Fall Pin Keep Swap with Kendra and Other News

I know...I know...where have I been...LOL. :0) Well... I must say it has been crazy here at Dulaney Woods but it sure has been a fun kind of crazy.   First I have to share my wonderful swap goodies from Kendra.  I was going to have this posted last week but I'm easily side tracked these days.  I am sorry for the delay dear Kendra.

Here are all the wonderful goodies Kendra sent. I must say Silas was tickled to get Mac & Cheese with tractors in it.  It was so sweet of Kendra to think of our little one.  Plus Mac & Cheese is one of his major food groups right now... I'm sure you all know how three year olds are with food at this stage...toast & cheese, spaghetti O's, chicken nuggets, Mac & Cheese, and peanut butter sandwiches.....now rotate...LOL. :0)  He doesn't get that from us that's for sure.   Kendra also sent along a fantastic Jack O'lantern pin keep, wooden letters that spell "Crows", a lovely old pattern that was her mother's and a apple note pad with a wooden pencil.  Such a lovely and thoughtful box of goodies. :0)

Kendra's wonderful Jack O'lantern  pin keep sits by my sewing machine which I use daily.  You'll also notice I hung the wonderful wooden "Crows" letters on my painting from Sandy Mastroni.

Here's the sweet Fall pillow Kendra sent with my Bittersweet Folk Art pumpkin gal...they look fabulous together. :0) 

Here is what I sent Kendra...but  you should go check out her blog she also... took some really great photos of what I sent her to http://thestonehouseprims.blogspot.com/.  Thank you Kendra it was lovely to swap with you!!! I'd like to thank Wendy from Ravenwood Whimzies for being such a lovely hostess too. :0)
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I didn't take a lot of photos but in early August Brian, Silas, Holly and I went to the Lititz PA craft show.  I love this show because you never know what you will find. 

My first find was this lovely old chest...the colors are fantastic and the guy said he didn't do anything to it besides clean it and put a protective clear coat on it.  Let's face it for $56.00 I was one very happy camper....LOL.

Next was Teresa Miller's tent and as you can see I really had a good time there...LOL...everything on the chest is from her except for the candy canes.  Here is Teresa's blog if you'd like to check out her lovely creations and maybe find a show she'll be at  http://teresasprimtreasures.blogspot.com/.

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What else has been keeping me busy... well as some of you know my dear friend Jackie is letting me put some of my creations at her table at the Malabar Ohio show Sept 28th.   I have been working like crazy and feel pretty good that I  have about 40 things to go.  I'm still stitching so I'm sure I'll have others but here are some of the things I've been working on. 

The pumpkin guy to the left has already found a home with my sweet friend Misi....I also managed to squeeze in a swap with her....LOL....I like being busy. :0)

Some of you may remember these photos... Amy from Bumble Bee Lane gave them to me. 

Sweet little tea cup pin keeps with tea bag tags that read "pins".

Two noble women pouches ready to go..... two more to finish.

These sweet crows have been tagged, priced, and boxed up to go. I sure hope I do well at this show...it's been at least ten years since I did a show.  I will be running around so if you are at the show please say Hi.  Jackie will be running the table though since it's her table and she's just being kind to her stitcher...LOL. ;0)

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In late August we had a wonderful trip up to upstate NY where my family lives.  I got to see my sweet niece Rosalie...man is she growing like a weed.  It's hard to believe this little gal has two bottom teeth already.  One of the days we were up there I got to help my older sister (Aunt Joann) baby sit her while her mother and father worked.  It was so much fun to hold and play with this sweet little one.  The only thing is when she is hungry...watch out because she is not patient when she wants her bottle...LOL.

Here she is with her teething ring and the monster bib I made her).

Rosalie playing piano with Auntie Jo.

Holly, Jo, and I also managed to squeeze in a pedicure too.  Jo and I figured we needed to take Holly since she's never had one.... I think she really enjoyed herself too. It is a wonderful way to pamper ones self.... sitting back getting a foot message and drinking a glass of red wine..... note to self take chocolate next time. ;0)

 We also celebrated my sister Jo Ann's birthday.... I wont say how old she is but she is young at heart like me.  As you can see from the above photo.... Silas really was dying for a piece of cake...LOL!!!!

This was one of the gifts we gave her.  Jennifer Mayo created this sweet doll and kitty needle punch.... my sister absolutely fell in love with them. 

