Gifts of Kindness and Love

What a Wonderful Mother's Day!! Actually, my Mother's Day started earlier in the week with a day with Stacy enjoying two new restaurants, shopping, finding my garden flag and sewing cart for My Studio, we wore each other out! It was a long day, yet full of laughs, ideas and fun and I enjoyed every minute...thank you Stacy.
Sunday was spent enjoying my son, Jason, and his girlfriend, Clare, all day! They brought the turkey, Donnie fried it, chickens and squash. I cooked acre peas, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli and cauliflower salad, fruit salad, cucumbers, tomatoes, and sweet pickles, and white chocolate mousse for dessert. We laughed, talked about college, plans for summer, friends, family and most of all enjoyed each other's company. They brought me a flower for my flower bed, a card (I cried over-tears of joy), and gave me their time...there isn't much more one person needs. Thank you Donnie, Jason and Clare for a wonderful day!
In addition to all that, Clare's mom, sent me presents/gifts of some of her crafting supplies!! Three boxes! It felt like Christmas to me! I enjoyed looking at almost every single item in the boxes-each time you brought one thing out, there was more and more underneath! Now my mind is going crazy trying to think of all the things I can do with it~Rebecca your kindness is much appreciated!
This Mother's Day Weekend the Lord also called home a dear lady, Mrs. Taylor. She was a very special lady to me as I got to know her through my sister's husband (at the time) and she was so unique you wanted to know more. You had to gain her trust first and once you did you were friends for life~she was German and apparently that was how they did things. I loved to listen to her tell stories, especially her accent. I will pay my final respects and celebrate her life on Wednesday. After learning of Mrs. Taylor's passing, it opened the "flood gates" for missing my own Mother...even though I know she is with me spiritually daily, there are some moments, which I can't explain, I just lose it and break down from missing her so much. My Mother was my
Best Friend; we shared hot tea in the afternoons (even in the middle of summer!), literally shopped till we dropped, learned between us so many crafts and long forgotten artisan skills. Our trips and times at the beaches are still some of my favorites...the picture I have looked at all weekend was of my mother on the pier at Ft. Clinch State Park in Fernandina Beach, Florida~her smile was there as always.
My Sister, Jan, and I talked Saturday morning...checking on each other and wishing the other a wonderful weekend. The excitement was also in my sister's voice regarding her wedding dress...she found "The ONE!" I am so excited and happy for her. Since this is her second and last marriage, she wants everything perfect~so do I and I want her to be extremely happy. I have a feeling she will as she is marrying into a "large-close-knit" family...something we haven't had for a long time and she has truly missed. Now that one of the major components of the wedding has been checked off, on to the smaller details and fun...I still have to find my dress, since I've been given the honor of being Matron of Honor!
I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend enjoying all the things you love, being with those that mean so much to you, and remembering the friends and family from our life that have shaped us into the amazing human beings we are today. Thank you Lord for honoring me with such amazing people in my life.~Lynn

Itty Bitty Blank Canvas

These are the cutest things...I just love their size! However, trying to work on them because I am embroidering parts of it is really challenging. I think they will be adorable when I'm finished...hoping to finish today...If I do I will upload a picture. I'm stretched for time today as I have soooo many projects going and tomorrow is Mother's Day. My son and his girlfriend are coming tomorrow, I'm excited, back from college for the day, sad because my daughter has to work-but she'll be back later, and of course, remembering my Mother whose spirit sits on my shoulder and laughs at all of my shenanigans!! So cooking part of the meal today, my husband cooking part tomorrow, being able to enjoy my family and spend time together, sounds like a wonderful Mother's Day. I better get busy!!! LOL
Wishing everyone a Wonderful Mother's Day...Lynn 

Sewing Storage Unit

I was so excited!! My sewing storage unit took 20-30 mins. top to put together!! It was a breeze...I highly recommend this unit....especially when you can find it like mine On Sale!! I love how it will open up for longer projects and then I can fold it neatly away...I think I am going to love having this to work on. Here are pictures of my sewing storage unit:

Now for the "beast" that took forever to put together...it also happens to be for my daughter, Stacy, and her art supplies...I'm not sure how well that will work out...this unit I'm not sure I would recommend mainly based on the "stability" of it, beside the fact it has soooo many pieces. The bottom panels for the drawers are very thin-she won't be able to put anything heavy in them...also, when she moves, it will have to be moved as one piece and lifted...I don't think it would survive being taken apart and it does not have any casters on the bottom nor was there room to add any. In spite of all that, it will serve her purpose for now. This is her storage unit:

Stacy's unit was expensive, in my opinion, so make sure it is either on sale or you have a coupon.

