Sewing and Celebration

I've been having trouble sleeping lately...so, late last night (or early this morning) I managed to get a little more sewing completed - I have been working on some more St. Patrick's Day items...I finished up six fun wool appliqué pincushions that are filled with crushed walnut shells...and I embroidered up a couple more batches of lace shamrock ornaments to replenish my Etsy shop (the first batches sold almost immediately). I had fun doing the blanket stitch appliqué on the pincushions - using green shamrock cotton fabrics and shades of green wool felt...and I used my AccuQuilt Studio Fabric Cutter to cut the four-leaf clovers and small hearts...a great project to work on when I was wide awake at 3:00 in the morning. I also had time to cut out all the pieces for several sets of L.U.C.K. pillows...I'm hoping to complete them in the next day or two....

...and I have a few fun, creative, and inspiring things to share with you today. As some of you know, I am celebrating my birthday this week (thank you to everyone who has sent me birthday greetings) - my dear friend Mary gave me an early gift bag last week during our road trip with all sorts of goodies, and I just had to share some of them with you...the treasures she gifted me included a couple wonderful books (including Zakka Style which has been on my wish list for quite some time!) - some quilting fabric fat quarters - an adorable owl charm (it is a scrabble tile) - bee magnets - and a wonderful sketch pad portfolio (which is already in use)! I have paged through both books several times and I am quite inspired for some future projects...and one will use the lovely fat quarters (which are definitely my colors). I am so blessed to have friends that spark my creativity every chance they get...I always get the most artistic and inspiring gifts (just wait to see what I have to show you over the next couple days)....

Well, I am hoping to get a little sleep tonight - but if not, I will be playing with all my fabulous birthday pressies in my studio - creating something new! I have some beautiful stitchy gifts to show you in the next day or two...and the most creative pincushion I have ever received - so stay tuned....