Hey Guys! :)

I know it's been a while since I last popped in.  I can't believe that a little bit ago I was even entertaining the idea of a once a week post.  It was wishful thinking I'm afraid.  Life is just so busy.   Oh well,  enough said about that because I find it ever so frustrating, and I've written about my pathetic posting before so I won't bore you with more of that now.   I hope anyone who may be reading this is happy and just enjoying each day as it comes.  

Let me introduce you to my new love! (Picture a bunch of tiny hearts swirling over my head as you read this!)  That's him, right there, standing in the yard, looking ever so handsome!  (Sigh!)  I know it's odd to be in love with a clothesline, but truly ... I am! ;)

  

My yard isn't all that big, and the oak trees I used to have back there are now gone, so stringing a line from one tree to another wasn't an option, plus honestly even if it was an option, my husband just didn't want a line of any kind out there all the time.  Handy Husband could have easily built something if he really wanted to. :(

 Figuring there had to be something I could just buy that would fit the bill, I went searching and I found this him...The Leifheit Linomatic!   I just call him Leif for short.  I talk about him so much, my friends are starting to think there must be something wrong with me!

   To satisfy my husband, he takes up very little space...but when I pull his string...oh gosh, such wonderfulness happens!  (That didn't sound quite right, did it?!!)

I think whoever invented this was brilliant!  As you pull his string, his arms slide up and outward to reveal quite a bit of line.  Then when the wash is all freshly air dried, and smelling just about as good as it possibly can, I push a little button,  and like magic the lines retract into his arms as he transforms back to looking nice and neat again. 

I'm loving all of this so much, I find that I'm pulling sheets off of beds to rewash even before their fresh air, Downy scent, has even faded!   Yes, it's true love!!!

  Out front, my pink roses are back again and looking so pretty.   I was a little concerned that maybe they'd have a rough go after last winter's snow and frigid temps, but they're all fine... just beautiful, and perfectly pink! 

New things are happening on my work table! ;)  I'm working on some clay pins in the same style as my stitched ones.  Here, take a peek... 

I've still got a few things to work out, but when they're exactly the way I want, I'll let you know. 

Okay then Sweeties, that's really it for now.  I hope you enjoy your weekend.  Remember to do something that makes you happy, and always remember to smile...it's such a simple thing, but smiling makes you feel better, and it makes all of those around you feel better too!  :)

See you soon! (At least I'll try to see you soon!)

xo Paulette  

Hello Sweeties!

 

Pink! :)  Even saying the word makes me happy!  There's lots of it in my garden.  Come see some of what's been blooming around here lately...

 

 

This tree (some sort of cherry?) was just covered in these bright pink flowers.  That color lasted for about three days and then started to fade.  Yesterday,  the flowers began to lose their petals, and with each gentle swish of a breeze, a flurry of pink fluttered across the yard like pink snow!

 

There was a sparrow in the birdbath this morning.  I wonder what she thought of all the soft petals floating in her bath water.  I couldn't grab my camera quick enough to catch her, but she left behind a little clear spot when she finished bathing.

 

 

  The pink rhododendrons are as beautiful as always...

 

 

The pink azaleas are just starting to bloom.

 

 

This little pink pansy popped up between the rocks bordering the backyard flower garden.  What a nice surprise! ;)

 

 

 The garden is mostly pink, but there are some purples and whites too! ;) 

 

 

A bunny that visits our yard, loves to nibble on these bitty purple flowers.  He'll chew off four or five stems at a time, and starting from where he breaks them off at their stems, he just keeps munching as the flower buds quickly move toward his face till they finally disappear.  It's like they're riding an invisible conveyor belt straight into his mouth!  Without a pause, he'll grab another little bunch and this continues for a minute or two till he's had enough.  Then he moves on to try something else, or stretches out in the grass to rest digest!

 

Mr. Bear, who's been sitting on our front porch for about fifteen years now, is starting to look like he's seen better days. :(   

 

 

He reminds me of Smokey The Bear...but without the Ranger hat.  The little wagon full of flowers sort of hides the big crack that now extends down his torso.

 

On the front door next to Mr. Bear, I hung my summertime wreath. 

 

 

 Some Cosmos flowers are waiting to be planted.   They're so pretty, and so easy.  I noticed quite a few Cosmos seedlings coming in the garden,  from seeds that dropped last fall.  They grew to be as tall as me last year! 