I made this wall pocket for her...she loves horses and as she pointed out the little girl looks like our grandmother...it isn't though.

The boys grandpa and Silas got to play trains too. They both love they're trains and it's hard to get them out of  grandpa's train room.  It's so nice that they have something special to share.

Grandpa even lets Silas run things....because as grandpa puts it... he's a very good kid with other kids toys....LOL. :0)

Okay my friends now you have the what and why and where I've been...LOL.  I actually have other things to share but this is getting to be a long post so I will save it for another day.  I sure hope you all are doing fine.  I will have two more swaps to share with you soon and hopefully photos of the Malabar show too. 

May happiness and health find you all.

Hugs,

Theresa

Farmhouse Summer Swap With Becky From Rebecca Rose Designs

I told all you gals I would have another lovely swap to share with you all.... and here it is.  I had the wonderful chance to get to know and swap with Becky from Rebecca Rose Designs.  Just look at the beautiful new treasures she sent me.  I can safely say I am one spoiled and lucky gal to have had such a fantastic swap partner!!! :0)

Just look at the sweet bird doll she made me....isn't she beautiful!!!  Becky had said that she had taken one of Colleen Moody's classes to learn how to make these sweet birds.  I myself own a few of Colleen's creations and to tell you the truth I don't think I could tell the difference between Becky's sweetie and one of Colleen's.  This says a lot about the teacher and the student.  She is simply divine Becky...thank you!!!!

 More wonderful goodies that Becky sent.  This sweet bee keep tuck found it's way upstairs with my other bee themed items.  It looks wonderful...wish I had thought of taken photos.  Notice the sweet fruit fabric in the background....she sent that too.  It makes me think of my Grandma Coates who had lots of kitchen towels in prints very similar to this. 

 I'll use these lovely photos Becky sent for my primitive wall pockets....can't wait to use them.  Do you see the sweet little fabric tag (bottom right corner) Becky made that for me too.

 Love this baking pan filled with yummy ribbons and lace in several colors.  She even gave me a frozen Charlotte doll...my first one ever.  I will do something special with it...something I will keep for myself. :0)

And if that wasn't enough Becky even sent me some cross-stitch patterns from one of my favorite stitchers Nan from Threadwork Primitives.  I told you I was spoiled...now do you believe me...LOL. :0)   I want to give a great BIG THANK YOU TO BECKY for being such a lovely person to swap with.  I also want to thank Amy from Bumble Bee Lane Cottage for hosting yet another wonderful swap.

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I also wanted to show you all a few finishes.  Here are two cross-stitches I finished...the crow one is a pin keep and the other is a trinket box or sewing box.

Finally got my other bird wall hanging done too...the one I was working on a few posts back was one that I was making for myself (which is also finished).  The one in the photo below I will sell.   They are very similar...the bird in this one is black where mine is brown....plus the corner blocks are in different creams where mine are in light tan colors.

Here are a few things on my work table now.  I hope I will finish them soon...a cross-stitch sewing book (to keep pins, threads, and scissors in), teacup pin keeps, and another wall pocket.

 I know that this post is already photo heavy but I wanted to share these sweet photos of Silas in his little pool.  It's been soooo hot here...just a few days ago it was 104 with humidity....today is a little cooler thank goodness.

Plus our butterfly bush hotel is in full swing already.  Almost every day we've had about 15 different butterflies feasting on the sweet smelling flowers of our butterfly bush.  I don't collect butterfly items mind you but I do love watching these beautiful creatures. I also like the challenge of trying to get a perfect photo of them in their element. :0)

 I know these yellow tails all look the same but they are all different. This guy has small blue dots on his wings.

 This one has a lot more blue on his wings then the others.

 This guy is all yellow and black but his bottom right wing has some of it missing.

 This fellow is perfect....they're all perfect in my eyes. :0)

Well my friends if you made it down this far.... you hung in there with all the photos...LOL.  I wish you all happiness and health.  Have a safe summer and hopefully I'll be back soon to share some fun adventures with you all. :0)

Hugs,

Theresa

Farmhouse Summer Swap with Amy From Bumble Bee Lane

What a wonderful swap with my good and sweet friend Amy from Bumble Bee Lane.  Not only was Amy one of my swap partners but she was the hostess for this lovely swap.

