Just Call Me Bird

The snow is rapidly melting, my back deck is almost clear and it will soon be time for Chablis and I to start refinishing furniture out back again.  I decided that I needed a cute work apron, so I got ahold of my friend Cathy over at Stitchfork Designs.  Cathy designs the most amazing embroidery projects and last year I had her design an apron for Chablis.  You can go see what she came up with here.

So let me tell you the story behind my apron design.  My kids call me Bird because they say I'm small and scrawny like a little bird and I'm constantly fluttering around the house doing something.   My daughter will walk thru the room and ask me "are ya peeping?"  To which I reply, "Peep, peep."   Plus, when I get up in the morning my hair sticks up like Woodstock's and they laugh and call it my "birds nest."    So, Bird it is.

How cute is this dainty little blue bird and I like how she's dangling the blue ribbon....

Chablis and I both fell in love with the adorable little birdy feet scampering up the neck tie....

Thank you so much Cathy!  You did another fab job for me and I couldn't be happier.  I almost hate the thought of getting paint and sawdust all over it.

If you're interested in having Cathy create a one of a kind, special item for you, contact her through her blog.  You won't be disappointed.

Don't Worry Bee Happy!

A couple of weeks ago I had an idea for a birthday gift for Chablis.  Her new hobby is refinishing furniture and I wanted to get her something to help protect her clothes from paint and stain, yet it had to be something cute and girlie.  Enter my blogger girlfriend Cathy from over at Stitchfork Designs.

Cathy has a cool talent where she designs and embroiders, well, just about anything.  Take a look at some of her recent creations....

(above photos property of Stitchfork Designs)

I emailed Cathy and told her what I had in mind.  My specifications were as follows:  It had to be a full apron, with a pocket, in either blue or white.  Since Chablis' nickname is Bee, I wanted Cathy to embroider the name Bee along with a cute little Bee.  She asked me to give her a day or 2 to play around with a few designs and a few days later she emailed me several options. 

Let me tell you something - Cathy nailed it!  She came up with exactly what I wanted and within days I had the package in the mail.  Now here was my dilemma....  Chablis' birthday isn't until July.  The package sat on my desk for about 2 hours before I gave her the option of opening it immediately or waiting all the way until July.  I know my daughter pretty well and of course, she chose to open her gift right away. 

How adorable is this happy little Bee???

Chablis loved her gift.  She was really happy with the blue color of the apron and she especially  liked that it has 2 pockets in front.  The apron is a perfect fit and looks so cute on her.  But the real star of the show is the embroidery work.  It's simply stunning.

Cathy, I can't thank you enough for doing such a great job and making Bee a gift she will treasure for a long time.  And Chablis - don't forget you already opened your gift and don't be looking around for another one.  LOL! 

One of the things I like best about blogging is the wonderful and talented people I've gotten to know.  And I try really hard to throw a little business their way when I can.  So if you're in the market for a unique gift (Fathers Day is just around the corner...) contact Cathy and have her design something for you.  You'll be glad you did. 

Visit Stitchfork Designs and be sure to explore it a little to see photos of some of the different items she can create especially for you.

Hangin' with my Gnomies

How cute is this???

I have been truly blessed with some of the best blogger friends!  Yesterday a package arrived from Cathy over at Stitchfork Designs.   A lot of you are familiar with her blog and her beautiful work.  She also did a cute guest blog for me here.  When I opened the package I found this totally unexpected gift - a hand towel with this adorable little gnome on it and my initials.  Isn't Cathy creative?

We have lots of holidays on the horizon - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.  Now's the time to start thinking about unique gifts and Cathy has the creative mind to design something for everyone.  Visit her website and her FB page.  I can promise you that you will fall in love with her products.

Cathy even posted this photo on her blog of my towel with a pair of hiking boots - how well does she know me??  Cathy, thank you again for such a lovely gift - I love it!

(photo courtesy of Stitchfok Designs.  Do not use without permission)

                        LIGHTLOAD TOWEL GIVEAWAY IN PROGRESS!!

Lightload towels is sponsoring another giveaway of their amazing towels.  Click on this link to leave comments under the original giveaway post to be entered.  The giveaway runs thru Saturday August 4th and you have multiple chances to enter and win!

Lake County Caching

We went out to Lake County on Sunday with my parents and found 15 caches, and had 1 DNF, in about 3 hours.  It was just nice to get out early on a Sunday morning and not have to deal with a bunch of traffic and muggles.

The view out over this lake was really pretty.

The cache was hidden somewhere along this boardwalk....

Notice that I am wearing my SAUCE headband and my STITCHFORK DESIGNS sweatshirt!

We had to wade through this field....

..... to find one of my favorite caches of the day....

Mom and Dad discussing another cache....

The last cache of the day was up on a hill overlooking a pond.  Mom spied the cache and we were done for the morning.

We were home in time for lunch and an afternoon of NFL. And a nap....  It was a great way to spend the day!

Sweatshirt from Stitchfork Designs

If you missed my guest post the other day from Cathy over at Stitchfork Designs, you need to go back and read it.

She kindly sent me the sweathshirt that she designed for the blog post and it's really nice!  Check this out.....

Isn't that cool?  I love it!  Cathy, you are such a sweetheart to to this for me!  I am going to be the envy of all my geocaching buddies!

Don't forget to jump over to Stitchfork Designs and browse through her stuff.  With the holidays coming up, her gift ideas are to-die-for!

Guest Blogger - Cathy from StitchFork Designs

I am so excited to introduce you to Cathy from Stitchfork Designs.   I came across her blog a couple of months ago and what she does fascinates me.  She is super talented and creates the most gorgeous things with her imagination and embroidery.  Everything she makes is unique and a work of art.  I asked her if she'd do a guest post for me so I could show off her work to a group of people that I thought would really appreciate what she does.  So here's her cute post....  And wait until you see what she created especially for me!

X marks the spot…..

Geocaching…

a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game

players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches

Kim, Snug Harbor Bay, who has found almost 1700 geocache treasures,

inspired me to give it a try

so I chose a listing nearby from geocaching.com

off into the woods, up a hill, round the bend

and over to the forgotten cemetery

woo-hoo…

I actually found it!

on Kim’s bucket list  -  get a tattoo

So Kim, step into my tattoo parlor...

my embroidery tattoo parlor…

I’ll send you the coordinates of your geocache-K tattoo

Kim, on your bucket list…

Just write sort-of after the get a tattoo

WOW!!  Isn't that sweatshirt fantastic??   With the holidays coming up Cathy can make all kinds of neat things for fun and different gifts.  If you're looking for a special and unique gift, she can come up with some clever ideas.  How about these for Halloween.....

These adorable towels for Christmas.....

Isn't this Apron Set to-die-for?  What chef wouldn't love to wear this in the kitchen?

Bee-lieve it or not, this little Bee is on a shirt....

Or how about ANY of these......

Honestly, I can go on and on.  Each design is so pretty!!  Ok, here are a few more.....

Please, stop by Cathy's blog, StitchFork Designs and scroll through her beautiful items.  Or, stop by her website to see even more of the different items she can make.  Everything she designs is on an individual and custom order basis.  I think she can create just about anything for any type of sport, interest or hobby.....  fishing, hiking, camping, shelling, skating, you name it.  Even geocaching!

Thanks again Cathy!  I love my new tattoo!