 

 

I've been having so much fun outside, but it's time to get back to my sewing table!  I did finished up these three pins.  There's a bunch of stuff that's not yet done...but soon! ;)

 

 

Enjoy all the beautiful flowers popping up everywhere!

If you can't have snowflakes, they're the next best thing! ;)  

(Not too many share my love of the snow, but it's right up there with the color pink!)

 

See you soon.  Have a fun rest of the week!

 

xo Paulette

  

Hello Darlings!

I missed you last week!  I'm always amazed at how sidetracked I get when my husband is off from work.   He took some vacation time and the past 10 days have just been a jumble of projects.   Lots got done around the house though, including a new closet, window seat and flooring in the dining room, and the cement guys came to redo our sidewalk and driveway.  The past two winters really did a number on our already aging concrete.  We also cleaned up the yard and it's all ready for planting.  I can't wait to get to the garden center to buy some flowers, but it's still a little early around here for planting.  Our last chance of frost is around Mother's Day, so I usually wait till then just to be safe.   :)

I've been playing around with some cake topper designs for a while now, and I just finished up this set. 

 They're not too big, just about 3" in length, and 2" tall.   The tip of a wooden skewer covered in white cotton floss,  gets inserted into each birdie's underside,  so they can be poked into the top of a cake for a unique, one of a kind cake topper set.

Mrs. Birdie is all twinkly in her headpiece and veil, and her groom looks rather handsome in his little black top hat!

I really enjoyed creating these dimensional birdies.  It was a nice change of pace.  New projects are always such fun!

I also finished up some Springtime Heart pins.  This is one of my all time favorite pin designs  A bunch of stuff...but it all works together! ;)

Feeling the need for a good dose of fresh air, I took a quick ride to the beach.  It's so beautiful during the off season.  Most of the time it's just me and the seagulls watching the waves, and just a few folks fishing or strolling by.  It's so peaceful.  The gulls and I shared lunch.  I always make two sandwiches, one for me and one for them.   I've learned from experience that's really the way to go because they're pretty brazen about letting you know they want your food.  Once a seagull swooped down and stole my sandwich right out of my hand.  I didn't even see the little bugger coming!  :D  In the concession stand up on the boardwalk, there's a sign on the wall warning folks to mind their food because they won't replace anything the birds steal.  Those Gulls have quite a reputation!

 As always, thank you for your visits, Sweet Friends.  I hope you have great weekend.

I'll be around to see what you've been up to...I have a bunch of visiting to catch up with!

xo Paulette

Hi Sweetie Pies!...

Happy Easter!  I hope the Easter Bunny hopped by your house this morning and left you a little basket of treats, or maybe a pot of your favorite springtime flowers.  ;)

There was such a beautiful selection of potted flowers at the grocery store the other day.  All the lovely spring bulbs we usually see this time of year.   I chose some mini daffodils for my mom and sister.

Do you have anything special planned for today?  Is an Easter egg hunt or an Easter parade on your agenda?  It's fun to watch everyone stroll by in their beautiful Easter bonnets...and sometimes,  sort of kooky Easter bonnets as well! 

When I was in 5th grade our school held an Easter bonnet parade.  We all had to create our own bonnets to wear for it.  My friend Stephanie and I,  created a "bonnet for two".  Using cardboard and oak tag,  we cut two holes in the base (brim) that fit snugly onto the tops of our heads,  and then we added more oak tag so that when it was finished it looked like two top hats connected together on one big hat brim.  Then we made a bunch of tissue paper flowers in all sorts of colors, and we glued them all over our hat.  (Talk about kooky!)  Stephanie and I held arms as we walked very closely together in the school parade around the field...and we won first prize for our hat too!  Such a fun memory. :)

***

Little spring lambs danced about my work table this past week!  (These pins are sold)

In my last post I spoke about how I'm enjoying collecting vintage, animal, salt and pepper shakers.   Here are a couple of cute sets, perfect to decorate an Easter table with. Look at how cute these two bunnies are.  He's winking and hiding a carrot behind his back!

 ...and these are just plain adorable!

Whether you're celebrating Easter or Passover or just a beautiful day,  I hope you have lots of fun!  See you again next week!

xo Paulette 

Hi Sweeties!

Aren't these kissing bunnies just darling? 

