Some Cupids

esterday I drove to Ann Arbor to see my daughter and even spent night in her tiny apartment. It was long and stressful week, I was so happy to see her again (and to have my camera back too!)...

Oh, boy! She like it HOT - literally! I believe it was 80 degrees or more in her bedroom! I was roasted all night and hardly survive till morning.

Likely it is cold and crisp outside and only 72 in the office; our guys don’t mind it! It is still winter here, even without any snow. My daughter took the photo of sky in the campus – doesn’t it look, like we have winter again???
Of course, we spent few hours at Panera. Actually, it is the best place to do homework. And eat, and chat, and browse Internet. Then we went home and finally I was able to make couple photos of my project.

I making sampler with the few cupids and late will add to it dozen birds and may be some letters, hiding between flowers and wines. As usually I don’t have any clear plan. I will see what happens! I also almost finished another small heart and it is time to stuff my project tonight. I can’t wait!

I think I will take little brake from big projects and start making couple biscornu - tiny eight-sided embroidered pillow that can be used as a pincushions, a holiday ornament, key chain or a scissor fob. Usually it filled with dry flower petals or herbs to make a sachet... I think you will see the first one soon!

Post About Nothing.

hat’s right! Nothing happened since yesterday. I didn’t sew, stitch, cook, clean or even read. I have a migraine! Best what I can do just fall asleep and try to sleep as long as possible. So I did. It helps little bit, as usual.

Early in the morning I received e-mail from my daughter with BACON. She knows how much I love bacon! Who doesn’t? There it is:

The photo of bacon doesn’t have any special meaning in my post. Sorry – it just make me smile! Who was this crafty woman, who weaved bacon strips?!! I have no idea, but I should admit – it is fun!

I make photos of couple my old projects and want to share with you.

It is two socks, or stockings (I still not understand difference, even I open dictionary …). Usually it takes an evening or two to finish them. In winter they hold dry lavender or ivy. In summer, I place small, vintage apothecary bottle with water and keep fresh flowers from my garden. Either way it works and looks good!

Another is holder for the cinnamon sticks – oh, I love this one! Sometimes I found pattern I love, and in excitement, I start stitching without thinking HOW actually I will use it! That was one of such projects. Surprisingly, it is one of my favorite.

Ooops! Cinnamon sticks mysteriously disappeared, I just noticed it. What happened??! I have no idea…

My David Austin roses came, and I even didn’t open the box.

I don’t know what to do now – it is still cold in Michigan. I can’t plant them… I don’t have garage to keep them… Our tiny garden house (in reality it is just a shed to keep lawnmower and tools) too cold, I suppose, and roses will not survive… Besides, I can’t keep them at home – it is too worm, buds will reinforced to grow. Is anybody can tell me what I suppose to do now?

What I dreaming about...

should admit – I am a Dreamer. Big one!

Every night, when I going to the bed I close my eyes and dream about… Ahh, I have so much to dream about!

I dream to travel – if you only know how much I would love to do it! The day I would win big lottery ticket I will pack small back pack and purchase dozens tickets to the any destination in the world. One problem – I always forgot to buy this lottery ticket! (Please, somebody, remind me!) Australian beaches called me! South of France and my favorite Normandy crying of me!

Cottages in Devonshire bagging me to see their beautiful gardens! Newer mind, thre are also New Zeeland, Alaska, Venezuela and my home – Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia! I would love to do it!
I even made pajama’s bag for travel. And I almost newer used it. Only once I took it to my trip to Chicago last August.

It is SO wrong!

I made the bag from vintage ticking with roses, cotton for quilting, and, of course, some my cross-stitch.

Another my dream is to have house in the fields of lavender. I newer will tired from lavander-blue. I can close my eyes and picture my white dream home, surrounded by waves and fragrances of lavender. I imagine english roses, creeping to the wall; little white bistro table in the cool shadow of old three; small creek on the bottom of hill; cat sleeping on the window... And heavy forest surrounding my little farm.

Quiet, only sound of mucking bird from the sky…

I dream to write short novels, and it is only one of my dreams, which actually slowly coming thru. I write in Russian, and I am not bad at all! But I am dreaming (again!) to improve my English enough to be able to ....

I am hopeless dreamer…

But my biggest and only one really important dream is - I wish (oh, I wish it so hard!) my daughter will healthy and newer-ever sick again. I dream she will meet “the one and only”, married and (oh, I am so selfish!) will have kids. I would happy to read them Russian fairytales, teach them to paint. I would build tiny play house in my garden and let them have all puppies and kittens in the world. But I will OK if she only will healthy, that’s more then enough for me!

