Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Madge Explores Her Inner Midge!



Yesterday Avalon and I had a mother/daughter beauty day. We got haircuts and blow outs and then we went to get pedicures. We both opted for OPI red with white polka dots. Our toes look like cartoon mushrooms. I keep waiting for miniature garden gnomes to dance across them! Insert jig music here.

I asked my stylist for chunkier hi-lites and she gave me a ton of them, in fact, I'm blonde! Woo hoo! She also cut my hair into a 60s style bob, which wasn't actually on the docket but it looks amazing. Every time I walk by a mirror I'm slightly confused by the reflection and then I say, "Hello you saucy bitch!" and toss my newly golden mane.

Yes, it's a Leo thing.

I think I look like Barbie's best friend Midge when she wears her blonde wig. I mean, come on, how could I not be kindred with a freckled doll who comes with her own wig wardrobe?! I forgot how many characters there were in the Barbie pantheon until I remembered Midge and Skipper yesterday. Midge had freckles, and she was Barbie's best friend until she was replaced by Ken, sheesh. She was made to counteract the concerns that Barbie was perhaps a little too saucy for kids. Barbie was based on a German doll that wasn't actually made for kids, didja know that?! Here's the 411 on Lilli, Barbie's predecessor, which isn't surprising to me because my Barbies were always a little on the slutty side. I never had a Midge doll, but I had lots of Barbies. I did at one point have the original Barbie with several of the most collectible and valuable dresses, you know the ones that are fitted down to the ankles with a pouf of tulle? Oh I love those dresses, they're so fabulous! I wish they made those in my size. I wish I'd have held on to that stuff. Avalon thought the name Midge hysterically funny, but I kinda like it. I'd be a Midge if I weren't already a Madge.

Yes, it's another day of deeply profound thoughts from yours truly.

I doubt that I'll have time to post while I'm away, my docket is full, but I'll try. I'll share photos and stories upon my most auspicious return. Until then, have a fabulous week and don't forget to rock on with your bad selves.

xoxo
Madge

How to Make Madge's Fab 40s Apron

Morning Muffalettas!

It feels good to be almost there. It'll feel even better to get home and put my feet up for a few days before diving back into the fray. I've spun roomfuls of straw in the past several months, more straw than I ever thought myself capable of spinning. I even did a pretty damn good job turning it into gold. Now comes three intense days of the fine art of Shameless Self Promotion which is what all of the jewelry and apron talk has been about. I don't have to have an apron, I just decided that with the inky demos I'm doing, an apron might be a good plan. I didn't have the time to start from scratch, so I got a basic black apron at AC Moore. Then yesterday I finally had time to throw it together. I looked at the Smurf fabric, my Olivia the Pig fabric and my vintage inspired pin up boy fabric, but nothing seemed right. I needed the apron to blend in with my outfits and accessories. So I pulled out one of my favorite vintage demi-aprons and wrapped it around my waist with the other apron underneath and I knew I was on to something.

Madge's Fab 40s Apron Copyright 2008 (click on image to see close-up)

1. vintage demi apron
2. new full basic black apron
3. red and white thread
4. liquid stitch
5. small ric rac trim in red
6. two interesting matching vintage buttons

How to make Madge's Fab 40s Apron
1. Find a vintage demi apron with an interesting print and wide ties. (You can score these online or at thrift stores/antique malls/flea markets, mine came from the local Goodwill)
2. Pin demi apron to waist of Loew-Cornell basic black apron (I got mine at AC Moore)
3. Use a basic stitch across the top of the vintage apron to sew them together. (You can opt for zig zag here if you prefer)
4. Attach ric rac trim around top edges of apron using Liquid Stitch. (You can sew, I just didn't have it in me!)
5. Find two matching vintage buttons and hand sew on top corners of apron. (I have a huge collection, some given to me and some found at yard sales, you can find them online as well)

Voila, just a simple little demo apron with that certain touch of je ne sais quoi. I could have added more gee gaws and doo dads, but I didn't think it needed any. Except maybe a vintage name tag that says, "Madge" and maybe a cute little bakelite pin. I do have a tiny Scotty dog I got in Paris that might be just perfect...

