A Blessed Easter to You!

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

 

And just in time my garden is celebrating in all its finery!

Glorious flowers that could only be created by God.

Bleeding Hearts - a favorite of mine. 

I think that they have bloomed a bit early this year,

Perhaps wanting to join in the celebration of Easter.

I am blessed with two beautiful magnolia trees

reminding me of my childhood home.

Every year at least one person stops to admire and chat with me.

Today a couple stopped by to ask what kind of trees they were.

They said that the flowers reminded them of Hawaii. :)

He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ 

~Luke 24:6-7

Blessings, Patti

Finally a Finish!

Finally I have a finish to share!

"Ann's Sampler Sewing Tray"

a limited edition kit by Stacy Nash

Stacy recently released this as a pattern ~

"Ann's Sampler Pinkeeps

As usual, I decided to tweak mine a bit :)

I wanted it to be more sewing related, so I borrowed the large strawberry from Stacy's "Goode Stitching Witch" design.

I also added a scissor, key, needle and thread and my sweet pup Leia. 

The center velvet section is perfect for new and old sewing implements. 

And on the final section I added another spool of thread and needle and my other sweet pup Peanut.

I had finished stitching this on our way home from Arizona and am so glad that I took the few minutes to put it together!

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

~1 John 3:23-24

Blessings, Patti

~An *Amazing* Evening!~

We interrupt our usual blog programmimg to share an amazing evening.

Last night we were blessed to have front row seats to the Chicago Cubs second home game of the season and the World Series ring presentation.

It's a unique perspective.

It was fun to watch all the newscasters getting set up for the big night. 

ABC sports anchor Jim Rose was all business, while Cheryl Scott, meteorolgist was having fun.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel greeting retired Cubs catcher and 

Dancing with the Stars darling, David Ross.

The actual presentation was facing home plate, but we didn't mind.

The players were so excited and it was contagious.

Anthony Rizzo receiving his ring from 86 year old super fan Erv Schreiber.

I love their gold numbered uniforms!

Wow! Such an amazing night!

With a view of what takes place behind the scenes

Mark Giangreco, news anchor.

The excitement was amazing!

You could tell that it was hard to put the rings away and get ready for the game.

We even got a glimpse of the World Series trophy.

What a ring! 108 diamonds with rubies and sapphires.

There is even a goat on the inside of the ring - finally putting to rest the curse of the billy goat.

Catcher Willson Contreras and Pitcher John Lackey ready for the game.

All set for the National Anthem.

Jason Heyward and John Jay

Albert Almora Jr. and Gary Jones.

The Cubs may have lost, but it was still a great night.

I am so glad that we were able to experience this as a family and create memories to last a lifetime.

I'll be back shortly to resume our regulary scheduled stitching :)

 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.

~1 John 3:19-22

Blessings, Patti

~*April Offerings*~

Happy Spring! It has been very wet here on Winding Vine. Lots of rain, but since we didn’t get much snow, it’s a good thing. Tiny sprouts are beginning to appear in my flower garden, strawberry patch and herb patch too. I had another fun month of repurposing antiques, but I don’t see a dent in my antique bin yet.

My first offering this month is a one of a kind Home Sweet Home Sewing Pillow. Some people like to have a pillow on their lap while doing handwork to lift their projects up a bit and/or to rest their arms. The front of this pillow features a sweet embroidered spring scene that I picked up at an estate sale. I love the flowers and the bird in the bird bath.

I’ve backed the pillow with an antique spring flower fabric – also an estate sale find. On the back, I’ve added a wool strip filled with five mother of pearl rings on which to hang your threads, a red wool heart shaped pocket for your scissors with a ribbon tie to keep them safe and a wool flower pin rest with a few yellow pins. As with all my offerings it is completely handsewn. The sewing pillow measures approximately 8 by 11 inches.

~*Sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

I continued the flower theme with my second offering – Scissor Holder Spools. Starting with some old Coats & Clarks empty wooden spools with their labels still intact, I attached on each a little garden scene that travels all around the spool.

These are a perfect size for holding your embroidery scissors, so that you remember where you put them ;) Spools measure approximately 1.5 inches across by 2 inches tall.

Please note that the antique scissors are not included.

Each one is unique and features flowers of antique mother of pearl buttons, hand-dyed wool or embroidery with my new favorite thread Rustic Wool Moire.

Garden Scissor Holder Spools are offered at $15 each.

Please specify when ordering:

·         Button flowers on Pink, Blue or Green
*~Green is sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

·         Wool flowers

~*Wool flowers is sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

·         Embroidered flowers

~*Embroidered flowers is sold. Thank you ever so much!*~

Here is the full little scene, before stitching it to the spool.

And a close up of my first completed spool.

As I created these offerings, I thought about the women that used these items before me and I hope they are happy in seeing them repurposed for future enjoyment!

If you are interested in purchasing anything, just send me an email at:

pgagliardi9@hotmail.com 

I can send a PayPal invoice or I accept checks and money orders.

Blessings, Patti

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