I was hoping Amy would pick me as her partner...LOL.....I already had a plan you see and I wanted to make her something  I wanted to make myself too (I know that's so bad of me... right).  I'm not going to tell you what it is either....you'll just have to keep an eye on her blog to see what I sent her...LOL. :0) Here is all the lovely things Amy sent me.  I must say she really spoiled me...I love everything.  I don't think I could pick a favorite thing... since they are all my favorites. :0)

Amy made this sweet pumpkin doll for me....she knows me all to well.....LOL!!! Everyone who knows me knows Halloween/Fall is my thing and that my studio is decorated all year round with Halloween goodies. I decided this sweetie needed to be where I'd see him a lot and what better place then next to my sewing machine.   I know this guy will be whispering ideas in my ear as I work away. 

Next is this wonderful corner shelf...I wanted to hang it but right now I'm moving things around in the house and I'm looking for a primitive corner cabinet to replace my glass one.  Then move the second glass case out altogether and put this beauty up with a small square primitive table under it (which I also need to buy).   I think for now it looks sweet with my bear.  Amy made the wax candles to go in it too....aren't they wonderful!!!

The table runner Amy sent has already found it's home on our dining room table.  I love the summer like colors and the beautiful bird drawing in the center by Michelle Palmer.  I think Amy did a beautiful job picking it out for me. :0)

This was more then enough but Amy sent even more.  A beautiful box with the sweetest bunny to sit on top...or at least that's what I'm going to do since they look like they were made for each other.  There was a surprise inside the box too...one of Amy's beautiful wax sheep (I forgot to take a photo of him). Here they are sitting on my new $6.00 shelf from Goodwill. As you can see I haven't filled it up yet with goodies....but I know I will soon....LOL. ;0)

Amy even sent more goodies... some lovely photos, keys, and a whisk broom to add to my collection.  Like I said Amy spoiled me with such lovely and dear treasures.  Thank you my friend for such a lovely swap and for hosting!!!! I had another swap partner too and she has received her goodies from me but she was delayed in sending her's out so come back soon to see more Farmhouse Summer swap goodies. :0)

I have just a few more things to share with you.  A while back I bought these two lovely bear drawings from Michelle Palmer.  Once I decided I'd like a banner with our name and wedding date under them I asked Michelle if she'd be so kind as to make one....she agreed.  Here they are all framed and hanging on our family room wall.  I just love Michelle's work!!!

Last we have been looking for a bigger car since late May and we have been going back and forth between the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey.  Finally we got the price we were hoping for and we brought our new van home.  I wonder what we will name her???  Any suggestions my friends?

Well I guess that is about all my friends.  I hope this post finds you all happy and healthy. :0)
Hugs,
Theresa

My Goodness Where Does The Time Go???

My goodness where has the time gone?  I've been wanting to post on my blog for sometime now but it seems like I always have a stack of things to stitch so I do that instead.  I do have a bunch of finishes so I guess I am using my time wisely....LoL. Here are some of them.

 

 

 

 

We also have been spending time with family.  Father's Day weekend was very busy.  My folks came down so we could all go to Cumberland MD to ride the Western Maryland train.  Silas and Grandpa were both in their element.  We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Cumberland and right outside our hotel window was CSX's four tracks...so trains were coming and going through the night. 

The ride on the old steamer was wonderful and the meal and service was outstanding.  My favorite part and I think Silas too.... was seeing them turn the train around. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other big news Silas has a new bed...his first big bed.  Grandma, Grandpa, and Auntie Jo brought down his train bed and helped us put it together.  He absolutely loves it and I have to send a big thank you out to Auntie Barb for finding it on Craigs list.  

 

Yet another big thing that weekend for Silas was that my family got him a bounce house for his birthday. It was something they wanted to order at our Walmart down here in Maryland...and then pick it up for us because there was no way I could get it in my little car back in April. 

 

 

 

 

I've also been working on two boxes of swap goodies.  I have sent out my packages already so I should have some new lovely swap goodies to share with you soon.

Well my friends I'm so sorry it's been so long but all of you have been in my thoughts.  I hope you're all having a lovely summer!!!

Hugs,

Theresa

P.s...I'm writing this while I'm waiting for Silas to get out of gymnastics class...LOL...nothing like squeezing in a blog post but it had to happen at some point other wise you'd think I had died...LOL!!!