Tis the season to be romantic!!

Feeling romantic... I'v just hand painted a group of valentines on vintage mother of pearl buttons...  including a one-of-a-kind cupid on a large,very special button.

http://www.etsy/shop/olderrose

CQ students off to a great start!

I couldn't be happier with these stitchers..  All the blocks are coming along great and will post pictures as they are completed.  I ended up with 13 students in 2 classes... They are all 1st timers..  Check out the seams on Kathy's block after 2 sessions....
Here are more after the first two class sessions.

Valerie has a precious blue bird she is cross stitching off block..

It's a rare day for a rare siting...

Birds for us are a passion and an integral part of our everyday life.  Anyone following the blog knows  that every tree or bush of the thousands I've planted (and I do mean thousands) has been chosen because it provides with food or habitat for birds... In fact for years the Washington State Dept. of Wildlife had open house here annually  and had talks and tours on how to plant for wildlife habitat...

So it's  indeed a rare day after 33 years to see a new bird....and yesterday was just such a day... in fact a bird rare enough here that the Audubon Society requests a special report when one is sighted  ... I was able to get pictures of the females but not the male as he just wouldn't sit still.  He was glorious. So my newest bird on the farm list is a Bullock's Oriole

New Bridge and Pond

Marilyn was reserving judgement as she liked the old bridge and pond...  But the lace bridge was far too heavy and I had used Edmar thread on the pond.  Although it had a nice sheen it too was too bulky... So I am anxiously awaiting Marilyn't approval of the new pond and bridge.

The new bridge is lacier and I used a fine single strand of silk for the pond...  When I redid the path it went where I already had foliage (far right center) so now that has to be picked out for a gate and I hated the door the minute I finished it and it has to be picked out...

Haven't figured out one of the worst problems...  Lower right I drew on the silk with permanent marker when I did the design... Of course the design has changed and now I have this scribbling in ink..... I have a couple options..
1. Do a large clump of lavender which seems out of place....or
2.  Paint this cottage on a MOP button and position it over the  scribbling..

Have many photos from class and lessons but will be a few days...

CQJP2013 - Do I have a plan? and Kathy's boho bag.

I'm waiting  until I can get new cartridges for my printer so I can transfer the image... But other than that this block is done...  One of my students asked if I had a plan when I do a block... My answer is a definite yes AND no!!!!!  I knew I wanted a cottage theme, pastel colors and lots of lace...beyond that much  it is all spontaneous....  moving and testing materials  in my stash....  I used the bees because I had a little bee skep charm I wanted to use....but after the bees were on I decided I didn't like the charm so a skep was embroidered lower left... It was the finishing touch...

Kathy, one of the stitchers at my house, came today and showed me her finished boho bag and it is fabulous... She finished it with elegant detail and has every right to be proud of it.... As a relatively new CQer her work is extraordinary...