Charity Stitching - Cat Pillow

So today I signed up for a really cute cat pillow through the World of Charity Stitching (WOCS) Yahoo group.  You cross-stitch the face and a small message that says "Hug Me" and it gets sewn into a cat-shaped pillow body.  I started on it right away as I'm excited to see how it turns out!

Previous pillows made by WOCS' members in 2012

My Starting Point

The pattern was created by one of the group members and we're currently working on several to hand out at a retirement facility.  I am not normally one that enjoys stitching on Aida cloth as I find it way too stiff but it is a requirement for this particular project.  I chose a 14 count fabric from Charles Craft called "Platinum".  I went back and forth on what color to make the eyes but I chose a seafoam green/blue.  I chose a pretty pink for the ears and I have another, lighter pink picked out for the nose.  The design includes two flowers just outside of the design that almost look like cheeks.  I'm still trying to decide on what color to make the flowers but I'm leaning toward a peachy/coral.  The matching message will be in the same colors and I'll have to find a coordinating fabric for the body.  Unfortunately, I cannot sew at all (one talent I never acquired) so my cat will be put together by one of the ladies in the group.  I'm even thinking about doing a second one!  I can't wait to see what they look like when finished!  I'll keep you posted.

A Late Spring Afternoon at Gibbs Gardens

The Main Entrance

Earlier today I decided to head over to Gibbs Gardens, north of Atlanta, GA, to see how the garden has progressed since I last visited in March 2013.  When I was there before, it was to see the daffodils (they were gorgeous) so there were not a lot of trees with leaves or any other type of flowers.  Spring had just really started.  I had been getting photo updates on facebook from their page and it looked beautiful.  So beautiful I just had to go visit again. 

I was not disappointed.  Gibbs Gardens is a spectacular garden set in the North Georgia Mountains.  It's only been open to the public for a couple of years.  I thoroughly enjoy visiting them when I can and I'm so glad that it's only about 45 minutes from my house.  The gardens always have something different in bloom and it definitely changes every time I visit.  Currently, the hydrangeas are just starting to really to bloom and the knock-out rose bushes were covered in pink and red flowers.

I've included just a few of my photos and trust me, it was hard to pick just a few.  I took a TON of pictures in those couple of hours that I was there.


Be sure to check out their website by clicking here.

The Japanese Garden

The Rose Garden

The Monet Bridge

A New Addiction? Hmmm...Maybe

For the first week after my husband's surgery, my mother-in-law came to stay with us and help out any way she could.  Now, unlike some unfortunate wives, I have a great mother-in-law and enjoy her company.  We actually have a lot in common but the most obvious is our love of crafts.  So of course, since she was going to be staying with us for a week, she brought along a couple of projects that she has been working on, one of which is a latch-hook rug.

Now I've seen the standard latch-hook rug kits in Hobby Lobby in the past but I've never actually tried one.  Most of the time, the available kits are more simplistic patterns like smiley faces, tie die spirals, ladybugs, etc.  I was looking for something a little less cartoon-ish or child centric.  Before ordering online, however, I decided to go ahead and see what kits were available at Hobby Lobby since it had been quite some time since I last checked.  Much to my surprise, I found a really pretty kit of Daisies and Poppies.  I snatched it off the shelf (it was the last one) and headed home with it and my brand new straight latch hook.

 

I started separating the threads of yarn as soon as I got home and realized just how big my new project is going to be.  There's a LOT of small pre-cut yarn pieces in the box!  My Daisies and Poppies rug is going to be approximately 36 inches by 30 inches.  Pretty good size for my very first latch hook project!  Apparently, in this case, I didn't believe in starting out small!

 My mother-in-law was nice enough to help me get started and showed me how to use the latch hook.  I'm still trying to figure out how I want to proceed with completing the design.  My mother-in-law prefers to work one column at a time while the directions state to move horizonally, row by row.  I actually think I am going to try doing small blocks at a time but that may change as I move along.  If anyone has ever tried this craft, I'd love to hear how you prefer to proceed through the pattern.

My Handsome Pip...

...And sweet Casey

Oh, and I would be a terrible fur-mommy if I didn't mention that my sweet Casey and handsome Pip also helped with my new project.  Pip especially loved the yarn and had to make sure that I was separating the colors correctly!

I'm not sure just yet if this will be my newest craft obsession/addiction but I definitely am looking forward to seeing how my rug progresses!

Pots, Plants, and Pillows, Oh My!

Today I finished purchasing my plants and accessories for my backyard patio.  I added new pillows and a tabletop fountain to my set-up this year.  I spent the afternoon outside, listening to music, potting my plants, and trying not to get sunburned.  It was only about 84 degrees but humidity was up and, well, they don't call this place "Hotlanta" for nothing!  In the sun it got quite warm.  Luckily, there was a nice breeze blowing and I was mostly in the shade.

Tomorrow I think I will focus on my crafts again.  Rain is in the forecast for the afternoon and evening and as we all know, that makes for great crafting weather!  I hope you are having a great weekend and find some time to work on your projects.

 

Garden Time with My Furbabies

A Sunny Pot for a Sunny Spot

This weekend I finally got around to planting a few flowering annuals and grasses in my containers for my patio.  I'm a bit late this year as I normally have them planted during the month of April once the danger of frost is pretty much over in our area.  With my husband's diagnosis and surgery over these past three weeks, I just haven't really thought that much about gardening.  However, with my hubby on the mend, and my mother-in-law here to help keep an eye on him, I went to a local nursery and grabbed a few plants to add to my existing collection of hostas.  I ended up coming home with full sun plants instead!  Ha!  I guess I'll have to head back at some point to get some partial shade plants to go with my hostas since they are for partial shade areas. 

I sat outside in the beautiful 75 degree weather on Saturday and potted them with the assistance of my furbabies, Casey and Max.  We enjoyed the afternoon sun and warm breeze, while my hubby napped on the sofa and my mother-in-law did a little needlework.  Casey was particularly interested in sun-worshipping while Max played with his outdoor kitty toy and lounged in the grass.  They would periodically come to see what I was doing and of course, make sure I was doing it correctly.  Quality control is a hard job after all.

 I chose to go with a yellow/orange and pink theme this year and hope that it will color-coordinate with my deco mesh wreath that I'm making for the front door.  I have it laid out on my table but haven't glued it just yet.  Maybe this will inspire me to finish it.
 

 





Casey




Max

 

  Happy Memorial Weekend!  I hope that you all have time to reflect on this special day and enjoy time with your families.