My other addition to My Studio, is Mom, my purple African Violet. My mother, whom I miss beyond words, was a master gardener, me, not so much. The antique plant stand that I have Mom on in her home was completely covered in African Violets in all stages of growth and bloom. I thought I'd start with one and see how she likes it in My Studio beside the window which gets the morning light. I found a ceramic violet planter that my Mother had also made in lavender-now to plant her in it and see how well she blooms!! Thank goodness it is a self-watering planter...my Mother must have been thinking ahead!! hehe

I'm still working on getting My Studio up and together so I'm only showing bits and pieces. I promise as soon as I've got it all together, I will post pictures of the entire room! I can hardly wait.

I'm wishing all Mothers out there a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend (yes, weekend!)...may you be able to enjoy it with family and friends...find relaxation...Enjoy...and for those like myself whose Mothers are with them daily in spirit sitting on our shoulders, may they be remembered with positive memories, stories and pictures. God Bless each and every one of you. Until next time, Lynn

Furniture in a Box!

Oh, the picture looks great....but then you open the box and OMG there are pieces among pieces among pieces! This was my experience yesterday as I tried to assemble a storage center. I'm still working on creating my retreat/studio but needed more storage space. So Stacy, my daughter, and I thought we would look at all storage options. Be Aware! After 11pm last night, I finished one storage center...I feel like a truck ran over me. It looks great-even like the picture on the box...next time I'll know what I'm in for...oh, that's right, I have another one to put together today!! This one is a little different...hopefully not as difficult.
However, on the BRIGHT side, my Studio is coming together...I'll post pictures tomorrow once I remove the clutter from the assemble it yourself storage!! :-)
It is cool out this morning, the sun is shinning and my furry friends are all out. I need to fill the bird feeders and put corn out for the squirrels--will add to my list. I wish each of you a wonderful day...pay it forward...give your smile and hug to another and always remember God is there for you. Make today a great day!!
Back to the drawing board---haha---almost literally!! Take care friends, until next time. Lynn

Flat Stanley

Have you ever participated in a Flat Stanley project? Know what Flat Stanley is? I feel honored to have been included by A.J. from Texas to participate in his Flat Stanley project. Basically, it is a drawing of a boy that is mailed to different family and friends to see how many places Flat Stanley can visit in a certain time and gain geography knowledge. I felt even more special as Flat Stanley's visit to me was his last visit on his tour before returning to school. Donnie, my wonderful husband, and I took Flat Stanley out for the day yesterday and enjoyed the sites and sounds of Lake City, Florida!! We visited our new Firehouse Subs with its awesome drink machine (I could play with that all day myself), the high school where Donnie is an Administrator, our District DOT building, our Historic Downtown, Courthouse, Lake DeSoto, our very special friend and Chef, Dana Faucher at The Blue Roof Grill, and then home to help Donnie clean up his bike (motorcycle), meet Teddy Bear and help me out in the Studio. Once Stacy, our daughter, returned from work, we watched one of my favorite shows on FoodNetwork, Last Cake Standing, then off to bed. I would say Flat Stanley had an eventful day and time in Lake City. In addition to this, Flat Stanley had to write a letter describing his time here and what he did; that was a long letter but cute, I think. Today I must mail Flat Stanley back to A.J., along with all the goodies we collected for him to share about Lake City. I will be sad to see Flat Stanley leave but I have the pictures to remember him by! I'm even posting a couple here for you to enjoy.

