Sunday, September 23, 2012

Stress Relief and a Giveaway

 
"Flowering Vine"
design by Maggie Bonanomi
 
A few weeks back, we moved our oldest son into his dorm for his first year of college.
He seems to be adjusting well and enjoys his classes and new friends.

 
I'm having a harder time adjusting, just like so many moms before me. It's hard to adjust to a new stage in life and I feel like a part of me is missing. I'm fortunate in that he is very close by and has been stopping by once a week, but I things just won't be the same anymore...
 
Thank goodness for my needlework!
It is such a stress reliever!
It calms me, focus me, and helps me to realize that everything will be fine...

 
"Dance under the Harvest Moon"
design by Stacy Nash
 
Now that it is Autumn, my favorite season of the year, my needle is certainly inspired!
 
And now it is time for another giveaway:
 
 
A few posts ago, I mentioned a gourd plant that just appeared in our alley. (You can read about it here.) This weekend it was time to harvest my gourds.  
 
For my giveaway, give me your guess as to how many gourds I harvested. The one who guesses the right number, or closest to it, will win the two corduroy pumpkins and one antique shirting quilt top pumpkin pictured above. As always, you can post a comment here or send an email to me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Gourd Count" in the subject line.
 
I'll be back next weekend with the winner!
Blessings, Patti
 


36 comments:

  1. Your stitching is lovely.
    I would love to enter your giveaway. I am going to guess 17 gourds.
    I hope that you have a lovely week!

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  2. I'll pass on the draw, but I do want to say that your finishes are gorgeous, pumpkins included :-)

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  3. Ton petit coussin est très joli et tes citrouilles adorables...
    siliocema@wanadoo.fr

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  4. I am going to guess 7!


    siilentii27 at gmail dot com

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  5. I love your pumpkins, I will guess 13 and if I don't win I would like to buy 1 of each!

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  6. I wanted to comment on the empty nest syndrome, I went through it about 5 years ago, we had 4 all leave one at a time, our oldest son joined the service that was 9 years ago, I thought my heart would bust, I so worried about him and missed him dearly, I ended up getting a yorkie poo to fill that void, my children laugh and say they were replaced with a dog, but it surely helped that emptiness when dh is away at work and I am here alone, along with my crafting as well it keeps me sane. Now we have grandchildren that fill our hearts and empty spaces.. I would love to guess as well on your gourd harvest and say you gathered 22 gourds... Keep stitching and remember he is just a phone call away.
    Prim Blessings
    ~Rhonda~

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  7. Hi Patti, cute pumpkins, would love to enter your giveaway, I say 13 gourds, they are so pretty to. Blessinbgs Francine.

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  8. I'm going to guess 12.Warm Blessings!~Amy

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  9. Your pumpkins are beautiful! I'm going to guess you harvested 27 gourds : )

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  10. Oh...your winding vine is wonderful! The muted colors are perfect! Pulling a needle or hook is the very best therapy! I'l guess nine.
    Robyn

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  11. Hi Patti, I love your work, you are so creative with your finishes. I am going to guess 34 gourds.

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  12. An empty nest can be such an adjustment for all...know that you are not alone and there will be brighter days ahead. And yes, thank goodness for needlework.

    I'm going to guess 55 gourds!

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  13. I know you must be missing your son. That has got to be tough... but I'm sure you will both do fine. You are such a heartfelt gal & I know you raised him well. It is great that he is stopping by so often. He misses Momma too <3

    How many gourds did you harvest? Well... my guess is gonna be a Baker's Dozen! 13 *smiles*

    Have a blessed day, Miss Patti!

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  14. Patti, you're a good mom to be missing your son. It gets easier, especially if they are happy and pursuing their dreams. That gourd plant looked pretty healthy, so I'll guess 24 gourds. ~Roberta

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  15. Mmm...what fun! I am going to guess that you harvested 11 gourds.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  16. I don't remember how many plants you planted, I think they grow many per plants, so I'll give a guess of 33.

    mariebeers4@gmail.com

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  17. Love your pumpkins, your work is lovely! With your son being close the adjustment will be easier, just hang in there! I guess 18 gourds, what a fun bonus to your garden!

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  18. The pumpkins are beautiful an I would love a chance to win them. My guess is 27 gourds.

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  19. Love the cute pumpkins you made. Thanks for the sweet giveaway. I think you might have harvested 23 gourds.

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  21. In August I sent my #3 daughter to college for her first year. I should be used to this by now.
    Not so, I think I actually grieved after she left ! It is sometimes hard to transition when the family dynamics change...

    Gourd Count - My guess is 32.

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  22. My son has had his own apartment for about 15 years and I still call his old bedroom 'Jamie's room' even though it's my sewing room now. I'd love to turn back the clock.
    My gourd # guess is 42.

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  23. My son has had his own apartment for about 15 years and I still call his old bedroom 'Jamie's room' even though it's my sewing room now. I'd love to turn back the clock.
    My gourd # guess is 42.

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  24. I know what you mean about the empty nest. I did nothing to our sons room for 3 years after he moved, not because I thought he was moving back home after college but I felt I was taking some of him away.

    Anyhow, to the gourds. First, your needlework is so lovely, second, and I know this is a little high, but I am thinking you harvested around 27 gourds.


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  25. That Flowering Vine is just wonderful. The colors are so soft and it even looks soft and lofty. Very nice. Glad your needle gives you calm.

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  26. My guess is 71 . Have a great day.

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  27. Oh my goodness, I love gourds! You are so lucky to have found such a wonderful plant!! I am going to guess 25...thanks so much for the chance, your pumpkins are beautiful:)

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  28. Love the little pumpkins...my guess is for your gourd harvest is 26. Thnnks for the giveaway and have a stress free week.

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  29. So cute! I am going to guess 41.

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  30. Im going to guess 26, and I love your wool creations!

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  31. love all the deisgns you do,9 1/2, the 1/2 is a pipsqueak that form correctly!

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  32. Lovely design of vines. The pumpkins are really cute too! I wil guess 41 gourds. Thanks for the fun opportunity to win those cute pumpkins.

    Judy heartland stitcher

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  33. That's a beautiful Maggie pattern! Please enter me in your giveaway if I'm not too late!I'm going to guess 12 gourds.

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  34. Great post. I especially love your creativity juice here. Thanks for the share.

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  35. Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. There's going to be stress in life, but it's your choice whether you let it affect you or not. See the link below for more info.


    #stress
    www.ufgop.org

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