Vintage linens for my home

One kitchen towel can make a difference in the bedroom. I always purchase vintage towels, runners, bedlinen or tablecloth. Even they slightly damaged or have some spots. I still can find what to do with them. There are two cushions for my bedroom, made from one tea towel and leftovers of fabric my darling sister-in-law gave me. It took about an hour to put it all together. You probably already know my absolute passion for bedlinen and anything embroidered. And if I don’t have enough, I always can make mine own. Like a this one:

Or this one, with monogrammed “E”, because my real name is Elena, even everyone call me Lenka. I made it in same colors as the violets and used same fabric.

My Japanese Friends

Yesterday snow storm hit Michigan and I decide to stay home. I have long way to drive -42 miles from home to office, not good when it is bad road.

Working for Japanese company, I have all advantage of being women. Believe or not – they are threat me as a precious and darling creature. Guys in the office open a door if I walk in, they taking me for lunch, when my daughter was in the hospital, every one of them was so nice to me – I even asked them to stop, because I wasn’t able to handle it without whipping my eyes and nose all the time. And they are so polite! Oh, gosh, if you only know how polite can be Japanese! I feel like Barbarian next to them. And they call me Elena-san...

Wife’s of our employees - it is another story. They even more nice and lovely – I don’t know if it is possible, but in fact, it is. They always, and I mean it – always, sending me small (but ahhhh, so precious!) gifts. In fact, Friday I get the most beautiful block-printed towels from Hiroshi’s wife. She was on vacation in Japan and brings them to me. She spoil me! Totally!

Monday Daijiro’s wife sent to me two slices of home-made cheesecake. Bless her heart! I don’t care about my hips – I can handle it! What a good heart, and excellend baker! It was one of the best cheesecakes I ever have!

Today I came at 7 am, and found large box of AZUKI – Japanese pastries. I even don’t know who give it to me yet! So yummy...


Awww… I love them so much! What a beautiful people!
They always make me feel like a luckiest girl in the office! (Actually, I am only one girl in the office!) And I didn’t do anything to deserve it…. Amazing… Felles like I won big lottery ticket, only much better!
And their kids - I newer have enought of them! Look at this two - are they special????

More birds and some roses

My daughter's gift - the birdhouse and Chicadee for Mothers Day. They look so good together!

There is always more rooms for the birds in my garden and house. Every day we feed them.
Dozens of small fellows coming every morning and waiting for me to refill bird fitters. Dozens of them meet me, after I return from job and will feed them again. A few squirrels looking to my windows bagging for food as soon as they can see light in the house. Sometimes two raccoons come to take lunch next to the squirrels. One single, and totally unmarried bunny, and one opossum, who’s family’s history we don’t know, often visiting us. And one neighbor coming to the time of feeding, and makes nasty comments from the other side of fence. One more wild animal we have. I should feed him too, perhaps… Or call animal control… Like a Scarlet O’Hara I always tell myself “I will think about him tomorrow!”

Today I show some more birds from my home collection. First is mosaic ( Hi, Penny from Lavander Hill Studio! I love your blog!). This is fist what I see when I wake up every moning. Oh, no - my husband always first, then mosaic!

I think it is newer enough eggs for Easter, so I have more now!

This two pillows I made few years ago. Titanic project I hardly finished, but I am glad I did – love them!

More needlework

Another heart is done, I want to frame it tonight or tomorrow. It seems like I will have quite a lot of them soon. I still obsessed with combination of gray and red, so simple and so darling! I started another, tiny one, two days ago, but not finished it yet.

I found one more heart in my closet, and want to show it to you also. I made it five or six years ago, when I was in the mood for quilting. I still miss doing it, but our house not to large and I don’t have special place to keep my sewing machine. One day… May be…

There is a needlework I finished recently. Unfortunately, I didn’t have appropriate fabric, and I used usual canvas. It would be much better to use silk or hand-dyed light green or blue cotton. Oh, well – next time I will know what to use!
Anyway, it is good for me to exercise new techniques and create new patterns. It helps to stretch skills and learn something new.

Treasure hunt....

I am flea market junkie. I have bad habit to do it almost every weekend. And always found something called “I need it so much! I was looking for it past few months”.
Last week I found (again!) exactly what I was looking for – 50 yards of 1.5” wide ribbon. Beautiful Easter colors light purple, little pink, and green. My bunny will happy!

