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!

Bloggie Love

Among the blessings I count are the wonderful friendships I have found in blog-land.  One of those blessings is Maureen at Victorian Studio.  She writes a very fun blog and her creations are amazing.  She surprised me with this package of goodies this week.

 She included a wonderful handmade steampunk (she knows me!) card with a pocket on the front and a separate tag that slips out.  I adore those metal gears and clock faces.  I will treasure it always.

 Each item she sent is one of the things she has seen me blog about collecting.  Love this hankie!

 A new needle card for my collection, a pair of adorable velvet Mary Jane baby shoes and a new old tin cookie cutter.  Sorry I didn't notice it tipped over.  It is a star shape with a metal handle.

Some buttons and she even included two little Wades for my Granddaughter.  What a sweet surprise and an even sweeter friend.  Thank you Maureen!!
For any of you readers who are also customers in my Etsy shop,  I am running a coupon code.  Enter WONDERLAND for 20% off on any order over $25.

What a Fun Day!

 I am mostly on vacation this week and began the week with a big TREAT - Danielle from Blessed Serendipity is visiting in Portland.  I met her and her dear husband and lovely daughter at Monticello Antiques.  We were joined by Laurie of Magpie Ethel fame.  We shopped, we chatted, we shopped, we chatted....  Her husband was endlessly patient and we had so much fun getting to meet in person.  She brought me a sweet package of goodies wrapped in the silk hankie above.

 This is the bracelet in the center of the photo.  She made it herself!  How cute is that button with the two little doggies.

 It is wrapped in a piece of vintage embroidery and the sides are finished with grandma-green rick-rack.  That girl knows me well!

 We also visited my new favorite antique store, Nina and Joe's Division Street Antiques.  This is my loot from both stops.  Click the picture bigger so you can get a closer look at that jar of buttons.  I noticed it when I was there a few days ago but didn't pay much attention because the buttons are kind of ordinary.  Danielle picked it up and pointed out it has a bail on it and it is an early Crisco container.  Kudos to Danielle for finding it for me!

 The new needle books she gifted me have already been added to my little collection.

Lastly, and very leastly, A little strange notion I had the other night.  I made these garden markers a few years ago and they have somehow all ended up stashed in a drawer.  I pulled them out and "planted" them in the fountain garden.  Saturday night I was on the patio after dark and noticed they reflect the lights and sparkle at night - happy bonus!
The week is off to a very, very good start.

A Blog Give-Away From Around The World!

I have blogged before about Cathy at ma vie trouvee.  She is a remarkable artist, a frequent contributor to the Stampington magazines and a world traveler who takes me along on her adventures via both her blogs. You can see even more photos from her travels on The X-tra Suitcase.  If you haven't visited her blogs you are missing out on a delightful time and a great blog friend!  I came home tonight to find a surprise package in the mail.  Warning, this is a long post because her generosity is remarkable!

 When we first "met" she was living in Belgium.  She has since moved to Singapore which is not at all the way I would have imagined if not for her.  These are all little bags and not something I would ever find here.  I adore the ones with the flowers!

 She gifted me a huge selection of Asian papers.  I love all the tiny treasures and bling!

 I don't know where it is coming from because there is no incense in the package but the fragrance in my art room in wonderful and I hope it stays forever!

 Click the pictures bigger so you can read her notes.  I should have spread out the papers in the clip because there are many, many sheets in beautiful designs.

 How sweet that she would be reading a magazine and think of me and it is in FRENCH for crying out loud! Beautiful pillows decorated with appliqued doilies.  It smells SO good in here.

 Candies.  I cannot wait to try the ones in the yellow wrappers.  Butter and salt, two of my favorite things!

 Sparkly buttons from Laos and how sweet is that little envelope of lace trims that says "My laces are kept in my favorite case"!  Did you notice the pink sewing measuring tape peeking out in the corner?  The measurements are in both inches and centimeters.  I don't know which is the standard in Singapore but I was surprised to learn from Cathy that their official language is English.

 Oh.My.Gosh.  I remember the blog post about her visit to Myanmar and this vintage glass button will have a very special place in my collection.

 This bracelet is made of paper beads made from magazines.  The proceeds benefit women and children in Cambodia.  More about that box in the upper right later.

 I cannot read the words, of course, so at first I thought this box might contain incense and explain the fragrance.  I opened it up and realized it is an herbal remedy for the "Heaty Tummy" she blogged about here.  When I read the post I commented that I would buy it just to get the little metal vials and here it is!

 The red paper is the most delightful little envelopes and check out that ornament on the right.  Beautiful!

 The butterfly is a souvenir from Cambodia and I love that paper dragonfly.

 The prettiest chopsticks (I have tried and have no talent!) for that!  I am still trying to figure out the little brocade bag.  It was commericaly packaged with the assortment of little trinkets and I'm thinking it might be a kit to make a talisman-type bag??  There is a paper inside the pink packet but I haven't opened it yet.

This is a box of white Geisha face powder.  I was apprehensive about opening it and, sure enough, some of the powder jumped out!  Check out Cathy's post here to read what ELSE this powder is used for.

Here is what the contents look like, just in case I want to get "the look".  All I need is some red lipstick.  Probably not but nice to know I could if I wanted to!  It has a flowery smell so that isn't where this remarkable fragrance is coming from.  Love it!

Cathy, thank you SO much.  Your friendship was plenty and this treat is over the top!

A Delightful Delivery

 A while back I sent a package of vintage crochet doilies to dear Heather at Vintage Grey.  She surprised me last week by sending me a delightful thank you package.

 She makes beautiful vintage-inspired tea towel that she embellishes with doilies, appliques, and her signature scalloped crochet trim.  I love that she has the talent and patience to create this trim and she uses the most beautiful colors.  She also sent the small zippered bag in the upper left corner.  It has the most soft, wonderful "hand"!  You can see more of her in her shop, here.

 It might be tea and it might be coffee but I see a chocolate pot.

I will treasure these gift always.  Thank YOU, Heather!

I {HEART} Blog Friends!

 I arrived home last night to find a surprise in my mailbox.  Sweet Laurie at Indulge Your Shelf sent me this perfect little pink bell to add to my collection of vintage pink Christmas ornaments.  Plus! she included a little packet of pink glass garland beads.  What a wonderful and unexpected gift!

Here is a closer look without the distraction of my pink tree.  At first I thought she had decorated the bell herself by adding the pink glitter but she told me this is how she found it.  I have so much to learn about vintage ornaments.  I really need to check Amazon and see if there is a book.
You all know how much I love birdies so the tag she used on the top of the packet is just perfect to me.  Thank you so much for your generosity, Laurie!

Sweet Surprise from a Dear Blogger

I just have to show off this Christmas Morning I found in my mailbox. My sweet blog friend, Annette, at SewManyMemories makes the most heavenly scented sachets. I ordered one that is embellished with a vintage hankie {imagine that!} from her Etsy store. Much to my delight, it arrived snuggled up with all these other goodies!
I am so blown away and grateful for her generosity! Every single item is that "good stuff" Karla challenged us to use. I think Annette used the good stuff to make someones day. How sweet is that?

As I unwrapped each little beautifully wrapped packaged the sachet perfumed my whole art room. It was so lovely I kept it right there for a whole day before I tucked it away in its intended home.

My favorite piece is the "Token of Friendship" heart. This will stay with me forever to remind me of Annette's generosity.

Don't hate me because I'm so lucky!