A Very Special Gift from a Very Special Blogger

If you've been a reader of my blog for very long, you will recognize the person in this photo.  If you are new to my blog, then let me tell you who he is.  He is Richard Eaton, my late husband.  On this blog, I nearly always just call him "the old navy man."   ( He gave that name to himself, by the way.)  He passed away three years ago, this November 29th.  I took this photo of him before he became really ill and it is one of my favorites. 

I have had this blog since 2008.  The old navy man encouraged me to start one....and in fact, he gave my little quilting enterprise the name BIRD NEST ON THE GROUND, years ago.  Over the years, I have made FRIENDS with many people who also post on their own blogs, and also people who just like to read what the bloggers are saying and seeing what it is we all do.  Since his death, I have not been very good at posting....but my heart is in the right place...as I intend to always do better, although I know I haven't been as good as my intentions are.  It does appear, though, that I have some blog fans, no matter how good I am at posting.  It's amazing!  I receive a few comments here and there, which I really appreciate.  And, I also receive many email messages.  These lovely people send me messages which I find uplifting, inspiring, funny, thought provoking, helpful and smart.  I do so enjoy hearing from them.

My blog readers sometimes surprise me, which I enjoy.  I also enjoy that many of them do not live in the U.S.  They are a wonderful group and I do love hearing from them.  This time, I have one in particular I'd like to tell you about.  Her name is Lynn and she lives in France.  She contacted me last year to let me know she was making me something.  It would take her quite a while to make it, so would I just know that she was thinking of me as she created this gift from her.  My goodness!  What could she be doing?  This last week, I received a package in the mail from France.  Well, now, who would really expect someone to take a year or so to make you something?  I was so surprised that there at my door was a gift from Lynn!!!    The day before my 72nd birthday!!!  Now, when I say I was shocked when I opened it....I really was....who knew she would be cross stitching a photo of the old navy man...the very one I am showing you now at the beginning of this post.  WHO WOULD DO THAT?

 This is a 7 inch x 9 inch, (approximately) cross stitched version of the old navy man's photo. 

 WHO KNEW?

I can certainly see why it would take so long.  I can see how wonderfully she stitched all those million cross stitches. and the colors are spot on,  but I have to say.....I simply burst into tears when I opened that package.  Lynn doesn't 'really' know me.  I'm sure I'm not deserving of such a gift.

And, seeing THAT face come out of a package from France.  It was a shock.  It won't matter how many ways I think of to thank her....nothing I say could possibly explain my feelings at that moment and every day since.  No amount of gratitude offered her could live up to what she has actually DONE FOR ME.

 

 He was so dear!!!  And this cross stitched version of his photo is magnificent!!!  I LOVE it!  

 

Here are some close-ups of the stitching.  As I told her later in an email....just when you think the world is going to hell in a hand basket, someone out in blogland, steps up and does something so lovely and unexpected, that we just know everything will be ok somehow.  Humanity, once again, has a shining example of a lovely human being who has spent much of her time thinking of others, rather than herself.  I am completely blown away by her thoughtfulness and generosity.  I bet you are too!

Just think of all the stitches!  All that time and energy. 

 With all the other things she has to do in life!!

OH, MY!!!!

 

 I know the old navy man would be so pleased to see this.  He would wonder, as I do, WHY, HOW?

And, he would smile, wishing her all the very best in life...as she represents the best in all of us.

We are grateful for her...in every way.

 

 Here is the card she made and sent along with this wonderful gift.  Once again, I teared up as I read her words.  I didn't photograph the whole message, but thought you would like to read these paragraphs.  She is dear, don't you think?  

 

 Lynn has a blog.  You might want to visit.  So, go there to see what all she does.  You might want to leave a comment.  She deserves lots of them!!!

Visit here:  

happinessiscrossstitching.blogspot.com 

Lynn is also participating in a contest to choose a Cross Stitching Champion in the UK.  You might want to visit that site too, and vote for her.  You don't have to be a citizen of the UK to vote, but you do have to be one to win a prize.  She would love to have a vote from you. (Just type her name, Lynn B.,  in the proper place, then vote for her blog!)

 www.britishcraftawards.com(click here to go vote)

Alright....now you know about blogging friends....they are a treasure.

Lynn,
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THINKING OF ME AND THE OLD NAVY MAN.  A MILLION THANK YOUS WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH!
YOUR BEAUTIFUL WORK WILL BECOME A FAMILY HEIRLOOM.  I WILL BE SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT FRAME FOR IT AND WILL POST PHOTOS WHEN IT IS ALL DONE.  THE SEARCH BEGINS!!!

