Trick or Treat Lane

Good morning, all! I can hardly believe October is almost over, can you? I hope you're all enjoying your autumn and the colors and scents of the season. I sure wish it would last a bit longer, but it looks like old man winter will be arriving soon. And from the forecast, we're in for a worse winter than normal...

Not much stitching has been going on in my house, but I do have one fun new finish to share with you. May I present... "Trick or Treat Lane" by The Stitching Parlor Don't you love the ghosts carrying their little treat pails? And how about the scary looking cat? Adorable...Those must be very young "ghosts" carrying the treat buckets because any older trick-or-treater knows that buckets just don't hold enough candy! As my sons got older, they "graduated" to taking pillow cases to hold all their collected goodies as they haunted the neighborhood. I think I loved Halloween as much as they did--it was such fun to see their excitement as they arrived home, spread out their bounty on the floor, divided it into categories, and generously "shared" anything coconut related with their old mom.

I didn't have any of the suggested Crescent Colours so I substituted an assortment of overdyed threads and I'm very happy with the result. The fabric, 28 ct. stormy gray jobelan, drove me crazy, though. It was just so flopsy with no body to it at all. But, I do like the color of it; reminds me of a typical gray blustery Halloween. The house is one stitch too short, but, shhh...don't tell anyone; we're the only ones who have to know! After I discovered my error, I realized it wouldn't affect the outcome of the piece at all, so I just let it be. There were supposed to be pumpkin "buttons" in front of the houses, but I just stitched in some pumpkins and gourds instead. Although the stitching of this one took much longer than I expected (those daisy stitched leaves about did me in!), the end result really makes me smile.

We had a bit of a "trick" of our own played on us two weeks ago. My youngest son brought his girlfriend home for a few days so we decided to show off the city to her since she had never visited the area before. Now, Pittsburgh always surprises any first time visitor. Most people still have the idea that it is a dirty, industrial city, but over the 34 years that we've lived in its suburbs, the city has experienced a miraculous revitalization. It has won many, many awards over the past ten years including Forbes Magazine's Most Liveable City, one of the Top 10 Cities For Single Women, Top 10 Cities For Raising a Family, Economist Magazine's Best U.S. City In Which To Live, and just this week National Geographic Travel Magazine named it one of 20 Must-See Destinations In 2012! Surprised? Come visit--you'll be amazed!


Anyway, the four of us drove down to the city on a glorious fall day--perfectly blue sky, sunshine, crisp air. After parking the car, we began heading toward the center of the city when we passed a man sitting on a park bench who spoke an ominous warning: "Be careful, there are zombies ahead." "Ummm...okay" we replied as we dismissed his words. As we walked on, we came across a bride and groom dressed like zombies and thought that must be what he was referring to. A bit early for Halloween, but...whatever. We continued to walk past a few more scattered "zombies," but as we rounded the corner and entered Market Square, we were suddenly surrounded by a teeming sea of zombies. There were short zombies, tall zombies; thin zombies, fat zombies; old zombies and even baby zombies being strolled in their little zombified carriages by scary looking zombie parents. We had unknowingly placed ourselves smack-dab (I don't think I've ever written that word before!) in the middle of the Pittsburgh Zombie Fest 2011 .

Apparently, we weren't the only innocent bystanders to be caught unaware that zombies had taken over Pittsburgh... Do you recognize the family above? Why, it's actor Tom Cruise (in town to shoot his latest movie "One Shot"), Katie Holmes, and their daughter, Suri, who ended up with a zombie stalking them. Sweet little Suri looks totally unaware of exactly who is behind her. (Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the Cruise family in person, but the fan who shot this photo must have been very happy).

Anyway, at first it was entertaining, but it slowly began getting creepy--way too much fake blood puddled on the sidewalks or oozing out of zombies' mouths, creepy bulging zombie eyes, and torn, blood-covered clothing. After a tasty lunch in a non-zombie inhabited restaurant we made a hasty exit from Zombiefest 2011 to show our guest the "prettier" sides of Pittsburgh. But, yes, Pittsburgh can add yet another honor to its list--it is now the proud owner of the new Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of "zombies" in one place--there were over 4900 of the creatures there on that sunny Saturday! If you'd like to see some of the zombies who took over the city that day, you might enjoy (?) this Zombie video. It was all a bit much for me--I can't even be in the same room when a scary commercial is on television! I cover my eyes and start singing to cover the noise of the commercials--weird, aren't I? Are any of you scaredy-cats like me?

