Saturday, May 8, 2010

Peep, Peep!





Hello everyone! Hope you've each had a great week and that you're enjoying this lovely spring weather. Who can resist this cheery, little chick? I began working on her two weeks ago because I really needed a break from stitching that huge mansion in Block #4 of my Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow. Have any of you ever stitched these Valerie Pfeiffer chicks before? They have very unusual fractional and straddled stitches in the charts along with a lot of blended needles. They are very time consuming to stitch because you really have to study the chart, but I think that is what makes the chicks look so realistic. "Gardener Chick" is stitched on 32 ct. white Jobelan using the recommended DMC threads. This is the second chick I've stitched--(the first was the Christmas chick that I stitched last year). I think I'll simply frame this one with a simple black frame...


Last month, I lent a chart to Tricia over at the Simply Stamping blog through "Inter-Stitcher Loan." Imagine my surprise when she returned not only my chart, but included this darling pin pillow as well. As I told Tricia, she could not have made a more perfect choice for me since my favorite color is blue, my house is decorated in mostly blue and white and yellow, and I collect rabbits! Didn't she do a great job on it? She took a portion of the Prairie Schooler "Welcome Spring" chart and adapted it for this tiny pillow. And how about that darling card? Check out her site for more examples of her beautiful and creative cards. Thank you so very much, Tricia--I just love it!

As I've mentioned before, we have a pond at the back of our yard that attracts all sorts of wildlife... Ducks visit it each year--always in pairs. Well, a few weeks ago we noticed that only the male or female would visit at any given time, so my husband speculated that they must have a nest somewhere and the missing mallard was sitting on the eggs. I woke up Thursday morning to see both ducks preening by the pond and worried that something had happened to the nest. Imagine my surprise when I looked out after lunch and saw the mother in the grass next to the pond surrounded by nine peeping chicks! Of course, the first thing I did was to grab my camera and run out to photograph them... I wish you could all see how cute they are! They're just little brown and yellow fluff balls, but, boy, can they swim quickly. It would be nice if my camera and camera skills were better, but you can click on the photos for a bigger image:

"Now, my little chicks, it's time for your
first lesson in pond etiquette."


"Aw, mom, we want to swim underneath the
waterfall! Please mom, please, please?!"

"Hurry, let's get away from that crazy stitcher who
wants to photograph us for her blog!!"


I thought this mother duck and her chicks were just so perfect for this Mother's Day weekend--it really makes me smile to watch her guarding her babies so carefully. I am very blessed to have my own amazing mom... At almost 83, she just got her first computer and is now emailing and reading my blog! So, mom, I wish you the happiest of Mother's Days. Wish I could be with you, and I hope you know how much I love and treasure you...

Happy Mother's Day! And, as always, I want to thank you, my friends, for stopping in and taking time out of your busy schedules to leave a comment... I love hearing from each of you!

49 comments:

Nima said...

oh...that was lovely....
Happy Mothers day to you

valerie said...

Cute little chicks and ducks of the stitchy and real-life variety! I wish you a happy mother's day Carol!!

Viooltje (Violet) said...

Your garden chick has the cutest eyes!
:o)

I love your little ducklings and the (naughty waterfall) story.
Hope you'll have a l♥vely mothersday!
:o)

Theresa said...

Love your little chick~ So adorable~
And those little ducklings are super cute!! Happy mothers day to you too~~

Lesleyanne said...

Your stitching is gorgeous. As are those ducklings.

Rowyn said...

Hi Carol

Love your chick finish. I stitched Sitting Pretty a few years back. I can remember it being an enjoyable stitch, but can't remember too much about the fractional stitches.

The little bunny pincushion you received is soo adorable. It reminds me a bit of my rabbit Tiggy, except Tiggy doesn't like carrots. lol

I love ducklings. They always make me smile when I see them. We watched a mother duck round up her babies in a fairly fast flowing river once. She was calling out to them, and they all arrived safely one by one onto the riverbank. It really amazed us.

Well done to your Mother for getting her first computer at the age of 83. My Mother is in her early 60s and doesn't even want to know about computers. :-)

Have a great weekend.

Lainey said...

Gardner Chick is just adorable Carol and what a sweet pillow you were gifted.
Your family duck pictures are wonderful.
Hope you and your Mom have a wonderful Mothers Day.

Lois said...

What an adorable little bunny cushion! Your little chick is so cute! Loved the pictures of the duck family. Nine ducklings?!?! They're going to keep their parents busy!

Have a lovely Mother's Day tomorrow. Here Mother's Day is celebrated in March.

