Piece-of-Cake Pincushion Giveaway!

My store, BessieMary, is celebrating its fourth year in business!

So, I am also celebrating here with a little giveaway!

Who doesn't like birthday cake?

Leave a comment telling me your favorite flavor of cake!

You might win this cute little felt piece-of-cake pincushion!

If you are a Follower of my blog, your name will be entered an additional time.

Included with the pincushion, will be three spools of DMC 50 thread - my very favorite!

There will also be an assortment of needles, as well as a package of glass head pins.

Remember, just let me know your favorite flavor of cake!

Comments will be accepted until midnight, April 30.

Winner will be announced Monday, May 3.
Good luck!

I also invite you to visit my store, Bessiemary, for a special Birthday Sale!

Blessings

Practicing the art of abundance means looking at the world as it is, right in front of you, not as you think it should be.  It is a way of letting go of expectations and letting what is, what already exists,

speak to you in a new way.

                                                                                                                                       ~Candy Paull~

Abundance is an azalea bush bursting with blooms that glow in the bright Spring sunlight!

 

A Favorite Thing

If you have read my profile over there on the sidebar, you will know that peonies are a favorite of mine. 

So, from my garden to you!

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend!

Kelly ~ Sweet Summer Sundress

I really enjoyed making this pattern, Kelly by Trisha's Treasures.  It uses only three main pieces:  front bodice, front skirt and back skirt.  There are also strips of bias which form the binding on the front bodice, extending into ties.  It may tie at the neck, or criss-cross and tie at the back waist.

I selected a pink on pink floral print by Fabric Finders.

The bias bindings are Green Cottontail Stripe by Nashville Cotton.

My little dress form is a couple of sizes too small for this particular dress, so it is drooping slightly in the back!

The back waist features a casing with elastic which forms soft gathers.

This method of hemming has long been a favorite of mine.  It allows for a nice deep hem, but is easily accomplished all with the ease of machine stitching.

I am so glad that Trisha included it as a feature of her pattern!

It's a perfect dress for running through spring and summer fields of flowers!

An all white version would be lovely for a beach portrait.

Please click on the Sew & Tell button to visit Amy's blog and join in more sewing fun!

 

Spoonful of Sugar Cupcake Style!

Today's schedule included some rather frustrating medical tests.

Fortunately, the doctor's office was only a hop, skip and jump from Sprinkles -- home of my favorite  cupcake.

After a certain age, it seems doctors quit rewarding patients for good behavior with stickers, crayons and a lollipop!  So, I convinced my chauffeur (aka "Husband Dearest") that I needed to provide my own reward!

Yum-O!

That's three Red Velvet, two Black & White, and one Dark Chocolate.

Can you guess which is my favorite?

Red Velvet, without a doubt!

With each bite, the day's frustrations faded a little farther away.

In the words of a certain umbrella wielding English nanny:

For a . . .

Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

The medicine go down-wown.

The medicine go down.

Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,

In a most delightful way!

Very wise words!

Thank you for all the kind messages and prayers.  There are a few more appointments and tests that will be necessary, before all questions are answered.

In the meantime, I still have cupcakes calling my name!

Cute Camera Case Wristlet!

After seeing the cute ones that Alisa, of The Sweet Life, shared during Friday's Sew & Tell, I decided my camera really deserved a spiffy new case, too!

The pattern was also my introduction to purchasing, downloading, printing and using an e-pattern.  As a shop owner, I must admit to being a loyal fan of the traditional printed patterns -- especially for garments and larger projects.

For a small project like this, all the pattern pieces easily fit on regular 8.5" x 11" paper.  That made it very simple to print out and use. 

The pros and cons of e-patterns remain a discussion for another time and place.  In the meantime, on with this fun project!

The pattern, Camera Case Wristlet, is by Keyka Lou and available here.

You will, no doubt, find many other cute and fashionable bags and purses at Michelle's website!

The instructions were top notch -- very thorough and easy to understand for all levels of stitchers.

I used three coordinating fat quarters of quilting cotton that I happened to have on hand.  I seriously considered using some yummy Liberty of London remnants, but decided to stay with the quilting cotton for this trial run.  The pattern calls for fusible interfacing and quilt batting.  While I had plenty of interfacing, I am not a quilter.  Batting is not a staple in my sewing room.  I did have some Pellon fleece, which seemed to work just fine!

The case is small, finishing at approximately 3.75" high, 4.75" wide and 1.25" deep.

I discovered that my Flip video camera fits in it snugly, and is pictured above.  I actually constructed it with my small Sony Cyber-shot digital camera in mind.  I am thinking those Liberty remnants may become a Camera Case Wristlet afterall! 

The case closes on the front with a small strip of Velcro.

The straps wrap around adding additional closure, as well as forming a wrist loop.

