Happy Mail!

I was delighted to receive a surprise package from an Internet friend, Sheila, in the mail this week.  If you read her genre you may know her better as best-selling author Lynn Viehl.  We "met" as a result of my Etsy shop.  She is not only a best-selling author but also a very talented fiber artist.

I was thrilled to receive this beautiful lined tote bag embellished with red and cream beads.  It is stunning and I can't wait to use it!!  Oh, to have the patience (and the eyesight!) for all that stitching.

I learned that she collects vintage cabinets cards and uses them as inspiration for the characters in her books.  She is a regular Etsy customer and I love to include a little something extra with her orders so I specifically had my eye out for some cabinet cards for her during our Autumn trip to Pennsylvania. I never expected anything in return so you can imagine I was over the moon with this surprise package!

She has my number!  The button book is one I do not have and it is sitting on the ottoman in my living room as a special treat for my Christmas day reading.  She also shared these buttons from her personal collection and told me the ones in perfectly patina-ed little tin are from FRANCE.  How cool is that!  Thank you, Sheila, and I am so happy we "found" each other.  I love the Internet!

Custom Order For A Special Occasion

 A loyal Etsy customer, Lynn Viehl,  recently requested a custom inspiration kit to help her celebrate a very special occasion.  She makes stunning crazy quilt tote bags and planned to make one as a give-away to celebrate publication of her 50th novel, "Her Laydyship's Curse".  Wow!  What an accomplishment!  Naturally, I was thrilled to be able to have a small role in helping her celebrate.

She requested peacock colors.  I asked if she had any other requests, like heavy on beads or a particular color and was very flattered to hear that she doesn't make a plan until she gets the kit and lets it inspire her.  My inspiration kit copy includes a phrase that says something to the effect that "no instructions are included, trust yourself, you will know what to do".  Indeed she does!
She has extended the invitation to enter her give-away to all of you.  Be sure to read forward on her blog, not just the give-away post that I linked to, because she has added more items to the bag every single day.  Someone is going to be a very lucky winner, indeed, and it might be you!