Angels

This post is about angels, there's the angels we create.....

This is the ATC I've created for Amy @ The Crafty Book Nerd in the Alphabet ATC swap, I love that she's also holding an apple.

There's angels whose style and creativity we admire and whose blogs we follow like Lisa @ Olive Grove Primitives.

Lisa owns a bricks and mortar shop called Inn Country on the northside of Brisbane, far far away from me so the best place to look inside her shop is through facebook here or the Inn Country blog. I went window shopping and a few emails later this sweet little cage is in my house. Fabulous customer service and I also received the rose and the most divine wax melt!

 I'm going to make a little birdy to sit inside on a little swing!

...and then there's those angels we call our friends.

Fee is one of my angels, she's generous, warm, inspiring, thoughtful, caring, the list is endless.  I sometimes complain about issues in my life but they're so small in comparison to the challenges Fee and her family have faced over the last few years. Today Fee and  I managed to catch up at lunchtime and she gave me this birthday present, it's been a few weeks since we'd seen each other.

There's a lovely owl compendium, bunny pincushion kit and a lavendar sachet, oh and a little tube of hand cream that I left at work on my desk. Thank-you Fee, love you lots!

Those of you that know Fee, please say a prayer for her Mum tonight as she's recovering from major surgery.

More pressies

I've enjoyed a lovely week away from work although feeling sick wasn't pleasant and the GP is still unsure what is troubling me, blood tests reveal nothing so next step is an ultrasound. I did receive lovely birthday pressies which reminded me of how lucky I am to have such beautiful friends.

Firstly there's my BFF from high school days, Valerie's never far from my thoughts, we'll always be closes even though Bass Strait separates us. Valerie sent me this lovely package and handmade card and tag

inside was a layer cake, the fabrics are gorgeous

Thank-you Valerie xxx

The second pressie is from my Mum, she's off travelling around in her campervan in Queensland, escaping Tassie for the winter. Mum knitted me some scrappy socks, made from left over wool from earlier socks she has knitted me...I love my knitted socks!

and she knitted the most gorgeous delicate scarf

 think she said it is mohair/alpaca, thanks Mum xxx

The third pressie is from my talented friend Helen, she made these buttons just for me

I'm very lucky because Helen is always busy stitching for her business Hugs 'n Kisses so I feel very honoured to have a Helen original. If you're a Facebook friend of Hugs 'n Kisses Helen made up a few of these as kits for purchasel.

Helen also gave me one of her "Life is Beautiful" panels, these are so cute

and a gorgeous pattern, don't you love the packaging!

Helen is also a keen zentangler and made me a lovely card

 Thank-you Helen!

Now I can't leave my boys out, they bought me a GHD hairdryer, well really I bought it, my old cheapo hairdryer died ages ago and I decided I needed to replace it with a quality one.

I also received a pair of earrings from my son, purchased from his own hard earned cash from washing glasses. I'm wearing them and haven't got a pic to show you just yet, they're very pretty and very me.

So thank-you to everyone who sent birthday messages, you're all so lovely!

Anyway it's back to work for me tomorrow, wonder how many things have been thrown in my in tray?

Birthday Pressies

Yesterday was a big ceremony to not only celebrate the London Olympics 2012 but my birthday, how special to have fireworks, I'm sure they were just for me.

My lovely Friends in Stitching group pressie was put together by Chookyblue, Chook has done an outstanding job and I'm so glad she decided to part with the bag cause I  love it! Thank-you Chooky.

 

Inside was also a bundle of her cards, some delicious mustard, Chooky's recipe and maltesers and you'd be surprised o hear I haven't eaten them yet, probably because I've also been unwell the last few days. I'm feeling much better now and to top off my birthday I won a giveaway over at Amy's blog!

Now to crafting at my place, it's been going on in dribs and drabs. Recently I purchased some Tim Holtz Distress Markers, these are great, they act a bit like watercolours (must get some decent watercolour paper), here I've used them with some stamped images, I need more practice.

There's some great clips on youtube on how to use them and other Tim Holtz products.I'm off work all this week so I'm sure I can find some time to play some more.

Cheers!!

Happy Bithday Sweet Shell

Sending big bunny hugs to one of the most sweetest people I know!

