowers start blooming.   Then it gets freezing cold again (we aren't exaggerating either.  Seriously, during the last cold snap we were wearing fleece again.  Ugh.) and all the flowers die.  Finally, it gets warm to stay.  We think it's here now... yay!

We girls went and spent the weekend (most of the day Sunday, Sunday night, and Monday morning) with Joe.  As usual, we had lots of fun, and got to spend Sunday with some friends of his.  We sat in their front yard eating hamburgers and hot dogs off the grill and popsicles, and playing Signs.  Then after Joe left for school Monday morning we cleaned his house, did his laundry, and ate pizza.  It really turned out to be a perfect, relaxing weekend.  We needed one of those. 

Today has been busy, busy!  So busy that we opted for peanut butter and jelly for dinner.  As you might guess from the pictures above, we got two brand new collections in yesterday!  Meet Beauty Queen by Jennifer Paganelli and Pretty Potent by Anna Maria Horner!  We are loving these and can't wait to sew up something cute with them.

We're still filling orders from the Bundle Event, and now have a STACK of custom orders to get sewing on.  We are working on them and will get them to everyone as soon as we can!

How has your May been so far??? xo

Happy Birthday, Apphia!!

Happy Birthday to my darling Apphia.

The first baby I carried, the first I loved.  You will always fill a most precious place in my heart.

You are such a blessing to each one of us and I praise The Lord for you. 

I love you dearly,

Mommy xoxo

 

Happy Birthday, Apphia!  We hope you know how thankful we are for you and how very much we love you!!  We hope this is the beginning of a beautiful year for you.

All our love, xoxox Kay, Abs, and Bug

Celebrating a Life: our Grandma

97 years 11 months 23 days old.

Our Great-Grandma Conwell passed away yesterday morning.  It was a long several years, her mind leaving us, her heart staying strong.  We're thankful for the opportunity to have known her for so long, and to remember how much she loved us.  The sweet letters she sent us when we moved away, and for letting us use her middle name for our business (Madeline).   

We have to credit Grandma for the many ways we love to do stitching and sewing and crafting.  She did those kinds of things for so many years, until she couldn't hardly see, even going to the lengths of crocheting throw rugs with plastic grocery sacks.

We love you, Grandma.

Much love from your kids,

Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, and Abiah

PS  We plan on traveling to Indiana for Grandma's funeral so things will be quiet and orders won't be processed until we get home. 
xo

where we've been

We really haven't meant to stay away so long.  Last week felt like a whirlwind... something (big things) to do EVERY day.  This week has been slow and somewhat sad (with good things thrown in).

Our brother Joe started farrier school Monday.  The drive was too far to make every day, so we spent all last week getting his little rental house in order.  Saturday we took him up and had to come home earlier than planned, since snow was on the way. 

Oh dear.  We girls miss him SO much.  It's almost crazy how one person leaving can throw you off so much.  It has been hard to adjust -- and we haven't really wanted to either.  We have talked to him every night, which helps ease the pain (we think).  If plans go well, we girls are hoping to go spend the weekend with him.  We can't wait!

So, we've been trying to drown our sorrows out with other things.  Mom taught Abi and Abiah to cross stitch earlier this week, and yesterday we went out with a friend from Church to pick out our Easter program music.  Last night we stayed up to watch a favorite movie.  It doesn't bring Joe back, but it sure gets our minds busy.

Now, we should say that we are sorry for ourselves, but happy for Joe.  He's got a goal, and he's following his dream.  So, maybe it's worth the heartache. 

xoxo Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, and Abiah

PS  We got some fabulous new Riley Blake buttons in, if you're interested in fancying up a new garment.  We're dreaming of spring sewing!