Kreativ Blogger Award....

Thanks to Lynda , Shelleen & Malinda for the award....

Here are the rules for this award:

• The winner may put the logo on her blog.

• Put a link to the person you got the award from.

• Nominate 5 blogs.

• Put links to the blogs.

Leave a message for your nominees.

I could nominate dozens of blogs as there are so many that I enjoy, but I had to narrow it down to 5, and they are Terry, Sandy, Nicole, Petra and Vonna. Hope everyone will enjoy these blogs!

Happy stitching!

Seasonal Exchange from Becky SC.....

I received the first in a four part seasonal exchange from Becky SC today! Isn't it cute?! I love bunnies & Becky knows this, so instead of "seasonal", she stitched this for me, which is wonderful! :-) She also sent along the extra goodies & a couple of weeks ago she sent me some trims I needed that were to be a part of the package, only I needed them then. I have already used some & put the others away, so they're not included in the pic.
I have been stitching & am sending out 4 exchanges tomorrow! :-) I'll share the pics as the recipients let me know they have received them.

Happy stitchinig!!

Heart It Forward......

From Sandy's blog, I took her "Heart It Forward" and now it's my turn to pass something I made along. The first person to comment that they'd like to have it will get this Pine Mtn pillow case. Since it's July, I thought it would be appropriate. In turn, they must post something they have made to give away in their blog. It doesn't have to be something stitched, just something handmade. And as Sandy said, something that comes from the heart!

Hope someone would like this patriotic piece I stitched but never displayed....

PS - It is Navy Blue, my pic is a bit dark!

Babies are growing quickly......

Look at how fast they are growing!! You can see blue on the wings now!! So amazing to me and I can't wait to see how much they grow in the next few days!! This picture was just taken 5 minutes ago, Sunday, July 27.

Petra, to answer your question about how do you attract a bird to nest, Ray says the box must be about 4' off the ground and at least 15' from any shurbs or trees. The birds are afraid of any places that cats & other predators can hide. The boxes must be made a certain size, with the inside bottom 5" x 5", a 1 1/2" hole in the front, which must be 6" to 9" above the bottom (inside). The hole should face away from the direction that the wind generally blows. The box also must be ventilated. He did this by putting 6 1/4" holes in the bottom and leaving a crack at the top of the door under the roof. Bluebirds are very picky according to what he's read. After that it's just luck I guess. He put up two boxes, birds only built in one. My parents have 3, and only one was built in as well.

BTW, all the pics should be clickable & you can see them larger if you like.

Thanks everyone for your comments, more pics in a few days!!

Have a great week & happy stitching!

PS-I have been stitching, just nothing I can share yet! :-)

More baby Bluebird pictures.....

Since all my stitching has been for gifts/exchanges (YES, I have been stitching) and I can't show it yet, here are a couple more pictures of the baby bluebirds. They're growing quickly!!! These were taken yesterday, July 23rd. Cute aren't they? ;-)

Someone asked how the bluebird boxes open.... Ray said that the front wall (with the hole in it) is hinged to swing up so that the boxes can be cleaned out. He was told that bluebirds won't use the same nest twice.

Happy stitching!!!!!!!!!!

I just love Bluebirds.....

Last month Ray built 2 bluebird boxes & put them up in our back yard. Within 90 minutes, a couple had started building a nest in one of them. About 2-3 weeks ago, Ray found 4 eggs in the nest. We've watched the birds come & go since, with one of them sitting with it's head poked out of the hole most of the time ;-) He checked the other day & the eggs were hatching. One of them didn't hatch :-( but look at the other 3! Here are some pics he has taken over the last week or so....

Watching & Waiting......

Newborns.... (or is that newly hatched?) ;-)

Hungry Babies....

Mom with a big juicy worm.... yummy! ;-)

The babies aren't very pretty yet, but they will be! I LOVE bluebirds! Have a great Friday & happy stitching!

Vonna received her birthday gift....

so now I can share a pic. This is Bent Creek's Life Is Good Ewe & I thought it was perfect for Vonna. We all know everyone has stress in their lives, but Vonna has such a wonderful family, tons of friends & a great career and is a fantastic stitcher, you have to think "life is good" when you think about her, or at least I do! And to top it off that she loves sheep, well... I thought he was cute for her. Hope you like him Vonna!!!

I have been stitching some (nothing I can share at the moment though) & hope to have another exchange piece ready to send out early next week & maybe even get started on another, we'll see. Depends on if Ray decides he wants to do something tomorrow or not and if I can force myself to get the sewing machine out! ;-) Lazy sounding aren't I? ;-)

Have a great weekend & happy stitching!!

Two Exchanges Sent/Received....

My F&S pieces to Peg arrived yesterday. I hope she likes them as much as i do!! I chose to stitch Heart Stitcher by AMAP for her in her fav color, purple (GAST Hyacinth). I LOVE this design & I it's pretty in every color I've seen it stitched in. You can find the freebie here if you're interested.......

Next is a halloween biscornu I made for Donna in the Make A Wish group. Did you know Halloween biscornu patterns aren't easy to find? I found a grouping of 12 (?) on Helga Mandl's Etsy shop but they were all small (25 x 25 or so), so I took two of them, put them together & came up with this. I stitched it on a 32 ct Silkweaver Solo using DMC & GAST's & I think it's pretty cute & I think Donna likes it. I love stitching with Halloween colors, even in July! :-)

There is one more gift I sent out the same day as there two & I hope she gets it today. I have been stitching some this week, but as usual, not as much as I'd like. I have at least picked out the items for the exchanges I'm signed up for (I over extended myself a bit) and hope to get at least two items finished over the weekend. Wish me luck! :-)

Have a great weekend & happy stitching!

Want to attend a Stitching Retreat?

We have lots of fun & we'd love to have you join us this year! It's in Myrtle Beach, SC in Oct. And don't say it's "too far" as we have stitchers who come from all over the US, Canada & even Scotland! ;-) This is a lovely group of stitchers and everyone is welcome. Okay Ruth, Chris, Michele, Malinda, (and I know there are more of you who attend who are reading my blog!)... you are welcome to tell everyone how much fun it is and that newbies are welcomed with open arms. Just be prepared to stitch, chat, laugh, eat, shop & sleep a little! ;-)

The classes this year are being taught by Jane Timmers of Fancy Work & we're doing the Maderia Tin class. Isn't this lovely? I'm really looking forward to it!!

You can find all the details here http://crossstitchpals.com/convention.html and just let me know if you have any questions. Hope to see you in October!

**edited to answer Vonna's question - No, it's not available as a pattern. Only as a class at this time, sorry!

Happy stitching!

The weekend is almost over..... :-(

I have been playing hooky & took THREE entire days off work & for the most part, I stayed away from the computer. My email inbox is FULL, and I almost dread tomorrow morning! Oh well, it was worth it! I have been stitching, sleeping, resting, doing laundry & house cleaning, cooking, watching TV, playing with the Wii, etc. It's been just Ray & I for 3 days other than a quick trip to Wal-Mart yesterday afternoon. I REALLY needed a few days off & it was great, though it seems to have flown by. As I said, I have been stitching but I can't share any of it yet as it's all exchanges/gifts. Soon though, I hope! :-)

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend & that you were able to find some time for yourself. :-)

Happy stitching!

Happy Birthday Vonna!!!!!!!

I just wanted to wish Vonna a very happy birthday filled with lots of love & all of her fav things! :-) I hope your day is as special as you are my friend!! Sending lots of hugs & special wishes!

Happy stitching!!