Calendar Poodle SAL

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Garden Welcome

Hi friends! And a Garden Welcome to you! ;) Take a look here at my latest finish.
This pattern is called Garden Welcome, you can find it in the May 2014 issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework.
I have had this idea to add a sampler to the space above the pink and purple garden on the side of our garage. I decided this pattern was perfect for my plan.
I stitched this on 14ct perforated plastic. Three over two to make it bigger! I used the called for DMC.
The first pictures were taken on an overcast day. The last one on a sunny, early evening. I knew this space above the table and chairs would not be directly hit by sun or rain (unless it comes down sideways I suppose).

I am very pleased with this. I found the large wooden tag for cheap at JoAnn. Miss Madeleine offered to paint it pale pink for me. I used the pretty, pink ribbon that Noni sent me with her pink fabric gift. :) What do you think?

See my pretty, pink peony bush in that garden on the end? I know the sun is bright there, but you can maybe see the white  rain downspout at the corner of the garage, at the back.
The downspout has a hinge so it can lift up for mowing the lawn. When you lift it up you see my little garden friend. He has lived there several years now. We have named him Timothy Toad. He is the largest of our toads. We have many in our yard. Brian moves Timothy every time he cuts the grass. ;) And Timothy comes back every time.
Ha! Yes, we are a bit odd. ;) We name them all.

I am almost done stitching up another project. I have finishing to do on a few things. I have been putting them off.

I finished Love Letters by Beverly Lewis. Another great book by her. Do fellow Beverly Lewis fans also know exactly what is going to happen in her books? I always do, very early on. I sill read the stories though. She is such a talented story writer, that the books are always enjoyable.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend my friends! Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate you!

Stitching and praying,
Vickie



40 comments:

Carol said...

What a cute idea, Vickie!! Very creative to use the perforated plastic--hope it holds up well outside, but with it being protected in that spot, it should be fine... I'm so glad you're able to be out and gardening again--you must be thrilled :)

Ha ha--will have to tell Tim he has a toad with the same name living in Wisconsin!!

gominam said...

Oh it looks so lovely. Bet Timothy appreciates it too, lol!

Honeybee said...

I LOVE that finish! I saw that design in the magazine when it came out and wanted to do it, but I didn't want to buy the magazine for just one design. I have a little "rule" I follow to keep from accumulating too many magazines: I don't buy an issue unless it has at least three designs in it I'll stitch. (Exception to the rule: if there's ONE fox design I'll buy it!) So I didn't buy that one. :O( Your finish is charming!

Dani - tkdchick said...

Your Garden Welcome is so pretty!

Justine said...

What a lovely stitch and a clever finish too! I love Timothy Toad, he must be very happy in your garden.

Jacqueline Morris said...

Ooooh such a pretty design and I love the colours in it.... Ooh your very clever!!
Pretty flowers in your garden too.
Happy smiles :)

Christina said...

Very cute. I love all of the bright colors. Your flowers are so pretty. I miss having a flower garden. Eww, I'm such a girl, there is no way I would pick up that huge toad.

Julie said...

A lovely sunny spot to sit and admire your latest finish. A great idea. Xx

gracie said...

I love that pretty piece for the garden. I never thought of using plastic canvas for an outdoor stitchery. I will be on the lookout for a "garden tag". Thanks for the idea.

diamondc said...

Hi Vickie: What a lovely idea, I must stitch something for my front porch.
Thank-you for sharing with us.
Love the post card with the poodle.
Beautiful flowers in your garden and Timothy Toad is adorable.

Blessings
Catherine

Unknown said...

Love Vickie , your Welcome sampler is beautiful and fits perfectly into the environment . So welcoming and alive .
Greetings Sandra

Barbara said...

I adore Timothy and he's picked a very nice home to live with. Plus he gets to see those beautiful peonies, which happen to be one of my favorite flowers but can't grow them here...too hot. Your new finish is adorable!!! And you found the perfect place to hang it. Great way of finishing it also.
Blessings

KimM said...

What a creative way to stitch and display your talents, Vickie. It looks like it belongs there.
Xxx

Margaret said...

