A Birthday, some stitching and the winners

Above is my idea of Birthday cake and ice cream. Total chocolate decadence. That yummy cake has raspberry filling with a semi-hard dark chocolate shell. Mmmmmmm. Hey I figured it's only once a year so why not celebrate all the way?

I had a wonderful relaxing weekend. No dog shows. I did some shopping, some reading, some napping and just lazed around. On Tuesday, my Birthday, I took the day off, making it a nice four day weekend. I had a really lovely Birthday this year. Thanks to some wonderful ladies in a birthday club I belong in. The stitchy gifts and gift certificates made my day. I spent the better part of yesterday trying to figure out what I wanted to order! (That's why this post is late.) Well, the gift certificates are all spent and I can't wait for all my new stash to arrive!

An Irish Prayer and linen to stitch it on from Lisa.

Thread pickers from Lisa. Aren't they just darling? I love them!

LK's Dog Lessons for People with the linen are from Rene.

CCN Harvest Blessing with the linen and crescent colours from Shelley.

Thank you so much. Girlfriends you made my day.

But my favorite gift of all came from my dear, dear friend, Deborah. First she sent me a gift certificate to Down Sunshine Lane. But she and Amy put their heads together to make it different. Instead of one gc it was broken into THIRTEEN!! I started opening them with the first one being for $10 and the second one for $7.59. Then my computer died. So all day I trying to figure out what in Heavens name was I supposed to buy for &17.59?? Well, come to find out those two were only the beginning! When I finally opened the last one there was a note to say that all the small amounts added to one larger. The joke was on me. What fun.

And then Deborah sent me my first flower frog. I have been wanting one since I started seeing them on other blogs. Well, the ones Deborah sent are just beautiful! I LOVE them. Now to get some more scissors to put in them. More stitching news. I did have a couple of finishes and I have been working on exchange pieces. I can show you a couple of the finishes since they are now in their new home. For Deborah (her birthday is two days before mine) I stitched The Tea Room by Country Cottage Needleworks and attached it to the tea cozy by Impie, Hattie and Bea. Then I had a brilliant idea for this little jar. It is a candle and comes with a lid. I have a bunch of these. Why not use the empty jars to collect and display ort? So presto. Here is my first Ort Jar with a pin cushion on top. The design is an impromptu one. The idea is probably not original and I must have seen something like it some where. But I plan to make more. What do you think? (Sorry that the photos are a bit blurry. I didn't realize it until too late. I hope you get the idea anyway.) I got the official photos from the dog show where Rory won his first and second points. I get a big grin every time I look at them. Now I may not look too great in them but Rory does! So I had to share them with you. We are off this weekend for two shows in Massachusetts and then one next weekend in Connecticut. So I am hoping we can win another point or two. Above: the judge who gave Rory his FIRST point.

Below : the judge who awarded Rory his second point.

Speaking of Rory, stash and my Birthday I bet you are all anxious to hear who won the giveaways. Sorry to make you wait until the end of the post. I can't believe the response this giveaway had.

Thank you all for the early birthday wishes. Thank you all for your comments. They make me smile and warm my heart. I only wish I had won the lottery then I could send you all something.

So with out further ado. The winners are............................

Nancy M for the pin pillow. (As soon as I stitch her initial I can finish it off)

Donna for the gift certificate to DSL.

Congratulations to two special ladies.

Well, as I said earlier Rory and I are off for another dog show weekend. So I am going to try and read a few blogs, answer a few more emails and get a little work done.

Until next time................

Love and stitches

Kathy

and licks from Rory too