Spring Birds & More Valentines

I've been pacing myself instead of pushing myself.  That's a new one for me.  I've been listing things in my shop and finally had to say, enough for today.  I have more things to add but I'll do some more over the weekend.

For now I listed these pretty little heart ornament/package tie-on's that mom made:



Scott's grandma would have just loved these!  I have a few more of mom's things to do but like I said, over the weekend.

I also listed my little Spring Birds:









Aren't they cute!  How pretty in a little Spring/Easter Vignette!

Now that I have that project done for the day, I plan to go stitch a bit.  I finished stitching the seams on Garden Quilt Block #5:



I'll pull my bead cart over to the sofa and listen to some Food Channel while I stitch.

I plan to do some baking on Sunday.  I have a few people who have asked me for cookies.  I'll be doing Oatmeal Raisin with chocolate chips and I've been wanting to try some Petite Fours.  Which aren't really cookies but rather cake.  Hey, let them eat cake!  I doubt there will be any complaints!

Gifts From Gina

I received a package in the mail yesterday from my sweet friend Gina:



Just look at that pretty lace!  And another fun ATC!!!  I have got to make some more ATC's!  I just love them!  Thank you so much Gina.  You always send me such nice things.

I haven't been feeling well the last few days.  I have a tendency of pushing myself and now I'm paying for it.  Geez, depression, the hormone change and ADD...it's all driving me crazy!

Anyway, I didn't have a choice but to take it easy for a few days.  And I think I probably pushed myself a little too much today.  Even though under normal circumstances, I didn't do (what I consider) to be too much.

I went to the grocery store to get some fruit and everything I need for soup.  I made Creamy Chicken Vegetable soup and oh, does it smell good.  It's still cooling off so I haven't been able to try it yet but I think it'll be good.  I put mushrooms in it so I fully expect my husband to have something to say about that!  And I'll tell him that if he doesn't like it, he doesn't have to eat it!  More for me!

I also finished up my little birdies in the nests.  I'll post photos of them tomorrow.  I'm out of steam  now so I'll go relax and stitch.

Victorian Tussy Mussy's

I'm not sure if I ever mentioned it before or not.  My mom is visually impaired.  Actually, she's legally blind.  Mom does have a small amount of central vision but not enough vision to drive or get around in town without help.  She does have a dog guide and she helps mom quite a bit to get around.

Thankfully, Mom's small amount of central vision is enough for her to do some crafts, some crocheting and sewing and baking.  Can anyone imagine not being able to see?  Would we creative people go insane or what?  Mom is quite determined to keep doing the things she loves for as long as she possibly can.  Mom made these sweet little Angel Tussy Mussy's last week:







To encourage mom and to keep her spirit's up, I offered to add some of her of things to my Etsy shop.  Boy, did that spark some enthusiasm in my mom!  Immediately I could see a little burst of energy and hope in her.  My mom also suffers from depression and SADS.  I just thought if focusing on my crafts and stitching helps me, it would help mom too.

In other news, we went to a flea market this morning.  I didn't find anything all that spectacular but I did find some interesting vintage handkerchiefs which kind of gave me some ideas for art dolls.  Been wanting to do some of those for a long time now!  I share photos of them with you later this week.  I also found some old lace.  Like I need more of that!  I just can't help myself.  One can never have too much fabric, too much glitter or too much lace!  I have it soaking in the sink at the moment.  Can't stand that musty smell.

For now, I'm off to take a hot bubble bath and page through some magazines.  It's so cold here today but from what I've heard, we have a warm up coming later this week.  Upper 30's and possibly 40 degree temps.  Whoa!  Heatwave!  At least compared to what we've been living with for awhile now!  Hope everyone else living with the cold gets a nice warm up too!  Happy Sunday everyone!

Angel Trinket Boxes

I only have a few minutes to chat today.  My inlaws just arrived but I promised to post close-ups of my Angel Trinket Boxes:









These sweet little pretties can be found here.

I haven't finished up on my birds yet but they should be done this week sometime.  Mom and I are planning a craft day on Monday so I'll work on them then.  Speaking of mom, she's really into making some pretty things too!  I'll share those in the next few days as well.

We have a flea market tomorrow so I'm hoping to find all sorts of interesting goody's.  I'll let you know how I do.  For now, I'm off to visit.  Have a good Saturday everyone!

Is It Spring Yet?

It looks like it finally stopped snowing here!  My sweet husband has already cleaned off the driveway and my car for me!  I will be going to Hobby Lobby with mom today.

Well, it may not be Spring in my backyard yet, but it's looking more and more like Spring in my house!  These little birdies are another of my projects:



They aren't done yet.  But I expect they will be later today.  I need to pick up a new glue gun.  Mine is well loved and it makes so many strings, it drives me crazy!  Short trip for me these days!  Mom just bought a new one and hers doesn't make any strings.  I need one of those!  Anyway, I'll post more photos once they're complete.  I just think they're too cute!

It's really nice to do some of these craft projects.  I used to love designing and making things for craft shows years ago.  The part I didn't like was packing and unpacking my car, setting up and taking down and sitting at the shows all day.  Etsy sure is a nice outlet.  Although who knows?  I have been thinking about doing the Farmer's Market in Crystal Lake this Summer.  That would be nice as it's small so I wouldn't have so much loading and unloading to do. 

In other news, I started on Block #5 of my Garden Crazy Quilt:



No marathon stitching, but it's a start.  I haven't felt too great the past few days.  I'm assuming it's the weather.
I must say again, this weirdo stuff that I've been living with for over a year now is really getting old.  I try to keep myself busy so as not to focus on how I feel.  And at the same time, I try not to push myself too much because that's not good either.  Some one, please tell me again that this does go away eventually!

The "Baking Bug" is coming around again too.  That Kitchenaid is just screaming at me!  I think I'll take a day next week and bake up a storm.  My sweet neighbor shoveled my driveway for me yesterday so I want to take him some cookies to thank him for his kindness.  And my uncle asked me for some Coconut Macaroons back at Christmas so I will make him some of those.

Well, I'm off to straighten up the house and get myself together to go to Hobby Lobby.  This weather has always made me feel like an animal in a cage!  But I will keep thinking SPRING!