Monday, April 5, 2010

The first Monday of April.

The posting title is a bit lame but I just couldn't think of anything else.
I hope everyone in blogland who celebrates Easter had a joyous and blessed Easter Sunday. And those who don't, well, I hope you too had a beautiful weekend. Mine was mixed. My dear friend and neighbor's DH lost his battle with cancer suddenly on Thursday. So on Friday I attended the viewing and wake and offered my support. Not a great start to the weekend.
Saturday started out sunny and warm. Perfect for some yard work and sitting on the deck stitching and reading. I did a little of both. But when I went to pick up some flowers to plant at the cemetery the sun disappeared and it got down right chilly. But when I got home I pulled up and found the prettiest surprise sitting on my front stoop. My dear brother remembered Easter and sent this gorgeous basket full of flowers to plant in the garden--lilies and tulips and little mums--as well as a cute pink bunny that Rory would just love to rip apart, err, play with. Honest, I think I have the greatest brother ever. Oh, and I LOVE the basket. Just the right size to hold more works in progress or maybe patterns to be kitted or .......................

Last week was also the birthday of a dear friend, Carolyn, and she called to tell me how much she loved the little gift I stitched for her. So here are some photos of my very first attempt at a pin pillow. I must say I just loved the way it turned out. And when it turned out exactly how I envisioned (A very rare occurance!) I whooped and hollered and did a happy dance that had Rory looking at me like I was nuts. I think he was trying to figure out where he could hide.
(The fabric is the back of the pillow.)
I loved doing the little pillow finish so much so that I finished up two more this past weekend. One was for a private pin pillow exchange and is on its way to its new home so no photo yet. And the other is the companion design to the one I did for Carolyn. I am keeping that one. And I have a few more almost ready to be completed. A new finishing technique that my dear stitching friends will probably get tired of. Fobs and pin pillows are now my specialties. :)
Both this little pillow and the one I sent to Carolyn are stitched with the recommended colors. The Pattern is by Raise the Roof.
I didn't do anything really special for Easter. I had hoped to be finished with He is Risen by LHN. Close but not quite. I was so tired Saturday evening that instead of stitching I fell asleep at 8:30 PM! So here is my progress on this one. I have the frame and mat all picked out and not much more to do so I hope to be done by the end of the week.
I have a couple of pieces all lined up for my next start.
I'm not sure which one I'll do first. What do you think?


I also got a couple of patterns in the mail last week. One is a loaner from Missy, called Hearts Left Behind by Hester's Needle. I saw this finish on Jill, the Purple Peacock's blog and it brought tears to my eyes. It reached out to me that I had to find this to stitch in memory of my Mom. It is perfect. So I contacted Missy and she graciously allowed me to borrow it. I am going to order silks from Victoria Clayton for this one and start it as soon as they arrive.
For Easter Rory got a new ball that he had a blast with. Also a couple of frisbies to play with outside with his new baby, uh, puppy sitter. Today is her first day with him so I hope all goes well.
I hope everyone has a wonderful stitchy week.
Until next time...........
Love and stitches
Kathy
and licks from Rory too

45 comments:

Tricia T said...

Beautiful finishes! I look forward to seeing what you decide to start next. :-) Part of the fun is getting them all out to look at, I think!

Donna said...

How beautiful! And as usual Rory made me smile! You do have a wonderful brother.
Hope your week is full of beauty, just as you are!

Carolyn NC said...

And I do so love my pin pillow and all the other goodies you sent. I felt very spoiled! And I'm finally posting my BD gifts on my blog - I'm just a little slow here. Love the Hearts Left Behind and Full Moon - can't wait to see them stitched! HIR is looking great - I'm planning on that one myself. I love your pin pillows - they look wonderful! No one could possibly get tired of them!

PamelaSueJames said...

I love the pin pillow and it will be fun to learn what you will choose to stitch next.
Pamela in Kansas

Emily in NC said...

Very nice little pinkeep or pin pillow. Rory looked ready to dive into that bunny, but I guess decided a ball was better?? That is a great photo, hard to get pictures of moving objects.

Theresa said...

Love your pin pillows!!!! They are so adorable~~

Such a great basket from your brother, that must have brightened your day. Looks like Roy had a lot of fun with the ball~~ What a cutie~

Rene la Frog said...

The pin pillows are beautiful.

No Easter Egg hunt for Rory?

EvalinaMaria said...

I absolutely adore your pillow and I adore Rory. Thank you for sharing your pictures.

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

OH Kathy! What a lovely newsy post.
First off, my deepest sympathy on the loss of your neighbor. May he rest in peace.

Your pin pillows for dear Carolyn and yourself and other exchangers...well they are just perfect!
You are so close on "He is Risen" so close! And it is so pretty!
Your new stitches...I'd do the Hester's Needle one myself. It is stunning and I saw Jill's all finished up. Not to mention the special memory it will bring to you.
Rory...what a dear. Hope his puppy sitter did well and works out!

KarenV said...

I'm sorry to hear about your neighbour Kathy, that's so sad.

How thoughtful of your brother to send such a lovely Easter basket for you :) Your pin pillows are both beautiful, and Rory is as gorgeous as ever!

Cynimin said...

Such a great brother you have! Your pin pillows came out so pretty. I love the finishing.
I'm sorry about your friend. So close to a holiday too.
I hope the puppy-sitting goes well.
I take Holly to doggie-day care when I'm at work because she gets so bored at home with our other 'older' dogs. (they are at the ripe old age of 7!) LOL

Mylene said...

I so love the designs you used for the pinpillow and you finished them beautifully. Great job, Kathy.

