sidetracked again...

Have you ever started one project only to be sidetracked midway?

...dumb question. 

I started out my cottage redo with my kitchen and on the way noticed how sad my bedroom looked.  It looks exactly how it did when we moved in two years ago except the red burlap curtains came down and I've moved the bed twice.

I found this great bedspread on clearance at Marshall's...

 I love the green and white as a starting point...

My mom reminded my of this fabric I bought to make a quilt a couple of years ago (oh yeah, never made the quilt because I got sidetracked) ...

 

So I started with a simple valance...

 

I think it perked it up a little bit...

then last night I made this little table topper...

now it's starting to come together...

looks like Bear approves.

I have the pillows cut out and I hope to have enough fabric for a small lap quilt...

I'll show you when I'm done...unless I get sidetracked.

Blessings,

Patty

I've linked up to Treasures and Trinkets at My Cottage Charm.

Easter greetings...

I don’t know where our beautiful spring weather is hiding…It’s cold and dreary here again…Luckily I have a few sunny Easter cards to share…

I am not the best mass quantity producer because I tend to get bored quickly…so for a holiday like Easter when I know that I want to send blessings to my friends and family, I will choose a simple card layout like this one from CardPatterns Sketch 57-- and use a different image to change it up a bit.

All these adorable images are from Crafty Secrets…the paper is Spring by Dear Lizzy - American Crafts.

I’m planning to make a coconut cake for our Easter dessert based on a recipe from this month’s Better Homes and Garden magazine. I’m not the worlds best cook… but I think (fingers crossed) I can follow the recipe…I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Unless it rains, I’m sure we’ll hide some eggs for the grandbabies…

What about you?

Anything special planned?

Blessings,

Patty

Easter finery...

There is absolutely something magical about spring...

I don't know whether it's the extra daylight or brighter sunshine...

 but the air is just full of new possibilities...

Maybe it's the sweet colors of Easter...

The snowy whiteness of bunnies...

or the pastels of colored eggs...

the first songs of bluebirds...

or the chirping of chickies...

The stillness of winter is gone...the air just comes to life this time of year...

It's no wonder God chose this season on the kingdom calender for the resurrection...

"Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?  He isn't here!  He is risen from the dead!"  Luke 24:5-6

Have a blessed Easter week,

Patty

I have linked up to Spiritual Sundays, Cottage Instincts, Show off your cottage Monday...

Saturday morning...

Good morning...

I'm a little drowsy this morning.  I had three of my best friends over for our first "craft night" last night...of course, we talked more than crafted, but that's to be expected.  We did manage to complete a project...impressive, I know. 

I love these ladies.  Sometimes I feel they are my link to sanity in this crazy world.

I smell the coffee...

I know it's calling me.

..

Just wanted to wish you a beautiful, memory filled weekend.

Blessings,

Patty

plant a seed...FWF

Happy Friday...

It seems like I tend to gravitate to paper I really love no matter what new wonders come along.  Do you do that, too?

Take this Cosmo Cricket - Early Bird...it's like an old, trusty friend...it seems to be fresh everytime I use it.  I better check my stock and start hoarding it cuz I know I'll be sad when it's gone.

I teamed it this time with this adorable potted seedling and sentiment from the Unity January 2010 KOM...

I did a combination of copics and paper piecing, plus a little stitching around the edges.  The card sketch is CPS 159.

Enjoy the rest of FWF journey and watch for the blinkie...

Blessings,

Patty

paper transformations...

It's Thursday and that means it's time for Treasures and Trinkets over at  My Cottage Charm.  I can't believe we flew through March already...where does time go?

I have two super simple transformations to share that will end up in my new cottage kitchen very soon.

    

Do you remember when I shared this from my Goodwill shopping excursion a couple of weeks ago?  I knew the size and soft green color were perfect but the "friends" sentiment would limit what I wanted to use it for.  I went through my stash of designer paper and found this Girl Friday paper by cosmo cricket and simply cut strips to place over the sentiment, being careful to leave some of the green exposed.  I inked and sanded all the edges to give it a more worn look.  The addition of a paper flower was all it needed and wa..la...perfect for what I have in mind.  (That's my dog bear in my garden last year as a temporary place holder.)

For my second super simple project...I was in need of a kitchen towel bar beside our sink but the space on the cabinet is kind of akward and an actual bar would be too long...so I found this peg hook in the garage that I must have bought for some other project long ago...

A coat of celery spray paint and the addition of some paper piecing of the same Girl Friday paper and I now have the perfect size towel holder.

I can't wait to show you what they look like in their proper place...

I should have a little time to play today so hopefully they'll be up and ready to show you soon.

Go over and take a look at the other transformations...I'm sure you'll find something to inspire you.

Blessings,

Patty

rollie pollies and little boys...

