My Chickadees!

I realize this little quilted wallhanging falls more under Christmas decor but I just finished putting the binding on it last week. Hey, I'm EARLY for next year, right?

It matches the table runner that I used a for Valentines Day dinner HERE.

The feathered circle in the center was done by machine embroidery. It is a design specifically digitized to look like a quilting motif but it is all done by my embroidery machine. All I had to do was get the quilt top, batting & backing evenly centered in the hoop...not always an easy task!

I was a wee bit unhappy when I noticed that a very small section of stitching ran into the beak & body of my chickadee. Oops... I didn't think the design was big enough to go over that far.

I disguised it by using my micro tip permanent ink pen & just lightly touching up the few cream threads that were on the black areas.

There...MUCH better!! I'm slightly anal-retentive, I know. Most people wouldn't be bothered by such things but I am.

I don't know if you can see the stitching, but I went around all those little pine cone scallops with smoke colored Mono Poly thread.

It is made by Superior Threads & is polyester, not nylon like other invisible threads. It has a higher heat resistance, won't discolor & does not get brittle over time. I met the owner at the Houston Quilt show & he is extremely knowledgeable & very helpful.

(not affiliated in any way, just a very happy customer)

I LOVE MONO POLY for quilting!!

The center panel has some scroll work designs in each corner & by adding extra batting beneath just those areas & then tightly stippling at the edges, you get a trapunto effect...puffed up & more dimensional in those spots.

The earliest known example of trapunto is Sicilian & was made in the 14th century.

In those days, they would cut the backing & stuff whatever areas they wanted to highlight from behind, thus throwing the shapes into relief, then carefully sew the cut section closed. This newer method is much better, in my opinion...no damage to the backing.

I hope this photo gives you a better feel for the 3-dimensional effect achieved.

I put a hanging sleeve on the back of this, intending for it to hang on the wall in the sunroom but while laying it out for photos, I discovered that it fits PERFECTLY over the glass insert in my coffee table.

SERENDIPITY!

I love it when stuff like that happens.

I was recently the lucky winner of a beautiful chickadee tea set from Mary at

Home Is Where The Boat Is

in celebration of her 2nd year of blogging. Can you believe she has only been at this 2 years??? Thank you Mary...I love them & I collect teapots, ya' know!

I used the teaset last week when my *Smock & Talk* group came here to my home for a morning of stitching & gabbing...and eating, too!

I knew they would go with my chickadee wallhanging beautifully

the minute that I saw them on her beautiful blog.

The set is by Kate Williams, Global Design Connections & I just love the grey twig rimmed edges on the plates & the detailed spout & handle of the teapot.

Everyone who has seen them has immediately reached out to touch the little birdie, including ME!

The little red berries on the branches echo the ones in my wallhanging as well.

I used my wicker serving tray to carry my Wicker pattern, by Oneida, cups & dessert plates down into the sewing room.

I call it my "play room" & I am happiest when I am down there, stitching away the day. Its SEW nice to gather with friends who share your passions & understand.

I made individual lemon meringue tarts for everyone.

I cheated & bought the little pie shells already made & I used Durkee's lemon pie filling, from a box mix, which you can find in the Jell-O section of the grocery store. The meringue directions are on the side of the box, too.

I got up early on the morning that they were coming, so I could make them fresh that day. I don't care for meringue that has been sitting for awhile...it gets rubbery. (is that a real word?)

Be sure to stop back next week & I'll share where we gather to sew & you will get to see some of our recent projects. These gals are good & are so much fun!

I'm joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for her Table Top Tuesday,

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday,

Michael Lee at Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday,

and The Tablescaper for her Seasonal Sundays.

Please visit each of them so you don't miss out on seeing what pretty things others are doing!

P.S. I saved one just for YOU!

♥♥ More Valentines Day stuff! ♥♥

We've got ♥♥ HEARTS ♥♥ all over the place

during the month of February!

Pancakes for the Princess...

I tried making heart shaped bread with my Pampered Chef loaf pan.

The results were less than stellar & not photo worthy

...tasted good, though!

I made an 1950's Jell-O molded salad

recipe with pineapple & cream cheese.

I found it on Pattycakes in the Kitchen &

it was everything I remembered.

Delish!

Have you tried these ♥ shaped marshmallows?

Such fun!

Had to put them in a pretty little jar, too!

I thought these pretty PINK Jordan candies

(JoAnn's wedding supply section)

would fit into the scheme of things.

This would also be great for October &

Breast Cancer Awareness month.

I filled another jar with more of the darling cupcake liners.

Such a festive & inexpensive decorating idea!

I saw Martha Stewart use her shredder to make

mounds of crinkled stuffing out of used

tissue paper.

I could just cry when I think of all the pretty wrinkled tissue papers
I've thrown away over the years.
Why didn't I ever think of this??

I shredded some to go beneath my stash

of Chocolate ♥♥♥'s.

I saw on Pinterest where someone had sewn

paper doily hearts together with a wee bit

of candy tucked inside.

credit

So I had to make some for the Princess...

she was royally pleased & shared them with her little girlfriends.

I added a butterfly to my metal card holder.
It was attached to one of my
birthday cards.
"Motherrrr, you never throw anything away!"

I made the grandkids a batch of Rice Krispie Treats

Jazzed them up a bit by spreading melted

chocolate chips along one side &

♥ shaped sprinkles for effect.

I worked on perfecting my cake decorating skills

on some cupcakes.

The ones that had a mounded top to them,

I just sliced it off, cut out a ♥ shaped &

put LOTS of icing on before resetting the cut out top.

(saw that idea on Pinterest, too)

I filled the liners 1/3 full with white cake batter,

then used paste coloring to tint the rest of the batter PINK!

I love seeing that marbled effect!!

End result looked like this!

I had to set them outside in the snow to get a decent picture,

it has been so dark & gloomy around here.

We've got ♥♥ hearts ♥♥ EVERYWHERE!!

(another idea from Pinterest...using pedicure foams to keep bobbins under control)

Thanks for stopping by to see whats going on at

The Gazebo House.

fondly,

Rett

I'll be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday,

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday &

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for

Table Top Tuesday.