The Bramble Hedge

New Beginnings

2009-09-19T09:37:00.010-05:00

Well I'm in for a lot of new beginnings. I have just moved from New York to Iowa! I am taking my world and breathing new life into it. I have settled into a new place and I'm excited to create wonderful things, both in my work as well as my life. New Beginnings.
Just as my life is getting a new chance I give discarded clothing and furniture a new lease on life. I see the potential in many things that I find. They have the potential to be become beautiful things. Just as people are beautiful on the inside as well as out I see the inner beauty in many things that have been left by the way side. Everything deserves to look beautiful. And I know how to do that.
For example I found some sweaters that I recrafted into some beautiful clothing.

I have also given a new look to a couch too.
and a bloved foot stool as well.

But before I left New York I was busy. Some of the new things that I did are here......

Those are just some of the things that have kept me busy as well as packing

A dress for Meghan

2009-02-21T13:47:00.001-06:00

Well I finally finished the dress that I started for Meghan on her Birthday. The dress was made from an old dress that belonged to my mother. It was a brides maid dress of really pretty pink velvet. I made the dress without a pattern and I left it open in the back with a tie to adjust the fit and ribbon for the shoulder straps.

I then added the finishing details with silk flowers and some lace from a dress my grandmother made. I think it came out pretty nice.

I also got around to finally getting pictures of Meghan's room finally finished, well for now. When she gets older I'll do more, like perhaps a mural. But you can see the chandelier in a more finished setting.

I made her curtains when we first moved in about 3 years ago. I added the curtains on the side to add more volume but now I need to adjust the ones in the middle. I painted the walls and the boarder was stamped on in silver. A pretty tranquil feeling over all but not to pink due to the fact that the wall color is a light peach.

Boy's Birthday Gift

2009-02-20T16:06:00.000-06:00

After much deliberation and searching the web for ideas on a homemade gift for a boy I had an idea. I will make slippers and an adventurers bag. So I made some boyish slippers from jean and flannel. The bottoms were made from a damaged shearling coat. I believe in recycling. Then I made the bag from jean and lined it with cotton. On the front I put a salvaged pocket from a pair of jeans. I then filled it with a flashlight, book, whistle, key chain, and a canteen.
I think that I will make some more after I make one for my son , he wants the one I made for a gift. In those I'll make available magnifying glasses, compasses, a map, and other explorer items that I can find. I'll make one for girls too. I think theses make a great alternative to over promotionalized items at the stores. Besides one could customize the bag any way you want.

pretty dress

2009-02-19T10:56:00.000-06:00

Monday I got a call from a very good friend and she was going to have a 1st B-day party for her little girl this Saturday. I was more than happy to go. But what to get, hummmm.... I'll make a dress. I looked through my patterns and didn't find what I was looking foe and I didn't have time to fiddle with making one without, so I went on a search. I finally found what I was looking for and downloadable too. Well I downloaded the instructions, readable good, then the pattern, very very blurry. Some of the wording I couldn't even read and there were about 10 different languages too. Well I just cut out the pieces, oh by the way the were no seam allowances so I had to add them ,what a bother. Boy was I really glad this was a simple pattern. I need the pattern mostly for sizing.Any how I think it came out pretty nice with a bit of ribbon and a silk flower.

New Patterns

2009-02-18T14:13:00.000-06:00

Last week I was thinking about the engagement party that I was going to and I realized that I didn't have anything to wear, Yikes what to do! Well, I couldn't get better incentive to make the pants and jacket that I wanted to make , oh say 8 months ago?! So I went to work on the pants first. I had purchased some nice olive green corduroy fabric. I laid out the pattern that I downloaded from Burdastyle.com and found out that the fabric wasn't wide enough. What a bummer. Then I remembered that I had 3 yards of jean material, perfect. So I went to work. Now please realize, I have never made pants before and the directions weren't the greatest. Yes there were no instructions on how to put in the pocket, so I tried and ripped out stitches a few times before I got the results that I wanted. After a few frustrating moments, especially when the kids were screaming MOMMY, MOMMY..... and taking a few breaks I finally finished the pants. Next came the jacket which was much easier. Needless to say I think my outfit came out pretty nice.

Turning Three

2009-01-30T17:39:00.000-06:00

These past few week I've been getting ready for my daughter's Birthday Party. Being that this was to be the first party at the house I wanted to do something special for her. That is when I thought of a special birthday crown. So I googled B-day crowns to get inspired. Well, I was so inspired I created this pretty crown. I made this crown with some fabric, vintage wallpaper, silk flowers, and a pink glass thrift shop broach. Glitter is very good thing for a little girl, you can never have enough, and pretty butterflys made out of wraping paper. I also added a string of featheres on the inside to soften the edges. I had so much fun that I'm in te process of making more to sell. The vintage wall paper I used as a lining is goin to be the feature this time.

I also wanted a chandelier for my daughter's bedroom but couldn't find what I was looking for. But as it so happens I was at the local thrift store when I spotted this 70's glass plated hanging lamp, but I saw potential. I removed the glass plates and then painted it pink. I then drilled some holes in the candle cups and at the top. I wired some crystals and strung some beads and crystals and, Voila! Pretty crystal chandelier. The picture was taken in the basement where it was made. As soon as it is hung I'll take a photo of the finished job with newly painted walls and a silver stamped boarder.

2008-08-09T19:51:00.000-05:00

The murals that are in the first entry are still a work in progress. I work on them a little at a time. I enjoy making them as detailed as I want. I have made a whole wall of it that will eventually have a flat screen TV in the middle. But that is after I finish it. This wall will eventually have ducks and geese as well as an owl in the tree hole and a bird in the nest. Also I'll do rabbits, chipmunks, and squirrels. Oh, and a few insects as well. But again that is what is planned.

I have done some murals for a few clients as well as baby portraits, but unfortunately at the time I never thought to take a picture of them. I do how ever have 2 of the portraits and 2 of the murals.

2008-08-07T07:43:00.000-05:00

Hello,

My name is Maria , I'm an artist and a mother and I paint murals and make quilts as well as

many other things. All of my work is custom done for the individual client.

Here are some examples of my work.