A Special GIFT…

This has the been the Birthday that keeps right on ticking!  Yesterday I received yet another gift…this time from my friend Claire!  (Claire lives an hours drive away and we weren’t able to get together around my birthday…so yesterday was the day!!)  Lucky ME!!

I almost fell over when I pulled this gorgeous pillow out of the gift bag!!  It’s all hand stitched…sheer perfection…BEAUTIFUL!  The sweetest pattern…EVER!  It’s a Norma Whaley pattern from Timeless Traditions called ‘Springs Arrival’!  Man, that woman is talented!

Claire said the three little birds represent my three daughters…Ahhhhh!  How special is that!

Yup, that’s mama bird…but never mind ME…just look at those wee stitches!  This is the Master at work…

As if the pillow wasn’t more than enough, Claire gave me this beautiful green scarf and P2 Green Valdani Thread…which got a chuckle from everyone!  Of course it should say P1 but hey, I’ll take it!  Hands off P2!!

Claire asked if I saw the pillow over at Norma’s blog…I had not!!  I guess Norma asked readers to send in pictures of projects that they had made using her patterns.  Claire sent in a picture of the pillow and Norma posted the pictures on the day of my birthday!  My house was full of company and I had no time for blogging or blog surfing…Claire’s secret was safe! haha  You can read about it HERE!!

I really should be modelling this scarf…but then I’d have to change out of my PJs…I’d have to wash my hair and have a shower and then put on make-up…find a nice outfit…geeze just too much work and besides you can’t wait THAT long!  But let me tell you, I look dynamite with this scarf on…extremely youthful!! :o))

THANK YOU, CLAIRE!!  You spoiled me rotten…AND I LOVED IT! 

YOU have a super Saturday!  I hope you get a chance to carve out a little time for yourself…doing something that you LOVE!!~P

TOP of the Day to You!

Yup…she’s a topper!  Or as some quilters like to call a finished quilt top…she’s a flimsy!

Mr. Sweet P held her up for me as I made it a lot bigger than the pattern.

This is a Jaybird Quilt’s Design called ‘Science Fair’ and it was a joy to make!  The instructions were crystal clear with tons of illustrations and it came in BOOK form (and at the price of a normal pattern!)  There was absolutely no guess work…everything was included in the pattern!!  I look forward to buying more of Jaybird patterns! 

This quilt is for my middle daughter…she is going to be amazed at how fast this quilt went together!  Well maybe not that fast…she did pick out the fabric and pattern over a year ago…or was it TWO years?  HEY… Rome wasn’t built in a day! 

Time to fire up the mid-arm and put the pedal to the metal and get this puppy finished!! 

Have a FUN Friday and happy Stitching!~P

Houses, Houses, Houses…

While returning home this Spring I stumbled onto this book, “Houses, Houses, Houses” by Yoko Saito! 

Man, I love Yoko’s work and in this book I think I found her finest work!  Don’t let the cover fool you…it’s not about play houses, although they are sweet….

..be warned there are incredible patterns in this book!  Check it out…

You will find elaborate house quilts…even more elaborate than this one!

And another house quilt…maybe slightly more simplified…but yowzers… look at that fence!!  This is the version that Primitive Gatherings Quilt Shop is using in their BOM…where the houses are made of wool!  We are talking STUNNING quilt…absolutely incredible!  Japanese Daiwabo fabrics are used as the background and rich wool for the applique…Make sure you are sitting down when you see how much each monthly BOM will cost you (plus shipping)…and make sure you add up each month to see the final cost!  It ain’t pretty…BUT when you are finished, you WILL have an heirloom quilt…a unique and gorgeous heirloom quilt!  A quilt the kids’ will be fight over…(haha)

There are also smaller projects in this book….

Like these place mats…but seriously would you REALLY use them as place mats?  OUCH!  Just seeing that mug on that lovely mat makes me wince!  It’s just WRONG!!

And look at this basket…WOW!!  A work of ART!

I could look at this book all day long…such eye candy!!  Such workmanship!!  Such inspiration! 

BUT…

The sun is shining and the weatherman SAID our temperature was going to be up in the low 20Cs so I better get outside and WEED!  While I weed I’ll be thinking of houses…rows and rows of houses!!  It’s SEW nice to day-dream…while you work?!  (Snow White’s Seven Dwarfs had the right idea…

“Just whistle while you work
(humming.. whistling)
And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place
So hum a merry tune (humming)
It won't take long when there's a song to help you get back to PLAY…SEW…!!”)

Pucker up…and whistle…:o}

Have a thrilling Thursday and happy Quilting!~P