KarenV said...

The Valerie Pfeiffer chick is so cute! Love the ducklings, they're adorable - what fun to see them all on the pond with mom :)

Shari said...

your stitched chick came out adorable. nope, haven't stitched any of them, but I sure do love them. What a great surprise in your mailbox. How fun!!!
You took wonderful duck pictures & captioned them beautifully as well.
Happy Mother's Day!

Kathy A. said...

That is the sweetest little chick ever. I have never stitched one of Valerie's designs but agree - they are so realistic.
Love the story of the duck family. It will be fun to watch them grow.

Myra said...

That has to be the cutest little chick ever! I love the little rake. :o) Those are awesome pictures of the mother duck and ducklings, what a joy to be able to observe such a special moment in their short little lives.

I hope you have a fabulous Mother's Day surrounded with those you love. :o)

Wendy said...

ow, those ducks are just to cute !
sadly our pond is to small to atract ducks, just the occasional heron comes bij for an easy snack.

I´ve stitchted a few chicadees by Vallery Pfeiffer, and mine did have a lot of half stiches, just not any combined colours, if I´m correct.....
but I do love them, I always call them `punky birds` !
That reminds me, I should stitch a few for myself, I have always stitched them as presents....

Nancy said...

Carol I love your little chick! You do such beautiful needlework. I have never seen these and am going to search these little chicks.

Tricia sent you a lovely pincushion - such a nice surprise.

It must be so fun to watch the little ducklings! Baby anything in wildlife is just so precious.

Have a very Happy Mother's Day!

Karen said...

That chick so cute!!! I just love these designs.

Martine said...

I love your Gardner Chick !!! It is so adorable and so funny ! and I indeed think that there are many colors !!!...
Thank you for your family duck pictures... they are so cute !!!
Have a fabulous Mother's Days, Carol ! I hope that you will be surrounded with all your sons !!!Here, in France, the Mother's Day is celebrated the 30 May !
Have a good week-end !
Hugs.

BeckySC said...

Carol, I LOVE the chick!! TOO adorable :)
We were saddened this morning when we woke to find that something had taken our baby chick-we kinda inherited my FIL's Rooster and Chicken and momma chicken must have wanted a baby pretty badly as she sat on just 2 eggs and only one hatched off (was just born on Monday)DD heard a scuffle during the night last night and baby chick is gone this morning -momma chicken is still looking for it...so sad :(

I hope you have a most lovely weekend :)

Barbi said...

OH Carol! I just love this chick inspired blog post! I've never stitched a VP chick but not because I haven't wanted too, I think I have several of them in my stash! The gardener on is just adorable! And your little duck family...precious!

Carolyn NC said...

Stitching is so cute and I love the pin cushion! Your pics of your ducks are too adorable (love the captions, too!)

Julie said...

Happy Mothers Day!

A beautiful pillow you have received. I love your stitched chick, such a cutie.

Momma and the chickies look adorable, how i envy you that scene at the bottom of the garden.

Tricia T said...

Oh, what a fun post! I just love those VP designs. Isn't there one with little bluebirds sitting on a branch? It always makes me think of my Mom who loves birds. And your wonderful pictures of the duck with her chicks! We saw a family like that when I was out for a ride with my husband and son the other day. I was so excited... "LOOK! Chicks!!!!" Somehow the men didn't quite understand how wonderful it was... LOL!!

*So* glad you like the pillow. :-) It makes me smile to think of it nestled among other friendly bunnies.

Blessings!

Andrea said...

Lots of cute bird-life both in stitches and IRL. Beautiful!

Catherine said...

Carol,

What a great post! I love the gift from Tricia - too cute! And those baby ducks are adorable - I am still laughing from the "let's get away from the crazy stitcher" comment! Your pond is beautiful - love the waterfall! I can imagine that my boys would spend a lot of time there if we had one.

Wishing you a very Happy Mother's Day!!!

Ranae said...

I love that little chick, it is so the gardener in me,lol. Was it a kit?
Super pin pillow.
Nice wildlife photo's, that pond with the waterfall is awesome and in your backyard, cool!!!
Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Sally said...

Love that cute little chick :)

The photos are beautiful.

Unknown said...

Carol, what a sweet little bird finish - I just love it!

Your baby ducks are so cute - what a wonderland in your backyard.

I have never heard of the Interstitcher loan - is it a website?

Btw, I can't find my paint chip. I placed them all with the wallpaper samples we used in a special spot - it seems, I have forgotten where that special spot is, lol. I know that it's Waverly and I feel certain it is Robin's egg or Robin Blue.