There is a small pocket on the back, too.

It was a fun and quick project!

Do something nice for your camera today!

Blessings

Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth

are never alone or weary of life.

                                                                                ~Rachel Carson~

Inspiration from Others

For all the recent kind comments! 

 I appreciate each and every one.  Due to being a little under the weather, and consumed with other commitments and concerns, I have not had much time to respond or post.  Several projects are in various phases of completion, and I hope to have more to share with you next week.

In the meantime, thank goodness for others who continue to inspire and make me smile!

I hope they make you smile, too!

1.  Janet ~ Janet Hill Studios      2.  Nicole ~ Kloin

3.  Paulette ~ Beedeebabee  4.  Katie ~  The Wheatfield

Enjoy! 

Have a lovely weekend!

Alligators, Elephants and Taxes -- Oh, my!

Pardon my temporary disappearance!  I was buried under the avalanche of paper, receipts and forms that seem inevitable at this time of year.

I did manage to eek out some time to go on a safari,  returning with some mighty cute alligators and elephants!

Wanting to try a fairly new pattern, Willilam and Winnie by Children's Corner, I first selected a LakeHouse Dry Goods fabric, Elephant Toss.  There are tiny little elephants scattered all over!

A coordinating dot provided the perfect lining.  I also used the same fabric to applique a larger elephant on the lower skirt, as well as make covered buttons for the shoulder straps.

William is a romper for boys.  Mango Stripe Seersucker was used for the romper, while Kiwi Gingham was used for piping and alligator applique. 

For this version of Winnie, I decided to add a ruffle to the bottom of the skirt. 

If you wish to add a ruffle like I did, you will need to use a different method of construction than provided in the pattern.  Children's Corner has produced a series of videos with clear step-by-step instructions.  You may view the technique I used by clicking here.

 

And what girl alligator doesn't love a big bow and long eyelashes?  Some quick hand embroidery added a few fun details!  The bow was made using cast on stitches, while the eyelashes are back stitches.

Alligator applique may be found at Embroidery Boutique.

Elephant applique may be found at Applique Cafe.

This entry is linked to Sew and Tell Friday.

Please visit Amy's blog to see more sewing fun!

Blessings

Nine requisites for contented living:

Health enough to make work a pleasure.

Wealth enough to support your needs.

Stength enough to battle with difficulties and overcome them.

Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them.

Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished.

Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor.

Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others.

Faith enough to make real the things of God.

Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.

                                                                 ~Goethe~

A Life Told in Stitches

Jean Baggott tells her life story through stitches on a tapestry.  Amazing.

I like to think that each thing we stitch tells a little about our lives, too.

Groovy Bird Embroidery!

Originally posted by Helmouse

Isn't this a wonderful use of embroidery, fabric and colors?

I love it!

You may view more inspiration at Ellie's blog, too!

Update on my jury duty:

I was released earlier today, but will be part of a chosen group returning early tomorrow morning for the begining of a trial.  The attorneys have requested a larger than normal jury pool.  So, I am assuming this may be a difficult jury to seat.  The wheels of justice continue to turn, and I am along for the ride a little longer!

 

Duty Calls!

This arrived in the mail.

I may be spending time in one of these seats.

Please pardon my  absence for a few days.

I will leave you with a little snippet of the beauty I recently enjoyed at Dallas Blooms!

Be back soon -- I hope -- to share more!

Easter Sunday Blessings

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er his foes.

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And he lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose!  He arose!

Hallelujah!  Christ Arose!

Blessings on this Easter Day!

Much Loved Sugar Eggs

There are some treats in our Easter baskets that are gobbled upon sight.

There are those treats that are wrapped securely and tucked away safely, until next year.

Each year I hold my breath as I open the box in which delicate sugar eggs nestle.  Each year, as I close the box, I hope that they will safely endure another year of storage.

Sugar eggs, with their little peepholes and miniature scenes inside, were very popular during Victorian times.  The outer shell is made of sugar and egg whites, completely edible, but not very tasteful!

Inside is a miniature magical world!

Some of the figures are tiny plastic toys.  Others have been formed with the same icing that decorates the outer shell of the eggs.

My mother not only created Easter magic with needlepoint bunnies, she also created charming little scenes inside flower festooned eggs.

You can see, in the photograph above, this particular egg was made in 1986.  It is still with us today, as these photographs were just snapped earlier this week.

She would make eggs for all the grandchildren, decorating them with names and dates.

Through the years, the colors have faded a little.  A few leaves and petals are not as pointed or perfect as they once were.  There are even a few bare spots here and there.  In my eye, that just means they have been really loved.

I am just thankful they are still here in any condition, and will continue to treasure them until they are simply piles of crumbled sugar.

*You may click on the photographs to view in slightly larger detail.*