Springtime Giveaway Heaven

I am participating in an amazing giveaway at 2 Bags Full. It is hosted by Vicki, one of the most talented, creative and generous bloggers, no, people I know. And I know a lot of talented, wonderful, generous people! This give away is to celebrate spring and she is doing it right!

So why are you reading about it here...well, you can win one of my Garden of Delight Needle Book there, custom designed just for you!

(Photo by Vicki Boster)

I created the above needle book just for Vicki. Actually, she purchased 2 and waited forever while I stitched them up, and down and all around. I had loads of fun creating for her because she is so open to unique creations.
Here are a few more in different styles and colors.

These needle cases are one of my favorites to create because each one is a reflection of the person who is ordering. No two are alike. You will be able to help me design your needle book to your specifications. You can request specific flowers, birds or any other imagery that is meaningful to you. I'll give you more details before we begin.

If you are interested in ordering one, I'm afraid that I am not taking orders at this time. However, your request can be added to my waiting list. I am hoping to get back to this design in late June. In the meantime, take a look at my Etsy Shop. I have so many pretty pincushions and needle books to entice and hopefully inspire you.

Well.... lets get back to Vicki's Giveaway.
She is featuring her Spring Woodland Nest. Oh my, it is just so beautiful!

(Photo by Vicki Booster)
Isn't it just so amazing? Well, if you visit her blog, you will see how many wonderful things go into each and every one of her nests. She only creates a limited number each year. They are true labors of love. Well, you can find out more when you get to her blog.

When you purchase her items she nearly always has a charity donation connected to her sales and this one is no exception. She is working with Lily's Place, which is a pediatric addiction recovery center in Kentucky, where she lives.
She organizes her Pink Scarf Project each October to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer.
She also hosts and organizes the Grow Your Blog Party to help up and coming artists/bloggers find each other and find followers. So many artists have been found and have connected because Vicki remembered what it was like to have something to share. All they needed was for people to find them. Vicki helps!

Well, you can also find some amazing things in the 2 Bags Full Spring Give Away.
Vicki's Springtime Woodland Nest
A Necklace by Sidney from How My Heart Beats. It comes in a sweet fabric gift bag. Too adorable!
An Anthropologie Inspired Bag by Margaret Smith Gardiner
A Mini Book of Garden Verses by Sue Kosec
Vicki's friend Marsha has also painted a lovely Tea Set and Nest Tags.
My dear friend Cynthia Crane has donated a delightful Pitcher, Bird inspired ceramic buttons and painted notecards. Wow~!
You can find images of these beautiful items, along with artist links and contact information to find out how to order some of the items you see. Just in case you just can't wait for the Giveaway to end, which is on June 21st. The first day of the Summer Solstice.


If you are here from Vicki's Giveaway "Welcome!!!". I'm so glad to have you here.


I'll be hosting my own Giveaway in July to celebrate Pinterest. Homespun Magazine, in Australia will be featuring one of my needle cases, The 1930's Flying Geese Design in their August Issue.

You can find me in their Best Of Pinterest Feature. I'm thrilled. I'll be giving away 2 sets of Stick With Me Pin Assortments to 2 lucky entries. Don't sign up now. It won't count.

Thanks for stopping by and "The Best of Luck to You!" Whomever wins that price is one very lucky person. (Wish it could be me).

Happy Mother's Day!

To all of you amazing mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, mother-in-laws and gentle caregivers of the world .....

Abraham Lincoln once said, All I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother.

I doubt we understand the full scope of what being a mother means to the world. Its too easy to get caught up in all the little trials and challenges to see how important we are and how well we do. The world is complex and its easy to get overwhelmed and fall short of our ideals. What I notice when I see my mom and feel her soft hand, hold mine is that she is the beginning of everything good in my life and her love flows over me each and ever day. How amazing is that? She is much too humble to realize how important she really is.

Without her, there would not be a me. I would not have my amazing children, wonderful family or my beautiful grand child. She taught me love. She taught me gentleness, compassion and the importance of doing my best, even when its hard to even try. She told me I was important. She kissed my boo boos and soothed my heart aches. She taught me so many lovely things. She is the reason I love my life so much.

I will never know if I am as great of a mom as my mother. I am still working at it. If I were judged by how amazing my children are and how much I adore them, I would have to say I'm doing pretty well. They are filled with love. They share it with their families and my mom's love flows through me and into them. Its a pretty strong love.

I wish I could tell my daughter-in-law that she is amazing in such a way that she would feel it to her bones. Because she is stunning as a mom. I see it in how beautiful my grand daughter is and how, at 3, she feels happy in her life. Love flows from her.



I hope that today you see the full scope of your motherhood and what it means to the world. Our children all play together on this planet and so far, we seem to be doing pretty well. The world keeps turning and love keeps flowing.

So find some time to take in those glorious hugs and kisses. Put your feet up and have a quite cup of tea. Make that big dinner or better yet, let someone else do it for you. Think hard about the wonderfulness that flows from you. Think of all the people who would not be here if not for you. I'm sure you will be amazed by what you have done and how well you have done it.

Have the happiest mother's day ever!