Progress Report 3

This weekend I finished the stitching on Secret Flower Bed. I also added the button embellishments as well as my name and the date. The bees and bunny and bird and worm and ladybug living in the garden tickle me.

I'll give it a bath and a press, then figure out how I want to finish it. I'm considering framing it and hanging it near my Beehive stitchery in the front hallway.

I finished this piece in 2006.

Perhaps I should print out my Bumblebutt photo and hang it near by for a tryptic.

Bumble

I've been chasing this bumblebee down for a week, trying to get a photo of her face. She only likes to come out in the sunshine, and we haven't had much of that lately.

So when I see her dancing in the grape hyacinth, I grab my camera, and take a few shots. The sound of the camera makes her mad, though. She flies around my head a few times, then scoots away.

She does have a nice bumblebutt, though. Look at those colors! That's the money shot.

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Wildflower

The forest floor is covered with this flower. I think it's called blue-eyed grass. Bright spots of color beneath the shade of the pines and stormy skies.

Fallen from the Nest

Just the egg, not the robin.

I found this under a tree on my daily walk.

Chihuly Glass Garden

One of my friends is visiting Seattle and was able to visit the Chihuly garden next to the Seattle Space Needle. I was in Seattle in May of 2012, right before the garden opened. I took a few photos from the Space Needle, and from walking around outside the garden. My friend's photos of the beautiful glass art reminded me of this image. I haven't edited or posted it until now.

I like the glass under the moody sky.

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I suppose in Seattle, they have a lot of those moody skies.

Personally, I've had about enough of our moody skies. I could sure use some sunshine.

Bridal Shower Card

My daughter Jodie will be getting married in June. Because she lives in Oregon, I live in Idaho, and neither of us gets to travel much, it's been a bit of a challenge to have me help with the wedding planning.

A couple weekends ago, Jodie had her bridal shower, which I planned to attend. Unfortunately, a minor medical event happened here at home, so I had to miss her shower! I was so sad that happened. So as the shower was taking place in Oregon, I spent the time in my Studio creating a special card to go with the gift Dale and I were giving her.

The colors for Jodie and Ken's wedding are eggplant, blush, and grey. So I scrounged through my stash for some pretty papers and ribbons in those colors to create this card. I got the inspiration for the card on Pinterest. The hearts are made from some silver foil wrapping paper, some scrapbook paper, and an embossed bit of cardstock I'd saved from a Christmas card. The purple bow is made from satin ribbon. A silver ribbon was added above the hearts.

On the inside, I created the sentiment in my paint program. The little bird is part of the design she's using on her invitations and table favors. The words? From The Princess Bride.

I made the envelope from pink cardstock, using a template from Mel Stampz. I added the heart "stamp" cut from purple cardstock. Then adhered the silver ribbon to the bottom of the envelope to tie the envelope design to the card design.

On the back of the envelope, I also added the silver ribbon.

I was able to visit Jodie the following weekend and gave her the gift and card at that time. We had a fantastic weekend together and got a good deal of wedding prep done.

Fun fact. When Dale and I got married 26 years ago, we created our own invitations. This purple and pink cardstock is left over from our wedding!

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Card inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest with no known image source.

Progress Report 2

I had a lot of time to stitch this weekend while nursing my cold. Here's my progress on Secret Flower Bed.

The Easter Baskets

It's a week later, and here's the last Easter post. I made Easter baskets for my daughters.

The contents were put in some colorful clamshell plastic boxes ... they look a bit like take-home boxes from a restaurant. I had them on hand and they packed for mailing better than actual baskets would. Inside I packed ...

A pretty take-out box

filled with Jelly Belly jellybeans. I made the Easter grass by feeding two shades of green tissue paper through my shredder. Very inexpensive and the paper doesn't stick to everything the way cellophane Easter grass does.

The little crochet bunny head was adhered to the closed lid.

I added two pencils with Easter designs,

the crochet Big Chick which I glued to a refrigerator magnet (the color of the clip matched the color of the basket).

a chocolate bunny and some bunny ears,

and a mini basket made from a paper candy cup, purple chenille stem handle, and butterfly sticker decoration. Inside was more Easter grass, two Hershey almond kisses, a sparkly foam egg, and the crochet bunny backside.

Finally, the crochet Lil Chick,

and a weighted, stuffed Easter bunny and sprig of flowers.

Now that my daughters are grown, I have more time to make the kinds of baskets I wanted to make as they were growing up. So goes life.The gifts brought a smile to their faces. After all, who doesn't like to receive a care package in their mailbox?

Easter Menagerie

I crocheted four little animals to include in the Easter baskets I made for my daughters.