Two napkins with Scottish design - I wonder who dumped them to the resale shop? No, really, WHO? I wash them, iron them with all my love and little lavender-scented water. They have loving home now!

Hmm… Long, long bell ribbon, or what is it? I have no idea, but I love colors and daisies. Welcome to my closet!

And last for today - half dozen white embroidered napkins. They require little work – bleaching and ironing.

Am I the luckiest girl?

The portrait of Unknown

Sometimes I wonder who is he? I can’t even tell is it young lady or young man – I decide it is a man, but still… This painting came to our home from my father-in-law, beautiful man I loved dearly. We don’t know anything about the portrait; we don’t even know who painted it. Some evenings we sit in front of fireplace with glass of wine and talking about this mysterious person, what family he came from, what happened with his life late, was he married, did he survive Civil War? There are no answers for my questions. May be it is good – still keeps us entertained.

I photographed my paintings and just now can see His reflection in old French mirror.

Time for Snow Maiden....

Seems like it is getting wormer today. Snow melted and tender flavor of spring soil make me so happy.
My daughter is back to school. We had good time together, despite the fact that she was sleeping all the time and rest of time she did her homework. We still had time to talk, eat together, browsing internet and she even let me hug her couple times. Gosh, she goes for TWO diplomas! One is not enough for my small girl.
I found another Christmas decoration - Snow Maiden (Sneguroshka) by Villeroy & Boch Russian Fairy Tales series. She quietly hides from the coming spring… Sorry, honey, I can’t change Fairy Tale, you must disappeare at spring.

My daughter spent few years at local theater, playing Snegurochka on stage. She started when she was 6 and did her last performance at 13, just before we are moved to US. My little, darling ballerina! I steel keep the head, named kokoshnik, from her costume...

There is a tale… One of my favorite forever… Great Russian composer Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov also made an opera out of this story, I listen it every spring. It is good way to say "Bye" to winter. I make a link to the "Dance of the Tumblers from Snow Maiden" - please read the story, listen music and celebrate coming spring!

