Pennies from Heaven ~ Volume 16

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Over the weekend, it was Mom's birthday, so we took a quick trip down to celebrate.

Mom has been busy this winter and had lots of finishes to share...

"Is It Spring Yet?" design by Maggie Bonanomi

Kitted by Blackberry Primitives

Mom's is on top and mine is on the bottom.

How appropriate just about now :)

I always like to see how we do things a bit differently.

I love Mom's daffodil leaves on top.

On mine (bottom) I did two eggs in wool and one in velvet.

Mom (top) used a black button for the eye

I used a scrap of wool.

I think that they are both keepers!

"Early Family Sampler" design by Cee Rafuse of Early Style Penny Rugs

Mom did this one to celebrate our family.

I love how she slightly stuffed the people. She adjusted it to have two daughters five years apart :)

(I'm the little one.)

She also added a turtle and a rabbit as we had those as pets growing up.

"Wild Hares and Hollyhocks" design by Kathy Cardiff for Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine, Spring 2016

I love the plaid background and the beads that she added to the flowers! Lovely!

My personal favorite!

Maggie Bonanomi for Country Sampler Girls Club 2016.

I have this kit in my stash and must complete before fall.

Mom's work is absolute perfection!

"Pinecones" design by Carolyn Snyder for Cricket Street Wool

Love this! All the textures and dimensions!

And all those embroidered pine needles!

February Hexi Word Door Greeter

by Buttermilk Basin

Isn't this awesome!

Mom added tiny seed beads on each of the blocks.

I love the added detail that they provide.

Mom had made hearts runners for my sister and I and now she has one of her own.

I love the wools that she chose.

And finally, Rebekah L. Smith's "Wooly Pocket" kitted by Attic Heirlooms.

So sweet hanging on a peg rack.

I did catch a sneak peek of Mom's next project, shhh! Don't tell her that I peeked! ;)

Although I have several wool projects in process, I decided to start a new project for our little road trip to Mom's. I'll be back with that soon!

There is still time to enter my little Arizona trip giveaway. Be sure to go here to enter!

  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

~John 11:25-26

Hope your birthday was a happy one, Mom! We sure enjoyed it!

Blessings, Patti

Happy Valentines Day!

Wishing you a Happy Valentines Day!

design by Kathy Barrick

(I like that my husband and  I have the same initials.)

Thought I would share a few more Valentine displays.

Sewing pocket design by Stacy Nash for Country Sampler Girls Club 

and dove created by Stacy Nash

I believe the hearts are old Maggie Bonanomi designs - I created them many years ago.

My latest addition!

A creation by Cee Rafuse of Early Style Penny Rugs

I love the colors, design and especially the wool binding!

Thanks Cee for adding the sweet label!

I went on a little road daytrip with friends on Saturday and come home to these. 

I love their rosey pink color!

I am blessed with a very sweet husband!

I'm working on a few Valentine projects that didn't get finished in time -

one wool and two cross stitch. I hope to finish soon and will share them when I do.

To me, Valentine's Day isn't a romantic holiday, but rather a day to let those we love know how much they mean to us - family, friends, pets, co-workers. Even to celebrate our love of God. For at least one day, to surround the world with love and inclusion rather than hate and divisiveness.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love,

I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,

and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,

but do not have love, I gain nothing.

~1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Blessings, Patti

A Winner & Vacation Stitching

 Chippewa Flowage, Hayward, Wisconsin

Do not read this post if you are hungry!

Wow! You readers really like your pie ;) I had 81 entries and lots of favorite types of pies:

fruit filled - blueberry, lemon, blackberry, huckleberry, cherry, strawberry rhubarb, peach

meringue - chocolate, lemon

cream - chocolate, coconut, banana, 

pecan and shoofly and too many more to mention,

but the most popular were apple and pumpkin! Of course all pies taste better with ice cream!

And I loved Vicki Jo's comment: 

"Or as my Daddy used to say, he had 4 kinds of pie as his favorites: hot, cold, one crust and two crust!"

The random winner of the little giveaway is OhioLori (who likes Cherry and Peach btw)!

Congratulations OhioLori! Send your mailing address to me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com and I will send your package on its way...

 In my vacation posts, I shared my stitching as it progressed.

 It was a fun project 

And I thought it was very appropriate for my location.

 Cee Rafuse of Early Style Penny Rugs based this rug on the antique above.

This is Cee's design.

I bought her kit of hand dyed vintage wool and her wonderful hand dyed string for stitching.

And here is my rendition:

I decided to omit the year and substitute two flowers. Then in each corner I added familiar creatures that live around the cabin - song birds, ducks / loons, squirrels / chipmunks and a beaver that swims up the channel by our cabin and then crosses the road each night at 9:00.

It's my favorite souvenir of our time at the cabin.

 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

“Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

~Luke 12:32-34

Blessings, Patti

A Different Kind of Vacation

 

Our annual trek to the north woods was definitely different this year.

I always look forward to this week - unplugging completely from the internet/phones

 and reconnecting with nature.

 

It was oh so different this year, as our sons could not join us.

Both were participating in internships/research fellowships in their field of study.

It was a disappointment to us all, but a great opportunity towards their future.

It was also a chance for my husband and I to reconnect...

 

 

We found that we spent time doing things that we enjoyed - 

things we might not do as much when the boys are along... 

Of course I spent time stitching...

 

And my husband golfed.

(I tagged along as the courses are usually beautiful and I can stitch in the golf cart ;) )

 

We spent time on the water, fishing as we usually do.

 

This was a once in a lifetime experience...

You probably need to zoom in on these photos to see a territorial chase between two loons.

 

They were actually using their wings as flippers to "swim" on top of the water in hot pursuit.

 

They moved very quickly creating a lot of waves.

Shortly after, the first loon left and the second loon seemed quite pleased with himself.

 

Of course I had to stitch some more...

 

We went to the Norske Nook for pie (before dinner lol - don't tell the boys!)

They have 45 nationally award winning blue ribbon pies! 

 

How do you pick just one?!

Of course I ate each and every bite!

 

Then I stitched some more...

 

We had a neighbor come for a visit.

 

And she brought her darling children.

 

Momma had found a little blueberry bush right by our deck.

She ate a few and then brought the ducklings along for a treat while she stood guard.

 

We went on our daily kayak runs as we do with the boys.

 

And hit another golf course for good measure -

while I stitched of course.

 

And all too soon, vacation was over and we were headed home to our sons and our pups.

 

I also had the good fortune of revisiting a wonderful quilt shop

and a small town, yet big on inspiration quilt show - more on that to follow.

(along with my stitch project finish)

A lovely yet different kind of vacation, but it is also good to be home!

Here's hoping that our sons can join us next year!

 

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

~Matthew 5:14-16

 

Blessings, Patti