Blooming Cherry Tree

This is the cherry tree that my kids bought me for Mother's Day several years ago. 

 

I love watching the buds as they turn from deep pink to light pink as the open during the spring. 

 

The dark pink process seems to have been longer this year perhaps to cool temps and cloudy days.  Regardless, it has been a pleasure to watch...especially when a goldfinch or robin happens to perch in its branches.  Oh, the hummingbirds have returned this past week too.  We saw three yesterday.  They are such little delights...and it was such a long winter. 

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!

Ready for Flowers

Added a few things to my shop today--a vintage jewelry embellished ornament and a perfume bottle.  They both are full of flowers and birds.  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!

Easter? Passover? Resurrection!

This is a big weekend for many people.  There are those who celebrate Easter, and there are those who celebrate Passover...and there are those who celebrate neither. 
~~~~~The original Passover from the Old Testament was the last plague of God on Egypt (Exodus 12 KJV).  Pharaoh would not let the children of Israel leave until this final blow hit.  The children of Israel had to take a male lamb, dispatch it in the evening, then take its b loo d and strike the top and two side posts of their homes.  That night at midnight the Lord slew the first born male of every household that did not have the b loo d applied to the door posts.  The Jews were to celebrate this amazing event every year.  The b loo d strikes on the top and two side posts of the door made a cross (if they actually carried the dipped hyssop down and across on the door).  As today, if the spiritual application of the b loo d of Christ on our hearts is not seen by God, we will die spiritually.  Jesus is the perfect, sinless Lamb of God.  The Passover was a picture of what was to come--and it has been fulfilled by what Jesus did on the cross.  The Passover is a tradition and does not need to be celebrated today!  Jesus is THE Passover Lamb. 
~~~~~Easter actually stems from the pagan celebration of the goddess Ishtar--a fertility goddess.   This is where springtime, bunnies, eggs, etc. come from.  In order to encourage pagan peoples to come to church, the Catholic church adopted this celebration and unfortunately combined it with some (i.e. Good Friday and Maundy Thursday are not Biblical, Jesus actually died on a Wednesday, etc.) Biblical truths about Jesus' resurrection.  Yes, the word Easter is in the Bible once in the book of Acts (12:4) and is in relation to what a pagan leader, Herod, was going to do to Peter after the Easter celebration was over.  To celebrate Easter would be to celebrate a mixture of pagan worship and partial Biblical truths. 
This post is certainly not to argue theology or history.  All of this information can be found looking in a King James Bible and a simple Internet search.  The purpose of this post is to encourage you to consider what is important.  Getting caught up in tradition and "how we've always done it" is not important.  What IS important is what the Bible says...and obeying what it says.  Unfortunately people will think on what God did in Exodus or what Jesus did on the cross this weekend....then not do anything about it nor think about it again for another whole year!  Jesus came, died on the cross (the perfect, sinless, Passover Lamb), was buried, and rose again--believing this, repenting of our sin, and accepting Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for our sin is what is important.  Not just this Saturday or Sunday but every day praise the Lord for the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Springtime Blooms

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

Vintage Petite Jar Spring Swap--From Me

In the Something Special Vintage Petite Jar Spring Swap here is what I sent to my partner, Karen, of Karen's Monday Musings.  I took the glass jar and decoupaged music paper on it then some vintage bird papers. 

I had some tiles so spelled out "Bird" and "Song" on the sides as well.  On the bottom I put a label from an old crochet yarn ball. 

I made a "nest" on the top with coordinating silk flowers, buds,  and colored yarn to the vintage bird papers and included a little bird sitting in the nest.  She wasn't quite "pink" enough, so I added a little blush to her belly to pink her up.

I tied lace and color coodinating yarn to around the jar and, of course, had to add a little pin for bling.

Inside I just put in as many vintage bits that could fit and hope that the glass things didn't break in transit. 

This was fun to create and assemble.  I hope you like it!

Vintage Petite Jar Spring Swap Pictures from Partner

I joined the Something Special Vintage Petite Jar Spring Swap.  We were to take a small glass canning jar, embellish it, and fill it with fun bits.  My partner was Karen of Karen's Monday Musings.  She was a fabulous swap partner.  How nice it is to have someone who communicates well and who you know will follow through!  This swap was sort of a challenge for me.  I had to think outside of my comfort zone and work with paper and glue...which is what I usually don't do.  Here is what Karen sent to me:

Well, the jar Karen embellished is adorable. 

I love the little birdhouse and the "M" scrabble piece on the back.  

Inside were all sorts of adorable vintage and inspiration pieces for future creative projects. 

I love the rooster, little birds, vintage papers, little book, that pretty hand-painted button...well, everything!

Everything was wrapped so sweetly.  Thank you so much, Karen, and thank you Michele for hostessing this.

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.

Spring Giveaway Jubilee Giveaway

I'm connecting with Sarah at Hope in Every Season, for her Spring Giveaway Jubilee.  She and others are offering giveaways during the month of March.  How can I resist joining in on the fun?  I'm offering a vintage rose perfume label image ornament, a wee sparkly ice cream cone trinket box (the ice cream part lifts up off the cone!), and a sparkling vintage rhinestone "leaf" pin.  I'll choose a winner March 31.

Here are my rules....

1.  Open to all--even internationally.
2.  One entry...leave a comment below.
3.  One entry....follow me on Facebook...leave comment below telling me you are.
4.  One entry....follow me on Twitter...leave comment below telling me you are.
5.  One entry...blog about my giveaway....leave comment below telling me you did.

Easy peasy.  Just make sure I can get a hold of you via email if you are the winner.  Please go to Sarah's blog to check out the other giveaways and enter them as well.  The more the merrier!

Felt and Bead Heart Pins

Been playing with pretty beads and felt and finished these two heart shaped pins this weekend.

Hoping...hoping...

...okay, I've even prayed that this tree will live and flourish. By the looks of it, it could use all the prayer it can get. Mom and I ordered some trees from the Arbor Day people, and they only just arrived. We were a little concerned when they didn't come and didn't come...I mean it IS November in Wisconsin. We've already had snow. However, they said it is the right time and here is a picture of one of them. I purchased two redbud flowering trees (those really pink flowering ones you see in the spring) and two azaleas. I LOVE azaleas and their vibrant colors. I got a pink one and planted it right out front and a peachy orange one which has been planted out back (because, well, orange doesn't really go with my house color). Anyway, my redbuds are basically sticks with bare roots. We've planted them and watered them. Now we just have to hope...and pray that they survive into those beautiful trees I'm hoping for. Stay tuned--I'll tell you how they do next spring.

Quick Post

Just wanted to show you what is blooming on the front lawn--my cherry tree and the other bush which I can't remember the name of. I love the flowering blooms in the spring!

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.