The Gift of Friendship

It has been quite the week and I could really use a do-over with less stress and hassle (I know, we all have them at sometime or another...but WOW, this week has been a doozy) - "it is what it is" and I am just trying to move forward with a (somewhat) positive attitude and hope the black cloud following me dissipates soon.

On a MUCH happier note, I was finally able to get together with my dear friends, Mary and Lorrie, for our belated holiday celebration a little over a week ago - we had postponed our friendship Friday before Christmas due to bad weather, so we had a little post-holiday celebration. We met at one of my favorite local restaurants and enjoyed a lovely fireside lunch...we chatted and laughed and just enjoyed the afternoon...and of course, we exchanged gifts. Both Mary and Lorrie are extremely generous and thoughtful and I had loads of packages to unwrap...and I wanted to share a few of the unique and creative gifts with you...

Lorrie made me a GORGEOUS quilted table runner that matches my dining room decor perfectly!...and she also cross-stitched a beautiful bread cloth for me...

Mary has a special knack for finding great gifts...and she gave me a bag FULL of  treasures to unwrap...including a fabulous large wooden spool wrapped with twine and a smaller wooden spool wrapped with a silver/string bracelet!...and in the top right photo, you will see an adorable glass cupcake pedestal/dome Mary found - isn't it wonderful?! - I just *had to* bake cupcakes last night, so it wouldn't be lonely (and to comfort me after this past crazy week). She also sparked my creativity with a book that has been on my wishlist forever...and I can't believe I didn't get a photo of the squirrel mug with the words "NUTS ABOUT YOU" on the back...

It was THE BEST afternoon with friends and I feel extremely blessed to have both of them in my life...my months wouldn't be the same without "friendship Friday" and the joy these two bring me...I am a very lucky girl!

So now, I am off to salvage what is left of the weekend...to try and clear off my desk top...and to do some much needed model stitching...and, and, and... Wishing you a creative and productive weekend...

Bird On A Bobbin

A sewing bird pincushion - a 2011 Christmas
 gift from my friend Kimber...

Wednesday, after taking in the AQS Quilt Show & Contest, I visited a local antique mall with my dear friend Kimber and her husband Tom. Each year during the AQS Show, local vendors at the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall display quilting and sewing items in prominent places in their booths...hoping to "cash in" while thousands of quilters are in the area. Throughout the building, we found assorted antique quilts, textiles, and quilt blocks...along with vintage sewing notions, laces, and trims. Kimber was looking for some particular items...I was looking for some large wooden bobbins...and we both managed to find a few items to take home. Turns out, both Kimber and Tom have a knack for finding hidden treasures and they assisted me in finding quite a few antique wooden bobbins - I  was able to narrow down my choices to four favorites (all very reasonably priced at a few dollars or less)! It seems antique bobbins are making a comeback...and many needleworkers are seeking them out to use with Cross Stitch and Embroidery patterns. Earlier this year my friend Lorrie gifted me a beautiful large wooden bobbin that stands about 6.5" tall and at the time I had plans to use it with a needlework design...but as they often do, my plans changed, when I realized the sewing bird my friend Kimber gifted me last Christmas looked adorable perched on this large spool (shown below). Every time I enter my sewing studio, it is the first thing I see and it brings me joy! So, the hunt was on for more vintage wooden bobbins...and the antique mall did not disappoint...now the challenge will be to find creative uses for each one...

The antique wooden bobbin my friend Lorrie gifted me
with my sewing bird pincushion perched on top...

Tomato Tuffets

While I was shopping with friends in Franklin, TN, I picked up the cutest Tomato Pincushion kit at The Quilting Squares Quilt Shop & Knit Emporium (Tomato Pin Cushion by P.S. Goin' Sewin'). It contained everything needed to make two tomato spool pincushions...I just provided a needle, glue and scissors...easy peasy...and in true Belinda fashion, I added some ribbon from my stash. I had started the process of creating these the day after I got home from my Nashville trip, but (as usual) I was sidetracked and put them aside....then yesterday morning, one of my shopping companions sent me a photo of her completed pincushions and it was just the motivation I need to finish mine! The "tomato" and the "strawberry" are felt balls...the tops are green wool felt...and pearl cotton floss was used to make the tomato wedges, attach the tops, and connect the strawberry. So adorable and so easy! I thought about painting my spools to give them a bit of pizazz, but opted to add some coordinating striped 1" grosgrain ribbon from my stash...which I thought was a nice splash of color to the plain wooden spool. I liked this idea so much, I went to my stash of wool felt/felt balls and made a couple without spools...these will make fun gifts throughout the year...and look cute with or without the spool. I just love the petite size - perfect for a small sewing box or taking on the go...the tomato only measures approximately 1.75" wide (the wooden spools measure 1.25" W x 2" H). I hope this quick and easy project inspires you to make a couple pincushions of your own...

Smiles and Surprises

I'm feeling quite inspired after a long lunch with my dear friend Lorrie yesterday. We met at a local cafe and chatted for several hours over salads and raspberry iced tea - it was the perfect pick-me-up...we were having such a great chat, we completely lost track of time and when we finally checked our watches, it was 3 1/2 hours later...terrible for my work to-do list, but wonderful for my spirit - I departed feeling happy, refreshed, and full of inspiration.

Lorrie totally surprised me with a gift bag full of birthday pressies - the theme was "her favorite things", which was totally awesome, as I really admire her taste and sense of style. Included in the lovely wrapped treasures: a stack of fat quarters she picked up at a quilt shop on her trip to California (aren't they FABULOUS!); a large vintage wooden spool - which are all the rage - and after reading about some she found on a trip to the antique store and seeing some fun finishing ideas in "blogland", I had mentioned I really wanted (thanks for sharing Lorrie!); and two adorable snack mats (mug rugs) that she made herself - I LOVE THESE!

Some of the other fun "favorite things" she included were several OPI Avojuice lotions (which are so smooth and smell "out of this world"...a jar of Red Chile Jelly and a jar of hot habanero salsa - YUM-O! She also made me a soft beautiful black scarf (in my opinion, a girl can never have too many scarfs). Finally, there was a Flameless LED Battery Pillar Candle (Night Light w/Timer) featuring iron heart images - this candle is actually really unique - it even smells like vanilla and the light flickers. It is from the "Where Sisters Gather" Etsy shop - and there is even one available with a needlework sampler design (I may just have to order another!).

It was such a treat spending a couple hours with Lorrie - catching up, talking about our creative endeavors, and sharing about our lives. Suddenly all the stress I was feeling melted away and I couldn't remove the smile from my face - her friendship truly enhances my life....Lorrie, thank you for the special afternoon!

Tomorrow I am meeting my dear friends Merry and Kimber for lunch and (hopefully) a visit to Valley Junction and the cupcake shop - we planned this months ago and I am super excited to see them both...so you know I will have more to share in the next couple days!