Welcome Spring!

There is definitely something about Spring that makes me feel so good and energized. I think that is the way so many feel. Even though we did not have a bad winter, it was still gray and dreary. I don't like being shut up in the house so I feel gray and dreary too!

I tried to keep busy with online classes this winter and realized that I love to draw and paint but sewing is my true love so I am trying to design a quilt that will incorporate painting on fabric, embroidery designs I drew and quilt blocks. I then realized that I need to blog about it to record it for my memory...I forget things so easily!

I recently found this tutorial detailing how to make baby blankets that Jenny from Missouri Quilt Company created. She is such a wonderful instructor and is always sharing great tips and patterns. These were so easy that I made 2 for my grandson and one each for my nieces! Not the greatest picture - but if I waited for a good shot this post would never happen!

I also took a great class on sewing curves that Rachel from Stitched in Color hosted. She gave us patterns and instructions for so many projects and had such clear detailed steps for each. I highly suggest any online classes she hosts. Here are 2 clamshell pillows using raw applique I made - this was the first or second project. I used the scraps from one to make a train for my son - he is 5 now and has loved trains since he was about 1 year old!

And I have been drawing faces! But I will post pictures of them tomorrow. I have had a blast drawing too!

A new past-time

So.....all my life I have wanted to draw and paint.....and I always heard this voice telling me I am not good enough.......then about 2 months ago I realized - Hey that is my voice. So I gave it a try.....maybe I am not good at it, but I love it. I actually started following some art therapy blogs, joined a few free Ning sites, took a few free online workshops and I am loving it. First I started with flowers, then little girls, this past week I have been doing some collages. Indulge me (if anyone is reading this!) with a few photos:

My kids

Last night and today were great. My younger daughter came to visit us after work last night and today was her day off so she came again. She and my Prince love each other so much, it is fun to watch them together (she is 19 years older than him!) She asked me to make her some gifts to give her friend for her baby shower - she said that I would make something nicer than she could buy - what a compliment! I did get a little misty. I am making a towel set that has a monkey hood (jungle theme for the nursery) and a great wall hanging using applique that I found here... http://lellaboutique.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-bird-stitcheries.html - I am going to make it with a Giraffe elephant and monkey instead of birds.

Have you seen the word art pictures that seem to pop up on blogs now and then- I found a website that you can make your own! You have to check it out! Tagexedo is the name and you can make your own pictures for free! There is no giveaway or anything, just something I wanted to share with anyone who may read this.

I finished the embroidery on the face for my Princess's doll - I'll post some pictures tomorrow, along with the progress I make on the baby shower gift....did I mention the shower is Saturday???

Blessings, Maria

Helloooo.....

The past few weeks I have been silent on my blog due to my health....my heart is acting up again and my back is horrible....the doctors were actually talking emergency surgery for the back, but luckily that is not necessary. There will be more surgery soon to stop more of the nerve damage from getting a lot worse but I have babied myself (kind of) and it seems to be calming down enough to hold off for a month or so to see if I have to take care of the heart or back first....Relaxing with my knitting and embroidery has made me very reflective.....When I started this blog I thought I would chronicle what the Prince and I made, but since I don't want to show my little Prince on the World Wide Web, I decided not to do this...then I started reading other blogs and tried to mirror the things I liked other people were doing. That started me trying to follow a lot of the same projects. While I love quilting (and I do!) I am not a "swapper" or a machine quilter...I more of a small project kind of gal. I looooved making my Irish wall hanging and for the past few weeks I have been having a ball making things for my Prince to play with. So from this point on, I am just going to take off the self imposed pressure to create masterpices and have fun creating what ever I feel in the mood to do, or to fill "special orders" from my son! I used to make dolls when my girls were young and made some money doing it too, nothing major but enough to help a little financially and have fun doing it. I have my Prince, my grandson and my nephew Big Brotha and now my niece Lil Sista to make toys for and that is what I want to do. I just made the Prince a monster truck play mat that folds into a back pack.

We have a new knitted teddy bear, a stuffed felt monkey, a squishy baby doll and pillow bed for our niece and our pirate doll that have been mde lately too. Next is a doll for my younger daughter (she is 23 an is still heart-broken over the doll that I made her years ago that her older sister drew on) and then back to the boys and our princess......Ahh I love these kids. My grandson will be home for the summer soon. He lives with my mom (God Bless her!!) and I miss him so much. The nephew and niece are my cousins children. I am 14 years older than her and she has always been so special to me so it follows that her children would be too. I am still busy with my BOMs from Lynn at Blue Bird quilts and Val Laird- those have been fun too! I hope you like the pictures! I am still trying to master getting them where I want them!

Maria

Spring and a hammock

Today the Prince and I spent the afternoon outside enjoying the beautiful day.

It not only felt like Spring - we found these crocus in the front of the house!

(I love his shadow looking towards the flowers)

There was a bee in this one enjoying the flower too, until I took the picture!

All the sun and gorgeous breezes made think of the gift I won from yesterday from

Marydon at Blushing Rose
so I tonight I ordered this folding hammock

with the $45.00 gift certificate from CSN.com
Isn't it great???? It folds for easy storage and comes with a cover and pillow!

I can not wait to sit...or more realistically watch the Prince and my hubbie sit in it LOL!

THANK YOU AGAIN MARYDON!!!!

Blessings to all,

Maria

I WON at Blushing Rose blogspot

Have you ever visited Marydon at Blushing Rose ? If you haven't yet, you really should. Her blog is like visiting a friend for tea. The soft colors, the soothing music and wonderful graphics she uses make me stop by to visit often! On one of those stops, I entered a giveaway she had and.....well the title of the blog takes away the surprise here.....I won! Yes me, I won a $45.00 gift certificate to CSNstores.com is that great! The funny part is when I visited Marydon this morning, I was so busy enjoying her gorgeous pictures of Ireland that I didn't even notice that I won.....Sad but true, my husband said I was sweet when I told him that part (sarcasm I think right?). Yes I scrolled right to the pictures and missed my name!

I have to thank Marydon again - I am thrilled to have won and I do love her blog. Please visit her blog to say hi, you can use the button on the sidebar or the link above.

If you haven't visited CSN - go there too they have great items and free shipping!

It was a gorgeous day here today. The prince and I went to the park near our home and to our great surprise there were other people there. We live in a small town and the park is tiny so we are usually alone. It was a lovely day. The mom and I had common interests (sewing, jewelry making and crocheting) and she has 3 boys of her own, 2 of which are near my little guys age. We exchanged numbers and e-mails so we can plan to meet another day. It has been 8 years here and besides my neighbors this is the first person who has been so friendly. Most people here in the village have lived here FOREVER (families whose great grandparents grew up here) so we are the newcomers and "outsiders"...she lives here about 8 years too, so she forgave my being new to town! LOL.....Between the giveaway and the new friends it was a great day.....You may say the luck of the Irish smiled on me!

Blessings to all!
Maria

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I know I should have waited to take a better picture when this is fully finished - but first of all I AM SO EXCITED that I am almost done and more importantly.....

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Blessings to all,
Maria