As for the rest of my readers....you are dear also.  THANK YOU for brightening my days!

from
BIRD NEST COTTAGE
until next time
❤️❤️❤️

(Next time I will be talking about a collection of vintage Button Cards, a request of Robin, another lovely blog reader!)

❤️SIGH!❤️

Some Quilts, Some 'New' Old Shelves and What They Hold, Some Morning Flowers

 

Thinking of what to post about on my blog is sometimes difficult.  I tend to think I just ramble on about one thing or another, often wondering afterward why I did what I did.  Other times, I'm semi-pleased.  I've never been totally satisfied though.   I really needed to post today and tried to come up with one I'd be satisfied with and maybe you would be too.  Also, it's one of the rather long ones, so since I won't be posting until the last week or so in October,  I hope the content makes up for the lack of posts over the next couple of weeks.

I will be spending some time with my two brothers and sister this month.  We don't get to see each other very often...and we are getting older, so a visit is a good thing!  I said "we" are getting older, but actually, it seems like I am the one getting older.  I am the oldest of the four...by far.  I am sixteen months older than my brother, Mike.  Ten years older than my sister, Debbie.  Thirteen years older than my brother Robert.  So...yeah...it's me that's older.  So, thinking about those things I decided to give them something from the quilt closet.  Something that I have made in the past and preserved for just this kind of thing.  A quilt giveaway.

BYW, I have shown all these quilts on the blog before...but it's been a long time.  And, I'm not telling here who is getting what.  There is also a giveaway for a friend....one that is very nearly a relative!

 

This quilt began with a center block and just grew.  While making it, I received good advice from the old navy man....for that reason it is special.  And, I loved doing the drawing and writing on it.  Here is what it says: 

"May flowers of love around you be twined,

And the sunshine of peace shed its joy o're thy mind."

    from an antique Valentine

 

One day maybe I will actually do an embroidered version of this inked center.  That would be fun.

 

Applique has always been my favorite.

Here is an embroidered basket quilt.  It's going to a new home where the color red is much loved. 

A good place for it to be.

Redwork is a very relaxing kind of work to do.  You don't have to remember where you left off or what colors to use next.  Loved making it!

  

Is it hard to give these up?  Nah.  I'm at the point where I need to do this so that after I am gone, my kids won't have to wonder what I intended to do with all my work.  Of course, they will keep my favorites.  Well, up until now, they have all been my favorites but you have to draw the line somewhere and I do like sharing.

 

This is a smaller quilt.  Applique and Embroidery.  It's many years old now, but you can't tell.  I have taken very good care of my quilts.  I love the little church and that embroidered tree....

And, oh my stars!  "Jane Doe and the Star-Spangled Banner"  Adorned with lots of buttons and star sequins.

Yes, these are moving on to other homes.  A natural progression.

 

 And, now for a little break.

This photo was taken just a couple of days ago.....I walked into the kitchen that morning and the light was hitting those flowers in just the right place at the right time.  Loved it!

NEXT:

 

 So, okay...here's where we come to "things I would do, but you probably wouldn't."  I found these wire shelves at my friend, Kathy's, and a picture liked this popped right into my head, so I bought the shelves, took them home and started right away to create this 'scene.'  What fun!  Now, I have to say that you probably wouldn't put this in your dining room, but I would....because in my 'bird nest cottage' I have had to use all the space in just about every room to incorporate as much of my five hundred square foot studio as I could when I moved and had to find a place for my little treasures.  Since I live alone, I feel pretty comfortable putting things wherever I want...actually, it's pretty much turned into a form of entertainment for me and truth be told, I don't mind not being 'normal.'

 

 So, just take a look around.  I'm never bored.  There is so much to do....so little time.

 

 My favorite old door from the old Van Atkins building.  I actually do sometimes put real MAIL in that mailbox!

 

Sometimes when things are put away, I have trouble remembering what I have to choose from when I want to make something new.  I actually love having things 'out' where I can see them.  I know it's not for everyone, but it works for me.

 

 I am going to look forward to using things from these shelves....or sometimes just looking at them, getting inspired.

 

 Hope you enjoy looking too!!