As a thank you for her visit, my son's girlfriend treated us to this sampler of miniature cupcakes from Baked By Melissa all the way from New York City. Just look at these darling creations--each is the size of a quarter and they came in the most unusual and delectable flavors--s'mores, peanut butter and jelly, even chocolate chip pancake...They were almost too cute to eat--almost!! It was so nice to have another female around the house--we all hope she comes to visit again soon...




I've been lucky enough to win a couple of giveaways lately. First of all, Kajsa, from "Kajsa's Stitching and More" blog, found herself with two of the 2011 Prairie Schooler Santas so she nicely offered to have a drawing for her extra copy. I was so happy to win it as I've collected most of the other years, but hadn't purchased the latest one yet. Thank you so much Kajsa--I know I'll love stitching him and his little red cardinal!





And just look at this array of goodies that I won from dear Jane over at "Buttons & Stitches" blog. I told Jane that everything she included in her package was something I would have picked myself: the ribbons, the charms, the ric-rak, the fabric, the thread, the cocoa mix--oh, I love it all. But, the highlight of the giveaway was the charming Margaret Sherry Pumpkin Pie kitty that she stitched. Jane's stitching and finishing are just perfect and I'm so proud to have a piece of her work on display in my home. Thank you so very, very much, Jane--your gifts made my day!


GIVEAWAY ALERT...
There is still time to enter my giveaway to celebrate my 500+ followers (on my last post only). Entries will be accepted through November 1st and I can't wait to find out which of you will win my little treats! Good luck to all...

Do you have any special plans for the weekend? I'm heading north to Erie, PA to stitch the days away with four blogging friends at a quiet Bed & Breakfast. It sounds like perfect stitching weather with nothing but rain and gray skies forecast.

Thank you, as always, for your wonderful comments and emails--I appreciate each and every one! I'll be back soon with the winner of the giveaway; until then, I hope you all enjoy a week doing whatever makes you happiest. Bye for now...

It's Giveaway Time!

Hello, my friends! Well, I finally gathered a few items together to celebrate my 500+ followers, but, before I tempt you with them, I have a couple of small finishes to share with you... I wanted to send my blogging friend, Valerie, a little something for her birthday so I stitched up this sweet pin pillow from the Prairie Schooler J*K*L chart (Book No. 105). Since she has an October birthday, I thought the grinning Jack-O-Lantern would be perfect. I backed it with the fabric shown and made the cording out of the same DMC shade that the pumpkin is stitched in... The cute little guy is now sharing Valerie's apartment on the other side of the U.S. in sunny California... I'm so glad you like it, Valerie--I really enjoyed creating it for you!


Another tiny finish--and I do mean tiny--is this darling design called "Froth and Bubble" created by the very talented Mindi at Joie de Vivre blog. Mindi offered a "little something" to anyone who stitched her twin witches huddled around their cauldron before October 1st. Isn't this just the cutest Halloween scene? I used my own choices of DMC giving the witches purple socks along with green faces and hands. I also added a long handled spoon so the witch on the right could stir her bubbling brew.


Stitched over one on 28 ct. country mocha Cashel linen, I turned it into this little pillow with some black-bubbled fabric, a bit of black and white checked ribbon, and a gold star topped with a black button. It is now sitting on my side table in my kitchen and every time I see it, I smile... You all know how much I love "tiny" things and these witches that Mindi designed are just perfect! Anyway, I sent this photo of my finish to her as she requested and was so happy to hear that she liked it.






To thank me for stitching her design, Mindi sent me this most delightful assortment of goodies! Just look at this gorgeous fabric covered notebook that she created! It is perfect for keeping track of my starts and finishes, wish lists, supplies to be purchased, etc. I'll keep it right inside my stitching bag, Mindi. Her gift also included a black mesh make-up bag, two Halloween pencils, some yummy apple cinnamon lip balm, a packet of fun-colored travel tissues, and some tasty mints. If you haven't discovered Mindi's blog yet, please pay her a visit; you won't be disappointed. So, thank you again, Mindi--you had already given me a gift in the form of your charming design and I was so touched that you would add to it with these wonderful goodies...









