Hey friends, welcome back! Wow, what a gorgeous spring day it’s shaping up to be out there… It’s just about 30º and sunny without a cloud in the sky. Not too shabby for an early spring Hump Day in WI, and boy are we ready for it! I love the snow and all the fun things to do in it, but there comes a point where enough is enough! Any cumulating snow we see this time of year is always fast, furious, SLOPPY, and short-lived. Even if we get a late season blizzard and end up with a foot, it usually melts away in the next day or two. Not exactly ideal conditions for… anything really. Just mess! I’m ready for spring showers, may flowers, and a TAN. Bring on spring!

Of course, with the arrival of the new season upon us, it also means it’s time to trade in the snowmen, skis, mittens, and fir trees for something a bit more suitable for spring. ‘Tis the season for birds, bees, tulips, and daffodils! If you got a chance to tune in for STITCH with Lisa last Thursday, you were lucky enough to get a glimpse of some of my favorite quick and easy spring project ideas that make getting your home ready for the change of seasons lighting quick. No time to watch? No worries. Let’s go through them again for those of you who missed it.

As you know, I absolutely LOVE decorative pillows year-round for a number of reasons. Pillows can not only make fast and simple weekend projects, but they’re also a must-have decorating hack based on the ease and convenience of swapping them out alone. Switching from winter to spring takes merely seconds with the right pillow collection! One of my favorite designs when it comes to spring décor is my “Potted Geranium Pillow.“ If you’re looking for a project with a “WOW” factor, this could definitely be it! This stunning work of art designed by yours truly features realistic-looking wool appliquéd pink geraniums in their pots, beautifully appliquéd on a wool background. I love how the variation in the wool color makes the flowers look almost real! Not a pillow person? That’s ok too! With a little imagination this pretty design can also easily be done as a wall hanging, framed piece, or table mat as well. Whatever floats your boat!

Did someone say table mat? Sticking with the “simple and fast” theme, table mats and runners are another one of the stitching god’s greatest inventions. Often smaller projects that don’t require a lot of time or over the top skill, table mats are the perfect solution for jazzing up your dining room or kitchen table with a little bit of seasonal somethin’-somethin’. I just so happen to have several spring-themed designs in the table mat department to make your decorating life easer, like “Nesting Time“ for example. You can bet spring is definitely on the way once the birds start returning home from down south! This frisky little table mat features two diligent bird parents high up in the trees, carefully tending to their brood. Done with wool appliqué on a wool background, “Nesting Time“ measures 16″ x 16″ when finished. 

If you consider yourself any level of “bird nerd,” you’re not alone! I absolutely love watching the drama unfold between all the cheeky bird couples around my yard every spring. It’s truly some of Mother Nature’s best entertainment! Maybe that’s why seeing birds in my designs is a happy reoccurrence… I love stitching them almost as much as I love watching their antics! “Birds of a Feather“ is another bird-themed table mat I designed paying homage to our wild feathered friends.This earth-tone mat is adorned with four busy brown birds in a ring of colorful spring tulips. At 16″ x 16″, “Birds of a Feather“ is the perfect size mat to go under a big vase of fresh spring flowers on your dining room table or key stand!

Similar to “Birds of a Feather,” “Songbirds“ table mat keeps the peep-peep-peep going with another set of happy little birdies, as they collect worms and woo their mates with love songs. The colorful and handsome wool appliquéd birds really pop against the earth tone hand dyed modeled wool background.

Also like “Birds of a Feather,” the “Songbirds“ table mat measures in at 16″ x 16,” making it a nice addition to your repertoire if you’d like to do it as a set. Know a bird lover with a birthday coming up? These easy mats make great gifts too!

If flowers are more your idea of spring décor, consider my “Blue Hydrangeas“ table mat for your next project. This dainty design is so pretty and intricate looking, you’d think it was on the difficult end of the spectrum skill level wise, but it’s actually not! If you’re looking for a project you can accomplish in a weekend, I highly recommend “Blue Hydrangeas.” It’s only 14″ x 16″ in size and super simple to do. In fact, I’m confident you can get this finished in just a couple days without a problem if you set your mind to it. Easy to sew and perfect for a variety of occasions, you can’t go wrong with the  “Blue Hydrangeas“ table mat!

Now, I know that a round table mat isn’t always the best shape for smaller or longer shaped tables, which is why table runners are also a useful option when it comes to décor. “Tulip Basket“ is a darling little table runner that will add something special to any space it lives on. Show off your favorite easter basket on this little cutie until the holiday has passed. Then make room for a spring bouquet or fresh fruit bowl. No matter how you decide to display it, “Tulip Basket” can stay out from Groundhog’s Day til’ the dog days of summer!

I mentioned above that my “Potted Geranium Pillow“ could be a wall hanging, framed piece, or table mat as well. If that idea piqued your interest, you might want to check out “Jar of Flowers.“ Pretty as a picture, “Jar of Flowers“ can either be put it in a frame, hung from a clipboard or turned into a pillow! Whatever you decide, this 6″ x 9″ wool appliqué is one bouquet of flowers that will last forever.If you like the look of “Jar of Flowers,“ you might also like its sister project, “Fresh Cut Daisies.” Keep the Ball Jar theme going with this 12″ x 18″ tribute to warmer weather ahead, featuring wool appliquéd daisies and stitchery.Last but not least is yet another Ball Jar themed project to complete room. This 8 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ table runner “Just Picked“ ties it all together, bringing the fun from the wall down to the table. What’s especially nice about this trio is that whether you decide to keep them all together or display them separately in other rooms, these little beauties can stay out from the first robin sighting in spring until harvest time.

Well everyone, I hope this got your mind going in the right direction. I have so many great projects I’d like to share with you for spring and summer – this is only a mere scratch of the surface! Let me know how your spring decorating/cleaning is coming along or if you’re still stuck under feet of snow with no end in sight. Tell me in the comments what else you’d like to see for late spring and summer décor, and I will put some things together to talk about in a future post.

As always, if you’d like to catch the replay of STITCH with Lisa from last week where I talk about each one of these projects LIVE, you can watch by clicking the STITCH button below. And speaking of STITCH with Lisa Bongean, we’re back again tomorrow LIVE with more fun and discussion at at 1:00 CST. Set your reminders now so you don’t miss it! Until then, have a great night and I will see you all soon. Take care! ~Lisa