Delightful...Dazzling...Divine...DMC!

Hi everyone! I just got home from my trip (more about that later) last night and found this giant box waiting for me. Hmm... looks pretty nondescript, doesn't it, but notice the tape with the giant "DMC" logos imprinted on it. I had been dreaming about this box all week while I was away--just imagining my feelings as I peaked inside for the first time. Some of you know and have already emailed me to say "congratulations." but, for those of you who don't--I won a giveaway. Not just any giveaway, but a giveaway on the DMC Blog for each of the 454 colors of DMC cotton Embroidery Floss 117 that DMC creates. Can you imagine how excited I was?!! Now, sharing this news with my husband and sons brought some tepid..."Oh, that's nice" comments, but I hope you, my fellow stitchers, will understand and share my excitement! So, come peak inside with me...

I love the cute little card from "Emma Broidery" herself!

A mountain of loveliness!

Thank you, thank you DMC Corporation!
I'm sure you all know what I'll be doing today! And for those of you who want a chance to win some other DMC goodies--get yourselves over to the DMC blog and sign up for their latest giveaway!


I found another stitching surprise waiting when I got home. Dear Kim at "Stitchful Thinking" had passed along the Blackbird Designs chart for "Something Sweet." I had admired her finish back in December and she kindly offered to share the chart with me! Kim, you are as sweet as the violets shown on the chart and I'll be sure to make another stitcher happy and pass it along when I'm all finished... Thank you so much, my friend!

Well, the Florida trip was a bit cooler than I would have liked, but it still was good to get away and come back to no snow left at all!!! My husband and I are lucky to have our parents to visit on each coast--mine in Daytona Beach and his in Naples. In spite of the cool and windy (and sometimes rainy) weather, we did manage to walk a few miles each day and I captured some lovely photos to share with you. We just don't see images like this in western Pennsylvania!
A green anole lounging in the grapefruit tree

A white egret perched on a fishing shack

Grapefruit trees right outside the back door!

The prettiest flowering trees
I am so behind on my blog reading and commenting, but will truly try to catch up this weekend. Tomorrow is a very special day for me--the day I became a mom 28 years ago. My oldest son came into our lives on a lovely spring day (much like today!) with that impish look on his face that has made him a constant source of amusement and amazement. I am so proud of the kind, hard-working young man he has become and I hope his next year is filled with only good things...



Whew--you are probably tired of reading by now, so I'll close with a quick picture of my latest WIP. Can anyone guess what it is? I didn't have as much stitching time while on vacation as I expected, but I hope to finish the third block of Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow to show you next week...

If you've lasted to the end of this posting--thank you, thank you! Your visits and comments mean so much to me. Have a wonderful spring-filled week everyone...