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

Behind the Times...

Oh my gosh, how did we get to the end of March?  I am way behind on everything!  Especially the posting of my March Tusal.

Did you catch that I displayed my jar in front of a timepiece?

Let's play catch up, shall we?

Brett and I once again met with Peggy Lee from the Kentucky Sampler.  She had the camera that day, so if you'd like to read all about our crazy adventures, just click on the link!  It feels like we have known each other forever, it's hard to believe that it was this time last year when first we met.

Angela, from Hooked on Stitches, surprised me with one of her beautiful finishes.  It was one of "those" days and when I went to my mailbox, everything was suddenly brighter!

Angela's beautiful stitches. 

Isn't this little bow the sweetest? 

The lovely trim and candy cane charm. 

And what beautiful fabric on the back! 

Thanks again Angela!  Your RAK really made my day!

On top of the various illnesses, of which I will not go into detail, school conferences, etc., it is also the start of spring baseball.  Last weekend found the boys and I in Flemington, NJ for a tournament that my oldest son's travel team was participating in.  Bear with me for a minute while I share some pictures.

Can you tell from how the little brother is bundled up, that it was a bit on the chilly side?

The oldest lives for this!

Up to bat. 

I just love the intensity on his face in the next pictures. 

His job is done. 

He had a tremendous pitching weekend, throwing around 100 pitches and only one run scored during his stay on the mound.  He even had a nine pitch inning, getting all three outs himself - you gotta love when that happens!

The middle guy was supposed to have a tournament this weekend, but some rain and wintry temps decided to show up and interfere.

What happened to the warmer temps and sun shiny days that allowed for the following photo shoot?

Some visitors.

Yesterday was a very important day in my house.  My baby is now 8!  He requested a home-made ice cream cake ~ complete with home-made chocolate ice cream and candles that he placed himself!

I know this one is a bit blurry, but I love the smile on his face!

An after shot.

And what does an 8 year old want for his birthday?

Dino Legos!

There has been a little stitching.  Not much, but enough to complete my Stitched With Love ~ Spring Exchange.  Of course, I can't show that yet!

And just enough more to get the stitching done on my March ornament.

I decided to stitch the outline of the snow and just do a half-stitch for the inside.  I wasn't sure if I liked the effect at first, but it has grown on me.  It sort of reminds me of falling snow, rather than snow that is already on the ground.  I have to pick my April ornament yet. Perhaps another stocking, then I can just spend one day finishing them all together.  I'll share my choice on my next post.

I recently purchased one of Myra's totes and I couldn't be more pleased.  I had asked Myra if it was possible to add a set of longer handles, making it easy to just throw over my shoulder on the way to and from the ball fields.  I was going to post a review after using it this weekend, but then the tournament was cancelled.  I can say, I had it all packed and ready to go - all my needs for the weekend fit perfectly.

Her packaging and sweet note.

The longer handles are attached with Velcro, making them easy to remove and store in one of the pockets.  One pocket on each side, inside and out!

A zippered pouch, containing her card and a little extra something - a thread catcher.  Now all those threads will make it home and into my jar!

Myra's sewing skills are wonderful.  I wish we lived closer so she could teach me a thing or two!

Here's the link to her blog, Gr8dame's Place, the page where she shows some of her goodies that are for sale.  Thanks so much Myra, I love it!

Phew, are you still with me?  I have to try and post a bit more often so I don't have such long posts!

In looking back through my post, the picture of the birthday boy with his Legos all about made me chuckle, because somehow, he knew where every piece was!

“Organization is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it’s not all mixed up.”
―A.A. Milne