Embroidered Valentine's

Happy Valentine's Day all! Hope it is a special one for everyone. Colby and I had some great Italian at a restaurant. We don't really do much for Valentine's Day so a nice meal is good enough for me.

I did receive my Valentine towel and small crafty items for the Embroidered valentine Swap that I wanted to share with you! Everything is perfect! The towel has two lovely love birds in colors that I just love--greens and peachy-oranges. So darling.

She also sent along two great small gifts--a cute cupcake Scrabble tile charm and a perfect needle book.

I've been wanting one of these and even thought about making my own. Seems super easy and so cute!

The needle book is great. It's a smaller one that will be great for travelling. She again used the most perfect colors and added cute button details. Looked eerily familiar to the felt magnets that I made for her!

This shows it opened up and the cute hearts and buttons. How lovely! This swap was fun because of the theme and the awesome partner I had! I don't know that I'll be swapping for a while because I have some other things I want to work on...........but you never know.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Well it's that time of year again---Groundhog Day! I, for one, am ready for spring. I'm tired of cold ears and toes though I know that as soon as summer is here I'll be wishing for winter. I can never be satisfied.


But what this also reminds me of one of my favorite movies---Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie McDowell. Pure genius. I watch this movie all the time and I just love that it's set during Groundhog Day. Colby and I are always quoting it, too. We love it.



One of my many favorite scenes.

I have also vowed that before I die, I will visit Punxsutawney, PA for the big groundhog festivities. Head up to Gobbler's Knob and see the groundhog. It can't get any more fun than that. Granted we have Sir Walter Wally here in NC but there's something about Punxsatawney.


And it seems that Punxsutawney Phil has indeed seen his shadow, so it's 6 more weeks of winter for us!

New painting

I finally finished the painting I started months ago. I still can't really decide if I'm pleased with it or not. I may have to live with for a while and see how it looks to me each day. I'm like that though--I'm always my worst critic. I'm so glad it finished though because it's been sitting unfinished on my easel for months, taunting me every day. So I have a sense of accomplishment that I can now move on to the next painting. I'd love to be able to finish one a month and that really doesn't seem to be too lofty of a goal. I'd really like to be able to show another piece this year so I'm on my way. My blank canvases that I bought on sale are now calling my name.


I sometimes think about just picking up and leaving--not telling anyone where I'm going---and having an adventure. I envy people that do that.


Detail of the embroidery. I like the juxtaposition of different mediums like paint, fabric and thread. I think (at least I hope) that it creates a very dynamic image.


Parting shot of my pallet reminding me that I really do need a new razor scraper.