Easter Blessings

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Popping in quickly to wish everyone a very Happy Easter.  
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Porcelain Egg
freebie from Rainbow Gallery


May your hearts (and baskets) runneth over...

Playing Catch Up

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Greetings, friends!  I hope this post finds you well and enjoying the change of seasons.  With several days of rain coming my way, I thought it was time to post some cheery spring pics.

 

Freshly graduated from my very first photography class, I actually learned what a few of the buttons on my digital camera do... See?  There is the kinda close-up shot (above).

 

And the really close-up artsy shot (below).

 

 

I know --- I'm looking into more classes....

 

There is absolutely no stitching news to report except that I am already packing for the semi-annual Stitchers Retreat being held this upcoming weekend.  (So exciting!)  

 

I have however, spotted two new-to-me birds at the feeder this month. 

 

The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

 

 

And secondly, the stunning Summer Tanager which I have not yet convinced to sit still long enough for me to snap a pic..  However, just so your imagination doesn't run wild with possibilities, here is a pic from allaboutbirds.org:

 

 It is the only totally red bird in North America, and silly me did not even know such a thing existed. 

 

 

 

 

And with that, I'm off to do the official rain dance of my people, a.k.a., wash the car.

 

Happy stitching, friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All boxed up...

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Sometimes I just can't leave well enough alone. 

In the case of my bargello Easter egg, I wasn't 100% happy with the finished product (not happy enough to have it framed) but I wasn't unhappy enough to pitch it in the garbage, so the question, "What should I do with that Easter egg?" rattled around in my poor little brain until I stumbled across an idea to use it to cover a storage box for some of my Easter decorations... 

I've had the box stuck away with a bunch of other boxes I can't bring myself to toss out. I know you know what I'm talking about.. It was pretty ugly but I loved the size and the fact that the lid was attached, so I've had it for several years, waiting for inspiration to strike.

Since I don't know when to stop, I pulled out some pretty Easter-y scrapbook paper and covered the ugly parts.  Then, I cut some stiff felt and made the compartment separators.  Finally, it needed some kind of closure, so I attached the pretty button and tasseled cord. 

It was great fun to make. 

Hope you are having fun with your stitching too!

                                             Hugs,

All things are new..

Here's wishing you all a Happy Easter!

dogwood in bloom

Picture post this time. 

More words (and a little stitching to share) next time! 

I triple heart Easter

I was going to make my TOP TEN REASONS I LOVE EASTER list, but I think these photos say it all:

Neighbor Kay's flower garden

Hubby brought me this beautiful bouquet about a week ago and it just keeps getting prettier.  O the colors, the fragrance, the shapes and textures.  The wonder of the anatomy of a lily, rose, daisy, carnation.  I think I could stare at it for hours.  Hubs likes to bring me flowers but is "vase challenged", so I always cut them and plunk them in a vase.  These have turned out to be exceptionally pretty.

Although some might accuse me of rushing the season, but after the winter we've just had, I feel justified celebrating the season as early and often as possible. 

So, here's wishing you all the joys of the Easter season!

P.S.  feel free to click on and use these photos for any of your non-profit endeavors.  They make pretty greeting cards!

Weekend Update

Easter weekend is always chuck full o'activity, but somehow I always seem to squeeze in a little stitching between the grocery shopping, cooking, baking, laundry, family functions and general household chores. I have fond memories of finishing some of my most favorite pieces early early on Easter mornings past. There isn't any chance of me finishing anything this Easter, but I'll keep up the tradition of slipping a few stitches in before church tomorrow.

Before I give you the Stitching Update, I just have to share this easy peasy Paula Deen mini-cheesecake recipe. So few ingredients, so little time, yet perfect little cheese tarts. I've been making it for years, but just had the brainstorm today to put a little different twist on it. Who doesn't love a little cheesecake with either cherries or blueberry topping?

Well, that's always good, but how about a little Hershey syrup, caramel sauce and a healthy sprinkling of pecan pieces?

Oh yeah baby - Turtle Cheesecakes!!! What's not to love?

Stitching Update: Dragonfly wings have proven to be a little more demanding than I thought, so I may be keeping this project (a.k.a. my away game) home for a while, until I've moved on to the less thought-demanding fill-in blocks. There are only 12 whole stitches in each dragonfly, but lots of 1/4 and 3/4 stitches. In such a small area, there is no room for fluff.

Last, but not least, my lovely peacock. I've nearly finished the cross stitching. I have three withdrawn thread bands to work. The first (above the lettering) is ready for the filling, the second (below the Assisi section) is in the "unweave/reweave" stage, the third is the big blank area between the two flower borders (just below the second band). It's in the "nothing is happening here yet" stage.

So there we are. I do hope you all are enjoying the joys of the season, some beautiful weather, some family gatherings, some delicious dinners and some quiet stitching time. I can't imagine a better way to spend the weekend.

Happy Easter!

It's not Easter until somebody breaks out the bunny ears!!!

Now before you go calling the ASPCA, you should know that no animals (or humans) were hurt during the photo shoot portion of this blog. As a matter of fact, some will do ANY-thing for a trisket!

Shameless.

Carmen and I are wishing you and yours an Easter basket filled with Hope, Love and Peace.

Palm Sunday