Flowers on Parade

The spring show continues around here...the azaleas have already come and gone.

The irisis are just barely starting to fade at this point.  But the roses are coming on strong.

Spring is beautiful reminder of God's creativity. 

I finished up a couple of cross stitch projects.  The first is a small needlecase, just right for carrying in my bag with a small project.  The second is Forget Me Not by Blackbird Designs.  I started on this last year and then put it aside for a good while.  It's framed and hanging now, so I'll have to get a picture of that.

Sorry for the dark pictures, it was a rainy weekend!

Spring!

They took a little longer to arrive than in year's past, but the daffodils are in full bloom right now. Just in time for Spring to officially arrive. It's a chilly morning here, but should warm up a good bit this afternoon. Happy Spring!

New Stitches

Hey! I like to cross stitch. I'd almost forgotten...I've been enjoying looking at several needlework blogs this past week or two, and I finally got out my abandoned cross stitch project and started stitching on it again.
This is one of my own designs, right now I call it "Cream of Star Soup."
It's not far from being finished...a couple of leaves and the wording.

I'm also machine quilting this quilt...finally. The stabilizing part of quilting a big bed quilt is probably my least favorite part of the process. (The part where you stitch a grid to secure it for the decorative quilting.) I love piecing the blocks, making the quilt top, and doing the binding, but manhandling a big quilt while machine quilting takes some muscle!

I've also started a new purse for myself. I keep trying different designs and figure one of these days I'll come up with the perfect bag for holding my essential stuff, as well as a couple of magazines, a needlework or knitting project, and idea notebook. Plus look cute and hold up to daily use...I need a strong bag! I tend to jam a lot into it.

Daisies in the backyard:

Summer Days

Summer is here! It took a while arriving around these parts, but now it's here in all its glory (and heat)!

I've been busily working on a summery yellow sweater...I'm almost through with the body and ready for the sleeves. I'm using Shine Sport from KnitPicks, and loving it. It's so soft and supple.

I'm slowing getting an urge to do some sewing and quilting again. I have a list of things I'd like to make: a new purse, some clothes, finish up a bed quilt, some new potholders, a needlecase...and on and on.

I've been enjoying looking at some beautiful quilting and stitching blogs to get my motivation.

Happy Easter

Time for my bi-monthly check in here on the blog! Ha, seriously...there has been knitting, and even some quilting. A simple little baby quilt (sorry for the fuzzy picture, these are the only ones I took before sending it off).

Jaywalkers - my first pair. It's a fun pattern.

Slowly proceeding on the lace stole...it ought to be ready by fall!

I've even been crocheting a few more of these guys.

Happy Easter! He is Risen!

Spring's already Springing

The daffodils can't seem to help themselves...every February here they come! I can just see some yellow on the forsythia bushes and the pear tree is in full bloom. Of course, then it will snow...or ice...or sleet...or all of the above.

A new sock in progress for Jimmy. This is Mountain Colors Bearfoot in the Moose Creek colorway. This is some seriously nice yarn. I'm basically a budget gal, and this is the most I've spent on sock yarn to date. Yum.

I'm looking to cast on for another sweater, but first I've got to make myself finish up some quilting that has been laying about for months. The knitting has really taken over my brain, and my "want to." But...no new sweater until the new bed quilt and the baby quilt are done! I think. Maybe 75% done. Maybe.

Morning Glory

This morning the first flower unfurled...just beautiful!

On the crafty side, I've made a couple of these crocheted washcloths. They are very fast to make and feel great on your skin. It's the washcloth from the Summer 2008 Interweave Crochet by Kim Werker. I know I'll be making many more of these...

April Flowers

28 days later.... (I can't believe I haven't posted for almost a month, but I really haven't had anything to say). I'm still working on the tweedy vest and the purse, so there you go.

However, spring is springing all over our yard. And it is a beautiful sight to behold. I do not know how anyone can witness the glory of spring and doubt the existance of a creator.

I hope I'll have a new spring purse to show off shortly!

February in the South

Yep, all over the front yard.

Happy Flower

I bought a plant last year that had the sweetest little blue flower that I enjoyed all summer long. I couldn't remember the name when I bought it, so I wondered if I could find it again.

So this spring, I kept looking and looking for it at our local garden center, but never did find it. Then we were strolling through the Wal-Mart garden center and there it was! It's a Convolvus Blue Daze, and very similiar to morning glory, it closes up it's beautiful little flowers in the evening or when it's going to storm.

I have an out-of-proportion love for this little flower! It makes me so happy to look at it every morning as we sit at our breakfast table. How a little flower can lift my heart so baffles me, but there it is. A sweet, happy little gift of pleasure from the Lord.

I call it my Happy Flower and I hope I'll gaze on it every summer of my life.

Summer Wind

It's starting to feel a lot like summer around here...and now I have a new summer bag!

I LOVE this bag! It's one of those times when the picture in your head matches the end product exactly. I could not be happier with how this turned out, and I'm thinking about making a couple more and making it into a pattern.

I used 1 charm pack, 1 fat quarter (binding and handles), and 1/2 yd. (lining) and batting remnants to make it. Happy, happy me!

The daisies are starting to bloom as you can see above. Daisies and hydrangeas are two of my favorite flowers and they are both blooming right now. We've really enjoyed our garden this year. We've already had a crop of lettuce, and now we're getting zucchini and beans. Tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots are on the way!

Happy Memorial Day to everyone, and especially to those who have lost service members. We owe a great debt of gratitude and remembrance to those who gave their lives for this wonderful country.

Springtime in Arkansas

A few looks at the color in our yard. Spring in Arkansas means you can almost see it growing. That's especially true for the beans and cucumbers!

Happy May Day!

A day late!

Spring green

Well, I couldn't stand it....we have balmy 60 degree temperatures here, and it feels like spring. So, I figured the ol' blog should have a touch of spring...

Seed time

It's actually flurrying here today...if I look out the window I see a tiny flake float by every once in a while. And it's cold, cold, cold. But, every gardner knows what February is for...starting seeds! (well, maybe it's later if you live up north-ways, but in these parts, we'll be putting plants out in about six weeks.)

I've grown vegetables from seed, but I haven't really done it with flowers, other than sewing zinnias and cosmos directly in the garden. So, we're excited to see how we can do with some flowers.

Jimmy is working on the expanded vegetable garden area already...lots of digging right now. Lots of hauling dirt and soil amendments soon. Spring shall be here before we know it!

A bouquet for you

My little blog here is very new and unknown to most. I wondered who would find it, read it, like it. I never expected to get such a "pick me up" from other's comments. But, boy I do!

So, I'd like to offer those of you who have taken the time to comment and give me encouragement a bouquet of thanks. Well, and really, anyone who's reading (even if you don't comment...but hey, feel free!).

Daisies, because I'm really more of a daisy person than a rose person. I mean I like roses fine, but daisies are so cheerful and sweet, aren't they?

I'm very glad you are there. You make my day!