Okay--on to my 500+ follower giveaway... Do you remember how thrilled I was last Thanksgiving when my dear niece and sister-in-law presented me with this delightful stitching bag? I've used it so much--in fact I would say it is one of my "required" stitching accessories, just as much needles, fabric, and threads are...It helps me stay very organized; in fact I keep mine right beside my stitching chair with little folders in it for each project or soon-to-be stitched project. Its portable size makes it ideal to take to an afternoon of stitching with friends, too.




Well, I thought you might like the chance to win one of your very own, so I asked my niece to order me this little beauty to give away to one of my followers... This version is black and white with the prettiest raspberry colored monogram that says, what else, "STITCHING." It has two mesh pockets on either end which are perfect for storing needles, scissors, eyeglasses. And the interior is wonderful for holding your current projects or things you are thinking about stitching.


Of course, I didn't want to send an empty bag, so I'm including two fat quarters, some lovely pink hand-dyed thread from Nina's Threads, a handy notebook to keep track of your stitching needs, and of course, a bar of Lindt dark chocolate. How does one of my lucky followers go about winning this package of goodies? Well, all you have to do is leave me a comment that you would like to win (on this post only) and tell me about your blog's name... Some of your blogs have such interesting names that I'd love to know the story behind them. If you have a blog named after yourself--well, tell me if you ever thought about changing the name or if you like it just as is. And, if you have no blog--what would you name yours if you created one? Please do not advertise this on your blogs--I want this to be for my regular readers and followers. In fact, there is a little bonus for those of you who regularly comment on my blog. If you commented on either of my September posts before October 10th, I will automatically give you one extra entry just to thank you for taking the time to say hello without the incentive of a "prize."


I guess it's only fair that I tell you how my blog got its name, right? Well, almost three years ago when I thought about starting this blog, I got the idea that it would be fun to stitch an ornament-sized piece every week for a full year...That was my dream--my "stitching dream" and that is how my blog "Stitching Dreams" came to be. If you are a new reader, you might want to go back to the beginning of my blog and see how far I've come. Back in January of 2009, I knew none of you in the stitching / blogging community. No one commented on my posts and I was never expecting that anyone would. I was honestly blogging to simply document my finishes... Well, ever-so-slowly, comments would trickle in and before you know it, I had more and more readers and even better, more and more blogging friends and inspirational blogs to follow myself. I wish I could give each of you a prize to say thank you for such wonderful comments, emails, and, most importantly, your friendship. It has meant more to me than you'll ever know...

I'll keep the giveaway open until November 1st and announce the winner soon after. Good luck to all!! Enjoy your last warm days of autumn! Bye for now...

Stitching For a Cause: 2011

Good morning everyone! Hope you're all enjoying some lovely fall weather--isn't it hard to believe that October begins in two days? I can't say this has been ideal fall weather here in western Pennsylvania, but we've had a few crisp, sunny days to get me through the unusually cool and rainy month that we've had. So, enough about the weather...you're here to see what I've been stitching, right?

This is the second year that I've participated in stitching for the Pumpkin Patch & Co Breast Fund. (My entry last year was this little Christmas Chick). For the past two years, Cathey (our fearless leader also known as Pumpkin) organized a group of stitchers to stitch an ornament (or something else) to contribute to the yearly Attic Needlework Silent Auction For Breast Cancer Research. Each year stitchers from all over the world donate items and raise thousands and thousands of dollars to help fight the war on breast cancer and I'm honored to participate. Last year, Pumpkin's little group raised almost $900 for the cause! If you want to consider contributing a piece of your stitching, it's not too late. Just check out the Pumpkin Patch & Co Breast Fund for details or email Cathey...

