Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Stitcher's Dream

We had another shop close down :o( This one carried a few cross stitch supplies but not enough to consider it a LNS. During the last week it was open; I went in and inquired about a few things. One thing was the Mill Hill bead racks :o) You guessed it, I came home with two! I was so excited and just look at these pretties -

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Yes, those are all my Mill Hill beads and treasures. LOL!

So far I only have one rack in use. I'm not sure if I'll use the other one or not. I just wish we had the money to fix up my craft room with all the cabinets that I've been dreaming of ;o)

Spring is finally popping up -

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It's still quite cool though and now we're having a week of rain :o( Come on warmer weather!


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter!

Dear Easter Bunny,

You know that your arrival each year is my very favourite time of year. What could be better than a combination of bunnies and chocolate? Okay, well maybe peanut butter and chocolate but that's beside the point.

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE getting chocolate at Easter but I'm thinking we need to step it up a notch and get a little more creative. As we already know, giving live bunnies at Easter is not a good thing so I've done some looking around and let me know what you think about these ideas...

I realize that chocolate is your typical Easter treat but what about a Giant Gummy Bunny -

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Seven inches of gooey goodness! I just won't think about the calories ;o)

What about Rabbit Ears Salad Servers -

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Unlike a lucky rabbit's foot, no bunnies were harmed in making these!

It seems that like real bunnies, dust bunnies multiply like...rabbits! I turn my head and the next thing I know, there are three or four scampering across the floor. I think it would be in everyone's interest if you gave me a Dust Bunny Duster -

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I'm not saying I'll actually 'use' it but it's the thought that counts, right?

Speaking of multiplying like rabbits...it seems these Bunny Salt & Pepper Shakers really know how to shake things up -

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Do the babies come out black and white or white and black?

Finally, I think that I need one of these -

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What bunny lover wouldn't want this? I might have to kick DH out of the bed though and I'm not sure how well that will go over ;o)

So for next year, just keep these ideas in mind. Of course a case or two of ECEs would be nice as well :o)


Thursday, April 21, 2011

Eighth Finish For 2011

I've had this one done for awhile now. See, I told you I have a lot of things to share with you! There's just not enough hours in my day ;o)

This is Spring Is In The Air by Val's Stuff -

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It's another freebie and this one IS on the internet! LOL! You can find it here.

I didn't like the colours that this design was charted for so I changed them all and used Crescent Colours :o) I'm really pleased the results. Pleased enough that I will stitch this one again! The fabric is just 28 count Ivory Jobelan.

I finally got my Springtime pillow in the mail today so you'll have to wait a little longer to see who the recipient is. I'm going to tease you even more though because I also sent out another little something to someone else :o) I found this rabbit template on the internet and put this cutie together the other day -

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Sorry for the boring photo but it was the only one that showed just how purple the fabric is. All the other pictures came out with a blue hue :oS So who will get him/her? You'll have to just wait and see!


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

One Bad Blogger :o(

Yes, that's me. Bad! Very, very, very bad :o( I've been very neglectful of my Blog and sharing with you some wonderful things that have landed in my mailbox as of late. I apologize profusely to those that deserve these HUGE thank yous and I will accept the thirty lashings of the wet noodle...

When the woman at the post office handed me over this huge envelope, I had no idea what it was. I saw Terri's name on the return address but it wasn't until I opened the package that I realized it was a RAK :o) Terri was SO generous! Look at all the goodies that she sent -

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I was just thrilled! But then I opened up the tiny package that was included and just stared in awe -

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Terri stitched this over one and it's beautiful! Right now I have him/her hanging on my Ott-Lite but come Christmas, he/she will go right onto my ornament tree :o) Thank you SO much Terri! I know I'm late with my thank you but I can tell you that you definitely put a smile on my face that day and each day that I look at my cute little bird.

Last week another package arrived and I was just as stumped. This time it was from Myra! When I opened the envelope, this is what I found -

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Isn't that just the cutest little pouch? But wait...there was something inside -

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What could it be?

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Myra made me a magnetic needle minder with my initial and a pumpkin :o) How perfect a combination is that? Not to mention the fact that I'm always putting my needle in my mouth (I know, a HUGE no-no) or pinning it to some part of my clothing (equally as bad because I sometimes forget where I pinned it) so hopefully this will get me out of those bad habits. LOL! Thank you Myra. You make such lovely things and I'm honoured to have a few of them in my home :o)


Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Seventh Finish For 2011

I wasn't kidding when I said that I have a lot to share. I've been holding out on you ;o) LOL! When things are quiet here at the Pumpkin Patch, you just never know what I'm doing or how fast my needles are flying...

Since I wanted to get into the 'spring mood', I thought this little freebie by Val's Stuff was perfect to begin with. This is Springtime -

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For once I had the fabric but I didn't like the fibers she used so I changed it all up to my liking :o) I used all DMC and added a pink pansy button by JABC. But I didn't stop there! Oh no...

Today I finished it off into a little pillow -

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Yay! I found the fabric in our local store that's closing down :o( I'm happy with the results but I was a little disappointed. I found the linen to be quite stretchy and a bit hard to work with while sewing so it's not up to my 100% satisfaction. LOL! Quality control is very strict here ;o)

Anyway, I plan on stitching this pattern again and basically just making a duplicate. How come you ask? Well, this one is going out to one of my readers as a thank you :o) How's that for a tease? Nope, I'm not going to reveal who that person is until the package has been received :oP

While I'm on the subject of pillows and duplicate projects, I thought I should share with you my second C Is For Cure by Lizzie Kate finish -

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Again, just like the first one I did last year but this one will be staying home with me :o)


Tuesday, April 12, 2011

My Shop Is Now Open!

