Free Patterns, Valentine's Gift, Prairie Schooler Slow Stitching

Heavy downpours of rain last night. Everything strange outside this morning with slush, ice and also bits of grass showing through. Our walk under a dark and gloomy sky but the air pleasant at 5C. 

Hubby did present me with a Valentine's Day gift, a surprise.  This card comparing me to his favourite food, pizza... 

He was impressed with the technology included whereby pressing the button activates a voice that tells me I am hot and there's not mush-room for improvement, amongst other "cheesy" phrases. LOL But he also gave me a certificate to the local spa which I will look forward to using soon. 

Slow stitching this week is a catchup with my winter cross stitch project. Vintage looking Button Up patterns from The Prairie Schooler. 

I'm stitching these on 28 count Lambs Wool Jobelan Evenweave as decorations for a tree. The colour is a little darker as I wanted the snow to show up.  Pattern and fabric are from one of my favourite online shops for cross stitch supplies, 123Stitch.com. They provide very reasonable shipping rates and speedy service.

Just finishing the snow on this one.

My needle minder says Dogs leave paw prints on your heart.  They certainly do! And LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is to honour a mate, be it human or animal, that was special and there for us.  Here is a dog that never left my side- Rex, the German Shepherd. I was definitely his person. 

Still love him and miss him! I labelled this photo below Rex at my feet and orts on my dress. Both constants in my life!

Thursday's Three Free

This is the link to Purl Soho's Free Patterns section. There you will find categories to check out including knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, weaving, etc. All their patterns are basic and beginner style so easy to follow instructions. Below is Broken Dishes Baby Quilt.

I'm so happy I found this site, Pink Simplicity, and their Free Patterns and Tutorials section. Lovely items to stitch like this and lots more.

Not free but so pretty..Lovingly Lissa has this pattern for sale. Really neat seeing how to turn a log cabin block into an apple. She has made a hanging with four of these blocks and it is stunning. 

For my fellow slow stitchers...from Hodgepodge Crafts, comes this lovely spring like design called Floral Meadow that is a free download along with the instructions on stitches used, etc.

Thanks as always to these clever folks who share their talents with us.

Hope your weekend will be fabulous!

Also fabulous to link up with Kathy's Quilts and Songbird Designs.