vintage image saturday...

...featuring the fab four! I've also included some printable umbrellas for you. Enjoy!

This is the final post for April. If you would like to see the beautiful April samplers, take a blog hop! The blog list is in the right column over there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Or you can find many of them on Instagram at #aswapforallseasons

See you on May 1st!

friday fun...more decorating with umbrellas

If I had just the right window in just the right spot in my house, how much fun would this be?? This can be found on this interior design site.

mrs smith goes to washington...or at least her fabric sampler does!

My April sampler for Linda is finally finished and will be on it's way to Washington later today.

More of the Process: As I began the actual execution of the sampler, I ended up changing the layout a bit. When I cut the fabric to 4 x 6-ish, I realized I didn't have as much room as I had thought. I ended up separating the words of the quote and placing them individually. Yikes! I forgot to place the fusible backing on first! And i realized this after I had already sewn the fabric to a white backing. So I ended up having to place tiny little stitches around each word to fasten them down. I learn something new with each sampler I make! I also changed the embellishments around a bit to try to create better balance.
On the back, to cover some of the stitching, I added a square of the fabric that features 2 little Lindas with their umbrellas. All done.

With a leftover fabric scrap I covered a little matchbox and filled it with buttons, and I made a little tag with some coordinating washi tape.

After a little simple wrapping, it is ready to go. I hope Linda enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it!

wednesday wow

This incredible sampler was made by Ali Ferguson of The Purple Thread Shed The details are amazing...that embroidered scissors!

technique tuesday ~ machine applique

I found a tutorial with information on the different methods of machine applique. If you haven't tried applique yet, this might inspire you and give you some basic info to get you going.

I was going to post updates to my April sampler today...

...but I worked on my hair all weekend and didn't get it finished. Perhaps later.

saturday images ~ under an umbrella sky

From July to September, hundreds of colorful umbrellas float above the shopping promenades of Agueda, Portugal as part of the local Agueda Art Festival. Oh how I'd love to experience this in person!

The second photo of the pink umbrellas floating on the water is one of the very first things that I ever pinned on Pinterest. It originated on Flickr, but I'm not sure where it was taken. I just love it.

a quick note about Monday's post

Hi friends! Someone asked me where the beautiful linens from Monday's Eye Candy post originated. Oh my! I forgot the best part! They came from this incredible blog ~ the entire site is a feast for the eyes! Please pay a visit!

friday fun...decorating with umbrellas!

Source: decozilla.com

creating a garland

I found this beautiful example of a garland made from fabric samplers on the Gentlework blog. I love the use of lace and buttons. So inspiring!

a wednesday wow: for the love of umbrellas

I have lots of umbrella fun to share with you this month, and this quilt is the perfect start. It is absolutely swoonworthy and can be found here It is so fittingly called, "April Showers". Such great inspiration for a mini fabric sampler!

sampler update

I worked on the layout of my April sampler over the weekend. I printed the quote onto white cotton directly from my printer again- I'm still surprised at how well it works! I needed to pull out a few more embellishments and buttons to play with, and I'm getting close to the design I want. I'm still moving things around a bit. I'm having trouble covering up the cute little faces on the fabric, and of course their cute little umbrellas too - which is so like me!

monday eye candy

This picture provides enough inspiration to last the whole week! Everything about it makes my heart sing.

vintage image saturday

Happy Easter!

faith

I thought this would be a great sampler to share today. The hand stitching is amazing ~ it originated here.

back to the project box for April...

Why of course! This will be perfect for April! I bought just a little of this fabric several years back, because I fell in love with it. It was pricey, or I would have bought it all! It makes me smile just to look at it. What better time to use a bit more? I dug out a few pretty notions and do-dads to go along with the fabric and put the project box aside. I haven't started working on the layout yet. Soon...

This month, I am making my sampler for Linda. I've been swapping with Linda for about 10 years! We started out as fellow Red Lead Swap Sisters. She is so talented and I always love everything she makes!Luckily Linda has also been with me since the beginning of A Swap For All Seasons in 2008. We are both nurses, and I've always thought that we probably have a lot in common...although...she lives in Washington, and I am in Missouri, so we have never met. Hopefully one day! Maybe we should have an "A Swap For All Seasons" weekend somewhere in the middle so we can all meet face to face and spend some time together! Wouldn't that be great?

Happy April!

Isn't April a great month? Just the sound of the word April is pretty. April reminds me of Spring, Easter, tulips, daffodils, color and open windows letting in the breeze. I also think of my husband and my son Andrew, who were born in April, and of my Anniversary. Ed and I will be married 30 years this April 13th. So many things to be thankful for in April! Were any of you born in April?