Good Intentions and Hyacinths

 

 

HAPPY FOURTH 0F JULY! 

 

Wishing everyone a wonderful day.

 

I had intended to post this in March but since I am the slowest creature on earth these days and the world is still in crazy mode...I'm just going to say I had good intentions.  I do hope you all are safe and 

celebrating our wonderful country's birthday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wanted to show this cross stitched poem. Once again, something lovely from the flea market. 

Just as my interest in cross stitching has taken hold of me again..I found this stitched piece and couldn't help but post it for you to see.  Beautiful flowers, feeding our souls with another sign of hope and optimism. 

 Next year I will actually plant Hyacinths!

 

🇺🇸 GOD BLESS AMERICA!!! 🇺🇸

 

See you soon♥️

 

 

 

Returning to Stitching

 

 

Returning to Stitching 

 

 Well, my photographic skills haven't improved, neither have my writing skills or computer skills.  I'm a lot slower than I was and I have to work at having energy...but I'm back again to give blogging another
   chance.  After a year and a half of being "out of commission" two of my favorite sentiments have lately reminded me to make more of an effort.  IT IS WHAT IT IS and NEVER GIVE UP! I feel I need to harder. 

                                                                                                                                              
As you know...if you've been here before...I have always tried to 'rescue' an old quilt or embroidery now and then and then to repair or redo it.  A year without this work has been tough.  In fact all the things I used to do have suffered in some way and so has my mood. I have missed out on all the things I enjoyed.  So, like the blog, I have recently given myself a good talking to and am making an effort to actually DO things.  Like posting. It will take me longer, my stitching may not be all that great but making the effort will be GOOD.  

Maybe some of my readers will return...and if not, there might be a few new friends come along and if not, it will be a good thing to put out the effort anyway.

I've renewed my interest in cross stitching.  I used to love it....and thanks to the internet, my interest has been renewed by finding Flosstubers.  It has totally taken over the time I spend looking at tv.  They are also very inspiring.  I'm trying to discover ways I can use it in some of my other stitching.  We will see. Meantime, it's just fun to watch. 

Now, for the photo....I rescued that cross stitched piece on black fabric from the flea market....it's all half crosses. There was a second design with it...but I liked this one best...for the photo anyway.  It needs to be made into something.  There is a crocheted heart.  I have a collection of those...none of which I stitched.  I guess I rescued those too.  I've saved that button card a long time...and HOPE....it's a good reminder.  A bird.  Well, you know.  That handful of DMC floss....who doesn't like a handful of that beautiful stuff or a handful of all the new flosses I am seeing.  Also a cross stitched table runner from the flea.  The kind of stuff that I really love.  Oh.  I also ordered a BOOK OF DAYS (even though the year is half over)....to round out the excitement.  And, some stickers...a couple books and charts. If it turns out I can't manage to see well enough to do it...I'll just have fun touching and looking at all of it and being entertained by the excitement of it all. I notice that most of the cross stitch videos seem to have a new video every couple of weeks.  Hopefully, I'm going to do that here. 

 
Wishing you all safe and happy days ahead. 

❤️Pat at Bird Nest Cottage
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Returning to Stitching

I made myself a Valentine

 

 

So, here I am....celebrating Valentine's Day 2023.  I got the idea earlier today to make myself a little Valentine's Day vignette from heart items gathered from around the house.  So, here we are....a little effort to cheer up a rather grey rainy day.  I hope you enjoy the photos and that YOU have a wonderful Valentine's Day yourself.

                             

  That framed piece is a collage of heart and Valentine ephemera I bought several years ago at the flea market.  So pretty....the two vintage heart boxes were given to me by a friend long ago....

 

 

 

There's a heart made of twigs that holds a glass vial for flowers and has a tiny glitter heart suspended in air by a thin wire.  My daughter gave me that years ago. And, also, one of the few really old cards I have found here and there over the years. And, that pincushion you've seen many times here....can't resist embroidering those teeny tiny hearts, so had to add it to the mix.

 And, here we are....Valentines forever. I used one of those old heart boxes to make my Valentine for today.  I had this copy of a photo on my refrigerator for quite a while, and today decided it would be neat to add it to this vintage heart box.  I believe the photo was taken around 2010.  Where did all that time go?  Now that I've made a new heart out of an old one...I really like it....it has "made my day." I'm sure that my "old navy man" would have liked it also.

Hope you are all well and I'm wishing you all the best on your own Valentine's Day.  Take care.

