A Birthday Gift

This is the pillow I mentioned in yesterdays post that I made and gave to Laura for her birthday. The back is a pink velvet. I believe you can click on the picture to see it larger. It started with a piece of muslin, I laid out a lace handkerchief, it got tacked in place then other handkerchiefs were cut and the corners were used. Some trim, a few antique buttons and that pretty much does it. It was a lot of fun to make but for me the best part is the designing, choosing what I will use and then laying it all out. Anyone want to team up that likes to sew but does not like to put it all together ? I'm going to make one for myself, It will probably be in blues. I also made her a pin cushion teacup and embroidered a table scarf with roses and butterflies on each end. So there you have it, Laura's HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Happy Birthday Laura & Mia

When my oldest daughter was a year old I made a yellow and white dress and gave her a yellow rose....she tried to eat it! When she was two I gave her two roses, she smelled them to death! So over the years on each birthday she would receive a rose for every year. I did this until she was sixteen, they are in the box on the table where she is opening the card. Now it is 46 years later, she is a wife, a mother, a grandmother to Hannah, and Daniel, the last picture is of her with her daughter, who is her only child.
I do not know why blogger is being so "hard to deal with" today, it took me FOREVER to get these pictures to download and I finally gave up on adding a picture of the pillow I made for this special event. Maybe I will be able to come back later and add it. I'm so sorry I can not be with my daughter on her special day but since I am in Fl. and she is in Il. it is just to far. Maybe next year. I was able to go up there last year but this year I went south to the Keys for Mia's 7th, it was quite the party, they had a huge blow up water slide, lots of kids, lots of parents, lots of food and a big cake, what a fun time was had by all. I made it home just fine in the usual 8 1/2 hours
Thanks to all of you that were praying for me.

Headed South

Dear Friends in Blogland,
No pictures today as I am short on time and for some reason can not download the two pictures I wanted to. Maybe when I get home from the Keys and have more time. We went to our little local Pioneer Day festival downtown in the park. It was a beautiful day, almost all of the booths were things like woodworking, candles, fudge, things for the kids to play on, lots of different foods, and some great music. The parade was ok, (very small town) and the subject of my photos, one of the bagpipers and one of miniature horses pulling a wagon. I had intended to get a few shots of the crowd and the booths but it just didn't happen. Our park has huge old oak trees and a few things of interest I might just take some pictures there when I get home.
I am leaving very early Thursday morning for a few days in the Keys. Our granddaughter will be having her 7th birthday and I want to be there. I plan to be back by the 23 and will try to post then. Please keep me in your prayers, it is about an eight and a half hours to get there.

Paper Dolls Galore

Yesterday I went to the Lavender Loft to see my friend Janet, she was still on the mountain top or somewhere....contemplating her navel sooooo I had a little time to look at some other sites.

First I went to " Let the beauty we love be what we do" and from there to " Hazelruthes" and that is where I spent most of the morning. She had so many different leads to paper doll sites, it would take days to see them all. Well my printer was screaming "ENOUGH" and I think I must have used almost a whole ink cartridge but I sure had a lot of fun and hopefully lots of new ideas as a result of all the great images I was able to download and the best part, it was FREE . So if you like paper dolls and have LOTS of time, check it out.

Could my name be Alice?

Who would like to come for tea? Collecting tea cups and teapots has been a passion of mine over the years. This however is my favorite set and the only set that has plates to match. It is made by Royal Doulton and is called the Brambly Hedge Four Seasons. If you click on the picture I believe you can see more of the details. I am so fond of the whimsical characters with all of the flowers and berries.

This is going to be a very busy month for me. I have been working on gifts for our oldest daughter Laura, her birthday is on the 23rd as is M. our granddaughter that I made the horse items for a few weeks ago, I posted them if you care to see them just scroll back a few posts. I plan to go to first Saturday market this week-end and our annual craft fair is at the park downtown next week-end. A trip to the Keys will be coming up around the 18th soooooooo I do not know how much blogging I will be able to squeeze in. So would you like sugar or maybe some lemon with your tea?

To good not to share

Nugget of the Week
Adopt the Pace of God
By John Mason
September 20, 2007
God is a planner, a strategist. He is incredibly organized and has a definite pace. More like a marathon runner than a sprinter, He has our whole lives in mind, not just tomorrow. Remember God is never late. Never try to hurry God. "He that believeth shall not make haste," the Bible says in Isaiah 28:6. Urgent matters are seldom urgent. Pressure usually accompanies us when we are out of God's pace.

Proverbs 16:9 says, "We should make plans, counting on God to direct us." Proverbs 16:3 tells us, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Cowards never start, and the lukewarm die along the way. God is the original's hope and the copy's excuse. Is God your hope or your excuse?

Adopt the pace of God; His secret is patience. There is no time lost in waiting if you are waiting on the Lord. The road to success runs uphill, so don't expect to break any speed records. All great achievements require time. Happiness is a direction, not a destination.

Abraham Lincoln, during the darkest hours of the Civil War, said in response to the question whether he was sure God was on his side, "I do not know: I have not thought about that. But I am very anxious to know whether we are on God's side."

Walking in the pace of God helps establish us on the proper foundation. Nothing is permanent unless it is built on God's will and God's Word. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it" (Ps. 127:1).

Every great person first learned how to obey, whom to obey, and when to obey. A famous anonymous poem says, "The place I choose, or place I shun, my soul is satisfied with none; but when Thy will directs my way, 'tis equal joy to go or stay."

God has your whole life in mind when He directs you...
-John Mason, from the book You're Born An Original - Don't Die A Copy! I had planned to post this Sunday but "life" just got in the way. Our ladies group at church is starting a craft night, I will try and post some of the results....if nothing else it should be a lot of fun. BE BLESSED

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JKBee

First you need a new gown, (Designs by W.G.) and then it's off to the party. There will be music, and dancing in the streets. What is the occasion ? IT'S JANET'S BIRHTDAY Yeah !!!!!! And for a true gypsy spirit there is only one mode of tranportation:
Yep, you guessed it a real gypsy wagon. Now I'm off to find the horses, or maybe unicorns.
See you at the party.

CELEBRATE CELEBRATE CELEBRATE CELEBRATE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANET

Common and not so common

What a wonderful surprise this little beauty was. Why a surprise you might ask, the answer, I did not plant it. I did plant all of the other plants in the circle around this tree, however I did not plant this red one. I noticed the stems coming up and thought that it was strange as I did not recognize it but decided to leave it alone and see what might happen. Can you believe it has taken it three years to show up? Maybe I have little fairies coming in the night and planting? And the other beautiful thing I have to show you is this picture of a flower that someone sent to me.

Have you ever seen a flower like this before?

It really does look like a parrot...........