A sweet bunny face

A bunny showing off his tail

A big plump chick with spiky "hair"

A little chick looking for his supper

All were inspired by applique patterns I saw on Pinterest

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Bunny face inspired by Hectanooga1

Bunny tail inspired by Love the Blue Bird

Big Chick inspired by BAG-O-DAY CROCHET & MORE

Lil Chick inspired by a Ravelry designer

(I looked at the photo, but created this pattern myself)

Progress Report

I'm a little under the weather today with a cold coming on, so sat and stitched for several hours. I like the progress I made so far on Secret Flower Bed.

Between my Ott Light, the guidelines I added to the fabric, and my +2.5 magnifiers, the stitching is going well now. Plus, it's a good look, don't you think?

Hyacinth

This pink hyacinth is the only one left in our yard. So, so pretty.

Perhaps I should plant more for next Spring.

Egg Hunt Wreath

I saw an Easter wreath in a Pier One catalog that I really liked. It is airy and light, made of a grapevine wreath, Easter eggs and berries in creams, greens, and purples. But I wasn't so crazy about the $35 price tag. Because I enjoy making wreaths, I used that as an inspiration to make this wreath.

I bought a grapevine wreath for $4.00. I bought the purple, pink, and baby blue berries at the Dollar Tree. I made the bow from two wired ribbons, a sparkly purple sheer and a solid pink, from Dollar Tree. I really like the way the bow turned out.

I call this the "Egg Hunt Wreath" because, hiding in the grapevine and disguised among the berries, I hid some sparkly blue, yellow and pink Easter Eggs. When you look closely, you can find them!

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Here's the living room mantle, dressed for Easter.

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Easter Parade

I'm back from my Easter weekend in Oregon. All the folks I sent surprises to have received them. So this week I can share the various crafts I made as gifts. I'll start with the cards. This card was inspired by some wall art I found on Pinterest.

The sweet bunny card was made by using fusible web to adhere a white lace bunny to some brown cardstock, ironing it in place. I like the touch of the yellow bow around the Easter Bunny's neck.

Inside, a simple sentiment, printed from the computer. The heart? A sparkly sticker.

This time, I even put an artist signature on the back.

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Inspiration:  Lace Bunny Canvas designed by DIY Candy

Daisy Does It

It was Wedding Prep Central today at Jokes House. Handmade envelopes. Daisies. Wildflower seeds. Daisies. Centerpiece. Daisies. Ribbon. Daisies. Boutonnieres. Daisies. Corsages. Daisies. And a bouquet ... of daisies.

We made a lot of progress and the bride is feeling a little more at ease. The Mother of the Bride wishes she lived closer and could do even more to help in the wedding preparations.

Now daily life is calling. We'll be together again as soon as we can.


Photos by Jodie Davaz

A Day in the Life of this Traveler

Jodie and I spent the day tidying, cleaning, sorting, sharing stories, and laughing.

We started with a scrumptious waffle breakfast, followed by a quick trip to Fred Meyer for some car cleaning supplies. Then we gave her vehicle a good twice over - removing unneeded items, organizing needed items, vacuuming, Armour-All-ing the inside, and washing the outside.

As a reward for a job well done? Soup, salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden for our Easter supper. Then another stop at Fred Meyer to see if they had some car organization items for me (they didn't, so I placed an order on Amazon).

Back home, we poured through Pinterest and YouTube, getting a more firm grasp on how to make the bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres for her wedding. Then we did an adhesives test on the party favors. We'll have the results tomorrow. Pro hint: never use E-6000 indoors without superior ventilation.

Next? Back to Fred Meyer for some wedding supplies (Thankfully, the store is only a couple blocks from her home). Since they don't carry all the supplies we need, and the store we need to purchase said items from was closed on Easter, we found more sorting and organizing fun in Jodie's craft room until bedtime.

The tulips? (Jodie took the photo). They are a gift from Kenny to Jodie. Jo placed this bouquet in my room to welcome me with beauty and color. She's a wonderful hostess, a thoughtful young woman, and an extremely fun companion. I'm so happy to have the love and friendship of this amiable daughter. Dale and I raised her, but she's blooming on her own.

Magnolias in Bloom

Jodie took me to Wallace M. Ruff Park and Arboretum today. We brought along a picnic lunch, sat with the sun warming our backs, and made up a new mindfulness practice that involves Jelly Belly jellybeans.

Afterwards, we searched for three geocaches at the park, and walked the path, taking in the beauty and the aroma of these lovely flowers.

Tomorrow? Make some decisions about floral arrangements for her upcoming wedding.