The Snow Maiden
A. Ostrovskiy
Once upon a time there lived a woodcutter and his old wife. They were poor and had no children. The old man cut logs in the forest and carried them into town; in this way he eked out a living. As they grew older they became sadder and sadder at being childless.
"We are growing so old. Who will take care of us?" the wife would ask from time to time.
"Do not worry, old woman. God will not abandon us. He will come to our aid in time," answered the old man.
One day, in the dead of winter, he went into the forest to chop wood and his wife came along to help him. The cold was intense and they were nearly frozen.
"We have no child," said the woodcutter to his wife. "Shall we make a little snow girl to amuse us?"
They began to roll snowballs together, and in a short while they had made a "snegurochka," a snow maiden, so beautiful that no pen could describe her. The old man and the old woman gazed at her and grew even sadder.
"If only the good Lord had sent us a little girl to share our old age!" said the old woman.
They thought on this so strongly that suddenly a miracle happened. They looked at their snow maiden, and were amazed at what they saw. The eyes of the snow maiden twinkled; a diadem studded with precious stones sparkled like fire on her head; a cape of brocade covered her shoulders; embroidered boots appeared on her feet.
The old couple looked at her and did not believe their eyes. Then the mist of breath parted the red lips of Snegurochka; she trembled, looked around, and took a step forward.
The old couple stood there, stupefied; they thought they were dreaming. Snegurochka came toward them and said:
"Good day, kind folk, do not be frightened! I will be a good daughter to you, the joy of your old age. I will honor you as father and mother."
"My darling daughter, let it be as you desire," answered the old man. "Come home with us, our longed-for little girl!" They took her by her white hands and led her from the forest.
As they went, the pine trees swayed goodbye, saying their farewell to Snegurochka, with their rustling wishing her safe journey, happy life.
The old couple brought Snegurochka home to their wooden hut, their 'isba,' and she began her life with them, helping them to do the chores. She was always most respectful, she never contradicted them, and they could not praise her enough, nor tire of gazing at her, she was so kind and so beautiful.
Snegurochka, nevertheless, worried her adopted parents. She was not at all talkative and her little face was always pale, so pale. She did not seem to have a drop of blood, yet her eyes shone like little stars. And her smile! When she smiled she lighted up the isba like a gift of rubles.
They lived together thus for one month, two months; time passed. The old couple could not rejoice enough in their little daughter, gift of God.
One day the old woman said to Snegurochka: "My darling daughter, why are you so shy? You see no friends, you always stay with us, old people; that must be tiresome for you. Why do you not go out and play with your friends, show yourself and see people? You should not spend all your time with us, aged folk."
"I have no wish to go out, dear Mother," answered Snegurochka. "I am happy here."
Carnival time arrived. The streets were alive with strollers, with singing from early morning until late at night. Snegurochka watched the merrymaking through the little frozen window panes. She watched ... and finally she could resist no longer; she gave in to the old woman, put on her little cape, and went into the street to join the throng.
In the same village there lived a maiden called Kupava. She was a true beauty, with hair as black as a raven's wing, skin like blood and milk, and arching brows.
One day a rich merchant came through town. His name was Mizgir, and he was young and tall. He saw Kupava and she pleased him. Kupava was not at all shy; she was saucy and never turned down an invitation to stroll.
Mizgir stopped in the village, called to all the young girls, gave them nuts and spiced bread, and danced with Kupava. From that moment he never left town, and, it must be said, he soon became Kupava's lover. There was Kupava, the belle of the town, parading around in velvets and silks, serving sweet wines to the youths and the maidens and living the joyful life.
The day Snegurochka first strolled in the street, she met Kupava, who introduced all her friends. From then on Snegurochka came out more often and looked at the youth. A young boy, a shepherd, pleased her. He was named Lel. Snegurochka pleased him too, and they became inseparable. Whenever the young girls came out to stroll and to sing, Lel would run to Snegurochka's isba, tap on the window and say: "Snegurochka, dearest, come out and join the dancing." Once she appeared, he never left her side.
One day Mizgir came to the village as the maidens were dancing in the street. He joined in with Kupava and made them all laugh. He noticed Snegurochka and she pleased him; she was so pale and so pretty! From then on Kupava seemed too dark and too heavy. Soon he found her unpleasant. Quarrels and scenes broke out between them and Mizgir stopped seeing her.
Kupava was desolate, but what could she do? One cannot please by force nor revive the past! She noticed that Mizgir often returned to the village and went to the house of Snegurochka's old parents. The rumor flew that Mizgir had asked for Snegurochka's hand in marriage.
When Kupava learned this, her heart trembled. She ran to Snegurochka's isba, reproached her, insulted her, called her a viper, a traitor, made such a scene that they had to force her to leave.
"I will go to the Tsar!" she cried. "I will not suffer this dishonor. There is no law that allows a man to compromise a maiden, then throw her aside like a useless rag!"
So Kupava went to the Tsar to beg for his help against Snegurochka, who she insisted had stolen her lover.
Tsar Berendei ruled this kingdom; he was a good and gracious Tsar who loved truth and watched over all his subjects. He listened to Kupava and ordered Snegurochka brought before him.
The Tsar's envoys arrived at the village with a proclamation ordering Snegurochka to appear before their master.
"Good subjects of the Tsar! Listen well and tell us where the maiden Snegurochka lives. The Tsar summons her! Let her make ready in haste! If she does not come of her will we will take her by force!"
The old woodcutters were filled with fear. But the Tsar's word was law. They helped Snegurochka to make ready and decided to accompany her, to present her to the Tsar.
Tsar Berendei lived in a splendid palace with walls of massive oak and wrought-iron doors; a large stairway led to great halls where Bukhara carpets covered the floors and guardsmen stood in scarlet kaftans with shining axes. All the vast courtyard was filled with people.
Once inside the sumptuous palace, the old couple and Snegurochka stood amazed. The ceilings and arches were covered with paintings, the precious plate was lined up on shelves, along the walls ran benches covered with carpets and brocades, and on these benches were seated the boyars wearing tall hats of bear fur trimmed with gold. Musicians played intricate music on their tympanums. At the far end of the hall, Tsar Berendei himself sat erect on his gilded and sculptured throne. Around him stood bodyguards in kaftans white as snow, holding silver axes.
Tsar Berendei's long white beard fell to his belt. His fur hat was the tallest; his kaftan of precious brocade was embroidered all over with jewels and with gold.
Snegurochka was frightened; she did not dare to take a step nor to raise her eyes.
Tsar Berendei said to her: "Come here, young maiden, come closer, gentle Snegurochka. Do not be afraid, answer my questions. Did you commit the sin of separating two lovers, after stealing the heart of Kupava's beloved? Did you flirt with him and do you intend to marry him? Make sure that you tell me the truth!"
Snegurochka approached the Tsar, curtsied low, knelt before him, and spoke the truth; that she was not at fault, neither in body nor in soul; that it was true that the merchant Mizgir had asked for her in marriage, but that he did not please her and she had refused his hand.
Tsar Benendei took Snegurochka's hands to help her to rise, looked into her eyes and said: "I see in your eyes, lovely maiden, that you speak the truth, that you are nowhere at fault. Go home now in peace and do not be upset!"
And the Tsar let Snegurochka leave with her adoptive parents.
When Kupava learned of the Tsar's decision she went wild with grief. She ripped her sarafan, tore her pearl necklace from her white neck, ran from her isba, and threw herself in the well.
From that day on, Snegurochka grew sadder and sadder. She no longer went out in the street to stroll, not even when Lel begged her to come.
Meanwhile, spring had returned. The glorious sun rose higher and higher, the snow melted, the tender grass sprouted, the bushes turned green, the birds sang and made their nests. But the more the sun shone, the paler and sadder Snegurochka grew.
One beautiful spring morning Lel came to Snegurochka's little window and pleaded with her to come out with him, just once, for just a moment. For a long while Snegurochka refused to listen, but finally her heart could no longer resist Lel's pleas, and she went with her beloved to the edge of the village.
"Lel, oh my Lel, play your flute for me alone!" she asked. She stood before Lel, barely alive, her feet tingling, not a drop of blood in her pale face!
Lel took out his flute and began to play Snegurochka's favorite air.
She listened to the song, and tears rolled down from her eyes. Then her feet melted beneath her; she fell onto the damp earth and suddenly vanished.
Lel saw nothing but a light mist rising from where she had fallen. The vapor rose, rose, and disappeared slowly in the blue sky ...

