Bluebird of Happiness

What a delight it was to see this sweet little bluebird sitting in my cherry tree this afternoon! 

 

After such a long, cold winter, it is so nice to see all of the birds returning.  There are many now, and to hear their birdsong when stepping outside is wonderful.  We saw our first robin just this past week.  Spring really is on its way.  Do you want another delight?  Follow this link and watch a sweet hummingbird and her nest of three eggs. 

http://www.ustream.tv/hummingbirdnestcam

The live camera keeps an eye on this little family and their nest attached to a rose bush is in Orange County, California.  We have this cam link up on our computer during the day and keep our eye on this little lady and her eggs.  I can't wait until my hummers return--but not for another month or so. 

More Springtime Stitching

Just a couple more things I've been stitching up lately.  I was inspired by a hat (an actual hat) I saw on Etsy and decided to try out some brooches.  I have not made felt flowers before and saw a tutorial on Pinterest to learn how.  The hard part was making the flowers small enough for the hat.  Felt roses are on my agenda as well...but who can resist some pretty glass bead flowers?  These really are fun to stitch up...and, oh, so springy!  There are other projects rolling around in my mind as well; it's just finding the time to work them up that is the problem.  These little hats were only completed by a few stitches here and a few stitches there. 

 

I thought the yellow, white, and aqua were perfect springtime colors. 

 

This has an actual parakeet feather in it and a wee vintage mother of pearl pin.  Both of these are in my Etsy shop now.  Hope you like them!

Spring is Here!

Had to share these with you!  My crocuses are finally up--and, no, the gophers did not manage to eat these...yet!  It's been such a long winter it seems, and seeing these in the spring right outside my laundry room window is always a welcome sight. 

Despite the Snow...

....Spring is definitely on my mind.  We received several inches of snow this week.  Ugh!  I guess we won't have to worry about getting what is needed for precipitation this spring.  The nice thing about these springtime storms is that the snow doesn't stay around too long.  It melts off the roads much faster than snow that comes in, say, January.  I SO don't like to drive on slippery roads.  The sun has finally come out today and with that a guarantee that we do not have to go out and shovel! 

With spring at the forefront of my mind, I have been making little bird houses out of felt...adding a touch of embroidery greenery...and stitching on some pretty glass beads and flowers. 

I wish I had thought of making these sooner in the year, but I didn't. 

I've made two pairs of earrings and one pendant.  I may finish a blue pair...just because they are already started.  My felt pretties certainly aren't great sellers, but I love making things out of felt.  Of course, working with those pretty glass beads and doing embroidery brings all the fun together in one project.  They are listed in my Etsy shop.  Enjoy!

Button Floozies Spring Needlebook Swap

Laurie at Button Floozies (one of my new favorite blogs) was the hostess of a swap--the Spring Needlebook Swap.  We were to send a partner a needlebook with a spring theme including, of course, buttons.  This again was a swap that took me out of my comfort zone since I'm not that good at sewing.  I had my idea in mind but found it hard to turn it into something tangible.  The person I was to send mine to is Laura--such a nice person!  She has received hers (she doesn't have a blog), so I'll post here what I sent her. 

It is made of felt.  I did a little bit of embroidery on it and sewed these sweet rose buttons on it. The birdhouse "opening" is a pretty vintage button.  I tried to find a bird button in my stash--a pretty duck could be found...but no springtime bird.  So...I decided to make a bird (hopefully it looks like one) out of two buttons and some embroidery.

Of course, I had to "sign" it with more embroidery and a little heart button.  Enjoy!

Springtime Blooms

Just two pictures of what is blooming around our house.  I've enjoyed them and hope you will too.

Yes, Another Swap

I've decided to join one other swap this spring...couldn't resist this one either.  It is hosted by Michele (notice the other one "l" Michele here) at Something Special.  We are to decorate a vintage canning jar then fill it with goodies--mostly vintage.  Head on over to her blog for all the details.

Spring Needlebook Swap

This sounds like such a fun swap.  Laurie at Button Floozies is hostessing a swap where we are to make a spring-themed needlebook.  I've never done something like this before, but I've been researching needlebooks and have some great ideas.  Now if I can just get that idea made into a needlebook!  Go ahead over to her blog for all the details and to sign up.

First Flower of Spring

After the snowy weekend we had, who would think this sweet flower would show its face to the sunshine today?  What a delight!  I believe spring really is here.

Speckled Egg Spring Inspiration Box Swap...from My Swap Partners

Heather, at the Speckled Egg, hosted a Spring Inspiration Box Swap. It was great fun to put together, and I have already posted about what I gave my two partners. The boxes from them came in this past week.


