Springtime in Paris ATCs...

Not only do I love Springtime and I love Paris, I also love Kim of ArtJoyStuff blog and her wonderful ATC swaps.  Kim is always so organized and on time.  Her participants are always very clever and artistic and follow through on their participation commitments.  A win-win for certain.
This is the style ATC I created for swapping.

I always send along four so Kim can have one as well as the three for three swaps.  I adore that little Parisian Eiffel Tower charm that I included on my ATCs and on the packaging.

I received this lovely ATC and packaging from Sylvia of littletreasuresylvia.blogspot.com which I cannot link for some unknown computer reason. Thank you Sylvia for this beautiful ATC gift.

This lovely ATC is from Liz and came from across the pond.  Visit her blog lululizinlalaland.blogspot.com to see her beautiful sharings.  Thank you Liz for your gorgeous ATC.

And this time I actually received one of Kim's stunning ATCs.  I love the entire ATC especially the Parisian Eiffel Tower charm and butterfly.  So Pretty in its Marie Antoinette style.  Thank you Kim for treating me so well.

And part of the JOY of participating in Kim's ATC swaps is that she always adds an amazing gift of her own creation. This is an altered paper clip and it is ever so Tres Chic.  I am seriously in love with this and have been wanting to create some altered paper clips for a while now.  Here is my inspiration and I am truly smitten.  Thank you so very much Kim for your gifts and your friendship through blogging and swapping Creative Bliss.  I am swooning!
Our weather had a few lovely Spring days and the grounds were drying nicely.  We called our annual property clean up crew to be here Monday.  What happened?  It rained all of Sunday night and we had to cancel the crew...again! I think this is the fourth time.  We are still grateful for the rain however it is playing havoc with landscaping and window cleaning crews. 
Alas...no visitors.  I realize it only takes one buyer however we cannot get 1 out of zero!!!  Come on buyer...PLEASE!  I am not above begging.  Each of the potential homes we could buy in St. George are sold quickly there.  And the prices continue to climb.  Here we are stagnated and waiting...
I shall continue to keep cleaning and pimping the house inside...just in case anyone wants to come visit.  However you will find me in my studio making wonderful messes so I can be creative and not lose my mind. Today I shall be cutting fabrics.  I will share my project soon I hope.
Springtime Bliss to each of you lovelies...

Sister's Birthday Celebration

My sister Marie recently celebrated her birthday which coincided with Easter this year.  We met the day before to celebrate and avoid the Easter crowds.  I always have such a wonderful time with Marie.  She is such a sweet soul and so grateful in life.  I love Marie! 

Because her birthday was shared with Easter this year I stitched this little egg themed booklet for her.  The cover is linen and includes a heart and beads along with my stitching of a Jenny of elefantz design. If you click this link you can visit Jenny and learn about her wonderful monthly Stitchery Club.

This is the little stitched booklet inside where I added a simple pin with an M for Marie and a Butterfly pin because Butterflies are the Bearers of 10,000 Happinesses.

And keeping with my new mug mat obsession I sewed these for Marie.  No photo but I also included a bird themed mug and a nice water bottle for her to stay hydrated.

Marie loves Nature and Birds so this fabric was perfect.

I am so grateful my sister is happy with simple handmade gifts.  I also gave her the blue tatted bookmark (in my previous blog post) and a new book.  She is beyond an avid reader.
I had a nice time with my sister and I am grateful we live close enough to be able to get together.
We are having more rain. There can be no progress made outdoors on spiffing curb appeal. Way too wet and muddy.  There will be enormous amounts of clean up and weed abatement when dry weather returns.  With all this wonderful rain the plants are growing and everything is blooming.  The blooms get destroyed by the pouring rain but we are so thankful for the water table.  Some ski resorts are planning on staying open right through the summer with over 700 inches of snow!  Quite the contrast to the last five years of "exceptional" drought.
Mr. C and I have lost a wonderful friend who lost his battle with cancer last evening.  Prayers for the entire family who are grieving.  His wife just passed less than three years ago after her years of battling cancer.  I continue to pray a cure be found for all cancers.  I just do not understand.
These days and weeks are flying by so fast I am missing my summer before it even gets here.  I choose to embrace each and every day and not rush any of them.  Blessings and Bliss...

Bookmark not Bracelet...

I am trying to improve my Needle Tatting skills.  However I can see I need a lot more practice.  This pattern I tatted is from YouTube One Virtuous Woman and you can click this link.  Thank you OVW.  I used size 10 crochet thread in a pretty blue color. Here is my link to show the bracelets I tatted for Christmas last year.

Instead of finishing it as a bracelet, I finished it as a bookmark. I added a heart charm to one end and a tassel to the other end.  My sister is a voracious reader and she has a birthday coming soon.  This will be part of her gift...along with a book she hasn't read. 
We are having Winter in full force for several days now.  Pouring rain, strong winds, lightening and thunder...oh my!  California is grateful for the water table.  I think we might be ready for Spring very soon.  We have the pollen!  At least the rain helps to keep the pollen washed off the decks and railings.  If I park outside at all my black vehicle is yellow in no time!
We celebrate lots of birthdays in April...18 and counting.  Mr. C has his birthday this coming Wednesday April 12th.  I have no idea what I am doing but somehow we'll make it a special day for him.  He does like to be pampered and he does like good food.  Hmmm...
I shall do some laundry while it is raining.  So nice to have everything clean and fresh...inside and outside.  What do you like to do when it is raining?  My Grandma liked to go for a drive along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and visit the beach during a rainstorm.  She even recorded the beach with rain on a little cassette player she had so she could listen to it from time to time.  I didn't appreciate this until years after she was gone and now I understand her love of Nature.  So I shall enjoy our rain even though there is no PCH and no beach close to me.  Happy April Showers to You...

Mug Mat Swap...

This is the package of goodies I mailed to my Mug Mat swap partner.  I had fun creating these for Terry.  Thank you Donna of Brynwood Needleworks for organizing and hostessing this fun swap.

I have always loved fabrics.  I like to feel them.  I am pretty careful when I select fabrics for colors and coordination.  But...I must be dyslexic when it comes to sewing them together.  Oops...upside down does not do it for me.

Here I am frogging.  It must be right or I cannot continue.

Okay now.  All going in the proper direction.  I do really like the fabrics and colors in this selection.

I actually made Terry two mug mats just in case she wants to sit with a friend and enjoy a cuppa and a snack.

Here is another set I sewed for Donna our hostess.  She and her husband really enjoy music so I selected music themed fabrics.

I am very grateful I entered this swap for it challenged me and I learned how to sew binding on like a tiny miniature quilt.  Donna liked her surprise mats.  This will be the year of mug mats as gifts I am thinking.  It meets my happy factor of sewing and fabrics and fun. 
It is amazing to me that this is already the first week of April.  Mr. C and I spent a few days in Sonoma and Novato to enjoy some CSRG (Classic Sports Racing Group) auto racing. There were so many priceless fabulous cars and everyone was very friendly.  The weather was beautiful...except the wind!  Allergies and sinus infection not so much fun now. 
Lots of birthdays to celebrate in April...family and friends. 
You will find me busy cleaning house and Mr. C outside cleaning and mowing and blowing.  We are hoping to have a Broker Open House and find a buyer for our newly reduced pricing.  We remain optimistic.  We have been excellent stewards of this home and property for almost 20 years and it is time for us to move along and let someone else enjoy our labors here.
Prayers for all affected by horrific weather conditions across our nation and world. 
I'll take short breaks and try to visit each of you.  Happy Spring and Birdies Singing...