Are There Only Seven Things I Love that Aren't Obvious?

I have been tagged by Gayle, at sparklejars.blogspot.com. Yesterday she tagged several of her faves to list "seven things they love that aren't obvious." I'm not fond of these kinds of challenges....but, I'm fond of Gayle, so therefore, I will try to list seven things I love that probably aren't obvious to you. My question is this...why would you care? But, I'm kind of a sarcastic person, so just forget you read that and try to make sense of my list...if you feel like it.

Seven Things I love that aren't Obvious:

1. Moonlight
2. Reading in Bed
3. Watermelon
4. Chocolate, but I'm allergic
5. Making lists (how ironic is this?)
6. Tall people who reach things for me at the grocery store
7. Sitting in the porch swing, watching cars go by

Ok. That's seven! Hardly seems worth taking the time to list...there is so much more in life:

8. Trees, especially blooming ones. They remind of French Knots
9. Movies with kids and animals
10. Milliner's needles
11. Things in a row...you know..ducks, books. etc.
12. Pink and yellow together
13. Handwriting
14. A good BLT sandwich
15. Chairs, big, small or tiny
16. Toast with jelly or peanut butter, but never both at the same time
17. Rainy days and nights
18. Baby shoes and bonnets
19. Vintage dresser scarves, tattered and torn
20. Old doll dresses

Now see, does this really tell you anything? Perhaps that I really am rather obsessive? 'Cuz there's more:

21. Teacups
22. Silver rings
23. Fog
24. Puttering or piddling around
25. Willie Nelson singing "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground."

Ok, Ok. I'm done. There's lots more...but I refuse to tell you anymore about myself! You can figure me out on your own. And, Gayle, thanks for thinking of me...you really are DEAR, which is why I made this list just for you. Take care, friend. pat

PS. For anyone interested....that Teacup Pincushion I showed earlier in the week.....it was purchased this evening and will be on it's way to a new home in Texas on Monday.....thanks, D.C.!!! And, thanks to you who sent me wonderful comments on it, I always appreciate what you have to say about my work...keeps me going!

Robin and Nest Pincushion

One of my blogging friends has commissioned me to make a pincushion. She wants a Robin, a nest, silk ribbon and beads.
She's going to get just that....here is the drawing, sketch, pattern, whatever you want to call it. I just finished drawing it, after "thinking on it" for at least a week. This is all you're going to see right now...you'll have to keep watch for the finished pincushion. You can bet I'll post about after it's done. And, my blogging friend out there...you KNOW who you are...I sure hope you like it. Stay cool out there!! Take care, pat

TeaCup Embroidery

Happy Fourth of July!!!!!! Sure hope you all have a wonderful weekend! At the moment it is raining here and is so needed. I really love rainy days. It's probably messing up a lot of picnics and fireworks shows, but I'm at home and loving it. Well, you want growing things..you need rain. Wherever you are...I hope you are loving whatever is happening there.

Last post I said I'd show you a teacup embroidery. I embroidered this little cup a long time ago and recently decided to make it into a pincushion. You know how I do....one with a beaded edge.

The teacup is inked on the background fabric, then embroidered. You can see that I embellished the teacup and saucer with some simple stitches. Why? I've no idea, just at that moment liked the idea. You know how it is.

Of course, the cup needed to be filled with flowers, so I brought out the silk ribbon and here you see the result. (I do love my silk ribbon!!) A few beads for some sparkle, a line of my favorite stitching around the design, then the beaded edge. How much fun is that? If you've never done silk ribbon embroidery, you may not know how much fun it is....let me tell you....it's GREAT fun! And, easy too. Why don't you try it? One tip....if you don't like doing hand sewing...you probably won't like it. If you do....then you'll be crazy about it like I am!

I am probably going to take this to Quilt Arkansas and have it for purchase in my class there...should anyone there be interested. I'm hoping to have some things to offer for purchase...unless it's gone before then. You know I sometimes have a hard time letting go of my things...a trait that is not good if you want to be in "business." My friend, Sharon, always told me I was lousy at business...I tend to think with my heart rather than my head. Anyway, here it is...for your enjoyment this special holiday! See you soon....take care, pat

As Promised, An ATC Card

In my last post, I said I'd post an ATC (Artist Trading Card) later in the week. Well, here it is - later in the week, and here is the card. When I showed you the pincushion earlier, I told you I made it for my friend, Gaby, and that the ATC card was for her also.

I don't have a lot of experience in making ATC cards. Granted, I have made several, but, I'm certainly not an expert in making them. Although, I am lucky enough to have one in the book, 1000 ARTIST TRADING CARDS, edited by Patricia Bolton and published by Quarry Books. If you have a copy of that book....mine is on page 151. I loved making that card and recently heard from a person who traded for it at Quilt Festival in Chicago this Spring. It was nice to know who actually wound up with the card, as I had no idea what Quilting Arts magazine had done with it. The person who got it was very nice and I hope she enjoys it for a very long time.

While I don't have vast experience with ATC's...I have with sewing, so, of course, when making the card for Gaby...I had to sew it. Many of them aren't sewn at all...I'm particularly taken with some of the mixed media ones I've seen.

So, having said all that....here's what I'm talking about.....an embroidered flower for Gaby. I used Satin Stitch for the flower and back-stitched around the petals. That was fun! In the center I added a sequin and bead for a small amount of glitter.
The leaves....well, you've heard me go on about leaves lots of times...you know already how much I love stitching those. I just had to add the heart....again in Satin Stitch. An ATC card is about 2 1/4 inches wide x 3 1/4 inches long, so you can imagine how small that heart is...one of my very favorite things!!