Yes, finally after a whole year of procrastination, I have officially opened my shop at Etsy :o) I'm still stocking the shelves so please bear with me. Not everything is in there yet. I didn't realize just how much work it was! LOL!

I hope you'll wander over, take a look around and maybe make me one of your favourites? :o) I've added my shop to the tabs at the top of my Blog for easy reference.

Don't venture too far because I have LOTS to show and share with you!


Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Christmas Rules SAL Block Four

Yippee skippy...block four of Christmas Rules is done!

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I truly missed stitching on this project for the remainder of March. Come to think about it, I wasn't really that smart this month either because now I have almost another four weeks before I can stitch on this again ;o) LOL! Here is what the whole thing looks like -

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I wonder how Nia is coming along :o)

I've had a few people ask how I'm doing so I thought I should probably update you. I saw my doctor and as far as he's concerned, it's my Fibro that's been acting up :o( He did order a blood test for Rheumatoid Arthritis but he doesn't think I have it. He gave me a new prescription for my Tylenol 3 with Codeine because my other one was from 2008 (I think) so its kick was pretty much gone. I can honestly say that one of the new pills doesn't really do anything for the pain either :o(

Thankfully the pain has subsided but there are days, like today, when I can feel it in my knees and elbows. Not fun. I also got some new medication for my migraines and although it seems to work like a charm without knocking me out, the prescription is pretty expensive! Just to give you an idea, six pills cost us $22 and that was 'with' coverage. Oye!

I can definitely say that I am truly blessed by wonderful friends though and that has kept my spirits up during this time :o) At the first of the week, I received a package of charts and floss from one of my Stalkers -

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Colleen (no Blog) is from my home province of NB and has been reading my Blog for awhile now. She did a RAK and I couldn't be more thrilled! Thank you again Colleen! You are too kind and just know this stash went to a good home. A thank you will be sent out soon ;o)

Then yesterday I picked up another parcel and this was something I wasn't expecting. When I read the return address and saw that it was from Tina, I wondered what she was up to... Imagine my surprise when I opened the box and found this -

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ROFL!!!! Tina sent me a package of ECEs and Milka cream filled eggs (they even come with little tiny spoons!). Apparently she thought she could convert me... I'm sorry to say Tina but it didn't work :o( I guess I'm just an ECE girl at heart ;o) Thank you so much for the thoughtful package though. It really did put a much needed smile on my face!


Monday, April 04, 2011

Animal Photography 101

Basically in a nutshell, animals are probably the hardest thing to photograph. You can't tell them what to do, where you want them to stand or how you want them to look. They've got a mind of their own and they're going to do whatever they want ;o)

I have two cameras that I use to take pictures. One is a Kodak digital and it's somewhat small and compact. I use this camera for my every day pictures and when I want to take photos in black and white. The other camera that I use is a Canon digital SLR 50D. I 'love' this camera! The only problem with this one is that it is heavy and bulkier.

Yesterday, DH and I, along with our friends T and K (and their DS) took a drive to Kejimkujik National Park. It was a beautiful day and we wanted to purchase our national park passes. On our way there, we came upon this fellow on the side of the road -

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Eastern Wild Turkeys are not native to NS. I've seen them in Maine and I 'believe' there are a few in NB but not here so this guy/gal must have gone rogue. LOL! I love wild turkeys. They're a funny, inquisitive bird. This one was close enough for pictures but even after my incessant gobbling, it just wouldn't stand still! We debated about capturing it for a nice turkey dinner but it can count its blessings that we let him/her get away ;o)

I had my Kodak digital with me and the one drawback about this camera is the time it takes between taking the picture and allowing you to take another picture >:o( So there was DH in the front seat telling me to take a picture 'now' and I'm waiting for the bloody green light! In the meantime, any chance at a good picture has gone out the car door...

After a lovely hike through part of the park, we are driving out and lo and behold we 'finally' come across some deer. Deer are like pennies here and are used to humans. Unfortunately, with five deer, one problematic camera and a photographer trying not to climb through the rear window of the car, this is the best I could get -

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The Bambies weren't very cooperative :oS

Thankfully there was ONE animal that allowed me to take all the pictures I wanted :o)

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Yes, he is real and no, he's not dead. LOL! This is a Blanding's Turtle. They are considered a 'Species At Risk'. In the late spring, you'll find nesting houses along the sides of the road in the park. This is to protect the eggs that are buried in the sand. I guess this turtle wasn't smart enough to realize that giving birth on the side of a road wasn't a good thing ;o)


Saturday, April 02, 2011

Going For More Ba-Bling

Sabrina had a lot of attention during the month of March and now she's ready for more beads -

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This was the biggest section that I've taken on so far so I'm not sure how long it will take me to bead it. I may actually be blind by the end of it. I do know one thing though...once this area is complete, I will be on the homestretch! Sabrina WILL be done this year :o)

Since it's a new month, I'm back to stitching on my Christmas Rules SAL with Nia :o) It seems like forever since I last laid eyes on this project! LOL!

This morning DH came in with the mail and I got my fabric order. I have a few great spring pieces planned for this month :o) Remember, it's bunny month after all so stay tuned...