April Showers

April showers bring April flowers!

These are my regular inchy flowers.  I have a few scraps that I'm trying to use up, so I've decided that it's okay to duplicate some flowers.

These flowers will be part of a special project that I've started.  I hope to have more to show you next week.  They're a little smaller than the inchies.

How much smaller, you ask?  A lot smaller!  They're so cute!  I used my Creative Memories punch to cut out the paper.  I do have one tinier size that I could make, but they may be toooo tiny.  Or are they?  Only time will tell.

No pictures, but I wore sandals for the first time of the year today.  YIPPEE!!!!!

Counting my blessings.....Sunny

Spring in City Park

Today was my Home Alone Day!  I was off and hubby had to work, so I had big plans for sewing all day.  It didn't quite work out that way.  I had an appointment at 9:00 this morning, and then I decided to go for a walk in our beautiful City Park.  Would you like to come along with me?  City Park is an absolute treasure.

These two did not want to pose for me, but I finally got a decent shot.

Aptly named, Mansion House is in the background.

Unfortunately, it was a cool and drizzly day, so no laughing children to be found.

There was a noticeable lack of female ducks present today, but the males were everywhere.  The females must still be sitting on their nests.  I only saw three tiny ducklings in the water, and they were quickly herded out of the water and into a safe place upon my arrival.  I also saw two loons, which is an uncommon sight here, but they were very elusive.  Obviously not as accustomed to people as the resident ducks, geese, and swans.  No goslings yet, but they will be appearing soon.  I love walking through the park frequently and watching how fast they grow up.  Something I noticed a few years ago was the difference in parenting between the ducks and the geese.  The geese always stay in tightly knit groups, with several adults surrounding the little ones.  However, the ducklings don't receive nearly that level of supervision.

Sorry for so many pictures, but I LOVE SPRING!!!!  And I can assure you that there will be more Spring pictures forthcoming.  Now if we could only get some Spring temperatures!

I ran a few errands, managed a very quick trip to the quilt store, and then cam home for a nap!  You read that right, I took a nap today.  Soon it will be time for dinner, and then I will make my way to the sewing room.  Hope you all had a nice day.

Counting my blessings...... Sunny

One Two Three Flower Wednesday

The dark one is actually a nice raspberry color, not red.  My garden is really growing with all this rain we've been getting!

I received this in an e-mail   How cute.  Are you out there, Di?

Anyone lose a cat?

Are you all ready for Easter?  I'm off work on Friday, and I actually plan on having a fun day.  I have an appointment in the morning, and then I'm coming home to sew!  Haven't had much time this week, and I need to get my sister's birthday gift done.  I've got it all cut out and ready to applique.  And her birthday was only five days ago!  Happy Birthday FSITWWW.

Counting my blessings......Sunny

For Anne

The storms of the last couple of weeks have not been kind, and I had a hard time finding a tree in the sunlight on my way to work this morning.  I was a few minutes late to work, but please don't tell...............

Counting my Spring blessings....Sunny

Meet Pansy and Faith

This is Miss Pansy, who has come all the way from New Zealand to live with me.  She was made by my dear friend Cat,of Catalina's Cottage, who dislikes the color yellow, but did a fantastic job on her.  Did you notice the pansy buttons?  She brought along some darling felt Easter eggs, and some wonderful chocolate eggs with pineapple/marshmallow filling.  Ummm....they didn't last long enough to get a photo.

And here is Auntie Faith!  I finally got her to the sewing room tonight, got her threaded, and sewed a few beautiful seams. 

She was made in the late 30's, but I'll have to do some research to get more specific.  I've been wanting to own a featherweight for awhile, and finally got the chance.  I've heard such great reports about the way they stitch, and from what little I've tried, I think I'll be very happy.

This is what my ironing board looks like right now.

This is what I'll be taking to the Post Office on Monday.  I have a quilt, hexagons for the Inchy Swap, blocks for Block Swap Adventure, and blocks for the Quick Christmas Bee.  The only thing missing is my tax return.  Must get that finished and ready to go.  I've never waited this long before, and we're actually getting a refund!

