90 Years Young

My mother-in-law recently celebrated her 90th birthday, which I mentioned in an earlier post.  I wanted to stitch a small gift for her, and found the perfect one in an old Leisure Arts publication (which, of course, I don't have in front of me, and is probably somewhere in the living room) called 50 Garden Minis Inspired by Scripture.

I stitched this on 28 count evenweave using DMC threads.  I didn't have some of the colors the pattern used, so I substituted close matches.

It has been a long time since I've stitched anything by Leisure Arts, and I forgot how tedious all that backstitching is!  I finished this as a flatfold and used a pretty pink and blue flat trim around the sides, which perfectly complemented the colors in the piece.

Working on a UFO

Looking through my project tote bag tonight, I decided it was time to at least make the effort to finish some UFOs.  So I pulled out Summer Iris by Blackbird Designs and worked on the flowers at the top of the design. 

I'm still having problems with my shoulder, so stitching is slow, but it felt good to pick up a needle tonight. 

Cassie

Why is it that I only take pictures of Cassie when she is sleeping?  Maybe because she's cutest then.  She said I could share these with you.

Yet Another Birthday Card

The Recipe:

~ scrapbook paper by Kay & Company
~ Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles
~ Spellbinders Fleur de Lis pendant
~  Spellbinders Labels Five
~  flower basket stamp by Anna Griffin stamped with Perfect Plumeria VersaMagic ink by Tsukineco

~ Martha Stewart punch
~ Happy Birthday stamp - unknown

Another Birthday Card

My mother-in-law celebrated her 90th birthday at the end of April.  She doesn't look 90, and is still active at her church and in the community.  She has always been a hard-working woman, raising four children, helping on the farm, sewing, quilting, and pursuing other crafts, in addition to caring for her home.  She canned a lot of what they grew on the farm or could purchase at good prices.  She was widowed several years ago after over 50 years of marriage, but has continued to be busy, which is a good way to deal with the grief and loneliness.

Here is the card I made for her.  

I used the Spellbinders Impressabilities folder Flourish as my base, to which I added Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two stamped with a Happy Birthday greeting from Stampin' Up!    The iridescent white ribbon was probably from the dollar store, and the three purple pearls are by Queen & Co.

I am working on a small cross stitch for her, which hopefully will be delivered by someone from the family at a party on May 20.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend since I'll be recovering from another injection in my knee.  I know we were told no gifts, but I started the piece before that request arrived, plus I'm not good at following instructions, LOL.  I just couldn't let the occasion go by without something for Mom to remember it by.