Exchanges and Birthday Goodies

I am finally getting around to showing the exchange goodies from the last round with the Stitched With Love Exchange.  This time around the theme was Spring or Easter ~ depending on your partner's preference.

I was excited to receive Teresa's name from Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches.  Here is the package I sent to her:

The fabric you see is the backing.

I was totally spoiled by Nataly from Nataly's Needle Creations, everything she included was so me!

Love how all of it was all put together!

I love BBD!

I have admired Nataly's marking pins on her blog for some time and now I am lucky enough to have my own set!

And even more...all will be put to good use..

Who doesn't love chocolates!

Especially when they look so pretty!

Thanks so much Nataly ~ I really love it all!

I have to thank dear Myra and June for sending me birthday treats as well.  Myra sent me one of her lovely mug mats. 

The fabrics match the little basket and needlebook she made for me last year.

June sent me some fun goodies too!

The back: 

And the front.  I love lily of the valley!  The first perfume I ever had was given to me by my grandmother and was lily of the valley. To this day, the smell always reminds me of her.

She included these other goodies as well as a Winnie-the-Pooh towel - I do love that silly old bear!  Somehow I missed taking a picture of that and will get one for the next post.

She also included these three cuties for the boys.  They get their shape from the Cadbury Egg that is hidden inside.  Those didn't last long once the boys figured out they were there!

My friend Brett had recently traveled to Ireland and knowing my love of sheep, brought this plate back for me and it found a home nestled in here:

She also treated me to lunch and these pretty flowers.

Thanks ladies for making both the exchange and my birthday extra special! I'll be back soon to share some of the events that have been keeping me from stitching too much!

“Friendship," said Christopher Robin, "is a very comforting thing to have.”
― A.A. Milne

Crazy, hectic times...

Crazy hectic times are here.  Thanks to those of you that noticed I haven't been here in a while and sent emails to make sure everything was okay.  The last few weeks have been filled with baseball practices, games and tournaments, family visits, scouts, and school field trips. 

There have also been birthday surprises, exchange arrivals and very few stitching moments.  The few and far between moments have barely added any threads to my tusal jar.  You may have to look closely to see any difference since last month!

I did manage to get some pieces in their frames.

First up is the piece my mom stitched for me.

Next is the Humility Sampler by Heartstring Samplery.

And finally is the Treasured Pinkeeps by Pineberry Lane.  I stitched the version that says, "mother" and moved the bottom border down, so that I could add my initials, my mother's, my grandmother's and my great-grandmother's.  I love how this turned out.

This week the Strawberry Sampler, in honor of Earth day and Arbor day, is going green for their Wacky Wednesday sale!  Click here for more info!

I will be back soon to share the birthday and exchange goodies with you!

“Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.”
― A.A. Milne



Happy Easter

A quick post before taking off to enjoy the Easter weekend.

I have decided to chose yet another stocking for my April ornament.

I figure, why not, I am on a roll!  Then I can just do the finishing on all of them at the same time.

I received my package from my Stitched With Love Exchange partner the other day.  I can't wait until the reveal so I can share all the goodies with you.  My partner truly knows how to put together a great package!

The boys are off this week and I am recovering from a nasty cold, so not much stitching has been going on.  Here are a few of my things from years past.

  We did get a little yard work done in between baseball practices.

Here are the younger two discussing the strawberry plants.

The yard is finally green and growing!

We have had a robin's nest at the top of a pillar on our front porch for a number of seasons now.  This year, a new bird decided to add a smaller nest on top and take up residence.

Fun to watch, but definitely not the cleanest bird!

And these buds,

now look like this..

This is one of my favorite shrubs, it smells so wonderful.

A few more springtime favorites..

These buds will soon be filling the air with their wonderful smell..

I hope you all find time to enjoy the colors, scents and sounds of the season.

May the joys of spring fill your hearts this Easter weekend.

“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
"Winter is dead.”
― A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young