Handmade by Margo www.handmadebymargo.com

One of a Kind Up-cycled Jackets

2010-01-25T17:16:00.000-08:00

I work with a good friend that has access to upholstery samples. She was gracious and shared a box of samples. After sorting and playing with the samples for the last year, I finally came up with a new jacket. Last year I made a sweatshirt jacket using the samples and cutting them into large squares and sashing the blocks. (I wrote a pattern called "Scrapyard Jacket".) The sweatshirt jackets were nice but not as classic as the new jackets. The one shown was sold the same day it was taken to Farmer's Country Store in Lancaster, Ohio. I still have 3 left and limited samples left.

New Sweatshirts

2009-12-29T17:45:00.000-08:00

Yea, I know I've neglected my blog. Around Christmas we that create for others become a bit over-whelmed with orders. I squeezed in a couple of new sweatshirts and just added the new "SNOW" sweatshirt. It's simple but great for all winter. I also added a brown jacket with birds and a birdhouse pocket. I made this one for my dear mother-in-law. She's a special lady and loves watching her birds.

Special Order Batik Jacket

2009-11-11T06:09:00.000-08:00

I love the input from the customers. A customer did not want the "Tilework" jacket in the peach color shown on the website, www.handmadebymargo.com. She did have enough creativity to vision the jacket in a different color. Her color choice was purple. Even though purple isn't my color, I gravitate to the browns and earth tones, this jacket turned out great. Thank you to creative customers that help me step outside the box.

Primitive Christmas Tree

2009-10-19T09:35:00.000-07:00

What's old is new again. My mom made hundreds of these trees in the 70's. They were the bright greens with strawberry ornaments on the tips. This is the small tree she made. I have a large one sewn but it isn't stuffed or painted yet.

Sometimes I need a diversion from sweatshirts and I make a doll or pillow. Besides, not many people wear sweatshirts in the summer. Hope you enjoy the grubby tree.

T-shirt Weather

2009-05-26T19:29:00.001-07:00

It's definitely t-shirt weather. I've put away on my sweatshirt jackets and put on lighter clothing. I have made several new t-shirts for this summer. The little birdie is my favorite.

Future Textile Artist

2009-05-08T18:32:00.000-07:00

I have a new helper in the studio. He's helping Grammy pin a quilt. I had to call his name so he'd look up from his work. He now has his own worktable. The TV is now tuned to cartoons. Isn't it great how life changes.

Primitive Grubby Bunnies

2009-02-15T19:34:00.000-08:00

When I want to do something different, I start making primitive dolls or something different other than a sweatshirt. I dug out some of my old patterns and tried a new painting technique a friend told me about. I mixed paint right in with my coffee dye.

I did not add them to the web site, but they are for sale in a consignment shop, Farmer's Country Store, located in Lancaster, Ohio. Contact me though my e-mail if you are interested in purchasing.

Charm Pack Quilted Jacket

2008-11-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

Just finished creating and writing a new jacket pattern. I used a charm pack from Moda. If you are unfamiliar with a "charm pack", it is a pack of fabric that has been pre-cut to 5". They usually include one swatch each from a designer's entire fabric collection. This jacket will be added soon to my website, www.handmadebymargo.com, along with the pattern.

Tumbling Leaves

2008-08-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

Fall will be here before you know it. Where did the summer go? When you live up north, you cherish the warm summer days. I'm not a cold weather girl. I freeze in the winter, my eyes water and generally I'm miserable when I'm outside. Thank goodness for warm sweatshirts. I've been working on the fall and winter new designs. Here's the new Tumbling Leaves sweatshirt. It should be added to the web site in the next several weeks.

Pink Confetti Jacket

2008-05-16T06:22:00.000-07:00

I just love playing with fabric and creating a new jacket. This is the completed jacket I've been working on the last several days. The pattern is available and can be purchased on my website within several days. It's a fun way to use those jelly rolls available in the shops. You could also use several charm packs. Since it's spring, I chose pink and peach. Now I'm looking at jelly rolls a whole different way and checking out my scraps. Wouldn't jewel tones on a black sweatshirt look rich and classy?

Summer T-shirts

2008-04-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad it's spring and warm enough to wear t-shirts once again. The new colors in clothing are so pretty this year. I've added two new designs, sky blue funky flower and pistacio flowerbed.

Watermelon Patch Denim Shirt

2008-04-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

I just finished a new denim shirt for the summer. I like adding a unique bottom trim to a denim shirt. After trying to come up with something new for the summer, I came across one of my old patterns for a watermelon quilt. This simple design works well for the bottom trim on a denim shirt. Of course, with watermelon, we think of crows and summer flowers. Send me your ideas. I like to hear from customers on what they want. I've sent the picture to

the web hostess to add to my website, www.handmadebymargo.com

Flowerbed Denim Shirt

2008-03-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

I've been back several weeks from Florida. What a great time of year to get away from the cold. I take a basket full of handwork and get a lot done. Darling Hubby commented that I wasn't on much of a vacation since I brought my work with me. I find the handwork and hand quilting relaxing. It makes time pass quickly while on the road.

Since my return, I'm ready for spring. I have a new denim shirt and sweatshirt jacket ready for spring and summer. I cut the bottom of the denim shirt off an additional 4" to give it the shorter denim shirt look. The shirt is available also in the traditional length. As always, I offer free shipping. I have just sent the picture to the web designer and they should be posted on the web page, www.handmadebymargo.com , soon.