I created two pieces to donate to the auction this year. First, I stitched this lovely French freebie from L'R de rien. I thought stitching it on pink would be perfect for the breast cancer auction so I used white DMC on a 28 ct. dusty pink evenweave. A simple beaded border and white hanger and bow accent it. I'm very pleased with how it turned out and I hope someone at the auction likes it, too...




My other donation is from Little House Needleworks and is called "Faith". I really loved the quote on this one: "Faith is being sure of what we hope for." Don't you think it offers a wonderful sentiment for someone battling breast cancer or any difficult life situation? This is stitched on 32 ct. putty jobelan with Crescent Colour threads. I substituted some of the suggested colors so they would show up better on the fabric, though. I really love the soft, muted shades in this finish! There was supposed to be a little lady bug crawling up the flower's stem, but I left him off. I think I wanted this to be a more "serious" piece.

To finish it off, I ended up ruching some white satin ribbon, adding some white pearly pins, topping it with a bow, and making a pinkeep. I just about squealed when I found the backing fabric at Joann Fabrics last week! I had originally pictured some sort of floral backing in my head, but when I spotted the fabric pictured behind the pinkeep, it had the perfect colors to accent the stitching itself. So, these two finishes will be going on a long trip all the way to Arizona and the breast cancer auction where I hope someone loves them as much as I do...





Last weekend, we headed down to Washington, D.C. to visit our youngest son; I hadn't seen him in over two months so I was more than ready. It was so nice to visit his new apartment and, wow, just look at the view from his balcony. Being on the 10th floor enables him to look out at the Washington Monument, the Pentagon, and the Potomac River. I told him it certainly looks nothing like our first apartment which was pretty run-down and, at times, had water trickling down the inside walls of our bedroom during the winter (which then froze creating a sort of arctic headboard at the top of our bed)!! But, it is those memories which make you realize how far you've come...

Here are a few shots I took of the memorials and monuments. Although I've seen them many times, I still feel quite patriotic each time I glimpse them again. All photos are clickable for a better look and you can also click the links underneath for more information...

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

The Washington Monument
The monument has been closed ever since the
August 2011 earthquake that hit the D.C. area. The
5.8 magnitude earthquake caused a large crack at its top.

I think my favorite moment of our trip was when my son told me he's come to realize just how far treating others with kindness and respect would take a person in life. And then he said what good role models his mom and dad had been in that respect... Aww...it does a mom's heart a world of good to realize some of those life lessons that I tried to instill in my sons as they were growing up, actually sunk in. Kindness truly does go a long, long way...

Well, that wraps up another way-too-long post from me. Thanks ever so much for all those great comments on my last post. It seems many of you share my sugar addiction...I wish I could tell you I'm conquering it, but it's a struggle! And I so appreciate all of your suggestions for storing my ornaments--there were several good ones which I plan to implement in the future. Look for my 500+ follower giveaway next time--I hope you'll like it. Until then, enjoy your weekends and happy stitching. Bye for now...

Smokin' Snowman and Sugary Sweets

Brrr... and a chilly good morning to you, my blogging buddies. It's a rainy, 55 degrees here in western Pennsylvania with the temperature expected to plummet into the low 40s tonight. Doesn't that sound more like late November weather rather than mid-September? Whatever happened to the warm and sunny days of early autumn? I think it's a perfect day to sit inside and stitch. After working at the library Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, then catching up on laundry and cleaning yesterday, I think I deserve a day to relax, don't you?

Because I've worked more than usual lately, I don't have much to show you, but I do have a couple of Christmasy pieces that I hope you'll enjoy. I've finally caught up on my monthly ornament stitching--and, believe it or not, each one is finish/finished as well! This Prairie Schooler snowman (from the 1999 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue) made his appearance just in time to become my ornament finish for August. I've actually stitched him two other times, but the others were given away. And this is the first one on black fabric (32 ct. Belfast linen) as well. Don't you love how he just pops off the dark fabric? I backed this one with the cheery black, green, and red fabric shown behind it, and attached a green and red plaid ribbon with two green buttons to hang it from the Christmas tree.