 

 I have already planned for some good posts coming up after my visits with the siblings.  Look for more toward the last week of October.  And, take care, please.

from

Bird Nest Cottage

until next time

❤️❤️❤️

Names and Monograms, A Collection

 

Well, I'm back!  Yes, I've been out of the blog posting business the last month or so.  No good reason, just a lack of enthusiasm on my part.  The summer doldrums, perhaps?  Anyway...here I am and I'd like to share with you a few things I have gathered together.  This post began with a package I received in the mail a couple of weeks ago....a gift from my friend, Meredith, who lives in Canada.

She is a very thoughtful follower of my blog and one of those people it is a pleasure in life to know.

One of the rewards of blogging is making friends with people from 'everywhere' and she is a treasure!

 

In the lovely note Meredith sent, she explained to me about the huge department stores in Canada named EATON'S.  I had actually heard that before, but I enjoyed her telling me about EATON'S  again.  As a gift, she enclosed two spools of seam binding (Oh, I LOVE that stuff!!!)  What a treasure and fun to see "my" name of the packaging!  Wasn't that a nice thing to do?  Like I said, she is very thoughtful!  She also send a lovely card and a bookmark.  THANK YOU, Meredith, and I wish you all the best!

 

While I have been admiring my EATON'S seam binding....I got to thinking about other things I had with either my last name, first name, or monogram included on them.  So, here is a little 'collection' of

some of what I found here in what I call the 'cottage.'   Here is a button (about three inches wide)...made from a vintage hanky and some old lace.  Can you see the appliqued 'E'?  Love it!  I bought it long ago at Quilt Festival in Houston.

Several years ago, my friend, Sherry, gave me this old stationery box.  I have loved this box....just because of the name...of course...and the fact that it came from my good friend, Sherry, in Little Rock.  There are still a few cards and envelopes in it.  Love the font.  Thank you again, my friend!!!

 Pretty, isn't it?

Can you see the name 'Pat' embroidered on this basket?  My friend, Pat S., from here, gave me her entire little sewing basket several years ago, including her vintage beads, and threads, and a lovely tatted cross you will see in another photo.  I treasure this little basket....and of course, we share the name!!!  Thank you again, Pat!!!

In my search to find names and monograms for this post, I remembered I had covered this button at some point in time, then beaded the edges.  Yes, sewn beads, not glued.  You'll see it again too.

I don't remember when, but at some point in the last five or so years, I found this box of straight pins on eBay.  I remember the old navy man saying "So, I guess you just have to have it, right? Well, why not.  How many times might you find a vintage box of pins with your first name on it?"   He nearly always 'got it.' You understand, don't you?

Here is the lovely tatted crossed from Pat's sewing basket.  I still keep it in the basket and I've never used the beads from the basket....but I do think of Pat everytime I look inside!    You can see the bird nest on the card from Meredith here too.

 

This little lavender filled pillow came from Dawn at The Feathered Nest.  Can you see the name at the bottom?  (Not only the name Eaton fits, but the old navy man's middle name was Edward!)  Smells great and it is sweet to look at.  I've really enjoyed it over time.  Sweet!

How about this cute monkey?  No, has nothing to do with a name or a monogram....we found the monkey in a tree by our deck when we bought our old house.  Actually, the old navy man found it.  I saved it because it was just so cute and how many people find a little stuffed monkey in a tree by their deck? Later in time, I found this tiny little pillow embroidered with an R.  The old navy man....Richard.  So, for some reason, I always wanted to keep the little pillow with the monkey.  Yeah.  Don't try to figure it out!

So cute!

Another thing that doesn't fit my subject matter today....an old bed spring with a paper heart in it.

This one is large, there is a smaller one in the first photo.  I have intended to make hearts with a monogram for these bed springs, so I'm sort of showing an idea I haven't completed yet.  Just like me.

Here's Meredith's card, along with the small bed spring/heart thing.  You'll see them when I get them done...whenever that is.

The bird nest bookmark from Meredith with some fancy threads....which I have inadvertently clipped from the photo somehow.  I am already using it in the current book, "A Great Reckoning" by Louise Penny, also from Canada!

 

That covered button again.  Fun to make those! 

 

 From the back.

And the "E."  Beautiful!

Tatted!!  It's about four inches long.

So pretty!!!! Note the little jewel in the upper left corner!

 

So, there you are!  Names and monograms....lots of fun, plus so much thoughtfulness from so many friends!

 A quick shot of my little work table....nothing artsy about the arrangement for posting.... so glad to have gathered these objects in one place for today.

from

Bird Nest Cottage 

until next time