They're salt and pepper shakers, a vintage pair, and finding them has sort of become an obsession!

I've set a few rules for myself as to how to collect them because I very quickly realized how easily I could end up with an entire kitchen wall full of shakers, and I really don't want that...plus I have a small kitchen.  So the ones I'm keeping my eye out for need to be vintage, some sort of animal, and they must have adorable, expressive faces.  ;) 

Believe it or not, my counter tops (yes, counter tops!) are what led me to collecting these little ceramic cuties.  When we redid the kitchen a while back,  we chose a very dark, mossy-greenish-blackish granite for our counter tops.  It was on display and my husband and I both thought it was beautiful and it looked so pretty with the oak cabinets we had picked out.   Well, eight years later, I'm not loving it.  It's way too dark and I just don't know what I was thinking back then.   The kitchen has an old fashioned feel which I love, but it's certainly not because of the "black" counter tops.  The sink and the appliances are also black...Ugh!  Now I find I'm looking for even more black in some of my decorating choices.  It never ends!

I bought these black metal spice racks to hang somewhere in the kitchen (you guessed it...just because they're black!).   Not really knowing what I was going to use them for,  I thought they'd be pretty somewhere.  Then I remembered a few sets of shakers I had tucked away, a light bulb went off in head, and that's when the salt and pepper snowball started rolling! 

Now, whenever I have a few minutes to myself, I'm  searching around Ebay and Etsy looking for more.  I've found quite a few adorable sets so far.  I may need more shelves soon!  I'll continue to show you critters from my new collection in future posts, but for now I thought I'd just share these three sets up close.  I've gotten more since I took the picture above.  I never pay much for them. Usually between $6 to $15, and I don't mind a little chip or two.  They're just such fun!

  

It's been another busy week around here.  Again, not much stitching time, but I was able to finish up some Easter egg pins.  That's going to be it till next year.  They were fun to create, but now it's time to focus on other spring things.  :)

     I hope you are all doing just fine, and you enjoyed your first week of spring...or fall.  :) 

Thank you for your visits and the lovely comments you left on my last post.  I'll see you again sometime next week.   Have a great weekend!  Try not to eat too many of those jelly beans you have hidden away!

xo Paulette 

Top of the morning to you, Sweeties! ;)

Shamrocks, leprechauns, fiddle and flute music and the best parades ever...St Patrick's Day is always such fun!

Tonight it's corned beef, cabbage and potatoes for the guys.  They love it.  I don't eat meat myself, but I'll have some soup with those veggies, and lots of delicious Irish soda bread.  Umm!

 In last week's post, you saw the start of a couple of new birdie pins.  Here they are all finished up.

   Instead of flowery necklines, this time around I decided to give them fancy spring bonnets tied with big bows!   :) 

Did you see those two adorable kissing bunnies in the first photo?  More about them in next week's post!

  

May your day

be touched with a bit of

Irish luck

brightened by a song

in your heart

and warmed with the smiles

by the people you

love.  :) 

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Sweet Friends!!!

  

♥ Paulette

Hello Sweeties!

Thank you all so much for your lovely visits and for participating in my little giveaway!

 Instead of giving away one shamrock pin, I've decided to make it two!   I asked the Random Number Generator to pick two winners. :) 

Number 14 came up first, which is Basia

and number 6 came up next, which is Shirley.

  

Congratulations Basia and Shirley!  xo 

 Your shamrocks will be on their way as soon as I can get your mailing info. :)

I finished up two more hearts this week...

The pink one is for a friend, and the blue is for Etsy.

   I also started a couple of new birdie pins with a bit of a new shape.  It's pretty much my same birdie, but with downward pointing tail feathers instead of up. ;)

  

As you can see I haven't gotten too far,  with just one having his embroidered eye done.  I don't embroider the beaks on my birdie pins, I paint them on.  I've been doing it this way for years.  I find it just looks neater in the end if I do it like this.   I'm still playing around with which thread colors to use, but that's part of the fun of creating anything...all the possibilities!  I'll show you how they turn out in next week's post. 

The other day I baked up a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  I got the recipe from the adorable cookbook "The Back In the Day Bakery Cookbook".  

Crispy and delicious...all the cookies were gone by days end, and I promise I didn't eat them all by myself, but I did make a pretty good dent in that plate of yumminess!

I hope you all have a really fun week, and I'll pop in again next week!

xo Paulette