x stitch.

 My sister, Achaia, is master when it comes to handwork. 

Of course, she probably takes after our Nan who makes everything come 

out of her needle just beautifully. 

She also holds her needle like our Aunt Teresa, who happens to make everything

look gorgeous when it comes out of her needle. 

So. Well. I come along and can't seem to hold my needle right for 

anything!

However, after watching Achaia stitch for so long, my fingers begin to itch and I have

to try some kind of needlework... any kind of needlework!

So I almost always come back to cross stitch. 

(Because my embroidery is seriously lacking.) 

But I love cross stitch and I think it likes me too. 

So I may not be Achaia, Nanny, or Aunt Teresa, but I'm happy anyway! 

xo Abi

pattern used:  Anna Maria Horner's Fertile Ground Pattern

Just Us.

About Us

We grew up without realizing that some people actually bought curtains and pillows, instead of making them themselves. Almost every woman in our family is or has been an artist or seamstress of some kind! When we were very little girls, we sold our handmade creations to the neighbors (who still have some of our popular potholders). So marie-madeline studio – named after our grandmother and great-grandmother – was launched in December of 2007, with a vision for encouraging and inspiring others into making beautiful things. Our exclusive line of sewing patterns debuted that same year, and our booth at International Quilt Market won first place for merchandising in 2012!  Since then, we’ve sold fabric, notions, custom-made clothes, quilts, and more… until we came full circle back to where it all began.  With sewing patterns.  We girls have grown up a lot since those first years, and now we’re branching off into our own special projects.  Abi’s first book, Modern Prairie Sewing, was published last year and is available for purchase in her Etsy shop!
Most of all, we’re thankful to God for giving us each other and a gift that we can share with you!

XO,

Kristie, Apphia, Achaia, Abigail, & Abiah

“Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage forever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” Psalm 119:111

who we are… and what we love

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I'm so thankful for my mom and sisters and the special relationship that we have.

Here's a little bit of our story! 

xoxo Abi 

My Little Corner at marie-madeline studio

Abi

Hello! I’m Abigail, but you can call me Abi. I’m the third oldest girl in our foursome, and it’s been so fun to get to work with my mommy and sisters every day.
If you’ve ordered something custom made from marie-madeline studio in the past, I probably had a hand in sewing it. I love to sew and have learned so much since starting our company back in 2007! I am a fast sewing seamstress who loves to design simple and streamlined sewing patterns for the everyday girl. My style is very “modern prairie”, and I love to see that come through in what I make! Last year, I wrote my first sewing book with C&T Publishing called, Modern Prairie Sewing: 20 Handmade Projects for You & Your Friends. It’s full of fun and fresh looks for bags, women’s clothing, and home goodies. I’ve written quite a few tutorials for our marie-madeline blog, too, including my super popular messenger bag that y’all loved so much (thanks loads!). Now I’m continuing to share my designs on my own blog, The Modern Prairie Girl. I love to make stuffed animals for my littlest friends and chocolate chip cookies for my big friends. I’m an every day girl who loves Jesus Christ. I also love to run barefoot, hug family & friends, hold babies, scream on rollercoasters, go canoeing, laugh, dance, and talk (like, a lot). I just recently opened an Etsy shop, The Modern Prairie Girl. You’ll find lots of pretty things there – from designs sewn right out of my book, Modern Prairie Sewing, to special one-of-a-kind items. I’m so excited to be here and am super happy you’re here too!
xoxo Abi

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I love…. Jesus, my family, my friends, sewing, singing with my sisters, getting muddy in our friend’s creek, swimming, canoeing, big sunglasses, smiling, cowgirl boots, soft pretzels & flavored cokes, talking, going barefoot, tunics, watching movies with friends, laughing, cooking & baking, cookie dough, giving, cutting hair, running, writing letters to my grandparents, talking on the phone, babies, mystery TV shows, hugging, sneakers, rambling while I’m in bed, going out for Mexican food with a large crowd, pizza, praying, soft sheets, country music, being with my best friends (that includes my sisters), dancing, staying up late, weddings.

