Creating Time

there never is enough time to do the things we love and that rejuvenate us.

a gift for Becky stitched on 45/50 count silk

each year i tell myself that i will make more time to create and each year i find that it seems to always take second place to the daily stuff.
i love my family, i love my friends and to keep me sane and to hopefully keep them in love with me i must create.

wonderful bread ready to bake

something, anything and it doesn't have to be difficult or new.
 i don't have to always love the finish piece or even finish the piece.

Mary Wigham still waiting

i just love to put my mind, my hands and my soul into the process of creating.
it sounds so simple and sometimes it is. yet i wonder why i can't seem to find or make the time to do this. hours can go by and yes weeks with nothing to show. it may sound silly and in the scheme of things it is, the world is in need of much more than me creating.
 for me creating keeps me sane, happy and connected to a world i wish for all.
i must learn to be content when i find just a moment to stitch that one row of rice stitch or roll out a piece of clay, stamp a card, make bread, and yes even help remodel our kitchen. creating can be found in the most mundane places and i hope to learn to enjoy those little moments and be thankful i have the money, the ideas and yes the time to create.

a new project

it seems awhile ago since i posted. i have had computer troubles no email yet but hopefully by Monday.
i have been busy stitching on Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods "A Blue Ribbon Sewing Box" her class was fantastic as always.
i have a few things left to stitch and i hope at the Northwest Sampler Guild retreat in June i will get it totally finished. you can see part of the box above by the title of the blog
and below is the needle case almost done.

this is the beautiful homemade sewing box that Sherri had made from an old antique papermache' box she owns. the workmanship is incredible.

this is what it looks like open. the side stitched panels will be on each side with space for trinkets to slide in and the middle will have a place for scissors. plus a small needle pillow will seat on top and all will close up with a magnetic clasps. can't wait to show you the finished piece. be patient.
between moving my daughter from Alaska to Seattle and my son to Seattle and now my father in law who is 98 to a retirement center this has been a crazy few weeks.
the retreat is looking really nice about now.
do post i love to hear what you are creating.
happy spring

Spring and Samplers

what an incredible weekend first we headed to Philomath, Oregon on Thursday to see a Sampler Exhibit at
Benton County Historical Museum. A great old building originally built as a college in 1867.

it was used as a college till 1929 and then slowly but surely it deteriorated and in 1980 local citizens rehabilitated the structure and it now houses the Historical Society of Benton County well worth a visit even if the samplers are not there.

this was one of my favorites, the stitching was exquisite, the letters and the crowns were stitched with such perfect little stitches

of course i found another favorite this was stitched in 1862.

the dog and butterfly were amazing. i only wish the pictures turned out better.

this cat reminds me of one i saw on a sampler

at Fort Worden,Washington in there museum housed in an Officer Home. once again a great butterfly.

this is part of Dotty Parker sampler stitched in 1824 i think you can get a chart of this from Benton Historical Society online if you wish to stitch it. They also have printed a nice book with the samplers so do visit the web site www.bentoncountymuseum.org
i have more to share but i also want to share what a great Easter i had at my daughter's friends house.

besides all these homemade goodies we had a great meal of ham.
it was one of the best Easters i have had since the kids were little.

Beth's cupcakes were beautiful!

two beautiful young woman my daughter Emily on the left and Beth a wonderful friend and hostess.
how happy can one mother be. a perfect weekend. friends,samplers and my sweet lovely daughter!

Beth had such cute little items placed throughout her new apartment reminding everyone of spring.

i love this felt watering can and needless to say right after i took this picture i dumped the bowl of jelly beans! so much for graceful. till next time enjoy your spring!

flowers and snow

what a week we went from flowers blooming

 i love this bulb i planted them a few years ago

and they have come up ever since. i think they are called Frittalaria, (might be misspelled)

they are so unique i love the texture of the pattern and the color.

and then inside this incredible flower.

and this bloomed so full this year and in the past has always

been a little sad.

wonder what it could be maybe the rain oh yes the tons of rain or could it be the

                                                       The snow i woke up to this morning around 7am i rarely wake up that early but once i looked outside i knew why. it was pouring snow big huge flakes, so pretty. i have never been so happy to see 7am.

a group of tulips waiting to bloom even with the snow.

this has been a crazy year for weather.