Valentine's Day

Wishing you all a very Happy Valentine's Day. 💗I finished this cute little cross-stitch just in time for the occasion. It's been a very long time since I've done any of this, Quiltkeemosabe made me up a little kit with this pattern, the linen and the thread. She introduced me to stitching over two and I just love it. 

This sweet little applique piece was a birthday gift from a dear friend twenty two years ago. She sent it to me when we were living overseas, at a time when I missed all of my friends and family so very much. It meant the world to me then, as it still does today. I get it out in time for Valentine's Day every year. 

Another treasured Valentine memento, an antique Valentine from Quiltkeemosabe many years ago. Today, during the children's sermon at church, our pastor explained about St. Valentine and how, as a Roman priest under the rule of Emperor Claudius, he defied a decree that all soldiers remain unmarried; Valentine continued to marry Christian couples in the church, albeit secretly. He believed that the government had no say in love and matters of the heart, and if couples came to him to be joined in marriage he did just that. Ultimately he was killed for his beliefs and acts contrary to those laws set down by Claudius. I never fully understood the story behind St. Valentine's martyrdom until today. Now I better comprehend the covertness associated with slipping a Valentine to a secret love. Who says that children's sermons are only for children? After all, aren't we all children of God?

My Valentine surprised me at the breakfast table this morning with this beautiful orchid.

He's been my one-and-only bestest Valentine for a very long time now, and that's no secret at all!

💗 

Love never fails!

❤

Happy Valentine's Day!

💗

Life is Good!

Will You Be My Valentine?

Happy Valentine's Day from my heart to yours!

💗

Life is Good!

Free download of the embroidery pattern by Jacquelynne Steves can be found here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Life is Good!

Happy Valentine's Day!

May your Valentine's Day be one 

full of love, given and received.

Life is Good!

Pillowcase Love

Pillowcase Valentines for my littlest loves... sweet dreams ahead.
Life is Good!

Little Loves

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you'll indulge me with a few of my little loves on this day. First, here's Lynnleigh... we had the privilege of spending a few hours with her yesterday morning while Mommy visited the dentist.  She went back to her room and came out with these on, her "Stompeez" slippers; a gift from Christmas. The slippers are equipped with a little pump "ball" inside the heel which, when stepped upon, will cause the ears to flip up. She doesn't weigh enough to get any ear action going, and she's oblivious.  No worries, they're pink; she's big on pink... oh, and green. In fact every color is either pink or green; that's true, just ask her!
Here's a second little love; another addition to my growing collection of 6" quilt blocks. I'm especially fond of this one because the background fabric is from my very first quilt made in 1983. I have a little bit left, only a very small amount, but just enough to  pull it out and use a bit here and there every now and then and think about that very first quilt class, my instructor (who remains a close friend to this day) and all the happiness, joy and friendships that quilting has brought over the years.

And one more little love for today... my oldest grandson, Mason.

Mason and his daddy recently treated me to a Carolina Hurricanes 

game; we had a terrific time, making memories to last a lifetime.

What are your little loves?

Wishing you a day full of them... and big ones too!

Life is Good!

Sewing Small

I made two itty-bitty dresses, one for each of my granddaughters' baby dolls; these are Valentine's Day surprises. The dresses have matching diapers and a bib. The project might small but the love is BIG! Nana hopes the little Mommies will enjoy dressing up and playing with their babies for years to come.

Life is Good!

Handmade Valentines

Mr. Goodneedle and I paired up to create handmade Valentines for our four little loves... ours didn't use paper doilies, glitter or stickers; but, rather, were handcrafted from wood and fabric. He turned four beautiful tops from maple and black walnut on his lathe and I made up personalized storage bags to keep them in.

The cord wraps around the upper portion of the top and with one quick "pull" the spindle is removed at the same time that the top begins spinning. He did a fantastic job, they're well-balanced and spin for at least one minute. Mason can manage to launch the top all by himself; the three-year-olds will need some help for a little while and, of course, Lynnleigh won't be able to use hers for some time but that's okay... these toys are keepsake gifts and will last forever, just like our love for our littlest Valentines!

Life is Good!

 

"The Love In Your Heart...

...wasn't put there to stay,
love isn't love 'til you give it away"!
Happy Valentine's Day!

Life is Good!

"What Time Is It?"

Yet another question... and another answer, too! It's time to celebrate Valentine's Day! You're shaking your head. You think the LAST thing I need to be worrying about is the time, you're thinking that I don't know the DATE! No, I do. My Valentine and I celebrated at breakfast today. He didn't arrive home until 2 AM. (Suffice it to say that air travel isn't what it used to be. Retirement can't come soon enough!) He gave me this precious Swatch watch. I collect them. I have special occasion Swatches and regular ones, I love them all. Isn't this one sweet with the little cut-outs on the band and the embossed flowers on the face? My Valentine gave it to me in a teeny-tiny gift bag with a little-bitty heart tin enclosed, too. Little-bitty, but big enough... for exactly one piece of chocolate candy! Awwww. Isn't that just the cutest thing? The gift of time is a wonderful thing, especially when it can be spent sewing; unfortunately that won't be happening today! I'm cleaning the house today (it's Friday, I can be such a schedule-freak sometimes, ask my friends and family!), shopping, and making a Lobster Pie for my Valentine for dinner. Thanks, honey; you're the BEST!Life is Good!
...whatever the day, or time...