Pressies for me!!

Just look what was waiting for me when I arrived home from work the other day 

………. pressies from my luvurley friend Wendy of The Quiet Room blog - is there any better kind of parcel to greet you when you just know it will be full of wonderful things - and so it was!!

There are quite a few photos, SOOOOO generous was Wendy! 

Now, we all know how long cross-stitch takes don’t we, and there was not only this sweet 1816 pincushion, with mother of pearl buttons & pins, but

 ……….. wait until you see this!! A cross-stitch pocket, which is just amazing! – there is so much work in it

and inside - scissors and a little charm. 

AND as if that wasn't enough, inside the pocket was all this!!! - everything  to make a gorgeous Easter pillow, with the cutest chart/pattern, 28-count linen ........ the chart suggests 40-count, but these old eyes can't do any smaller than 28-count, so this is perfect. And then all of the flosses, and not just DMC floss, but Weeks Dye Works and The Gentle Art (beautiful colours) - and even the needles!! So much!!! Wendy understands clearly too that I shall need until next Easter to make it LOL …… or maybe even the one after that!! 

And now my favourite – I loved it when I saw it on Wendy’s blog a little while ago – this gorgeous woolly sunflower cushion – such lovely, neat stitching - I adore it. 

And to top all of that off (Wendy is clearly trying to make me fat LOL!!!) – 3, yes 3 packs of chocolate …… I am the biggest chocoholic in  the world of course (Wendy knows me so well), so this photo is several days old now, because I knew the choccies wouldn't last until the weekend when I could blog about them – so I took it immediately !!!

As I said to Wendy in an email, she is the cleverest, talentedist!!, kindest friend, I’m sure I don’t deserve it, but again Wendy, thank you, thank you SOOOOOO very, very much. I love EVERYTHING.

I'm actually half asleep whilst doing this post, as I've had the loveliest day today at the 'Malvern Spring Quilt Show', but I'm now shattered having walked my legs off! And yes, of course I made a few (!!) purchases ....... but the pictures of my stash can wait until my next post!!

My second 25th!!!!

................... birthday that is. Well, 50 is such a high number when we’re talking birthdays, which we are, so I prefer to call it my second 25th!! Anyway, one of my birthday cards confirmed that 50 IS the new 40 – and I believe them!!! And as with any 50-year old (or should that read 5-year old) I woke up several times in the night eager to open the cards I had already received. But then again it could just be my 50-year old bladder getting me up several times a night!!! LOL

Well, it’s been a good day so far. NOT going to work was a great start, followed by a lovely mug of coffee in bed whilst I opened my cards, and then the next good bit was browsing through the current issue of ‘Inspirations’ magazine, which came out just in time for my birthday – Thank you!!




I discovered ‘Inspirations’ magazine (by accident) about a year ago or so and each issue really does ‘Inspire’. It only comes out four times a year, but each issue is packed with beautiful projects – mostly long-term projects that will turn into real heirlooms.

Katarina sent me these lovely pressies from Sweden:



A lovely bookmark, a little needlecase, a gorgeous delicate necklace (sorry the photo doesn't show the lovely purple colour) and a really pretty, very soft knitted/crotchet brooch .... and a lovely card – all made (I believe) by Katarina, a very multi-talented YOUNG lady! Thanks again Katarina, I really appreciate them.

At work yesterday, one of the girls had arranged one of these in the office for me:



....... a chocolate fountain with strawberries and marshmallows for dipping – how gorgeous, and a lovely surprise too – I am a chocoholic you know!!! And just to prove it, I also received this ‘Chocoholic’ mug from the same lady



plus flowers, smellies and chocolates from other friends at work. I had money from the whole office to put towards an Ipod – a bit trendy eh for a 50-year old!!

I shall be getting together with my family later tonight for a big Chinese takeaway, followed by birthday cake.

Well ladies, you must excuse me ...... I can resist no longer – I’m off to my favourite fabric shop. Resistance is futile I’m afraid, so why bother trying ....... what else is a GIRL to do on a Special birthday???!!!!

Just remembered – I’d better go and vote too on the way – it’s General Election day here in the UK. Thank you Gordon Brown for holding an Election on my big day – upstaged again!!

Catch you later ...........