Thankful Thursday

“Oh, the comfort — the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person — having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.”   ― Dinah Maria Mulock Craik, A Life for a Life

I discovered this quote earlier in the week, and it just put into words what I couldn't.  Everyone should have a friend they can talk to without feeling judged or made to feel like a terrible person.  I am very thankful I have a friend like that.  

The duck couple above visit us every spring.  They hang out in the neighborhood for a few days and then they're gone to wherever it is they go for the season.  They make me smile and it's just fun to see them hanging out in different yards when I drive down my street.  I'm thankful to have this experience every spring.  After all these years, I would feel like something was missing if they did't visit!

What are you thankful for this week?

An Apron For A Bracelet

A couple of months ago, my bloggy friend Patty from My Life Under the Bus and The Junquerie on Etsy, asked me if I would make her a custom apron.  After explaining what she wanted and agreeing on a price, I told her I would be happy to make one.  Not long after that she asked me if I would be interested in a trade.  She had made a bracelet that I just fell in love with and she would trade the bracelet for the apron.  Well, I jumped at that suggestion!  Who wouldn't want this bracelet?

I waited for Patty to send the fabric and I just couldn't believe what came in that package.  I couldn't believe how wonderfully decorated the envelopes were.  I felt special before I even opened it up!  There were two envelopes.  One contained the fabric and the other was full of goodies I wasn't expecting.

There were the sweetest paper dolls and these wonderful teacup prints 'wrapped' in toile.

Don't you love this wrapping?  I was just in awe of it.  It is a page from a book and Patty did a tutorial on book paper that you can see here and here and here.

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These little note cards were in there!

And then of course there was THE bracelet!  This bracelet won a Facebook contest and you can have one of your very own because there is one in Patty's Etsy shop, The Junquerie!  My photos don't do it justice.  Trust me when I say it is simply beautiful.

Patty wanted a full apron that she could wear to do craft shows.  She wanted the skirt to be ruffles and she wanted pockets on the inside so she could use them for money at the show.  Isn't that just a great idea?    This is what I came up with.

I also made her a lavender sachet to let her know how special she is to me.

Patty was one of my very first blog followers and has been a constant source of encouragement and support.  I was happy to make her an apron and even more happy to have one of her original bracelets.

Thank you Patty for everything!

Friendship In A Box

As I was passing by the front door a few days ago, a package on the porch caught my eye.  I was wondering what Michael ordered as I picked up the box.  I was so surprised to see that it wasn't for Michael but for me and it was from my dear blog friend, Kathy from Klueless.  For a minute, I thought I ordered something from her shop, Strange Notions, and forgot.  But I don't forget when I order something, so I knew this was a surprise from her.  A surprise that would be blog worthy I was sure!  So I got my camera ready and opened the box.  Oh my gosh,   there were eight little pastel colored packages in the box with a sweet handmade card.  It looked like Easter but felt like Christmas!

The first package was eight vintage doilies.  Six of them were matching and even opened up like pockets.  I immediately thought what great pockets they would make on aprons!  The other two were smaller and crocheted.  They are so delicate and lacy!  I love the little flowers on one of them.

The next six packages were the most beautiful and incredible vintage laces.  They were different sizes and colors and each one made me gasp as I opened it.  

By this time I was on the verge of tears.  I just couldn't believe the kindness and generosity of Kathy.  When I opened the last package, that was it.  It brought me to tears and I truly was touched and moved by such an amazing gift.  You see, I had seen this on her blog and as I told her in my comment for that post, it melted my heart.  And here it was in front of me, melting my heart!

Isn't it just precious?  Kathy made this for me!  I love how worn the little shoe is.  I wonder how many siblings it was passed down to.  How many steps did that little shoe take?  I'm just in awe of this wonderful gift.  

I am so blessed to have found such wonderfully kind and talented women through blogging.  Women, who even though we have never met in person and are scattered all over the world, make me feel as though we have been friends forever.  Please visit Kathy's blog, Klueless.  She has a most wonderful sense of humor and writes about her junkin' finds and what she does with them!  While you're there, check out the Stamptington publications she has been featured in!  And then Check out her Etsy shop, Strange Notions, where you will find vintage linens and textiles, sewing notions, ephemera and paper goods, altered altoid tins and so much more.  Thank you again Kathy for your incredible kindness!

Have a wonderful Wednesday my friends!!!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom...Friendship

The word friendship brings to mind many people, places and memories of the past.  I was painfully shy as a child which made it difficult sometimes to make friends.  I was an army brat, moving every two years and having to start over time and time again making new friends.  However, through that shyness, I learned how to observe people and their behavior before rushing into friendship.   As an army wife and as an adult, I found making friends easier but continued to remain cautious as before. 

photo provided by The Graphics Fairy

Five years ago, my husband's company transfered him to where we live now.  The first two years we lived in the boonies and there was no one to make friends with.  By the time we moved into town, I was lonely and desperate to have a friend.  Lonliness and desperation can cause a person to throw caution to the wind!  That's what I did anyway.   I watched and observed and saw the red flags but chose to ignore them.  What I saw happening in their other relationships, wasn't going to happen with me because I was a true friend.  Well, I might have been a true friend but they weren't. 

Even though the friendships are over, the hurt and resentment lingers.  I really miss my friends I left five years ago.  I miss having a close friend.

Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend. ~Plautus