WhiteWork Pincushions

 

 Earlier this year I vowed (to myself!) that I would make a gift for one of my favorite bloggers.  Jacqueline at Cabin & Cottage.  I LOVE her posts!  She is so talented and feeds my love for vintage linens with not only her collection, but also her photographs and words.  So, I did make her a small pincushion and recently mailed it to her.  Yesterday, she posted it and I nearly fell over when I saw it....she made it look so very extra special.  I was, in my own way, thanking her for her beautiful blog posts which I so enjoy, but, it turns out she did something very kind for me....you have to go and see her beautiful photographs, click here to see:  Cabin & Cottage

 

 After I made the pincushion for Jacqueline, I tweaked the pattern to make a smaller one for myself, not only because I loved doing the stitching, but as a reminder each time I would see it of the pleasant times I have spent reading her blog.

 

 And, yes, I HAD to use the Bird Bowl just because I love it too and wanted it in a photo at some point.  That point was today.  Jacqueline's pincushion is about five or six inches square.  This one is 3 inches by four inches.

 

 I used DMC Floche to do the embroidery...the first time I had ever used it.  Such a pleasure to stitch with.

 

 And, I beaded the edge with different beads also.  I do my best to never make anything more than once....in other words, no repeats, no two will ever be alike.  I like each item to be unique and I sincerely hope they will become someone's idea of an heirloom, stitched by hand, by me, with great love.

 

 As I fast approach the age of 71, my days spent making things like this are numbered.  Mostly by the fact that I have OLDER EYES.  But, I will "carry on" until I just can't do it any longer.  

 

  So, there you are....a very small WhiteWork pincushion.  I hope you will visit Cabin & Cottage to read and SEE the story of these pincushions and how they came about.  And, enjoy viewing everything in her archives.... a great stress reliever, a treat for the eyes and a treasure trove of vintage linens.   Thank You, Jacqueline, for all you do and for showing off my work.  I am thrilled!!!

 

On my post of July 22, 2015, I showed some sunflowers my son was growing on his deck in San Francisco. Then, on Thursday, August 20th, I posted the heart shape I found on a recent walk.  He likes to joke around with me about finding these hearts shapes....some of which I know he considers 

barely hearts.  But evidently, he gave the whole idea enough thought to send me a heart.  One he crafted himself......The heart above is made from the harvest of seeds from one of his sunflowers.  How sweet is that?  

From Bird Nest Cottage,

Until next time,

♥♥♥

Finding Hearts

 

 If you have read this blog before, then you know I love hearts, the universal symbol of love.  I make them in various mediums and I look for them in my everyday life.  The last few years I am obsessed in my search for Heart-shaped rocks, among other things.  So, imagine, one day last week, when out for my morning walk, I just happened to find THIS heart.  Now, I've walked by this same place countless times, but never noticed the heart until that particular morning.  I don't know why.  It just caught my eye.  Perhaps the light?  (The top photo was taken on one day, the bottom two the next day.)  Now, I have been accused of seeing hearts 'that aren't really heart-shaped.'  The suggestion is I SEE them because I WANT to see them.  Well, so what?  I do want to see them and so I believe this "heart in the curb" really is one.  What do you think?

I probably will never take my morning walk again without stopping to admire this heart.  It's just the way I am.  Some tell me finding them is a 'sign' from the Universe....a message of some sort.  Could be.  I don't know.  All I can tell you is I'm open to receiving the message.....

From Bird Nest Cottage,

Until next time,

♥♥♥

PS.  Yes, I realize that a car could have recently hit that curb, thus creating this heart.  I get that.  But, I could also have never noticed it.  There's that.  And, please don't burst my bubble...I'm enjoying finding such things.♥

When You Come Into My House

 

 I haven't been able to come up with a thing to post the last couple of weeks...my 'summer dry spell??"  But, yesterday, I saw my friend, Kathy, who is inspiring, which is where I got this lovely 'rock flower' and I just had to find a place for it this morning.  After doing that, I thought "Aha, a post!"  Kathy has the cutest little shop in Beebe....so I think next time I go over there, I will take some photos and then you all can see it.  I love going there!  Anyway, now inspired, I wanted to show you where her 'rock flower' found a home. 

