Springtime in the Desert and a Winner

I think that Spring is a wonderful season to visit the desert!

A  chance to warm up and recharge my deficient Vitamin D.

Such a colorful time

So many different types of blooms than I am used to seeing!

Tucked in notches here and there.

I believe that this is a creosote bush.

One early morning, they were steam cleaning the pool deck and this little hummingbird was enjoying a bath.

Two little bunnies enjoying an early breakfast.

I was taking a photo of this springtime nest, when I saw another friend

A Great Blue Heron fishing for his breakfast.

I had so much fun hearing all of your bucket list shops!

Some I have been fortunate enough to visit,

obviously Attic Needlework, Olde World Quilt Shoppe,

but Country Sampler and Temecula Quilt Company, too. 

And some are still on my list as well:

Notforgotten Farm, Shepherds Bush, Dying to Stitch, and Silver Needle.

I've been to Primitive Gatherings in CA, but still need to get to the WI location.

And some new shops have come to my attention:

Calico Hutch in MN, Three Dudes Quilting in Phoenix (how did I miss it?),

and Sew Graceful in AR.  

It was interesting to see how very often both Attic Needlework and Shepherds Bush were mentioned!

Thank you all for taking the time to enter!

It was fun to read through your 57 entries!

Using random.org, the winning entry is #24 Kay H.!

Kay, I have sent you an email. Please send me your mailing address and your prize will be on its way.

I  just had to share a few last photos.

We were amazed one morning to find a pair of mourning doves making a nest on the windshield of the car next to us. Poppa kept bringing Momma more twigs as we watched. Not such a good idea!

A few minutes later, they changed their mind and left. Thank goodness!

  

And these are a few photos taken by my youngest son.

I just loved the colors and textures that he captured.

Thank you so much for joining in our trip!

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

~1 John 3:16-18

Blessings, Patti

Shopping at Attic Needlework & A Giveaway

Can I just tell you that it is so hard to make any decisions when surrounded by so much loveliness!

I would have loved to have spent the day there leisurely perusing, but I knew that my family was waiting for me for a late lunch...

These Attic bags were the first thing to jump in my hand. I used the larger bag this weekend for a road trip and it was just perfect for stitching in the car. The lid lifts up and everything is still safely contained in case of a sharp turn or quick stop.

The Attic has many local designers and so of course a design or two from them was a perfect souvenir! I so love bleeding hearts and redware! Perfect! 

A few other patterns that I fell in love with. The Autumn Acorn pattern came with the wooden acorn.

These notecards are of gorgeous antique samplers with patterns on the back! LOVE!

One of Blackbird Designs newest patterns. I love the cover design, but it was the bonus pattern that took my breath away:

Sweetheart Pincushion! The darker red fabric was not the color called for in the pattern. Instead I chose Weeks Aztec Red Gingham - the gingham is very faint, but added an additional dimension. The mauve fabric is so unique I had to purchase it. I'll find something to stitch on it I'm sure. It is Dames of the Needle's "Cherry Pit Brown".

And a few miscellaneous notions:

The wooden Bee Skep needlebook kit is by Fern Ridge Collections,

Needlework Press glass cleaning cloth

Beautiful bone rings from Italy 

and handy little wooden ruler embossed with The Attic.

Thanks so much for joining me on my trip and letting me share. 

I'd like to give someone the chance to share in my blessings, so here's a little giveaway:

This giveaway is for a little wool pack from the Olde World Quilt Shoppe,

a little tin needle box from The Attic and a small project bag from The Attic.

This giveaway is open to all.

Simply leave a comment on this post, or if you are not on blogger, send an email to me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with "Arizona Giveaway" in the subject line.

And tell me, what shop is on your bucket list?

I will use random.org on Monday, April 10th to select a winner. If you are a no reply blogger, please be sure to post your email address so that I can contact you :)

Good luck!

My salvation and my honor depend on God;

    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, you people;

    pour out your hearts to him,

    for God is our refuge.

~Psalm 62:7-8

Blessings, Patti

Bucket List Stop #2~Attic Needlework

My fun didn't stop when I left The Olde World Quilt Shoppe as I drove directly to Attic Needlework!

The last time I was in Arizona, I was four blocks from the shop, but just couldn't make it there.

This trip I was absolutely going to get there!

Oh My! Was it worth it! I have never seen a cross stitch store this large and well stocked in my life!!!

I walked in the door and had no idea where to look first!

Should I go right, left, or straight ahead?!

So much to see and take in, it was best to stand in place and move very slowly lol!

This beautiful table caught my eye very quickly!

Isn't everything stunning?!

Attic Needlework is blessed with many local designers.

And their work and models appear throughout the store. 

Each sampler is an incredible work of art

That are appreciated even better in person.

I recently purchased this Stoneware Rabbit kit and it is also so pretty in the variety of spring colors.

While Attic Needlework is the go to place for samplers,

they also carry many other themes and this Christmas wall was stunning!

Could I please have one of each? ;)

Many of the models are stitched over one, which make them even more exquisite.

It brought back my years of stitching over one. But as I aged and my eyes did too, it's not practical for stitching on the train/bus/water taxi anymore. Hopefully I will go back to stitching over one someday when I am retired and stitching at home.

A bowlful of beauties

A tin of treasures

A case of museum quality masterpieces

How can one make any decisions when surrounded by such loveliness?!

This tray with a design by Threadwork Primitives is stunning - the colors so subtle and the velvet pincushion perfectly matched!

An entire display of lovelies by The Primitive Jewel

Stunning in progress samplers done on 40 - 50 count linen.

I simply can't tell you how wonderful my time was at Attic Needlework. It was a pleasure to be there with many other equally smitten stitchers. And it was an honor to meet kind Jean Lea the owner of this phenomenal stitching mecca.

Attic Needlework has a website here and be sure to sign up for their newsletters - they are wonderful! You can find past issues here. They also have a Facebook page here.

Thanks for letting me share this wonderful trip! In my next post, I'll share my shopping at Attic Needlework and have a little giveaway for joining me on this trip.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;    my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

~Psalm 62:5-6

Blessings, Patti