secret leprechaun makerie workshop

I signed up for darling Viv's Secret Leprechaun Swap. I'm such a noodle head that I didn't know it's the St. Patrick's Day version of Secret Santa. DUH. I thought we were supposed to make leprechauns for our partners bwahahahahahaha. 

That should be a clue that too much stressful stuff is going on in my life OR my brain has left my body.

Oh! I wonder who my Secret Leprechaun is???!!!

Without further ado, the Secret Leprechaun Makerie Workshop is officially open today. Plans are being plotted, supplies being selected and goodies being gathered.

Wonder what the little pixies will make for my swap partner?

Wishing everyone a very fun Secret Leprechaun Swap!

february christmas critter felt along linky party

I'm really enjoying participating in the Christmas critter ornament felt along co-hosted by Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage and Dawn of Creative Cain Cabin. It's so much fun to see all the creativity of the participants and all the different ideas each had. I think it's fair to say that it's a tie which I enjoy more, stitching them or seeing what everyone else did.

The darling February critters were the cardinal and the sheep.

Please note that I stitched these yesterday while having a headache and made boo boo's and blunders, ay yi yi - I didn't even notice some of them until I had completed both ornaments.

A word of warning ... it's probably not a good idea to make christmas critters when your noggin hurts. LOL.

I hope you'll join in the felt along, it's so much fun!

For info on the current linky party and also for the
January, February and March patterns:

Claudia @ Mockingbird Hill Cottage
Dawn @ Creative Cain Cabin

valentine swap part deux

(Part one of my Valentine Swap post is here.)

I had so much fun participating in Sandy's, of 521 Lake Street blog, Valentine Swap and making an altered Valentine box and card for my partner, Shirley, of Zetta's Aprons. 

I guess I'm majorly OCD as I need to have a theme or quote to inspire me when I make something. I chose one of my most favorite folk images as my inspiration for this swap, the Shaker image of a heart in a hand. I know I'm a bit loony(well perhaps a lot more than a little hahahha) but to me, packaging is as fun and as special as the gift, it's all of a piece to me, all part of the gift. I love to foo foo things up LOL!

I altered a heart shaped box and since I can't draw worth a you know what, I found an embroidery pattern by Andrea Zuill that I could use for my template here . (So grateful to artists who share their work so generously with us on the internet!)

Thanks again dear Sandy, for hosting this fun swap!
Thank you Shirley, for being such a sweet swap partner!

a valentine's stocking

I've had so much fun stitching up this complimentary pattern from Plum Street Samplers, that I thought I'd share it with you this Rednesday. All done with the embroidery, just need to make it into the stocking now. 

The free pattern is entitled A Valentine's Stocking and the chart may be found here. I didn't have the Weeks Dye Works threads the pattern called for but I googled for a conversion to DMC colors.

I hope you'll join in the Rednesday fun with Melody, at Brown Gingham Creations!

yippie! valentine swap!

I participated in Sandy's, of 521 Lake Street, 2014 Valentine Swap and had so much fun! Sandy partnered me with darling Shirley of Zetta's Aprons. Thank you Sandy, you made quite the perfect match for us. Not only do Shirley and I share the same initials, we also share a love of vintage cards, red and aqua and Golden Retrievers! (and lots more too, I'm sure!)

Oh, and today, we both received our packages in the mail. We seem to be on the same wavelength! 

It's so much fun to receive a surprise in the mail, isn't it?! I wanted to savor every bit and slowly opened my package ... an envelope was on top and I found this lovely tag inside ... a glimpse of red was revealed below ... the absolute cutest valentine box!

And filled with goodies too! Chocolates and conversation hearts and a crafters delight! Pink doilies ... confetti hearts ... buttons ... vintage images ... bakers twine ... a baggie of vintage valentine cards, red playing cards, a red gingham doily, pink and red tickets, game pieces spelling out XO and LOVE, and (!) Golden Retriever appliques!!!

Thank you so very much for all my wonderful things Shirley! Everything is charming, I love it all. Thanks so much for being my swap partner, it was an absolute pleasure.  Happy Valentines Day! xo


Shirley received my package today, so I'm slipping in a little sneak peek of the box I made for her.

Happy early Valentines Day!