Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Farmyard Banner & Lovely Gift

We have had a few rainy days,
so that meant time to sew.
In everything give thanks.
This is how I especially feel about rainy days.
I love the sunshine and getting outdoors,
but we live in a desert area, 
so every drop of rain is a blessing.

I made this to hang in my kitchen window . . .
but I didn't measure, just guessed,
and it ended up being just a tad too long :)
I did enjoy my time while making it,
there is a pleasure in sitting at the sewing machine,
I find it very relaxing :)

Look at this sweet little pillow.
It was a surprise gift from Nancy at 
Cozy Thyme Cottage
She is a Sweetie Pie,
and you can visit her blog here:
http://cozythymecottage.blogspot.com/ 
Don't you just love getting little surprises
 in the mailbox.
It sure beats the bills and advertisements,
that normally fill it, LOL.

Have a lovely day
&
God bless you all.

Your blogging sister,
Connie :) 


56 comments:

  1. Love the farmyard banner what a lovely creation. It really is wonderful to get something in the post, such a exquisite gift. Take care.

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    1. I know, I walk to the mailbox, open it up and there sets a package with my name on it . . . a surprise . . . I get excited and can not wait to get inside to open it. Today with email, cell phones and texting (which I haven't started yet) it is just exciting to get a letter or a package in the mail. I love snail mail :) Nancy is a sweetheart, I do hope you visit her blog.

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  2. Love your banner. It is so nice!! Enjoy your gift and the banner, Janie

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    1. Hi Janie, thanks for stopping by. I love that you love my banner, it was nice to have a rainy day and time to play with my sewing machine. Nancy really surprised me with that little pillow, it is adorable. Thanks again for visiting, I love company :)

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  3. A lovely banner, I like the colouring.
    What a beautiful gift too ... and 'home sweet home' is just perfect.

    Enjoy the rest of your week.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Hello Jan, I love the little pillow, I have never none cross stitch . . . it's so charming and reminds me of gentler times :) It was certainly a sweet surprise.

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  4. Love your farmyard banner, such cute images. Super surprise gift - it's always lovely to get something unexpected through the post. xx

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    1. I opened the mailbox and seeing the package just warmed my heart before I even opened it. Nancy is such a sweetie pie :) Thanks for your kind compliment on my banner, it was nice to have time to sew . . . got to love a rainy day :)

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  5. I am just wowed by your work. I feel my heart get lighter, just to see that charming banner and the adorable little RV/"Spam Can" (that's what we called that kind of camper) cover!!!

    I love redwork - just beautiful and CHEERY, too!

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    1. Thank you, you are too kind. I love messy around and making little fun projects on the sewing machine. I love red work, too . . . there is just something about it that screams vintage.

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  6. The banner is truly outstanding, Connie! I just love it! :)

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    1. Hello Kim, thank you for stopping by to visit and I am delighted that you like my little banner. To bad I didn't measure, it was just a bit too long and didn't hang right in the window.

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  7. It really makes you feel special to get a sweet gift from a friend. And of course your banner is gorgeous! Enjoy your week ! Hugs, Diane

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    1. Hi Diane, Yes it does . . . Nancy is a very sweet blogging friend and I was totally surprised and delighted. I'm also very happy that you like my little banner, it was fun to make :)

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  8. Very creative banner Connie & what a lovely surprise to receive in the post.

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    1. I know, I really had a lovely day and was pleased as punch when I opened the mailbox to this sweet surprise :)

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  9. It is so cute
    You surely have a very nice sewing machine to do the automatic embroidery for you? I really like that little trailer thing below? maybe a bread box cover toaster cover whatever it's very cute

    I don't find it real relaxing to sew seems I get tense and my shoulders ache, whatever again LOL

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    1. Well, we all have different ways to relax. I used to sew all my clothes, that is something I do not do anymore. I think it would make be tense, so I stick with fun projects like the banner and the toaster cover :)

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  10. I like your banner. I've always loved the look of redwork and the designs you've used are cute. Sweet little pillow. It is nice to get surprises like that in the mail

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    1. Hi Ann, I'm happy that you like my banner . . . I really like the bird that you made and posted on your blog. So cute! Redwork is one of my favorite types of embroidery, too . . . it's so simple and vintage :)

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  11. Oooh lovely sewing projets, Connie - your farmyard banner is a delight, especially that gorgeous curly little sheep! Thank you for your lovely comment. That's a good tip about working on the callouses with a fingernail. My fingers are a lot less sore after over a fortnight, and I'm already noticing a better tone. I didn't manage any practice today because I was busy clearing junk from the sitting room in preparation for rearranging and decorating, and later on I was too tired and needed to rest. I've only missed 2 days in 2 1/2 weeks which isn't bad going... I'm so loving getting back into playing and singing again.