As you can see, we enjoyed ourselves immensely!! Always remember to take the time to help someone else, even if your plans are delayed. You never know how much that little boost or in this case, all the pictures he can share with his fellow classmates might mean. So once I get Flat Stanley and all his goodies packaged up and mailed, it will be back to business at Ladybug's Cottage.
Wishing everyone a wonderful day! Pay it forward and the reward is even greater!
Until next time, Lynn

Social Butterfly

This is the name I'm giving to my crocheted butterfly project...it seems appropriate now...I couldn't decide on a background for her, even after trying different mediums...finally, a black "velvet-like" fabric underneath makes her stand out (thank you Jan for the idea). Looking to see if "pearl-like" beads for the eyes will do her justice and some seed beads incorporated into the wings will bring her to life. This is my challenge today or one of them :-)  still working on My Studio and getting it organized, which will take time I know; I also have to add some more kits to my shop! I got so involved in making the butterfly picture come to life, I let it take up all my time. This is one of those things I will have to remember: if you're going to sell it, you cannot put a lot of time into unless you are going to charge an exurbanite amount--which I'm not. At the same time, I'm not going to try to sell something I don't feel is up to par either--a balancing act, I'm finding out. Oh, the things you learn as a business owner!!


It is a gorgeous day today...all my feathered friends are out in the yard and lot eating breakfast, the sun is up and God has given us another day...how wonderful! I hope each and every one of you enjoy your day, take time to stop and enjoy a moment of what we have, pay it forward, and laugh...laugh as many times a day as you can-it really does make you feel better--and pass on your smile and positive attitude to another.


I'd like to put little squiggles here and there and make it look like a picture; however, I haven't learned how to do that yet, so I'm waving and smiling to you!!! ~Lynn~

Nan's Gift to Me

I'm blessed to have a  very special friend, Nan, whom I can go without seeing or talking to for weeks or longer and when you see each other you pick up the conversation like it was just yesterday. I hope everyone else is as blessed to have a friend(s) like this~they are very rare and need to be treasured, which I do!! 

Yesterday was a wonderful day...I got to spend the day and part of the evening with Nan (thank you) and had an amazing time. Before leaving for Gainesville, Nan presented me with this:

My special gift, I was and am so touched, for My Studio that Nan made for Me!! My photography doesn't do it justice; however, it is 6x6, has my ladybug on it, even on the paper, my initial in silver foil, which also wraps around the frame, the title to my shop underneath, a beautiful red and white polka dot bow, and hangs from a ball chain....PERFECT! Nan, will be selling her works of art in her shop...as soon as it is up and going I'll post a notice here so you can visit and see all of her creations...I was able to get some of the "inside" scoop on some she is making...you are going to love them!!! 

Nan helps me in ways she doesn't even know...she shares her expertise (commercial graphic artist), teaches me about tricks of the trade for online business, listens, laughs with me, I can be myself, and treats me like an equal, I could go on and on, let's just say, when you find someone this special and rare-hold on tight!

...this is a friend...a very special one...whom I treasure a lot. 

After an appointment, our excuse for the trip :-), we shared and enjoyed each other's company at Red Lobster and had the waiter with the best sense of humor and attitude, Casey...great young man. We bounced ideas off each other all day, came up with new ones, checked out Books a Million~dangerous place for us haha, took in Joann's, Dollar Tree (still wish we had ours...please bring it back!), and a quick trip in K-Mart. Time flies when you're with someone who shares your same interests, likes, and sometimes can say what you are about to...it was after 7pm before we left Gainesville and Nan's husband I'm sure thought I had kidnapped her. Steve is a great guy and thankfully takes it all in stride when Nan and I go off for the day...thank you Steve!

I'm headed back to My Studio this morning to move my table and supplies in...probably won't get much organizing accomplished, because I want to work on the "butterfly" picture and hopefully finish it this weekend. Thank you Nan for some great insight regarding this project. Also a couple of little "works of art" that I want to see how they turn out. So I better get busy!! :)

I wish each and everyone a wonderful day...the sun is out here, the squirrels were in the yard scampering about, the High School Prom is tonight-wishing all of the young ladies and men a great time and please be careful. Even though I'm not English nor royalty, I watched a part of the tapping of the Royal Wedding last night-what a perfect couple...Kate was gorgeous and looks regal without overdoing...William's smile was there...I know Diana was looking down feeling so proud!

Enjoy your day!!!! Lynn