Polka-dot birdhouse

My daughter back home for the whole week – it is spring break at University of Michigan. Hurrah!!! I am having happiest time in my life now. She is happy and healthy – what else I can pray for!
Yesterday we spent couple hours at coffee shop, we did some shopping, and we took a nice snooze together. Then we went to the Michaels and she bought beautiful bird for me. It is my Mothers Day gift. She also decorated lovely birdhouse for the new bird I have. It is quite a project! She spent all evening and it turns to be lovely house! I can’t wait to display it!

There is my new bird house! Isn't it lovely?

Michaels have a lot of cute staff for sale. For example I found these lovely monogrammed cards just for $1. Newer mind they are blue – my favorite color, they also have any letters you want! We bought some Martha Stewarts’ paper, gosh – I love her choice of colors!

I can not resist!

I must post it on my blog and share with others ! We were in the clinic today and in the lobby we found an Entertainment Magazine with Will Ferrell. Don’t you think he is hilarious? I can't find another photo of him with birds' nest – it was totally amusing. But even the first one can give you nice Easter impression.

I was tagged!

I was tagged by Patty from Attic Clutter blog! You can’t believe how exited I am now – it newer happened to me before; somebody actually was able to find some meanings in the debris of my broken English; someone sweet and kind found interesting to see my photos. I am so thankful, and I am smile all the day.
Also I am so thankful for everyone who leave comments – let be honest, it is what we keep our blogs for! We are looking for new friends and sharing ideas...
Patty’s blog is lovely and fun! This week she displayed a whole bunch of vintage photos - fancy ladies, having even more fancy expressions on their beautiful faces and posing for camera in fine-looking heats. They are stunning, and lovely, and little hilarious too! Thank you, dear-dear Patty!

More snow today....

Tonight silent snow covered ground. I woke up and soft-blue light outside the window make me smile – I knew it suppose to be flurry!

Mild and soft, large snow flakes little by little floating down the sky and it become quiet – no sounds of birds today. The snow is fluffy and crisp, perfect day for taking cross country skiing or to walk at the forest.

I spotted bunnies’ footprint in the backyard, he coming often to my garden now, big lover of blueberries and cuts from apple tree. All summer he hides under the blooming bushes and pretend to be one of my garden decorations – he doesn’t move, no any motion, even his eyes not blinking. But in the moment, I turn my head out – he jumps and run out. Silly bunny! We don’t eat bunnies! We feed them!

My hardy rosemary fluffed up tiny leaves, and proudly shows new dress, designed by talented master - winter.

Even my Danish shoes on the porch have some fresh treat, little sparkle of white.

Winter again. I love you, winter!