I did a little cross stitching last night for FNSI, but not enough to show.  I worked several 12-hour days this week, so I was ready for bed pretty early.  And I brought work home for the weekend, too.  YUK.  I did get some cards made today, but now I must head for bed again.

Goodnight from Chloe and Sunny! 

Spring flowers and a sneak peak

I've been working very long hours again, so haven't done as much sewing as I'd like.  I did have trouble sleeping a couple of nights, so I sowed flowers!  It's really Spring here (finally!) and the garden is growing.

How many of you have named your sewing machines?  I have a lovely Pfaff named Fiona.  Today, her great Auntie Faith moved in with us.  I'll be blogging about Faith very soon.

I hope to get acquainted with Faith during Friday Night Sew In.  Are you signed up?  Check out the new button on my sidebar, and head over to Heidi's blog to sign up.  Everyone is welcome!

Counting my blessings....Sunny

Ta Da!

I finished something!  Two somethings, actually.  The first is a quilt for Margaret's Hope Chest.  My young lady listed pink and hearts among her interests.

I also finished my cookie cutter Easter wall hanging.

This means I can finally take down my snowman wall hanging.  (hanging my head in shame)

Must get back to work now - I'm working on swaps and exchanges this weekend.  More to follow.

Counting my blessings......Sunny

Is it even possible?

is it even possible to only make one flower on One Flower Wednesday?  Not for me!  They're just too addicting.  I quilted for almost 4 hours last night, and my back is killing me today.  I was very happy to have a project that could be worked on in the comfort of my recliner.

I think I have a new favorite each week, too.  This is my newest favorite!!

Not the greatest picture, but trust me - it's beauuuutiful!  I see more of these in my future.

When I was looking at my photos tonight, I realized that I forgot to post this the other day.  Look at the sails on these boats!  I can't wait to get started on this.  Maybe next week? ? ?

Check out the time on this post.  It's about 10 minutes earlier than a typical Wednesday.

Counting my blessings.........Sunny

Random Thoughts and Confessions

Have you ever read this blog and wondered "I wonder why Sunny doesn't show us many finished quilts?"  Well, I'm here today to try to explain. 

I have a sickness, but I'm not sure of it's scientific diagnosis.  I want to (and often do) start every project that interests me!!  But then I find something else that interests me before that project is completed.  Part of the problem is that I spend too much time here:

So for all of you who are on my reading list, or anywhere else in blogland for that matter - you are to blame.  Where do you think I find most of my inspiration, after all???

I also spend too much time here:

Now see what you made me do?  I just wanted to take a picture of quilting books on Amazon, and one is coming to live with me!  It really is a sickness.

You have to understand, it's not just quilting that I'm in love with.  I've also rediscovered my passion for cross stitching, and now I'm learning embroidery.  And let's not forget crocheting, but it's lower on the list.

I work in healthcare, and a nurse recently suggested that I may have ADD.  I had never considered that - but perhaps I do!  It happened again last night.  I sat down to work on a cross-stitch ornament that I had started.  (My back has been bothering me, so I'm just working on small hand projects right now.)  I had an inspiration, so I put that down, and made a couple of prototype ornaments out of hexies.  The jury is still out on them.  So then I started a NEW cross stitch project! 

Whenever I start a new project, I make up a little project kit with all my threads and a pair of scissors along with the pattern.  There are a LOT of project kits around here.  This way I can grab something whenever I'm going anywhere that will involve "wait" time.  As a sideline, I've also been purchasing lots of cute little embroidery scissors.  Maybe that will be another post some day.

I have tons of embroidery floss from my earlier days, but I almost always have to purchase a couple of colors that I'm missing.  And you know what that means - - retail therapy!  Last night I stopped for ONE spool of quilting thread, and well, let's just say that was a very expensive spool of thread!  And now I have to go back because I started yet another project!

I also make hexagon flowers each week for One Flower Wednesday, and I exchange hexie flowers in the Inchy swap. 

And let's not forget the yoyo's.

After seeing all these projects, I think I'm inspired to get to work!  See y'all around, and maybe someday I'll even complete a quilt again.

Counting my blessing...and my projects....Sunny