~*Happy Birthday Mom*~

Hello Dear Friends! Please join me in wishing my Mom a Very Happy Birthday! Today is her day! This photo was taken of her last weekend at the family birthday celebration. Isn't she a pretty?



She has been filling her spare time embroidering lately. Well, what little spare time she has. She and my stepDad own and operate a dog grooming business together. (They hope to officially retire in a couple more years.) So on top of washing & beautifying a menagerie of dogs during the days and taking care of their beautiful home and gardens when they aren't at work... she doesn't have a lot of free time. She has, however, done many hand crafts over the years takes great pride in her craftsmanship. I have to thank her for planting that seed in me... among other great things she has done with me and for me over the years.

Because my Mom is so VERY proud of her gardens and extremely beautifully landscaped yard... I thought of her immediately when I saw this Stacy Nash pattern called Garden Gate Sewing Book & Pinkeep. I thought it fit my Mom perfectly... something to remind her of her gardens, a place to hold her embroidery needles, and something that looked old to mix with the antiques that fill her home.

I did simplify the pattern (because I was working on a deadline that was fast approaching) and change the colors to what I thought blended with my Mom's color scheme. But here is my version...



I stitched on a piece of Zweigart, 28 count Sand Quaker linen that I've hand dyed with my walnut mix. The floss used was all Weeks Dye Works hand dyed fibers ~ shades of Charcoal, Chestnut, Ivy, Brick, and Dolphin.

I made this open more like a pocket than a book. It simply lifts up... with a pocket for scissors and floss on the bottom, and a scrap piece of wool on the top for needles.



I'll be seeing her this afternoon so I can give it to her... along with a batch of Banana Nut Muffins I made last night. Hopefully she will be pleased with both gifts. :)

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!

Wishing you all a day full of smiles...
Betty