A Week of Celebration

This week, I am celebrating my birthday...and I just had to share what some of my amazing friends have done for me. I have a terrible head cold and pharyngitis (I have absolutely no voice - only a squeak!) and I am feeling quite miserable, so these special gifts arrived at the perfect time!

My dear friend Terri, who lives in Illinois, sent me a beautiful miniature rose plant. It arrived yesterday evening and was just what I needed to cheer up my spirits! Terri and I met through email several years ago, sharing our love of cross stitching...corresponding about some of my designs...and it turned out, she lived in the same town as my mother and aunt (small world) - we had the chance to meet and have been great friends ever since. Thank you for the gorgeous plant Terri - I miss you friend....

My very sweet friend Robin, who lives in Virginia, sent me a wonderful package with a fabulous quilted pin cushion pattern, a charm pack, and some sampler fabric to add to my collection. Robin and I also met through our love of needlework - corresponding for years - in fact, I think Robin was one of my very first fans. I was finally lucky enough to meet Robin and her mother at Stitcher's Hideaway last fall - we have a zillion things in common and keep in touch weekly. Robin - I adore you - thank you for the lovely sewing surprise package...

Next, I have to share this adorable little present my friend Kimber sent me in the mail. Even though we will be getting together next week to celebrate my birthday, she took the time to mail me the sweetest little wrapped present! Kimber always does the best "wrapping" job - everything coordinates and she uses very fun trims for ties. I had to take a photo before I opened it...and inside, the cutest little notebook - it is about 3" w x 4" h and has lined pages inside to take notes. I will definitely be putting this little book to good use!!

And if I wasn't spoiled enough already, earlier in the week, my close friend Mary dropped off an AMAZING birthday package, filled with goodies. I was like a little girl opening each present...and each item was perfect! There was a really cool round box...and inside, a hand-painted "Happy Birthday" wine glass (I will be filling it on my birthday)...I had never seen one of these before, it is quite unique - she also included a super fun wool applique project pattern, some cute rick rack, lotion, and a scented sachet. I was in heaven - thank you Mary!

I am so very blessed - I have the most creative, amazing, special friends a girl could ever hope for...I have had a week of celebrating and it isn't even my birthday yet!

Although I am feeling miserable, I did manage to finish a huge project deadline today...and I am hoping to finish up a couple more small stitching projects this weekend. I will also be bagging and preparing the new charts for shipment next week. Blue Ribbon Designs is keeping me beyond busy and I am truly thankful for your continued support of my work! I will have more photos to share with you soon...

For now, I am now off to make more hot tea, take more cold medicine, and curl up with Simba and my NookColor....