When my sons come over for dinner on Sunday, I always bore them with treat them to a little "show and tell" session of the stitching I've worked on since the previous Sunday. That's the price they have to pay for getting a lovely home-cooked meal! As I showed my middle son this snowman, I said, "I bet you'll really like this one." He replied that he liked the other ornament (shown below) better. The reason why? He said, with a completely straight face, that he didn't approve of the "drug use" in this one! Oh, he loves to tease me and he does it so well. Yes, the snowman is indeed smoking a corncob pipe, but, hopefully, he's "not inhaling"!


My September ornament is stitched with white DMC on 25 ct. Victorian green lugana. To make it ornament sized, I stitched it over one, so the tree is barely 3 inches high. This design is by JBW Designs and is from the Christmas Motif Sampler II leaflet. I think this may just be the first time I stitched a JBW design, but it won't be the last! It was very relaxing stitching with just one color and not boring at all due to the little motifs scattered throughout the tree.

I did change the part under the tree a bit by moving the bunny over toward the tree trunk and adding another bunny facing him. (You know me and my love of bunnies--and of symmetry!). To finish it off, I backed it with the fabric shown and then used a ruched satin ribbon and some pearl-topped pins and a tiny ribbon on the edges and the hanger. (This is the video that I used to learn how to do the ruching). Not hard at all--just a bit time consuming... I think it adds such a nice, elegant touch to the edges of ornaments.

Remember this little Prairie Schooler bunny that I showed you a few weeks ago? Remember I said he was headed far, far away to a new home? Well, he safely reached his destination all the way up in Nova Scotia, Canada--and I'm happy to report that Cathey (aka Pumpkin) welcomed him with open arms. I love surprising my friends and regular commenters with RAKs so look for more of them in the future. This is just my way of saying thank you to those of you who make the extra effort to say "hello" whenever you read my blog...

Now, I have a question for all of you who stitch a lot of small ornaments and pin pillows, like I do...How do you store them? I've been placing mine in this acid-free box and storing it under a bed, but I'm running out of room. The ornaments are starting to pile up on top of each other--some of the flat ones are stacked four or five high! I can't crowd them much more or the ribbons and bows will get all wrinkled and misshapen. Do any of you have any other suggestions on storing them. I have limited under-the-bed space so I don't want to get another box. Any ideas at all? I love opening the box up every now and then and seeing all my little pieces staring back at me--they just make me happy for some strange reason!

True confessions...

So, do any of you have an addiction (besides stitching and blogging, that is!). Well, my name is Carol, and I am a "sugar addict"! Oh, you'd never know it by looking at me--I'm very petite and slim. I exercise regularly and, in general, try to eat well (except for yukky green vegetables as all of my long-time blog readers know!). But, I do love sugar and I've come to realize I consume way too much of it. So, I've been making a serious attempt to cut down on the amount I eat.

My sugar of choice? Why, it's these little innocent looking chocolate-covered raisins that come in this giant 3 pound container at Sam's Club. In studying the nutritional information label, it says there are 37 servings (each with 25 grams of sugar!) in one container. So, if I had one serving a day, that should last me 5+ weeks, right? Wrong!! I could gobble up an entire jar in less than two weeks. You see, I just got into the habit of thoughtlessly reaching into the container and grabbing a handful each and every time I walked by it. I ate the last of them last week and decided it was finally time for a change. I need to replace them with healthier foods so I've been eating popcorn, nuts, and sunflower seeds instead. Do I miss them--yes, indeed! Am I trying to cut out all sugar--no way!! (I thoroughly enjoyed the small piece of chocolate cake I had at work the other day). I'm just cutting down on the amount of sugar... I think "everything in moderation" is my new philosophy. How does that sound? Hopefully, by posting this here, I'll really try to stick to it... And if any of you want to confess to being a sugar addict and join me in my quest--you're more than welcome!

Remembering...

This past Sunday, which marked 10 years since the horrors of September 11th, brought back memories of so many tragic images to us all. It seemed that I actually cried more this year when I saw the news coverage than I did back in 2001. I think that may be because I now know the whole story, from beginning to end, and know how terribly it all turned out. I live only two hours from the field in Shanksville, PA where the passengers of Flight 93 so bravely tried to overcome the hijackers and ended up perishing. So, of course, that particular memorial service received a lot of press in this area... Out of all the photos and images I've witnessed lately, this one video really brings me hope--hope for the future through the innocence of our children. I can't get this video out of my head--you've probably seen it already, but I wanted to post it yet again here on my blog to remember the past and hope for the future...

