"Blocks of the Month" Update

I have been working to keep up with the "Block of the Month" patterns I have been following.  Here are the latest I have completed.

"Out Of The Box" block 4 designed by Vicki at The Pickledish Patch

"Out Of The Box" block 4 designed by Dawn at As Sweet as Cinnamon

12 of Hearts block 4 designed by Shell at The Raspberry Rabbits

Retro Nine Patch block 3 designed by Lyn at Bluebird Quilts.

Retro Nine Patch block 4

Birdie Stitches block 2  by Little Miss Shabby 

Blocks 3 and 4 are ready to be embroidered, I am trying to get caught up.

I have enjoyed working on these blocks and will do my best to stay with it.  I really looks and almost feels like spring outside today, YEAH!

Springy Spring Table

We have a very long table in our dining room.  With children and grandchildren visiting often it is great to have so much space.  I wanted to do something to brighten it up so I bought this 3 yard piece of toweling fabric perfect for a really long table runner.  The sides are hemmed and ready to use.

I added a double row of ruffles to each end.

The fabric is so bright and cheery

When I bought the fabric for the runner I also bought some half yard pieces of each of these ,

 "Flower Sugar" fabrics printed by Lecien.

This is what I made from some of this fun fabric.

Remember the birds I made for "Pay It Forward" gifts here? I had so much fun with them I made some more.

The tray my birds are resting in was made for me as a gift by my daughter in law Lyndie.

These three birds have decided to nest here on our dining room table.  No flying to a new home for them.

My simple centerpiece brightens up the whole room.

The birds are so fun to make, check out my post here to see where to get the pattern and where to find a tutorial showing how to make them.

I will link up with "Show off Your Cottage Monday" at The House in the Roses, 

 "Air Your Laundry Friday" at Freckled Laundry

 Amaze Me Monday at Dittle Dattle

Loser Challenge 1

A couple of weeks ago I joined Rebecca at A RE-purposed Life for a Loser Challenge. 

  Two weeks have passed since we began and I have not lost much, just 2 pounds.   My focus has been to be more aware of what I am eating and why, cutting my portions and avoiding snacking for the sake of snacking.  I have also been trying to make a better effort in the exercise department.  Walking our dog Emmy has been my focus and weather has prevented that many times so my plan is to add some exercise with my DVD that is still in it's package and some Pilate exercise that were a part of my routine in the past.   I think that this will take a while but I want this to be a change in the way I look at food and exercise.  I am going to fix dinner now with fresh strawberries for dessert.

We will not dip them in chocolate this time, we are going to eat some plain, very delicious strawberries.

Don't they look yummy?

Tulips, Tulips, Tulips

Who doesn't love tulips!  Just a few miles north of here there are huge tulip and daffodil fields.  The weather has been cold and wet this year so tiptoeing through the tulips has not been at the top of my list.  There was a break in the rain, not the wind and cold, so some of us in the Sweep Pea Garden Club at our church hopped in our van and drove a few miles north.

Beth, Lyndie, Naomi, Kerri and Doris

Kerri, Me and Doris

Look at all of the tulips!

The water between the rows gives you an idea of how wet things were.

The inside of the building with the displays and gift shop has these beautiful murals.

Here are some of the tulips I brought home in my Flora Doora.  If you don't have a Flora Doora you should visit and take a look.

Another bouquet in my favorite vase, my hubby gave it to me 40 years ago, that still amazes me when I think about it..

This bouquet of "cupcake flowers" was a birthday gift from a sweet friend, Vil

This spring bouquet is not only pretty it is (or was) delicious.

I think that Spring has finally arrived in the northwest.

Dreaming Big Reminder

Have you visited the Farley Family's dream BIG post yet to see how God is working?  Danielle and her family are having a fund raiser to help bring little Sergey home to be a part of their family. I have a button on my sidebar with Sergey's picture and posted about this earlier here. If you want to participate in the dream BIG fundraiser/giveaway you must visit Danielle's blog.   There are many fun items you could win if you make a donation and leave a comment saying you did so.  The best part of all of this is that you will have a part in this little boys life.  Take a couple of minutes to visit and join in on this dream and who knows you may win something special.  The fundraiser ends April 25th.

Springtime Swap!

Today I received a package in the mail.  It was my Springtime Swap box sent to me by Nataly Nataly's Needle Creations.   This swap was organized by Parsley at Seasons of My Mind.  She has a list of the participants and links to their posts about their swaps.   I love getting packages and this package was filled with such fun gifts.

Spring green tissue paper with all of these things below underneath.

A handmade note card, a teapot pincushion, spring notepad and pen, an Easter hanging picture and a chocolate bunny.

I took the pincushion out of the package right away.

The lid to the pincushion teapot opens up and little sewing things can be put inside.

All happiness for Easter

I love handmade cards and there was a special message inside from a new blogging friend.

Happy Spring!

Thank you Nataly, the goodies your sent are perfect for me and I will enjoy them.

Dreaming Big

Dreaming Big is what the Farley family is doing.  They have fallen in love with a sweet little boy named Sergey and they believe that God wants them to be his forever family.

Visit Danielle's blog to participate in the Dream Big fundraiser and learn a little about this special family and their desire to bring this little one in to their home. The fundraiser will run from April 11th to the 25th.   Several wonderful items have been donated and maybe one of them could be yours in additition to the blessing of being a part of bringing Sergey home. 

Pin Cushion Birds

In the middle of this busy week I worked on a fun project when I found a few minutes.   I had watched Season 3, Episode 1 of "The DIY Dish." featuring Joel Dewberry.  He is the author of a book called Sewn Spaces and a fabric designer.

 He also has a blog here where you can see some of the fabrics he has designed.  The project from this book that was featured on the DIY dish happened to be fabric birds.  I seem to be attracted to projects like that so I decided then and there that this would be my Pay if Forward gifts.  So here they are.

They have made their selves a temporary home on a shelf here in our home.

They will soon be leaving the nest for their new homes.

I had fun with the great fabric options and choosing the combinations.

The beads I used for the eyes are a little small so my future birds will have a little better view of the world.

This was a fun project and I will be making more. 

Now I am off to get thes fun little birds/pincushions ready to find their new homes.

I am linking to Sunday Showcase at Under TheTable And Dreaming

Fun Giveaway Win!

I have not had the chance to do much blogging lately, I have had a few distractions.  My new supervising job, a ladies luncheon at church and getting my package out for a swap I am participating in and oh I mustn't forget the Pay it Forward gifts that are almost ready to send are just a few of them.  
I also had a wonderful birthday this week and getting older may have been a little distraction.  I was very fortunate and was blessed by three different celebrations.  One with my sisters and another with my children and grandchildren (my sweet daughter in law blogged about it here). On my actual birthday I went out to a very nice dinner with my very dear husband.

  

 I wanted to quickly share with you about a package I received this week from Jeanine.  She is a very creative lady who finds joy in her home and family and also has an Etsy shop.  Here are a couple of pictures of the treasures in box she sent to me.

All of these fun items make me want to drop everything and try to create something right now.

I have an idea for the pieces of fabric already.

Thank you Jeanine for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.  I am going to get it together and have a giveaway myself soon.