Enjoy your weekend and have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Mylene said...

Cute finish! I had received that one in an exchange before finished into a pincushion and love it.

Happy Mother's Day to you too!

Cindy's Stitching said...

The peep is so cute. Adorable. The little baby chicks are always so cute. I just love spring. What a cute little pillow you received, but a great surprise. I love surprise stitched items. wishing you a happy mother's day.

Brigitte said...

Oh, those lovely pictures of the little ducklings.
Your V. Pfeiffer piece is so so cute. I love her designs very much and have a couple of them in my stash. But I realize that I have never started one so far. I think I have to pull out one of them and at least kit it up.
Your mom is really amazing starting to handle a computer in her eighties. My mom is 89 and a bit frail but I'm so happy to still have her.

Shirley said...

The Valerie Pfeiffer chick is adorable. I haven't worked any of her designs but have done lots of other Heritage kits so am used to those fractional stitches. Like you say, I think they make the designs very realistic. All the best, Shirley

Edit said...

Carol, your little chick is so lovely!!! Just like the little ducks with their mother :) I like ducks very much, if I see some I always try to make photos, I have a lot by now :)

And the little present you have received is absolutely lovely!

Pumpkin said...

How wonderful! I could snatch that pillow right away from you so it's a good thing I don't live close by ;o) LOL!

Awwwwww!!!! How sweet! I've been keeping my eyes peeled for little ducklings but nothing so far :o( What a beautiful little family. I love ducks and we've raised a few by hand and they have such wonderful personalities :o)

Hope you AND your mom have a wonderful Happy Mother's Day!

Lee said...

Congratulations on another lovely piece. Gardener Chick is delightful

BrendaS said...

Your little chick is very cute. A lot of work but it sure is worth it in the end.

Beautiful pictures of your pond and new duck family. I'm sure they are funny to watch.

Happy Mother's Day

Meari said...

Those little duckies are so cute! As is your little stitched chicky. :)

Happy Belated Mother's Day to you.

Rachel S-H said...

Your post is full of things that made me smile. Cute little chick, sweet little pin pillow, darling little ducks! Happy Mother's Day.

Anonymous said...

The garden chick is so cute as are the little ducks. I live near a pond where a goose couple have chicks every year, but I went by there yesterday and looked and looked and never could find them. I'll check again in a couple of days to see if they've hatched any babies.

Siobhán said...

What a sweet bunch of pics of the ducklings. That is so neat. Our town is built on/around an island and so we have a lot of swans & ducks on the river that runs through the town. I love to see the mallards especially. Then get a little freaked out when I see duck meat for sale in the grocery store. LOL Your chicky finish is SO cute!! I've never seen that designer's work before--really nice. The PS pillow is just perfect for you. It screams 'Carol'. ;)

Barbara said...

Carol, I love the pictures of the mother duck and her ducklings. They remind me so much of where we lived in Pennsylvania that it makes me home sick. Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day.

Barbara

♥ Nia said...

The cutest little chick =)
Beautiful work!!

oh I want to swim underneath the waterfall too!! :D Love the photos :)

Michelle said...

Gardener Chick is so cute! The pin pillow and card from Tricia is also so lovely.

Love the pics of the ducks!

Melanie said...

Oh my gosh, that chick is so CUTE!!!!!!!

Kathy said...

Love the photos of the ducklings. Adorable. I hope we will see more as they grow.

That is an absolutely lovely pin pillow. And I just love your VP chickie. Too cute.

Thank you for commenting on my blog. And now that I have found yours I'll be back. :)

Anonymous said...

Carol,
The little ducks are so adorable! Don't you just love springtime... I love the chick, great job :)
Donna in WV
catsandbeetles@hughes.net

Dani - tkdchick said...

Oooh love that chick she is adorable!

What a great gift!

Chris said...

That chick is a darling, yes her designs do call for fractional stitches and take a while to do!
And the ducklings are so sweet; we have some tits in our nesting box and we watch them all day! The parents are back and fro and we can hear the little ones tweeting as we walk down our garden path.
Happy stitching
Chris x

Ranae said...

Hi! I just wanted to let you know I got the chick chart Thursday and I am already more then half way done. I will take good care and send it back ASAP

Kellie said...

Gardening Chick is adorable! And so are those ducklings. That was nice of Tricia. Very cute pillow and card. :)

annie.g said...

bonjour de France
j'aime beaucoup ta broderie du petit oiseau
je découvre ton blog par les 2dragons
jolies broderies
bonne journée