**SALE** at The Modern Prairie Girl Etsy & marie-madeline studio has a new look!!!

 My Etsy shop, The Modern Prairie Girl, is 

celebrating something exciting and BIG!

Use the coupon code HAPPYDAY25

and enjoy 25% off your purchase!

  

Why celebrate??!

marie-madeline studio has a fresh look!!!!

Hop over and check it all out!

Read each of our separate and fun stories here!   

Brandy thought it was pretty amazing, so I thought she should 

get to show her cute face here also.
After all, she's one of the girls too. 

xoxo Abi

A Favorite Belt (+ how-to!)

I don't wear belts that often, but when I do I'm always excited to pull this fun one out

that my Paps got me on one of our super special granddaughters & Paps outings!

The only problem was that the belt was still too loose on the tightest notch. 

I'd still wear it with a loose cardigan thrown over the top of my outfit 

to hide the fact that it was loose in the back. 

I decided that it needed to be fixed. So I found matching thread and got to playing around!  

The how-to pictures are pretty self explanatory, but I went ahead and left notes 

that might help you out.

Here's what I did to shrink my belt down to the perfect size, 

while still keeping it's store bought finished look.

I hope that it'll get your wheels to turning for any elastic 

backed belts that you need personally fitted!

 carefully rip the store stitches out. I only ripped out the ones that were sewn into the elastic.

 this part's up to you. figure out how much needs to be cut off and do it!

 tuck your elastic back into the belt front.

 find the stitch width that best matches the store stitches (mine was 3.5). 

try to cover the holes made by the manufacturer.

 sweet! it's done!

xo Abi

Away For the Summer Coat Covers {a tutorial}

Spring is officially here in Missouri! The grass is a gorgeous green and needing to be cut. 

The short sleeve t-shirts are out and the coats are getting put away in the back of the closets. 

Not a bad thing! But sometimes our coats need more covering 

than what the plastic shoulder covers can provide.

So I wrote a very quick tutorial that involves very little fabric. 

But best of all: very little time! 

What you'll need:

-1 yard home decor fabric (as long as it's durable and 54" wide, you're good!)

-thread

-scissors

-sewing machine

 1. If you have a plastic coat cover, place it on your fabric and use it as your pattern for your fabric coat cover. If you don't have a plastic cover, carefully use the coat that 

you're going to cover and trace around it with a washable marker - very, very carefully!!!!

 2. Use the fabric fold to your advantage! (See above picture and yellow marker tracing...)

Draw a straight line from the top of your shoulder cover to the end of your 1 yard.

Make sure and cut your notch at the top middle.

 Coat covers cut out.

 3. Right sides together, pin around the edges of your cover.

 4. Start sewing on the fold edge. Sew around your cover using a 1/4" seam allowance.

 When you start sewing on the fold, start near the edge and work your way up to the 1/4" seam allowance, so you have a smooth finished seam.

 5. Back stitch at the beginning and ending of your notch, leaving your notch open.

 6. Fold the raw edges of your notch over and pin in place!

 8. Being careful not to catch any excess coat cover, sew both notches in place.

 9. Finish with a simple hem.

 That was fun! I'm excited to finally have my coats - from shoulder to hem - covered for all

the months I won't need them! 

Happy sewing! xo Abi

A Happy Easter Sunday

Christ the Lord is risen today!

Oh, sing Hallelujah!

Join the chorus, sing with the redeemed,

Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! 

With a very grateful heart for all the love and mercy 

the Lord Jesus Christ has shown to us all,

Abi

Howdydoo, Miss Adorable!

My sweet sweet friends, Jenny and her daughter, Kelsey, shared these pictures on 

Modern Prairie Sewing's Facebook wall. 

Kelsey's wearing a Sunny Day skirt from Modern Prairie Sewing. 

How cute is she?! 

I love the trim that Jenny put around the hem of Kelsey's little skirt. 

So fun!!!! 

These pictures made my day!  Thanks so much, Jenny & Kelsey!  

I love you two.