~ Our New Stitching Project ~

It's our stitching get together tonight and we're starting a new project....The Garden of Eerie by Plum Street Samplers.. Here it is Easter time and we are starting a Halloween project, but you've got to plan ahead. This past weekend Lisa and took a little trip to...Placerville to visit Kelsey's for fabric and some other treats. This is a nice shop...

and the ladies there are so helpful. I love the fabric I found and my new scissors. I'll be using DMC floss since I'm going to just display this stitched piece at trick or treat time. Placerville is a neat little town and after getting our stitching things we poked around a bit. In one of the antique shops...

I found a tomato cushion, I wonder how it got that little water line. I really like things with a history, if only they could tell us their story. I'm not sure if this little black bunny likes it in her egg bowl....I think I'll need to move it soon. Lisa did a little Easter shopping and look......

at this little foil bunny she bought me. I love it and it really looks just so realistic...these seem to be new this year and they are so cute. Are you ready for Easter? Our menu is planned and I'm making a new yummy dessert which I'll share....just a hint there are strawberries in it....see you soon....hugs, Linda

~ This and That ~

It's another pretty day here, and I just got home after lunching with dear high school girlfriends...lots of chatter and a delicious lunch at the Elephant Bar...this is one of my favorite places to eat. Look at this sweet bunny......Jeanie surprised us with ...too cute....I love it Jeanie. It's a candle but I'm not going to burn it...what I do when I get ready to put my decorative candles away I store them in the refrig until next time and then I can enjoy them each year, as MS would say, it's a good thing. I'm so happy. I.......

finished the Chocolate Box and I'm really pleased with it. I did make a few fun changes. Instead of french knots, I used beads and I put my initial in the bottom middle candy. This was my niece Jennifer's idea and I thought how fun...my own special piece of candy. Tomorrow I'm going to Joann's for the cube and all the finishing material and trim. I'm kind of nervous about putting it together but it's suppose to be pretty easy...hope so. Look at the wonderful gift I received in the mail yesterday. I had mentioned in a comment to Jane that I had a small collection of tomato pin cushions and she had these ...

and would I like them.? Yes....I'd love them! Well, they arrived yesterday and they are so sweet....thank you Jane. Stop by and meet Jane...she has a super blog I know you'd enjoy. I have no idea where my love of these little pretties comes from but I adore them. Did you know in the 1800's the tomato was a symbol for prosperity and placed on the mantle. Certain times of the year tomatoes were hard to come by and little balls of red wool were made, and filled with sand or sawdust.....they were the first tomato pin cushions and have evolved into the ones we now enjoy and collect. I think I'll put a little tomato pin cushion on a pretty plate and put it on my hall tree....I like the sentiment and we all wish for prosperity. To read more interesting facts you can go here.

Well, I think I'll take Lily Bean for a walk before her dinner.

Have a nice evening, I plan to stitch and watch The Good Wife....my new favorite TV program....hugs, Linda

~ Spring Is Here ~

Spring has sprung and today is just beautiful. Look at this sweet bloom Mother Nature sent me today. The first and only rose I have blooming...this rose is called Secret, the fragrance is heavenly. I'm puttering in the garden today...mainly weeding and a bit of trimming. Anyone else tidying up their yard? Wishing you each a lovely Spring day and happy weekend...hugs, Linda

~ Weekend News and TUSAL ~

Saturday, Lisa and I had a delicious brunch at Mimi's Cafe.......and then went to the movies. We saw Alice In Wonderland.......and loved it. The visual affects were awesome. I hope you get a chance to see this movie...I think you will like it too...at least I hope you do. Sunday we went to the Peddlers Fair and we found some little treasures, my favorite find was a wonderful crock and I'll be sharing my fun finds later on. Today there is a new moon so it's time to share my........

ort jar for the Totally Useless Stitch Along. Carl bought me this sweet little jar...it's really a shaker (I usually have the lid on) and I love it. I love the swirls in the glass I call it my little kaleidoscope.

I'm nearly finished stitching "Chocolate Box" by LHN and Agatha is a fun little freebie from the Sampler Girl. Mysteries are my favorites to read and Agatha Christie is "Queen" of the mystery writers....green was her favorite color so I changed the colors around and I like the way this little stitch turned out. Not sure if I'll put it in a little frame or make a little pillow....what do you think? Yoyo is hosting TUSAL....stop by and say hi...she has a great blog and is an amazing stitcher, plus see who else has orts...hugs, Linda

~ Lots Of Rain Today ~

It's been raining pots and pans here today and I just cut this one Calla Lily. I normally won't cut just one bloom but I decided to rescue this one pretty before all the rain destroyed it. The weekend forecast is sunny and I sure hope so. Sunday is the Peddlers Faire and tomorrow were going to the show...we're seeing Alice In Wonderland...I can hardly wait. Do you have plans?? Whatever you do, enjoy...hugs, Linda

~ Finished ~

Hi! Welcome, come on in. You are one of our first visitors since we finished painting. No major changes but everything is clean and fresh and most of the primping is finished.

With our house you step right into the living room, there is a short wall on your left where our hall tree is, holding some of the canes Carl collects...you can even see two of the hats I wore as a child. This small wall and two other walls we painted using a Sage green called Restful...I love it. It is very pretty but the picture really doesn't reflect the true color. The hutch wall is also painted this color and you can just see a bit of the dinning room wall using this color. All the other walls, ceiling, moulding and beams are an Ivory tone.

I'm not sure if you remember all the plates and silhouettes I had on the hutch wall...well, I decided not to put them up again....not sure what I'll be putting there but I like the clean look. Not too sure how long this will last because you know how I like lots of stuff out and about.....I always say more is better, so we'll see.

I always call this the mantel or bookcase wall....this was a real chore to paint. The coved wood just drinks up the paint and you really have to make sure you cover all the surfaces. Sometime soon....

we'll visit the dining room. Thank you for stopping, I always love your visits....hugs, Linda

~ Nifty Thrifty Tuesday ~

Hi everyone, it's Tuesday and Linda at Coastal Charm is hosting....Nifty~~Thrifty~~Tuesday. Here is a lampshade I bought several years ago at the Galt flea market. I think it's both nifty and thrifty.

As soon as I spotted it I fell in love with it..and best of all I believe it was less than $5...I bought it several years ago and I truly can't remember what I paid for it but I know it was a " Thrifty" buy. Let me show you what some clever person did.....

They took an old lampshade, a vintage crocheted runner and bits of ribbon and created this shade by draping the runner around the lampshade and tying it with the bits of ribbon. "Nifty"!

I love vintage linens and this is such a pretty piece...kind of intricate and looks so pretty with the light shinning through. Hope you enjoyed my "Nifty Thrifty "find...hugs, Linda