I sat and watched my grandson discover pill bugs yesterday.  It was such a sweet moment in time as his pop-pop showed him how to make the little bug close up into a ball...how he coaxed him into putting his palm out to let the million little legs crawl across his hand...how he gently picked the rollie pollie back up when Andrew screamed and threw him to the ground...as he pried open his lttle hand so that he wouldn't squish the thing to death and as they placed the little bug safely on the ground...

Just a moment in time...gone too quickly...until the next one...

I made these two quilt blocks as a part of this challenge at Sew Many Ways.  Karen asked for donations of these two squares so that she can make a quilt for a friend that is going through a difficult season...

I can't think of a more wonderful way to express love than with a handmade quilt...

I tucked in this card for her to send out to her friend...I heard she loves cherries.

Thanks Karen for the reminder...It only takes a moment to touch a life...to send a hug...to offer encouragement.   

Blessings,

Patty

daydreamin...

Don't have long, just wanted to pop in and let you know my dad's surgery was a success.  Praise God!  The doctor was able to remove all signs of cancer without removing too much of the tongue.  Our biggest problem has been trying to keep my dad from talking and breaking the stitches.  Thank you all for your prayers.

This sweet little daydreamin' birthday card was for my nieces daughters first birthday...

It fits my heart perfectly right now...forever looking up with a thankful heart.

Blessings,

Patty

curtain call...

You know what I forgot about this whole decorating thing?   When you start moving stuff around you notice the dust and grime a whole lot more then if you just blindly dust around what's already there...

As you can see, I finally got my little valance hung...

which meant that I really had to look at the blinds and the top of the fridge...

which meant everything came down and got a good washing...

and now...

I'm starting to love my little cottage kitchen all over again.

Blessings,

Patty

I linked up to The house in the roses, Show off your Cottage Monday.  It is such a magical site...go give her a look, I know you'll be enchanted.

Saturday morning...

I am just about to peel some potatoes for breakfast...

but I just wanted to take a minute and wish you a wonderful, sun-filled, first day of Spring!

Enjoy your weekend,

Patty

FWF...sugar rush

It’s a Basic Grey kinda day…I have been itching to use my Basic Grey “Nook and Pantry” and “Sugar Rush” papers and these Unity stamps from June and September 2009 gave me the perfect excuse on this friends with flair Friday.

I just love these sherbert colors...

I don’t know if it’s the weather here or just wishful thinking but something’s been making me think about the ice cream truck’s ring-a-ling…

I just love a good ice cream cone...

What about you…in a cone or in a bowl?

Sugar Rush Wishes,

Patty

mama's hands...

It’s Treasures and Trinkets Thursday again over at My Cottage Charm. I am so excited to share with you one of my most favorite treasures from my mom. I know I’ve said it before but I have been blessed with the most incredible mother. It’s hard to believe there was ever a time I thought she just didn’t “get me”…insert eyes rolling back in my head here…then I grew up and realized what a treasure she is. Any creative talent I have can be attributed to her. (Yes, I know God is the giver of all good and precious gifts, and I am thankful he gave me her genes!) No offense to my dad…he has his own wonderful qualities, but I still remember the “rabbit” he drew me when I was about ten...lol…

My mom made this quilt for my husband and my 25th wedding anniversary a couple of years ago. I just love the colors and the fabrics but the treasure is in the hands that lovingly stitched it together. These are the same hands that continue to care for my father, their five children, eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

They say the hands show age like no other part of us…I say the hands show love like no other part of us. When I look down at my own hands…I am beginning to see the hands of my mother…I just pray that my children and grandchildren see them through eyes of love…just as I see hers.

Blessings,

Patty

ahhh, websters...

Happy Tuesday...I don't know what happened to Monday...it seems the older I get the more of a difference losing that one hour makes, it feels like I lost a whole day.  I spent most of Sunday out in the front garden clearing out leaves and pulling the gigantic weeds that this years rain brought on.  I am sore as the dickens, but it was worth it.  Hubby will be bringing me some compost, new mulch and pea gravel next weekend so I can really start to play. 

It's been a while since I posted a few cards and the best way I know to find inspiration is in some fantastic designer paper.  If you've been reading my blog long, you know I absolutley adore Webster's Pages paper.  Their beautiful floral images and sweet, romantic color combinations can't be beat and teaming them with Crafty Secrets scraps (another favorite) is the perfect combination.

This one is inspired by Melissa Phillips photo of the week...

I used CPS 158 sketch for this card...

This is the sketch challenge over at I heart 2 stamp...

And this last one is for the challenge over at Taylored Expressions...

The forecast here in Southern California is high 70's maybe even low 80's, so Spring has definitely sprung.  Hope it has where you are, too.

Blessings,

Patty