Thanks for your wonderful comments on my little crow collection in my last post. I haven't been able to start stitching Ira Ray and Ida Mae crow yet because my fabric hasn't arrived, but hopefully they'll be joining my crow family very soon. If you look over in my sidebar, you'll notice a milestone: 500+ followers!! I can't thank you guys enough--I'm so honored that you take your precious time to visit me each time I post. And to thank you, I'll be having a giveaway when I have enough time to get something together--look for it very soon! Until then...enjoy your weekend and thank you as always for your wonderful comments and your special friendships. Bye for now...

Something To Crow About!

What a crazy week in the eastern United States--an earthquake and a hurricane in the same week?! How did all of my blogging friends fare? I feel almost guilty in reporting that we've enjoyed nothing but a string of sunny days here in western Pennsylvania while those of you along the east coast struggled with the rain and winds, floods and power outages... Many of us felt the earthquake locally (not me, however my son's office building here was evacuated!), but thank goodness there appears to be little serious damage. I wish the same could be said for Hurricane Irene. I just heard on television that the estimate of damage is between seven and ten BILLION dollars--just devastating. Anyway, I want my east coast blogging friends to know I'm thinking of you and hoping things return to normal for all of you very soon.

Well, on to more enjoyable topics--like stitching! Have you ever stumbled upon a "new to you" designer and wondered how you missed her work? That happened to me recently with "Chessie and Me" designs. How did I ever miss Bunny Sampler, Love Liberty, and Pumpkin Hill? Aren't they charming? I think a few of them will be popping into my next online shopping cart! This sweet freebie, Chessie and Me's "Bird & Flower," can be found right here. Just click on "Newsletter" in the left column, and you will find it on page three of the May 2009 issue.

This one is stitched on 32 ct. flax Belfast linen using WDW and Sampler Threads (if you're interested in the colors I used, just email me!). I found an old purple button in my button jar and topped it off with a small sage green one to accent the empty space. You could certainly fill that space with the date or your initials if you wanted to. Finally, I backed it in the fabric shown and attached a straw colored handmade cording.

I loved this "With Thy Needle and Thread" freebie when I first caught a glimpse of it two years ago and I'm so glad I finally found the time to sit down and stitch it. Brenda's free chart can be found right here. I so appreciate designers' time and effort in creating these beautiful free designs for us! This crow perched on a pumpkin uses DMC, WDW, and Crescent Colours and is stitched on 32 ct. cafe latte linen.

I originally planned on framing it, but I decided to just make a simple pinkeep out of it and top it off with a black bow and gold colored pin. The sides look a bit wonky in my photo, but they are actually pretty straight--not perfect, but "good enough" (which, by the way, is my new motto--"good enough!"--life is really too short to worry about being perfect all the time, don't you think?). Again, if anyone wants to know my color choices, please email me and I'll be happy to share them with you.

Primitive Betty offered this cute crows and sunflowers freebie back in July and I thought it would be a perfect addition to my little collection. Click here for the chart. She has so many cute freebies on her site which I'm sure most of you have seen, but for those of you who haven't, head on over and check them out.

This one is stitched "over one" on 28 ct. clay Lugana using DMC threads. I finished it into a tiny pillow with some coordinating fall leaf fabric, a black satin ribbon, and orange ric-rac. It will be a nice addition to my fall decorating, don't you think? (You can click on the photo to get a bigger view.) So are you sensing a theme here? I'm calling all of these birds "crows," but they very well could be ravens or blackbirds. Did you know that a group of crows is called a "murder" and that they are among the smartest creatures in the world? Just a bit of librarian trivia for you!

And of course, I couldn't finish off my crow stitching without including a Prairie Schooler, could I? This is from PS Book No. 132: Autumn Leaves. I stitched it on 32 ct. grey linen using DMC threads. I wasn't really sold on the darker fabric color at first, but kept stitching away and I'm quite pleased with the end result.