I hope we get to meet face to face one day

Happy Birthday Shell May of The Rasberry Rabbits!!!

Kiss noises Jo!

(P.S. To visit others paticipating in this linky birthday fun go here)

Thank-you

Thank-you to everyone who left me birthday wishes! I had a lovely weekend.

I spent some time on Saturday sitting and chatting with my dear friend Fee while she was having her hair done. Fee's having an operation this morning on her right hand, so there'll be no stitching for a four weeks while she recovers. I gave her a pile of girly movies to watch and while away the hours. Goodluck Fee, I hope it goes well!

I then went off on a little birthday splurge, bought myself some new clothes and a DVD I've wanted since forever, BBC's Pride and Prejudice with the ever gorgeous Colin Firth as Mr Darcy.

So you can probably guess what I did the rest of the weekend, yes I stitched and watched the whole series.

Another year older

Another year of my life has flown by, there's been a few changes a new position at work, my son started High School, my husband changed jobs. All of these things have aged me a little more than I needed, I have a few more grey hairs to show for it. All in all it's been a good year though. My life has been blessed by lots of beautiful friends, I cherish every single one.

I received some lovely pressies, Fee spoilt me with a beautiful package of heart and flower yo-yo makers, a sweet handmade butterly fob and scissors, writing set, cutest little BiBi all wrapped in pretty fabric.

Sarah left a package at my front door, a lovely surprise to come home to. Inside was this book, full of lots of wonderful projects to make.

Thank-you Fee and Sarah, you made my day!

I've also received some beautiful fabrics in a FQ Birthday swap but I'll wait until they're all in before I post a pic. Thank-you to Jeni, Jan and Kate!! (PS I hope you're enjoying Paris Jan!!)

Also in the mail this week was this cutie who I just had to have in my dolly family

she's by Cath, isn't she just the sweetest.

I'm currently stitching away on a secret squrrel project so all other stitching is on hold apart from a swap that I have to squeeze in but I'm almost finished those things. Gardener's Journal is on hold but I'm still keeping an eye on the stitch-a-long and how much work I'm going to have to do to catch up!

Keep up the good work Stitchers!

A Birthday Wish and a bargain buy

Firstly I want to say a Big Happy "Twenty-Twenty" Birthday to my dear friend Fee! It was Fee's birthday on Friday and her party was last night.

Fee and I met through blogging and we've become good friends, definitely stitching soul sisters!!

Love ya Fee!

I live on a street in Tasmania surrounded by elderly and sadly we've had a few farewells over the last year. The most recent the gentlemen passed away and he was the carer for his wife who had advanced dementia at 94, she is now in a nursing home and their son has been looking after the estate and he held a garage sale yesterday. I popped in to say hello and to see what his plans are for the house, I'm so pleased he and his wife are moving in and it isn't becoming a rental.

I picked up a few vintage bargains all for $10.

a suitcase for $2

vintage sheets for $4

Bag of zips $1

Plate for $2

and I said to keep to change as I felt like I had been very lucky.

Anyway I'm doing a bit of stitching this weekend for Helen, I'll show you a sneak peak a bit later when I've done a bit more.

Hope you have all had a wonderful weekend!

I have to show you what I got!!

I just wanted to share with you the things I received for my 40th. My gorgeous hubby and son gave me The Quilted Crow's finishing kit for the Quilt Aid quilt "Bluebird of Hope" (It arrived today!) It was wrapped so beautifully I didn't want to open it!
They also gave me a new mobile phone, so no more battery going flat 5 minutes after it's been recharged!
My Mum and sister gave me this fabulous cutting mat that rotates 360 degrees, how great is that!

They've also bought me one of the Quilt Aid blocks but it's still in transit.

My workmate and good friend Ange gave me a beaut frame from Creative Memories (those are my feet in the middle!)

My long time friend Valerie (no blog) sent me some beautiful fabrics and scrapbooking embellishments. My classmate Helen ( hee! hee! we're doing a photoshop class together) gave me a set of her patterns for "Twas a night before Xmas" and wait for it... a jelly roll called "Authentic", it is even more scrummy in real life.and another surprise came in today's mail from my Robyn, how gorgeous is this pear! I love It!

I've never felt so spoilt in my whole life! It's a lovely feeling, thank-you everyone for making turning 40 so much fun!