    Hope you are having a great week.
    Shoshi x

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    1. When Steve and I first married he was going to teach me guitar and I didn't want to learn because of the callouses . . .then thirty years later I taught myself. Callouses become badges of honor and something you never want to live without . . . I find that if my fingernails (especially on my left hand) are extremely short and my callouses are tough . . . I play much sweeter music :)

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  12. Love your charming banner, Connie - so cute! Scrolled down to see your neighbors delightful yard, too - love all the birdhouses, especially the little campers! And how sweet is that little pin cushion - what a lovely gift. Hope your day is lovely, too. xx Karen

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    1. Hi Karen, it is nice to start my day seeing your smiling face in my comments . . . here's wishing you a sweet day, too. Thanks for your encouraging words and for stopping in to say, hi :)

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  13. Hi Connie, You sure work miracles with that embroidery machine!!! Nice banner and I will be getting my spring banner out this week that you made me! Thank you for posting a picture of my tiny pillow and mentioning my blog. I hope you like it. I haven't posted anything for awhile and need to get busy! Outdoor work doth call whenever it is nice out! Happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow!! Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you too :) I have been staining fences for the last two weeks and will be so glad when I'm finally done . . . maybe today :) My poor right hand and arm have been is pain for the last week and are carving a break; I just have a hard time stopping until the job is complete. I love the little pillow, it is adorable, thank you again, you are a sweetie pie.

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  14. What a neat banner and also a fun surprise gift. I'll go check out her blog. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. Hi Teresa, Thank you . . . I think that you will enjoy Nancy's blog, she is a retired gal like us . . . just enjoying life and spring gardening.

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  15. I am not familiar with Cozy Thyme Cottage so I will head on over to check her out.

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    1. Thanks Carol, I know that she will appreciate the company :)

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  16. That is truly a beautiful banner and what a thoughtful gift. Bloggers are the best.

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  17. Hi Connie,

    Your bunting is adorable! I love the red stitching with the floral strip (what's that called?). I'd say you have a great eye at measurements.

    Your little pin cushion is adorable. What a wonderful surprise to receive in the mail.

    I know how you feel about rain - we really need some here as we really didn't have a long winter.

    Hugs,
    Kay

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    1. Hi Kay, the red stitching is called red-work and the strip of fabric was from a jelly roll. I'm delighted that you like it. Since we purchased these place two years ago we have started calling it our farm, not because we have any animals, other than Butchy, but we have lots of garden that keeps getting bigger each year and so much more space than we ever dreamed of having. One acre seems humongous after our tiny yard at our old house. We love it here and feel so blessed :)

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  18. That banner is adorable, Connie. I love the printed fabric you used. Goes great with your red embroidery. Nancy's pillow is sweet. It's always nice to get a gift in the mail. ;-)

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    1. I love going to the mail box and finding a letter or package. Usually it is advertisements and bills.

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  19. You always have interesting projects to show. No sitting around idle for you.
    Here in B.C. we get so much rain. Wish we could share it with you. According to our local weather site so far in March we've had some rain 15 out of the 17 days.

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    1. Wow!!! That is why you have such gorgeous flowers in the summer :)

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  20. It's always fun to get a surprise in the mail. A very cute banner with a great message reminding us to give thanks in all things. Being on the western side of the mountains we have had plenty of rain and are looking forward to the next couple of days of sunshine coming our way.

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    1. The first two years that I lived in this state I visited Seattle about 5 or 6 times and every time the sun was shining and it was beautiful. I had a hard time believing all the stories that I heard about the rain. Then we visited in February and walked two blocks from the King Dome to meet friends. It wasn't raining when we left and in the two block walk it started and when we got there we were soaked to the bone. That made me a believer, LOL.

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  21. I love your banner! I am amazed at the needle work from your machine. The Home Sweet Home gift is so special. I used to cross stitch and even a small project takes a lot of work!

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    1. Oh, I know, it is very time consuming . . . quiet charming though :)

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  22. Hi Connie ~ your banner is just darling. And speaking of banners, yes indeed that is your red and white banner hanging over my son's bed. :-)
    What a lovely surprise you got in the mail! I agree that snail mail presents and cards are the best.
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Hi Melanie, thank you. I enjoy making banners . . . before blogging I never really thought about them, but now I see them everywhere. I like the little bit of whimsy they add to a room :)

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  23. Love the sweet banner...so cute!! I did some embroidery yesterday....put a cute rabbit design on shirts for my friends' granddaughter and grandson. Hope to post about it on my blog tomorrow. Have a bad earache and runny nose...so not feeling the greatest. This happens every Spring.
    ~Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy, I am sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. I'll be over to see your post . . . I love bunnies and rabbits :)

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  24. Your banner is just adorable, such cute images on them! Sweet little pillow too, nice to get surprises in the mail :)

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    1. Thank you . . . and yes I love little surprise packages . . . I think we are all that way :)
      When I go to the mailbox I'm usually only expecting bills and junk mail. The good thing about junk mail is that I bought a shredder, so now my junk mail becomes compost, LOL.

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  25. Your banner is really cute, do you hand sew them? Xxx

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    1. No, I make them on the machine. They are a fun project to make when you run out of projects and just want to sew:) That and I think they make great little gifts.

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  26. Again, everything you make is so pretty! Love the new kitchen window banner!

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    1. Thank you so much . . . we seem to be big fans of each other. I am so happy that you are back blogging again :)

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