I won a giveaway!!!

I was lucky enough to win Ronda's giveaway at Simple Thyme Prims. The package arrived on Saturday just moments before we were starting coloring eggs. I didn't even get a chance to open the box until Sunday evening, but oh what a treat it was!!! I received one of what I refer to as her "signature rabbit pillows". I have been admiring them since I first happened upon Ronda's blog months ago. Trust me, it's even lovelier in person. The stained tea towel smells delicious; it's hanging on my drying rack right behind me and I can still smell it. She also gifted me some Weeks Dye Works threads and some gorgeous wool. I realized after I took the picture that the textured wool is on the bottom of the pile. I'm so excited; I've never worked with textured wool before.

I also received a cute little basket that is currently holding the treads for my latest project (pictures to come soon). There was also a bag of flavored jelly beans. I put them out on the table Monday afternoon and my children had a blast looking at the pictures and flavor descriptions on the back of the bag and then rooting around in the bowl for the flavor jelly bean they had chosen to taste. My husband picked out all the licorice ones. There was also a little bag of chocolate eggs; those I'm saving for myself.

Finally, my favorite item, the heart in hand wool pinkeep. Isn't it just breathtaking? The stitches are so tiny and perfect, the colors are so rich, the design is so perfectly prim . . . I could go on and on. It's been sitting on my bedside table for the last day and I keep finding myself stopping and staring at it, picking it up, admiring it. I adore it, I can't thank you enough Ronda. Thank you, thank you, thank you . . .

Dave and I managed to have "date night" last Friday. We had originally planned once a week but every other week seems more manageable right now. We're enjoying the time together so I'm sure as we get the hang of it we'll be doing it even more often than once a week. It's surprising how hard it is to schedule time together . . . but it is wonderful when it happens. This past week we played (believe it or not) Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit. Okay, so it's not exactly dinner and dancing but do you have any idea how expensive it is to hire a babysitter for four children? For now our "date nights" are at home with the two youngest put to bed and the oldest told in no uncertain terms that mommy and daddy are getting some time alone. Perhaps in the future we can arrange babysitting, or even something more romantic at home, but for now we both had a great time Friday night. I even beat him, which is surprising given I'd never even heard of Lord of the Rings before I met him. He did get his nose slightly bent out of joint (he has an ever so slight competitive streak) so maybe next time I'll let him win.

Ronda, thanks so much for hosting the giveaway. It was a lot of fun and really you give the best prizes. You can play the Easter Bunny at my house any year.

I tried linking this post to Ronda's blog but it seems to be disabled. I linked to her facebook page instead and she last posted on her wall yesterday so I hope all is well. Of course my just doing it wrong isn't out of the realm of possibility :)

xoxo

Another Butterfly Free Pattern

I had promised this buttefly months ago. I stitched her brother back in February and shared pictures and the pattern. If I don't stitch things the moment I'm finished designing them they tend to get lost in the shuffle. That's what happened to this little lady. I had planned on stitching her with GA Picnic Basket and GA Roasted Marshmallow (like her brother) but use a peach thread rather than the teal. I never even got so far as to pick the thread color :)

In the way of an apology for having made you wait so long I've also included the border that was meant to go with the butterflies with perhaps a name or the date inside. All three patterns can be used together or seperate but at least someone will get to stitch them since I can't seem to find the time. All three patterns can be found on my Free Patterns page. Enjoy!!!


xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Happy Easter

It's cloudy and raining here but still a joyful Easter Sunday. We moved our Easter Egg hunt indoors this year. I even hid an Easter Egg in with the real eggs in the fridge, but my children are too clever. Mina enjoyed rolling her plastic eggs around the floor but oh the joy when one popped open and she discovered what was hiding inside. Those little pastel M&M's disappeared quite quickly.

Despite it being rainy it was up to 85 degrees here come the early afternoon. Suddenly that roast with potatoes and steamed vegetables didn't sound as good as it did earlier in the week. Instead Emma took over cooking and we had a picnic on the living room floor. We sliced the roast to make sandwiches, had pickles and potato chips with sliced strawberries and blueberries for dessert. Perhaps not a traditional holiday feast but it was wonderful.

I hope the Easter Bunny brought you something nice as nice as the memories I got!!!

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

I've never been good with names and dates . . .

I know it's been awhile since I posted; it's just such a busy time of year. My stitching has suffered as well. I find I have less and less time to stitch as Spring approaches and once Summer comes I practically stop all together.

I have been neglectful of my Free Patterns as well. I have every intention of stitching some up to post here but . . . I've decided that after Easter I'm just going to start posting them and let you ladies do the stitching for me :)

I have been stitching on the sampler I showed in my last post and it's coming along well. Forgive the condition. I stitch in hand so the whole peice is rolled and wrinkled and refused to lay flat for the picture. I promise, I will iron it. There is one part of the design I've been avoiding. I could use some help if you ladies wouldn't mind. Please please please please . . .

When stitching antique inspired samplers do you prefer to stitch your own name and the actual date or do you prefer a fictitous name with a date more appropriate for the style of the sampler? I just can't decide. I like the idea of a sampler I stitch being passed down through the years, in which case having my own name and the date it was stitched is important. However, I do love samplers that evoke a time gone by and a piece stitched to look aged and worn with a modern date and a more contemporary name (say for example Jennifer) can sometimes ruin that effect. I suppose I can always attach my own information to the back of the frame. I just can't seem to decide which to choose for this sampler.

There is a version of the design that simply has an alphabet which is lovely and a good way to avoid the issue all together. I've intentionally slowed my pace stitching the sampler because I'm almost done with the motifs and am still undecided on this. I figured if I could get some opinions on other people's preferences it might help me clarify mine better. It's highly unlikely I'll put my own name on the sampler (did I mention I've never felt my name suited me and rather dislike it?) The choice is really between a fictitious name or the alphabet. I've been considering Honour or Felicity for the first name and Bloom for the last.

This poor sampler is going to sit unfinished until I can make up my mind, so any help making it up for me?

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Cupcakes, Samplers, and Date Nights

So Birthday Season is finally over in our house (until mine in June, anyway). I counted and since January I have made a gross of cupcakes. A gross!!! I think I'm off baking for a little while but all the better since it's getting warmer here every day. It's time to replace those baked sweets with some fresh fruit.

There's a little quiet before Easter and I'm taking advantage of it by starting a new sampler. I haven't picked up a needle in weeks and my fingers were aching to. It's a little larger than I usually do but just a collection of simple spot motifs with an alphabet. The box to the side there is my attempt at organizing my floss. Several of the threads are very similar in color and having them all jumbled at the bottom of my sewing box caused quite a headache when trying to distinguish between them.

My hubbie and I have decided to institute a "date night". Since he works from home we are rarely apart but we have realized that's not actually the same thing as spending time together. We haven't worked out all the kinks yet but there are two rules each of us proposed to the other. From me he's not allowed to watch TIVO and from him I'm not allowed to stitch. I think each of us is a little jealous of the time the other spends on our respective vices. We've picked Saturday this week since he'll be out of town on Friday. We haven't decided how we'll spend our time but I have to admit I am looking forward to it.

I'll post more pictures of the sampler as I make more progress on it. Until then, best wishes.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn

Happy April Fool's Day!!!

I'm not a big fan of practical jokes but I do love a good laugh. So go be silly and make someone you love smile.

xoxo

Jennie Lynn