What a wonderful brother you have and such great pictures of Rory.

Ranae said...

Gorgeous finishes, Kathy
I am into pin pillows now too.
Rory is so adorable with those bunny ears,
Both charts are cool, I say start them both, lol I can't make up my mine, lol I love both of them.
Take Care!

DJ said...

Wonderful pin pillows...now that I've done a biscornu I feel "ready" to do a pin pillow...maybe...LOL You did a great job! Glad to hear you and Rory had a good weekend. *Hugs*

DJ said...

Wonderful pin pillows...now that I've done a biscornu I feel "ready" to do a pin pillow...maybe...LOL You did a great job! Glad to hear you and Rory had a good weekend. *Hugs*

Sunshine said...

Nice Finishes Kathy. What a nice goodie basket from your brother. Isn't it nice he included Rory. You have a Great Brother / Friend.
Happy Stitching!

staci said...

I'm sorry that your neighbor has lost his battle with cancer, my condolences.

Your brother is so thoughtful, that basket is gorgeous! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your little pin pillows! The designs are so adorable and the finishing is so gorgeous and creative!!!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about your neighbour.

You sure have a great brother. Love your finishes and WIPs and hope you can decide which picture you want to stitch next.

Marl

Tracey said...

Great pics and lovely stash! sorry ot hear about your friend's dh. :(

Jan said...

Those pin pillows are just gorgeous!!! Great job, and the pics of Rory, boy I know I haven't been around for a few months, but that baby boy has grown and matured so!!

Julie Phillips, aka Julieloveslucy SCS said...

Love your pins and needles pillow. Rory is goregous.

Hugs
Julie

Katri said...

Oh, how lovely stitching, once again! And such sweet designs!

Sherry said...

I am so sorry about your friends DH. The little basket is adorable. How sweet of your brother. He is Risen looks lovely.

Carol said...

What a sweet brother you have, Kathy--I love the basket he sent you (looks like Rory does too!).

Your stitching is lovely :)

Anonymous said...

All your stitching is beautiful (as is Rory). I'm having trouble deciding on your next start, too - they're all so lovely!

Paula C. said...

I love your pin pillows! I have that pattern and now I'm itchin' to stitch it up! It does look like one that would be fun to stitch more than once!

Shelley said...

You have a great brother to remember you during the holidays. Beautiful surprise he left for you.

Love the pin pillows. You do such gorgeous work.

Your WIP is looking fantastic, almost done. I'd work on Full Moon next, since the sun is shining brightly now that spring is here. The dark fabric should be easier to work on, loL!

Charlene ♥ NC said...

All your lovely stitchy things are so lovely! Great job. Give Rory and hug!

Katrien said...

The pin pillow looks lovely. Cute pics of Rory.

Catherine said...

All your stitchy things are lovely! The pin pillows are adorable!

So sorry to hear of your friend's DH.

htimcj said...

The basket is beautiful! So are the pillows.
Heidi-ILCS

Alice said...

It's the cutest pin pillow and Carolyn LOVES it, I read it on her blog. : ) What a sweet bro you have. Nice progress on LHN and I like your stash. We had a very quiet Easter. DH is away and the kids are mostly in their rooms chatting to friends. I think you had a more exciting Easter than I did. That ball is clearly not going to last long so snap away.
Alice

Carin said...

beautiful finishings. The photo's of Rory are so sweet.

Sharlotte said...

I am sorry for your friend losing her husband. I know that this must be a really difficult time for her. I love looking at Rory , he is such a beautiful dog! Hubby thinks so too and he likes the picture on your side bar with the floss! On another note. Not too long ago I was trying to fix something on my followers list and I was considering alphbetizing my list but changed my mind and didn't get everyone back on the list. I know that there has got to be a better way of changing it besides hitting delete and adding it all back in ,but if there is I don't know about it. Anyway , your blog was one that got the axe, so I am off to remedy that! I'm so sorry!

Nancy M said...

Yep, pretty sure he gets the "best brother ever" award! Great gifts/exchanges as always. It's nice when the plan works out. Hope the sitter is working out well. The dog I wanted to adopt got adopted while I was on vacation. Oh well, guess it's still not meant to be!

Sharyn said...

Kathy,
I really enjoy your blog! What lovely pin pillows! Did you decide which project to start first? Your He is Risen is looking great, I stitched it too and love it! Rory looks like he's delighted with his ball, hope the sitter worked out.
Here's an invitation to visit my blog!
www.skeinbyskein.blogspot.com.

Sharyn :-)

Lyn said...

I love the He is Not Here, He is Risen project!

Rory looks like he is a fun loving dog.

Roberta said...

Great stitching and finishing.

Love the basket of plants/flowers and the pink bunny.

Rory is looking good!

Meari said...

Wonderful finishes, Kathy! Glad you had a good Easter weekend, despite your friend's passing.

Angela said...

I love your pin pillows too :) I would have a hard time deciding what to stitch next from your choices as well. Rory looks like he is having a lot of fun with that ball!

Maggie said...

Kathy, your first attempt at a pin pillow turned out just great :-)
& what a lovey brother you have leaving a lovely gift!

Siobhán said...

I'm sorry about your friend passing away. Big hugs!

Your pin pillows are FANTASTIC! YGG!! You have every right to be proud. I like your LHN WIP, and the new stash, too.

Berit said...

I love-love-love your new finish!! Cotton/eyelet lace are my favorites! :D

Anonymous said...

You pin pillows look just great, WTG! How sweet of your brother and I know you can put that basket to good use! Love all the Rory photos & great stitching!

Dani - tkdchick said...

The pincushions are fantastic!