Kathy from Country Chintz sent along this prettily embellished box filled to the brim (and overflowing) with springtime embellishments. I especially liked the paper flowers and the little yellow bird!
Becky from Me&Mine sent along this beautifully embellished little box filled (I love the color of that flower on top) with wonderful treasures including a miniature salt shaker filled with mica sprinkles, a tiny embroidered pin cushion, a decorated flower box filled with tiny embellishments, and other little delights. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many thanks to Kathy and Becky for the time they put into these pretty boxes filled with springtime goodies, and to Heather for being hostess. It was certainly great fun.

Speckled Egg Petite Inspiration Swap Boxes from Me

Heather at the Speckled Egg hosted a fabulous swap recently. We were to decorate matchboxes (the larger size) and fill it with little inspirational wonders--all with a spring theme. My two partners are Becky of Me & Mine and Kathy of Country Chintz. They have received theirs now. I have not received theirs yet (though one is on its way) but will post with what they send when they arrive. This was such a fun project. I had a great time roaming antique malls scouting for little springtime wonders. I have never decorated a match box before, so this was new to me.
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I first painted the boxes white inside and out then put the pink paper on the top, opening side, and inside. A birds' next with turquoise birds, bee stickers with turquoise glitter trails, and plenty of apple blossom flowers decorated the top.

I had exactly two of these pretty glass buttons with rhinestone centers--they made the perfect knobs for each box.
I wanted to find pink toile paper but couldn't. So this was the next best thing.
Everything fit snugly into the boxes. There was glitter and ribbon and lace included.

Here is all that was in the boxes. They both had pretty much the same things except for a few slight differences.
This is a close up of a lot of the little inspirational things included in the box--a bird cake topper, canary feathers, Victorian cut outs, a crystal chandelier drop, vintage jewelry, little birds, spring flowers postage stamps, and a box of spring time flower beads and jewelry.

Some more detail of what was inside--a Victorian calling card and some foreign language vocabulary cards.

This is a close up of the little vintage tally cards. I thought the girls were adorable and each was in her garden or outside--perfect for spring. This was a fun swap. Many thanks to Heather for having such a great idea and for hosting this.

Speckled Egg Spring Inspiration Swap Teaser

This is a teaser for Becky and Kathy! I finished my spring inspiration swap boxes for them as part of Heather's (of Speckled Egg fame) swap. They were shipped off today. I have more pictures but don't want to spoil the surprise for Becky and Kathy. ; )

New Bottles Listed

It has been a busy week for us, but in between things I was able to finish and list a few new bottles. This green one was sort of an experiment. It is not a perfume bottle but rather just a craft bottle turned into a decorative boudoir-type bottle. The green is pretty, and green is a difficult color to get as a perfume bottle. The pretty guilloche plate looks perfect on it, and the porcelain roses and little bird with a nest full of faux pearls made for a pretty, spring-like piece. This "blushing rose" bottle has a sweet, ever-so-light pink rose flanked by two white flowers. I think it looks soft and pretty. This tea roses one is one someone asked me to do. She saw the one I had done with similar pieces on Flickr and asked if I could do one for her. Thankfully (and rarely) I did have some pieces left to embellish this.

Spring blooms!

What a good and needful week for spring to bloom! How nice to have a bit of beauty and cheerfulness today... to see evidence that the gloom of winter truly is past. These little crocuses have opened their sweet faces to the sun and blessed the day with a tiny spot of beauty.

The Babies Have Arrived!

Remember those four wee blue robins' eggs that I posted about a few posts back? Well, each egg has now hatched, and mama left her four little ones for a bit to find them a juicy worm for lunch. During this time, much to our happiness, we were able to see the small fluffy birds and snap a quick picture before getting mama too upset with us. They certainly are darling, and it has been such fun to watch the progression this spring.

Some Springtime Blooms

Just thought I'd share some springtime blooms that are out now. One is from our cherry tree out front and the other is from a blooming "mystery" bush that smells wonderful and is very pretty. I tried to get a picture of a little robin's nest in one of the spruce trees out front--it had four sweet eggs nestled in it--but by the time I returned with my camera, Momma was sitting on the nest and not budging! I didn't want to disturb her, so I left her alone to keep her little eggs warm. Perhaps I'll get a picture of her babies once they hatch!

Been Spring Cleaning

It's that time of year. It has been nice to have some sunny days to hang out curtains. I love the fresh scent of hung-out laundry (besides, it helps with those wrinkles). It's amazing how washing can change the look...the color even...of curtains. They now look fresh and crisp and clean. We have all enjoyed the clean feeling around here. There is plenty more to do, but cleaning the curtains and window trims is always a nice place to start.

I've Been Waiting All Winter....

Peeping out my laundry room window...just waiting...then...I saw them! How exciting! Spring is officially here. Happy spring, everyone!

It's Spring!

This little trio of lovelies was smiling up at me this morning--the first full day of spring--and I wanted to share them and the joy they bring. Happy spring everyone! ; )