This 'spot' is just to the left when you enter my house.  I have no entry, when you come in the front door, you are in the living room, but there is a little corner on either side of the front door.  I'll show you the other one later.  This one is where I have placed a lot of my 'bird' stuff....what else would there be if you named your home "Bird Nest Cottage?"  Do you see the flower on the right side of this corner?  Yeah, right there by the mirror.

 

 Here is a better view of it.  Just an old piece of wood, which Kathy made into an art piece using rocks she gathered herself.  Now, you know I love that!  Such a cute flower.  I wanted to put it somewhere where it would really 'show' and this is it...you see it right off when you come in.

 

 She used jute for the stem, lace and buttons for the leaves, etc.  I LOVE it and I love that it came from her, a special friend.

  

 Who knew rocks could look so cute?  Thank you, Kathy, for the inspiration!!

  

 Now, some of you might be wondering just how I could possibly put anything else in this corner.  (Yes, I know you are.)  But, I'm sure I could manage to find more room if something special comes along! 

  

So, okay, there is the door.  I took these photos early today, so there is a lot of light coming in that side window by the door.....but, I could still manage to get a few photos.  I call this the "bird corner."

  

A vintage print, one of my very favorite things in the house, a bird house, made from other recycled wood, and various bird themed items.  You'll see.

  

Here are bird feathers I have managed to collect in the time I have spent in this house...as of now...a year, can you believe that??  I'm always looking for feathers when I go for my daily walk...well, rocks also!  And, bird nests.  These are all real nests.  The large one I found in a neighbor's yard.  An ACTUAL 'bird nest on the ground.'  It had been there for days and finally I asked for it and they gave it to me, thinking, I am sure, that I was nuts.  The two very tiny nests came from my daughter's yard.  I like to put little labels in the nests telling where they came from.  

  

 I find little birds here and there, these made of wood.  Sometimes at the flea, sometimes gifts.

 These are sitting on a mirrored tray.

 

I found this bird house at one of the fleas....made by a local guy.  It's taller than you think and I loved it instantly.  The flower pot holds paper flowers made by a friend, from book pages.  

  

Sorry this photo is kinda blurry, but you get the idea.  That apothecary jar is filled with feathers gathered from my former home.  During the time the 'old navy man' was ill and I needed a bit of a 'time out,' I would walk around our back yard for a few minutes.  All these feathers were gathered during those times.

It gave me something to look for and I would share them with him...he loved to watch the birds.  So, this jar cannot be added to....it's a reminder of how we tried to find one good thing a day to be amazed by or to make us laugh.  A lesson I still practice today.

  

A little metal bird dish....the tiny basket was given to me by a friend very long ago, and the thread buttons are from my collection.  

  

See.  Adorable, right?

 

Here is a vintage English tin with birds/nests and poetry on it.  It, also, is one of my favorite 'bird items.'  So sweet.  And, that nest is real.  For the life of me, though, I can't remember where that one came from.

  

I was reading blogs the other day and came across an English lady who had placed photos behind the edges of her light switch plates.  I loved that idea instantly and had to do the very same thing right away.  Now, there are light switch plates here and there in my house with photos or cards behind them.  Maybe you wouldn't do that....but me, oh yeah!!!

  

 My friend, Bibi, has given me real leaves over the years, Mod Podged and glued to paper or burlap.  These are several years old and still look just great.  I had gotten the little wreath from Kathy and decided to add the leaves to it.  Nothing to do with birds, really, but I liked it in the mix.  (And, you know me and my clothes pins!)

 The funny thing is....when you live alone, you can do just about anything you want.  I only have to please myself and am not overly concerned with what others think.  That being said,  I find being inspired by others just makes my day a lot of the time and I am so grateful to my sweet friends and even strangers in blogland, who constantly leave me thrilled with what they do.  

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of my 'bird corner' and it's special items.

From Bird Nest Cottage,

Until next time,

♥♥♥