I realize this whole apron thing is ridiculously trivial as is the rambling on and on about what I'm going to wear and showing you the jewelry I made to match my outfits for CHA. It's just that this is a blog about my life and being a professional designer is a HUGE part of it. I'm not trying to piss people off or make them feel badly for not getting to go to the big party. It's really just work and it's really hard work. I have to go to these events to promote myself and get more work. We have big bills to pay and I have to help pay them. I have a kid, she needs stuff. I'm her mom, it's my job to make sure she gets what she needs. I'd rather be home with her, quite frankly, but if I'm going to go you can be damn sure I'm going to look fabulous. It's my job. Until Oprah or Martha or some other big celeb invites me on their shows and catapults me to the next level, I'm doing this all by myself. I've earned every ounce of what I have achieved through considerable amounts of blood, sweat and tears. It's a slog baby and I work my pretty little ass off every damn day. I'm booked solid for CHA and when I'm not, I have to take that time to connect with manufacturers and hopefully score the big licensing deal. I'm there to promote my brand and if I did that in old jeans and a t-shirt, I can guarantee you there'd not be much work for me.

It's not my job to tell you what to do, do what makes you happy. Dress up, dress down, wear fierce heels, wear flip flops, coif the hair, let it free...life is a tragi-comical surrealist adventure and you my fine friend are the star. Now get out there and shine however ya likes and I shall do the same...in my apron, apron, apron...apron.

xoxo
Madge

A little whine to go with my steak.

We spent the day yesterday at Dorney Park. We all agreed as we were leaving that we never have to go back there again. Dinner at Texas Roadhouse was also something we feel confident bears no repetition. We had a perfectly lovely day, we just all prefer Hershey Park because it's clean and no one smokes and they don't let folks walk around in ill fitting bathing suits outside of the water park and they have a little place called Chocolate World. As for dinner, I happen to like my medium rare steak reddish pink in the center and not brown and tasting like shoe leather, butter on my potato and I like salt instead of sugar on the rim of my margarita. I'm kooky like that.

Snark. I'm a really easy going customer, I waited tables for twelve years, but if you're a steak house, you should know how to cook a steak. I mean...duh. I didn't bother to send it back; it took so long for them to overcook it the first time...

Oh waiter, can I get a little whine to go with this steak?

I have to start packing for CHA and get that freakin' apron done. I am not sewing one from scratch. I am considering using the Smurf Sheet Set I got at Goodwill a few years back to decorate the pre-made apron I bought at AC Moore. We'll see how I feel when I roll up my sleeves and break out my sewing machine...or maybe I'll just bedazzle it with hot fix crystals and glue on some trim...hmmm. I have all of my outfits and accessories planned out. It's like I'm ten and it's the first day of school. The thing is if I just throw a bunch of crap into my suitcase I get really stressed trying to get ready in the mornings. I need a Garanimals plan. Each day has a theme...Zebra, Leopard, Turtle...

Okay not really turtle, but you get the idea.

(photo by Marcio Madeira)

Speaking of leopard, Ralph Lauren has a leopard hat and matching shoes in his Fall/Winter collection that both look like something Joan Crawford would have worn in the 40s and I'm smitten beyond belief. The hat...that hat...that magnificent, jaunty, saucy hat! You can't see it here, but it has a super long pheasant feather on the side. Oh what would I give for that hat and those shoes?! I guess I'd give about six grand...sigh. Ah well, I'm searching for a vintage version. If you love leopard, you simply must go see, the whole collection is brilliant!

Sorry, I had a little fashion moment there.

Today I'm getting my schedule organized, packing, organizing the few demo materials I wasn't able to ship out last week and making sure I have my shipoopy together for the show. Tomorrow is a day of beauty with my daughter. Haircuts, blow outs and pedicures. It's our annual ritual. Then I have to pack my daughter for her camp sleepovers and weekend with her Mom Mom, clean the house, finalize details and get ready to go!

Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Wash, rinse, repeat.

Thank you to the amazingly talented Ms. Jean Yates for posting my video in her blog yesterday and to jewelry maven supreme Ms. Tammy Powley for her heads up to me about showing the video in this afternoon's post! You gals are awesome! YAY!

xoxo
Madge

White Poppy Set Copyright 2008 Margot Potter

Here is my white poppy set I made yesterday to sport at CHA. I used Sculpey UltraLight, an HHH Designer Pendant, oil based silver pen on the leaf edges and Ranger pitch black acrylic paint dabber using a paintbrush. I had crystals in the center but as I was forming the flower, they were getting sucked into the clay, so I took them out and discovered some very cool texture underneath, so I used a 'pointy tool' to add more. I love this light weight Sculpey because you can make hugantic things with it and they aren't heavy. This is a much more O'Keefe style poppy than yesterday's offering. The beads are Hill Tribe and Bali silver and Swarovski pearls and crystals. I used some MOP fan beads on the earrings and edged them in silver to match the flower. I can't wait to wear this one! I'm officially finished making things to wear...except for my bloody apron. Which isn't actually bloody, it's just in need of some alterations. My friends are all whipping up fabulous aprons and I can't have a plain old demo apron now or I'll look like a dork. Apron peer pressure...come on...all the cool kids are doing it...
I'm off to Dorney Park with the family! Happy Sunday!
xoxo Margot

Poppy Necklace Set Copyright 2008 Margot Potter

It's time once again for the Linky Love to be showered across the blogiverse! Huzzah! I had an overnight show at the Q, so I'm just a little loopier than usual. Woo hoo! On the way home I learned something truly fascinating on NPR. Did you know that yee means right and haw means left, so yee haw actually means right left. Who knew? Cowboys and farmers knew, that's who! Ya learn somethin' new every day at the old Impatient Blogger.

