The Little Bear that Could

There was a little bear who wanted to fly
over the village and high up the sky;

Mama bear said: son, if you believe
there really is nothing that you can't achieve

♡

Featured: WIP embroidery inspired by a story book

My Stash of Shame

I'm in the midst of spring cleaning

and little by little it turns out
I'm not the person I thought I was.

I've always considered myself a 'finisher of projects'

but now there is a whole stash of Unfinished

that has been lurking in this cupboard or the next.

I've decided to tackle one project per week

and hopefully by the end of the year
I'll have a clean slate.

♡

Featured: a flower shop in Barcelona

The Big Fight

They were horrid to me, so awful and rude,

I stormed out of the house and left them for good:

I'll teach them a lesson and never go back -

but why didn't I think to bring a snack?

♡

Featured: a hungry-angry Primrose and her blanket

A Liebster Award

My blogging friend Gillian from Hookin' a Yarn kindly nominated me for a Liebster Award. Gillian has set me a three-part challenge, and here goes:

Three random facts about myself:

1. My three challenges for 2015 are to master my new camera (so far she's refusing to play), conquer my sawing machine while I'm at it, and take up Spanish.
2. I'm convinced I would have made a great detective; I don't quite have Miss Marple's nose for gossip but I do have an eye for detail, I can knit and I love a nice cup of tea.
3. Secretly I've always preferred Persuasion to Pride and Prejudice. I adore Anne Elliot. Perhaps because lack of patience is one of my greatest failings.

Three answers:

1. Do you prefer to cook for yourself or to eat out? - I'm not a great cook but I do prefer eating in, more cozy.
2. Would you like to be famous? - Not at all, I believe that privacy is the last frontier.
3. Is it better to have enough money to live comfortably or would you rather be rich? - Enough money would suit me very nicely. 

Three people I would like to pass the honor to:

1. Maya at Little Treasures 
2. Sue at Mr. Micawber'sRecipe for Happiness
3. Chel at Sweetbriar Dreams

And three questions for you dear honorees:

1. A gentle flight on a hot-air balloon or a rocket to the moon?
2. An elephant, a giraffe, or none of that stuff?
3. Do you prefer the morning light or the magic of the night?

Thanks again, Gillian!

♡

Featured: WIP mini-embroideries from drawings by my niece

Perchance to Dream

As I slumber I dream of all that I did -

the bones that I chewed on, the shoes that I hid;

the birds that I chased, the cats I would fight,

who has the time to bark in the night?

♡

Featured: a small amigurumi dog with big dreams

Barcelona

I've just come back from an excellent vacation in Barcelona.

The city is so relaxed and beautiful and inviting

you can't help but have a good time.

These photos were all taken at the Monastery of Pedralbes

a Gothic monastery founded by King James II of Aragon 

for his wife Elisenda de Montcada in 1326

It is well preserved and cool and tranquil, as you'd expect

and full of treasures and religious objects.

My personal favorites were the simple tools and baskets

evidence of the daily lives of the nuns

There is a central garden with orange trees and herbs

and a small fish pond in the middle

It was very sunny when we were there so the photos are bright

Barcelona! Can't wait to go back.

♡

Spring is Here!

 "Of winter's lifeless world each tree

now seems a perfect part;

Yet each one holds summer's secret

deep down within its heart."

~Charles G. Stater

Having lost hope that spring is coming

it is now everywhere!

♡

Featured: a soft cube inspired by the pinks of nature

Hide and Seek

We are playing a game of hide-and-seek,
I've been here a while and I'm beginning to freak;
I may have chosen a spot so fiendishly clever
that they will never find me and I'll stay here forever.

♡

Featured: a new pinwheel granny square cushion

modeled by my 4-year-old nephew Tomer