I love the beautiful piece you made for the garden! Hope it weathers the weather well. :D You garden is so beautiful! Hope you are continuing pain free and happy!

Angela Tucker said...

Your flowers are so pretty...I could sit in your garden spot all day. Sigh...

Mr. Timothy Toad seems like he is comfortable in your garden. Better than a statue!

Angela said...

Beautiful finish!

Lillie said...

Your Garden Welcome is just perfect for your garden.
Timothy look contented where he is.LOL
Wishing you a good weekend too.

Beth said...

Vickie - what a charming stitch and inspired finish. Love the photo of Timothy Toad - would like to see photos of the other toads too. I think it's great that they all have names.

Sarah in Stitches said...

Love your finish! It looks perfect in that spot. You have such a pretty garden. Love Timothy Toad, too! :D

Annie said...

Perfect finish for your garden. Looks like such a pleasant place to sit with some lemonade and enjoy the outdoors.

Mii Stitch said...

I'm so envious of your beautiful peonies ;)
They are my favourite blooms & mine are gone now. The wind kind of blew all the petals away...
Sweet & bright little cross stitch finish!

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Love Timothy Toad:-)
The poodle pic at the bottom of your post made me smile.
Lovely Welcome stitch.

Meari said...

Love your summer sampler. So pretty!

Carolien said...

Hello Vickie,

Your welcome sign is so very gentle and lovely!
Wow! Timothy is quite a big gentleman ;)
I love Beverly Lewis too and yes, you can often guess what happens but I love Amish fiction anyway.

Have a nice weekend, my friend!
Bye, Carolien

rosey175 said...

Lovely Welcome sign! You are brave to hang it outside, I could never do it since the rain does often come sideways here! I don't think a single wall is safe haha. That little nook is just charming too. Does it currently smell of grape or peony? :)

Timothy Toad is awesome. I don't often see toads here, but they are more than welcome. They can have all the bugs they want!

Stitching Noni said...

Love your latest finish! What a great idea :o)
The pink ribbon is the perfect thing to finish it off!
Hugs xx

Brigitte said...

Oh Vickie, what a cute finish this is. And so very creative. It must be so nice to sit at the table in the garden and look at the beautiful welcome sign.

CJ said...

Love your sign. I would have never thought to put a piece outside. The toad is cute. We have a rabbit in our yard, unfortunately my little schnauzer found her nest. We still have momma rabbit but the babies are gone. Bad Hazel. Love your flowers. Now that our drought is over in Texas and we can water again I plan to start adding more flowers to our yard. I love Lantana.

StitchinByTheLake said...

Vickie I love your Welcome hanging - and what a perfect spot to put it! blessings, marlene

Michelle said...

Its lovely Vickie x

Iwona said...

Beautiful Garden Welcome !!!

Anonymous said...

Utterly charming! I love the idea of a garden welcome for all the lovely garden inhabitants!

Frances said...

So pretty! Beautiful stitching! I love it and it looks so lovely in your beautiful yard! Your gardening skills are impressive! I have none! haha

Irmeli said...

Your stitching is beautiful and is just the perfect decoration for your lovely garden seating place.

Linda K's Stitching Corner said...

Your Garden Welcome Finish is so pretty and so cute...I dearly love it....I love your Photos. I love reading your Blog.

Lumiruusu said...

Your Welcome tag looks very pretty and I love the ideafor hanging the needlework piece somewhere else than in "living rom wall"..We should be prouod of what we stitch and make fisnished excatly like yours. Allways when I have my cross stitched bag with me some one pays attention to it and asks where have i boought it or is t self-made.last time happened to me when i was having a dinner at the Hotel Restaurant with my DM. :)

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

What a great Welcome sign. Will it get weather beaten being outside?

Your garden is looking lovely too.

Maggee said...

Congrats on a really cute finish! The first thing I thought was about the effects on linen, until I read further!! You are a smart cookie! And you guys are terrific to tend for the toads... they have a purpose too! Hugs!

Kaisievic said...

A perfect addition to your garden, Vickie.

Hilda said...

Oh what a delightful finish - so perfect to hang it in a garden! But aren't you worried about the rain and the sun on it?

Lovely photo of your peonies!

Hugs
Hilda