Above is a necklace set I spent most of yesterday creating. I got this fabulous retro poppy dress at Forever 21 for CHA and I felt compelled to make some jewelry to match. I am a poppy fan, I have had a print of one of O'Keefe's poppies on my walls for years and have had faux poppies mixed with faux sunflowers in some vase or another for the past fifteen years. What is it about poppies? They're so striking, bold, simple, enchanting. This isn't quite as dramatic as my friend Candie Cooper's fabulous felt poppy necklace on the cover of her last book, but I like the stark simplicity of this one large flower for the dress I'm wearing. My first large poppy was a bit of a polymer clay disaster, the petals were so tall they started to burn. I emailed my friend Heather Powers and she was kind enough to give me some emergency polymer clay advice. If you need to cook a taller piece, make an aluminum foil tent to protect it! It works! My second flower is nowhere near as luscious as the first, but let's face it people, I was running out of steam and polymer clay. I placed Swarovski lime ab rounds in the center of the flower and then I used gold oil based marker around it so the flower would match the gold centered flowers on the dress. In a perfect world, this would be more perfect, but this is Madge's world where perfection is an anomaly. The earrings are more of an interpretation of the shape/feeling of a poppy, the pendant is actual poppy sized and looks more realistic, sorta. I used an HHH Enterprises metal blank pendant as the base and adhered the baked (and cooled) poppy in it using Amazing Goop. I love that glue! This is a necklace for a gal who likes to make a statement. What the statement is, I don't honestly know. Maybe it's something like, "Hey, look at me, I have a giant poppy on my chest! Don't you wish you had one too?!"

Yeah, I think that's it. I'm still trying to decide if I want to make the gold edges smooth instead of choppy, I'll sleep on it and see how I feel when I wake up. Poppies will make them sleep...

So far the response on the new Impatient Crafter^TM video has been stellar. I think we're getting in the swing of things and hopefully they'll keep improving with each effort. Don't forget, if you post the video in your blog, I'll Linky Love you!

Here's this week's sampling of TastyLinks^TMwith some Linky Love shout outs:

Vickie Howell is looking for a few good crafters to participate in her new book. You don't need to be a pro, just someone who is passionate about being creative. Get the 411 at her blog:

The Impatient Blogger Madge is in full tilt preparation mode for the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) Show. ACK!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery The Scissors are busy with Summer Sweater Projects

Layers Upon Layers Cyndi got to test some new Golden's digital ground products, and a waxed paper transfer collage is the result!

Crafty Princess Diaries Lesson 3 in Tammy's series on getting your craft work published talks about submitting your work to magazines.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Variety abounds with summer centerpieces, retro gas photos, a sneak peek a couple of fun projects from the new book Felt Inlays, a how to make your own Calligraphy pen from the new book Modern Mark Making and a tutorial on how to convert a photo into a knitting pattern with a free graph of Jon Stewart!

Aileen's Musings Aileen's feeling inspired! Enter Aileen's Artist Manikin Contest and get your groove on creating your own art muse! Click the link to find out the nitty gritty...

About.com Cross Stitch Use these tile patterns for bookmarks, borders, and more - let your creativity flow!

About Family Crafts When you have a day when it is way too hot to spend time outside or when there is another reason you are stuck inside, you can keep busy with these Summer-themed coloring pages.

Thank you to the charming Ms. Ashley of MySpace for putting our Oo La La video on her home page! WOW!

Thank you to the delightful Jafabrit for giving me a brilliante weblog award, which I'm supposed to share. Which I'll do later this week because I'm exhausted and I can't think brilliant thoughts.

Thank you to the lovely Lisa Liddy for posting a link to the new video!

Big thank you to the sensational Leslie Todd for posting the Oo La La video in her blog before vacation!

And without further adieu...I must away to bed. If I've not linky loved you and I should have, email me to remind me to do so! I'm still spinning straw, but the pile is almost spun. Not much further now my little Smurflings...

xoxo
Margot