Mining Wonder jacket

2008-02-08T10:56:00.000-08:00

The back of the jacket looks as good as the front. Both sides have been embelished with decorative threads and accent appliques.

Batik Mining Wonder Quilted Jacket

2008-02-08T10:48:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, I collected rocks. Every vacation included a stop to a rock shop. This batik reminded me of a rock I purchased with my allowance during a family vacation out west. The ore had small blotches of a blue ore. Not sure of the name of this ore anymore, but I do remember the wonder of how such a rock was formed. Just like the beautiful batiks found in the quilt shops, this fabric reminded me of that special rock I treasured for so many years.

This new jacket is also available as a pattern and an e-pattern. Hope you enjoy my contemporary side.

Wizard of Oz quilted jacket

2008-02-08T10:33:00.000-08:00

What to do, what to do. New fabric.......what to do with new fabric. Okay, I brought home the new Wizard of Oz fabric from Quilting Treasures. I need a new class jacket sample. It's a night at the movies, notice the movie reel front of Dorothy's adventures. The class is scheduled for April 17, 12 pm or 6 pm. Cost of the class is $25.00. Classes are held in Lancaster, Ohio, at Farmer's Country Store, 540 N. High Street. Call the shop to register, (740) 654-4853.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T12:19:00.000-08:00

May you all be truly blessed this holiday season. God has granted me a gift of creating and sewing and I have been truly blessed to be able to fulfill my calling. My dear husband supports me in my endeavor and you as customers give me an outlet to create and be challenged. One dear sweat lady I have sewn for many years, gives me a challenge each year. Last year I created a village with a church in the middle. She wanted a gold star in the sky to her right. This year she once again gave me a challenge. She ordered her family room at Christmas time. The applique was the family fireplace, the large Christmas tree on the left decorated with a large red bow on the top with long streamers and gold ornaments. Presents were under the tree with a teddy bear and a smaller tree on the right. The stocking hung from the mantle.

With the busy holiday season, I always have ideas roughly sketched on paper but am unable to create the finished item. I am trying to get ready for shows and keep inventory in stock at Farmer's Country Store. The week before Christmas when I am finally winding down, I sometimes add a new item or two. I created two new sweatshirts this past week. A new snowflake sweatshirt and an retro Ohio jacket.

Merry Christmas to all.

Custom Jackets Welcome

2007-11-29T07:59:00.000-08:00

I've been too busy to blog. I held a sweatshirt jacket class last month and will be having another class on Monday, December 3, at Farmer's Country Store in Lancaster, Ohio. Many students are making a scarlet and grey jacket with a big "O" on the back.

I got an order for an Angel Sweatshirt Jacket. Since many of the jackets are one of a kind, I asked the lady if she would prefer a different color. This was a Christmas gift for her mother. She requested navy and tan, with an accent of pink. Thought you might like to see how the jacket turned out. Your color selection can totally change the look of a jacket.

New Christmas/Winter sweatshirts

2007-10-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

New snowman sweatshirts have just been added to the web site. I really like the snowman trio jacket on navy blue. With wool applique being so popular, I also designed a sweatshirt for winter. I pre-washed the wool to make it a machine washable sweatshirt. Hope you like the new designs.

This is the back of the snowmand jacket trio. I need to learn how to rotate my pictures.

November Jacket Class

2007-09-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

I had two classes this past Thursday, both full. Several of the ladies made a Scarlet & Grey Quilted Sweatshirt Jacket supporting their favorite team and two ladies made a jacket for every day use. You can imaging that the Scarlet & Grey jacket was the most popular design.

Due to popular demand, the Sweatshirt Jacket Class will be repeated November 12. I have scheduled an afternoon class at 12:30 and an evening class beginning at 6:00. The jacket class is $25. To register, give me an e-mail or contact Farmer's Country Store at

(740)654-4853.

Sunflower sweatshirt

2007-08-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

Hattie's Workshop has recently updated my website adding new sweatshirts for fall. There is a "Boo Scary Cat" sweatshirt with scalloped trim bottom and a checkerboard/sunflower sweatshirt. I'm working on a jacket and of course making more Ohio State quilted jackets. Visit my web page, http://www.handmadebymargo.com/ to view the new sweatshirts.

Fall Designing

2007-07-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

It's late July and I'm busy designing new sweatshirts, denim shirts and jackets for the Fall line. Sunflowers and crows and still popular. I see a lot of witch's hats and primitive pumpkins. So many ideas sometimes it's hard to get the look I want. Watch for what's new for this fall. I'm having a sale at Farmer's Country Store. There are summer denim shirts with partriotic flip-flops half price. E-mail me if you aren't local for pictures and sale pricing.

English Cottage Postcard Jacket

2007-05-31T06:15:00.000-07:00

It's interesting where we receive our inspirations to create. I've been seeing the T-shirts in the ladies' department that are tye-dyed with the city or country scenes. I work part-time in a quilt shop and I had bought a panel of an English Cottage. It had been in my stash of fabric waiting for me to create a quilt. After seeing these T-shirts and owning several for myself, I was inspired to take my panel back to the shop and start laying it on some beautiful batiks. I just finished the jacket and am well pleased. I'll be posting the pattern and jacket for sale on my web page, http://www.handmadebymargo.com/ . I will now be on the lookout for other fabric panels I can use. This is the back of the jacket. It might have looked great on a bright pink but I was more cautious in my color selection and went with the green and tan.