I don't remember exactly what threads I used..I know I used DMC floss for the heart. And, completely out of my area of expertise...I machine stitched around the edge....it just seemed the best way to do this particular card.

It was a fun thing to make and I'm glad it has a nice home in Germany. In my next post, I'll show you a painted and embroidered teacup.....well, you'll just have to check back to see what that's all about!

One of my readers said she felt like I was talking to her personally when she read my blog!! Oh, gosh, I hope so! And, I am gratified to know that. So, know that I FEEL as if I AM speaking to YOU personally too.

For all of you giving me "feel better wishes" this week.....thank you so much. You know...I am feeling better. Thanks to those meds, the doctor, and you kind people. See you this weekend....take care. pat

Gift to a Friend

Well, my blogging friends, it's a Monday....and while it is still HOT...it's not quite as hot as it has been which is a blessing. I hope you are well.

When you get my age, you have an ailment here and there, so today, I visited my doctor. I should have gone to the clinic on Friday, but NO, I thought I'd "manage" until Monday. And, I did. But, don't you know I may have had a much nicer weekend had I gone, as I should have, on Friday. Not to worry, I will be fine, albeit a little uncomfortable until the meds really kick in.
Do you ever put off going to the doctor?

The reason I mention that is...I really don't feel very chatty tonight....but all day I thought "oh, I've got to post something tonight at the latest." You know I always feel neglectful when I feel late with a new post. And, I'm late!

So, please take at look at this pincushion and let it say some things for me....I hope you enjoy seeing it. I made it for my blogging friend, Gaby. I especially loved embroidering the blue heart and, as always....the French Knot flowers. Do you love French Knots as much as I do?

Hopefully, you will enjoy seeing it as much as I enjoy seeing all the beautiful things you make! And, as always, I'm thinking of you "out there." Do take care, have a good week....later this week, I will show you an ATC card also for Gaby....thanks, always, for the visit! pat

Friends, Stuff and an Anniversary

Well, today I am going to "catch you up" on some things going on in the Nest. I spent most of the day "puttering" around. You've heard me talk about that before. Sometimes I just get in the puttering mood and will not be satisfied until I've spent most of a day reorganizing and re-reorganizing. It's a sickness....isn't it?

But, now, my files are cleaned out, the work table is cleaned off, I've moved some furniture from here to there, found a lovely place to put my plates of "ingredients" so they won't be in the way and I can see them from across the room, the floors have been swept, and I feel better.

After all that, I knew I needed to post something new.....so decided to share with you some of the "good stuff" that has happend here lately.

1. I received a lovely package from Nicki in Massachusetts. Look at all this wonderful "stuff." (And, you, as well as I - love our STUFF.) Beautiful laces, silk fabric, buttons, a lovely beaded starfish, all to glorify my work. How lovely! And, a big thank you to Nicki!!! You can see what she does with this type of stuff at cqnickilee.blogspot.com. She can take some white lace and make it sing!

2. Today, I received envelope art from Sharon, my wonderful friend from Texas. She paints lovely faces, birds, castles and all things beautiful and I admire her work very much. One of the things she does BEAUTIFULLY, I might add, is to use paper napkins in her mixed media work. It's unbelievable what she can do with them. And, she sent me some! If you go to allnorahsart.blogspot.com, you can see Sharon's work in all it's glory. So much fun! I thank her for the inspiration she gives us all! Visiting the birds with her is a lot of fun too!!!

3. My friend, Bibi, who lives in Searcy......loaned me this wonderful little crocheted basket. It's only 3 1/2 inches from top to bottom! Isn't it just the cutest thing ever? It was given to her in the 60's and she's had it all this time. I was talking about crocheting tiny baskets and next thing I knew she showed up here with this one for me to copy.....I haven't figured it out yet, but will certainly be trying to do just that. Isn't it fun to share with friends?

And, one of the biggest "happenings" around this house will be tomorrow when that old Navy man and I share our 43rd Anniversary!!! Who knew? It is a miracle we lasted this long....I know that's what some say...but we are tough old birds who stick together and as I always say....we have to stay together...he can't hear and I can't see...so we depend on each other.
And, we pretty much have FUN doing it. So, Happy Anniversary, Richard....you always have been and always will be my hero!

Now, you friends out there, enjoy your stuff and have a great day yourselves!!!! Take care, pat

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! To My Favorite Son

In Clifton, Texas, forty-one years ago today, at 3:08 a.m., to be exact....my favorite son, Scott, was born. At the time, his sister was fifteen months old. I talked to him on the phone THIS a.m., wanting to be the first to wish him a very happy birthday. He is my only son....but I always call him my "favorite son" because he is. His sister is my favorite daughter too.

So much time has gone by since that day forty-one years ago....and yet, it seems like yesterday. He was the dearest little baby...well, not too little at 8 lbs., five oz., but you know what I mean. So cute! The very first time I laid eyes on him, he smiled. I've been wrapped around his little finger ever since, and age has done nothing to change that. He is even more dear now.

My most wonderful accomplishment was raising Scott and his sister. Nothing else I will ever do can even come close. They are my pride and joy.

So, Scott, as I wished you this morning, I wish you again....a wonderful day, filled with good things and laughter. With many more to follow. You're just the BEST!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! (And, lots of love from your Mom)

The rest of you, out there....a good day to you too......take care. pat