For this finish, I attached it to a fabric covered piece of mounting board (I applied thin batting on the top of each piece underneath the fabric) and then applied a trail of the teeniest pom-pom beading around the perimeter and attached it with just a bit of fabric glue. I'm planning on covering the back with a piece of black felt--just didn't have any on hand...

So, what did I do with all my crows? Why, I created a little fall display in my kitchen. My two older sons were over for dinner on Sunday night and just looked at me with raised eyebrows as if to say: "Crows?? Mom--really!! That's pretty weird." I'll tell you, these guys of mine just don't get me at all! But, I love them anyway, and I love my stitched crows as well. I even found a cute crow mat and metal black statue to display with them along with an older crow on a picket fence piece that I stitched back in 2009. What do you think? Cute or weird? I think they'll make a fun and whimsical September display before I put out my Halloween pieces...

And, oh, yes--I plan on adding to my crow table! Just look at what I'm stitching next! That's right--Ida Mae Crow along with her sweet husband Ira Ray. Don't you love them? I showed them to the guys and of course, they just groaned: "Those are really weird, mom!" Sigh... Do you see why I count on you, my blogging friends, for your supportive comments?

SEVILLE ~ the capital of Andalusia...
Our final stop on our European adventure was really the city that began our whole trip. You see, my youngest son studied abroad in Seville in the summer of 2009. When he returned to the U.S. with such enthusiasm for his experiences, he encouraged the whole family to travel there some day. And so the seeds for this trip were planted...

The beautiful Plaza de España was built in 1928

for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.
Portions of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
were filmed here in 2000.

The lovely blue and white ceramic railings at Plaza de España.


More detailed look at those stunning railings.

Even the bannisters were blue and white!

One of the "Alcoves of the Provinces" at Plaza de España.

Waiting for a passenger, horse-drawn carriages were a common sight.

As a librarian, I was captivated by this darling statue of
Clara Campoamor (1888-1972), a Spanish politician and feminist.
Notice the tiny mouse sitting there reading a book of his own!

The wrought-iron work was so beautiful.



Orange trees were everywhere!

A co-worker who travels a lot advised me to go "off the beaten path" a bit to get the true flavor of a city. She was right! Without wandering down some side streets, we would never have come upon this parish festival complete with a religious parade...

We followed the colorful paper flowers and came upon...

Seville children all dressed up for a religious festival and parade.

This young man is taking his job very seriously...

How sweet!

My very favorite photo of our entire trip!


View outside our hotel...such pretty colors!

Seville Cathedral, built in the 15th and
early 16th centuries, is the largest in Europe.

Inside the Seville Cathedral.

La Giralda, a former minaret that was converted
to a bell tower for the Cathedral of Seville.

Bells and views of Seville from La Giralda.

The Real Alcázar was built in the 14th century.

Patio de las Doncellas (Patio of the Maidens)

Such beautiful mosaics and intricate carvings...


Gardens of the Alcázar of Seville.


This mama duck and her brood were right
at home in the middle of the garden!

Peacocks, flowers, water scenes of the gardens of Real Alcázar.

My youngest son was so right--Seville was indeed a gorgeous spot to visit. We hope to visit more of Spain's lovely cities some day. That concludes my European trip photos--thanks for coming along with me as I relived those special memories!

I want to thank Marly from Samplers and Santas who was having a stash clean-out and offered up some of her goodies in exchange for postage. I was lucky enough to win this beautiful lot of lugana--perfect for my "over one" stitching. She also included these pretty beads as well! Thank you so much, Marly; your fabric has found a good home. In fact, I already have put it to good use--it is your lugana in the little over one crows piece shown above.

Thank you for all your sweet comments on my last post--I guess everyone loves a good fireman story! As I told many of you, that will definitely go down into our family history and be told and re-told again and again. I also want to welcome my new followers...I've tried to visit your blogs and say hello, too. I am in awe that my follower numbers are approaching 500--sounds like a giveaway should be coming soon, doesn't it? Let's all hope this week brings no more natural disasters for any of us...Have a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend, and thank you again for your friendship, comments, and emails--I can't even begin to tell you how much they mean to me. Bye for now...