Pat at Bird Nest Cottage ♥️

An antique Blue Bowl with Bits and Bobs

I've been wanting to show you this blue bowl....so here it is.  I was going to just show you the bowl....but you know me...I have to have a story.  Here it goes:

This bowl came to me after my father-in-law passed away.  It belonged to his grandmother.  All I know is it was hers and her husband was in the civil war.  My father-in-law passed away when he was 97.

My mother-in-law had passed before him...and no one in the family seemed to want the bowl, so, yes, you know me...I brought it home.

I don't really know how old it is....but it's very old and I imagine it has lived a long and useful life...it is cracked here and there and has chips on the side that you can't see in photo...but I will show you.  It can't be used, but I like to look at it and I always think of Gramps when I do.

To add another little story....there are the salt and pepper shakers.  They are the only gift I remember my grandmother giving me.  (My mother's mom.)  I was small when she gave them to me but I remember and have always loved them..  So sweet.  

And, here they are...the chips.  Conveniently placed so I can turn it to the 'good side' for display.  I don't remember ever seeing a bowl with a handle and no spout.  I think the bowl and shakers look good together...sharing that blue color.  (A piece of an old quilt just adds a nice touch, don't you think?)

And, here is the print of the grandmother.  I found this at a flea market a few years back.  It looks EXACTLY like my grandmother did.  I don't have a photo of her, so I pretend this is her.  Loved there was a quilt in the background.

This poem was given to me by my friend Kay years ago...and I just love it.  It's been shown on this blog many times.  Of course, I had to show it here because of the blue bowl!  Kay always has known of all the old things I love.  You know what they say:  A good friend knows all about you and loves you anyway.❤️

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."  Another old thing "they" say.  Me too.  I just love this bowl.  So precious.  By the way, there is no name or number on the bottom, so I've no idea where it may have been made, but I enjoy having it.   

I'm thinking next time you'll see a Valentine here.  Can you believe we are in February already?

Wishing you safety, warmth and love. ♥️ 

Pat at Bird Nest Cottage

 

The Month is Half Over Already

 

 

 By the fire this January....

 

 

 another of the ways I entertain myself...making

                                                  arrangements of my favorite collections.

 

 

This one of stones my mother-in-law had collected. An angel.

(Just noticed that the "heart" is upside down.)

 

 

Some of my birds...and.... a dandelion collected early in 2022.

And, still looking good.

 

 

Books, clocks, bottles.

 

 

Children's chairs.  That cat.  I've had it many years.

 

 

Old doors.  Found a mailbox for this one.  Sometimes there is mail in it.

A photo of my dad marching along in the army in the 40's.  A tiny

print of an English cottage.

 

There is no end of things that catch my eye, or bring a memory to mind.

And, January is half over already.  Where did it go? 

I'll be sitting by the fire...remembering.

 

Hope you are having a safe and warm month with your precious memories too.

 

Take care, be happy.

 

Bird Nest Cottage

♥️

 

Begining Again....Happy New Year

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Yes, I am back, hoping to post again after a year of being absent.

It was a test of a year to be honest and I'm pleased to be done with it.

Because I know you will want to ask...let me just say what happened, briefly and we won't talk about it again.  I began 2022 with a broken right shoulder.  Later, I went through a total knee replacement on my right knee.  While trying to deal with those two things, I had a fight with something called c-diff.

I was amazed to survive and worked as hard as I could to recover from it all.

 

I am still in recovery.  It seems these things take a while to get over...even after you do become functional again.  I am not full of energy, not driving,  and even more of a "hermit" than ever, but do want to be more like "myself" again.  So, my children have shamed me into beginning posting on this blog again.  It seems that several of you have found a way to get in touch with my daughter asking about me.  My children have pointed out to me that some of you are still interested in what I used to post and it isn't fair for me to leave you hanging in mid-air.  I hadn't thought of it that way.  In fact, I hardly have thought at all...sorry to say, and, they are right also to tell me it would be good for me to reconnect with my friends out there in "blogland." So, I'm posting.  Not sure how often...maybe  every couple of weeks or so....but I'm certainly going to try to show you what I'm into.  

Since I have no work to show you for the time I've been away, just thought I'd show you the latest thing

I have done......well, I bought this antique dresser last year and didn't bring it home until just recently.

Naturally, I went overboard loading it up with all kinds of my favorite finds.  Well, it did give me something fun to think about...and way over due. So, enjoy this glimpse into my version of "hoarding.

 

 

 

 

Wishing everyone a wonderful new year and thank you for visiting.  I'll see you again soon.

(For those who contacted my daughter...and you know who you are...Thank You so much.  Your concern gave me a push to "get over it" and I needed to hear that.)

Until next time my friends,  stay safe and warm and have a happy heart.

from

 Bird Nest Cottage♥️