close to my heart ♥ ...

When Managing Editor Christine Stephens contacted me a few months ago

 regarding writing an article for my Stitched Hearts, I knew that I would include all the little things that are close to my heart.

The very reason these little hearts were created in the first place ...

to be given

to the one (s) I love

One of my very favourite heart creations

vintage lace, buttons, fabric rosettes & stamped message.

Thank you so much Christine for the opportunity to share my crafts & thoughts.

It is always an honour ♥

My Stitched Hearts article along with directions to make the stitched hearts can be found in the newest Sew Somerset Summer 2014 issue.

garden bunny Beau

as in Beau tiful ♥

he actually walked up to my hubby as he was gardening over the weekend.

we had lots of rain last night

starting late in the evening and continuing all through the night

the peony

are almost ready to open.

we have 2 peony bushes ~ one normally blooms a week or so earlier than the other, but this year, we had to move one of them (the later bloomer) and it looks  as though they are both going to bloom at the same time.

the lilac is still looking

and smelling

amazing

joy at the suet basket

the squirrels left a little bit for the birds :-)

abundance in our garden

a perfusion of flowers & birds

all

close to my heart

♥

Sentimental Symbols ...

Fly On Gentle Wings

Cuff Bracelet

***

A gentle positive affirmation that I wear on my wrist.

Today, I thought I would share how I make it & also, how I made my little key chain.

You probably have most of the items already & can easily improvise adding what is personal & special  to you. They each take very little fabric.

Tools & Materials

fabric

scissors

lace

metal heart embellishment/trinket

small bird stamp

small alphabet stamp

stamping ink

3 white buttons

needle and thread

sewing machine

 

Technique

*cut a strip of fabric 8" x 2 1/2 "

*layer with small pieces of fabric and lace to create a multi dimensional look.

*on a small square of fabric, stamp with bird stamp.  fray edges of fabric.

*when you are happy with the arrangement of your layered pieces, sew them all in place. allow your lace to overlap slightly as this will become the three button holes you will need.

*attach heart embellishment to cuff.

*stamp on a long thin strip of fabric words that have a special sentimental meaning to you. I chose FLY ON GENTLE WINGS .

* cut out words and sew individually onto cuff.

*attach 3 buttons along one half of cuff with sewing needle and thread.

Slip on your wrist and look down often to admire ♥

I Hear You Singing To My Soul

key chain

Tools & Materials

fabric

lace

2 buttons

sewing machine

needle and thread

scissors

key chain

small alphabet stamp

stamping ink

bird stamp

Technique

*cut 2 pieces of fabric 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" and stitch together

*sew a piece of lace along the bottom

on a small piece of lace, add a decorative button and attach to bottom right hand corner

*on a small square of fabric, stamp with bird stamp.  fray the edges of fabric and using sewing machine, sew on to key chain.

*fold a small strip of lace in half and attach to top of fabric, holding in place with a small decorative button

*attach key chain to lace loop & your house key & close to lock

*on a long thin strip of fabric, stamp a sentiment that is near and dear to your hear,

I chose " I hear you singing to my soul"

* cut out so that your sentiment is in separate words and sew each word onto the back of the key chain

clip on to your purse

or for me, my gathering bag

all ready to take on my walk & fill with found treasures

♥

All the above can be found in the Winter 2013 issue of Belle Armoire "Sentimental Symbols"

~Have a wonderful weekend~

♥ D

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

the return of the finch

fluttering around our yard ...

a canopy of honeysuckle leaves

atop our pergola

that gets thicker by the day ...

clipped lilac blooms

can be found

everywhere

changes in the garden daily

and always welcomed regulars

I laugh when I hear his squawking ... letting me know a peanut refill is in order

a little baking for this evenings desert

and stirring

and folding

some studio time

with gathered treasures

gratitude

is a memory

of the heart

~Jean Baptiste Massieu~

♥

Monday Musings ...

our lilac are in bloom

I have all the windows open to allow their heavenly scent to come inside

and the lily of the valley ...

one little plant, chosen because I wanted to make my son's high school graduation boutonniere, all those years ago, has now spread across the garden like wild fire, trying to come into the lawn.

 

gifts from the garden

♥

and I had our first finch spotting this morning

with all the windows open, I followed his pretty song ...

what a thrill to find him singing happily

not in the lilac

but in our front garden

sitting happily in our purple sand cherry

and then taking a drink from the birdbath which sits below

a Robin flew by with an enormous amount of nesting material in her beak

I hope she decides on somewhere in our garden

to build her nest

I have been looking in the "usual places" but no nests started yet

for now,

I will  sip my tea

listen to Loreena McKennitt ~ the mystics dream

and inhale the sweet scent of lilac

Happy Monday

x D

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

No walk would be complete if I didn't return home

with my gathering bag

or pockets

holding a few found treasures.

acorns* stones* feathers* twigs* pinecones * flowers for pressing*

and walks with my grandson = double the treasures! He finds the most delightful nature gifts.

I've written before how he would always find heart shaped stones and give them to me ♥

A lovely collection was created in no time.

this one was particularly lovely...

not only is it one of the largest in my collection, but

it can be turned and creates a heart on 2 sides ~ me & him.

It sits on my meditation altar, with a gorgeous large white swan feather ~ a gift from my friend and fellow bird lover, Kim, bees wax candles, shells, sage for smudging, incense & inspirational words/thoughts.

And then there was an Owl Sighting.

 I tucked him into an almost finished painting which turned into Owl Spirit ~ "Messenger of change"

Hello

Have a wonderful Thursday ♥

The long weekend ...

This is Durante

the little chipmunk that calls our garden

hOMe

♥

One of his favourite spots to sit is on the clay pot of Pansies

which is on one of our kitchen window ledges

making it easy to get some cute, quick, photos of him.

I think he must be use to seeing me with a camera by now

and is totally unfazed ... he just continues enjoying his snack.

We enjoyed a lovely long weekend here in Canada

and even though we saw our share of rain

we also saw our fair share of sunshine and warm winds.

I've been working on this hexagon blanket for a while now.

Each hexagon takes approx. 1/2 hour to make, and uses up very little wool.

Since I save just about everything ... this is perfect.

Even the tiniest bits of wool were tuned into something. When I looked at the little heap of wool clips I had beside me, like a little Sparrow, I started to twist and weave them together until I had formed a nest ♥

which grew large enough to hold 3 speckled eggs

Cozy

just waiting for a little bird

♥