It was overwhelming but now, I am choosing to concentrate on all the incredible blessings in my life and remember why I love this season so very much. Peace, hope and love. I am extremely grateful, extremely hopeful, wishful for positive change, and finally, finally, able and inspired to blog. Sigh. And here we go...
***
If you haven't come across Cindy's blog, Live a Colorful Life, you're missing out. Not only is she talented, and marvellous, wonderfully funny, she's about the nicest person I've never met in real life. :-) When she asked me if I wanted to do a private swap, I instantly and nervously said yes! We decided on pouches, though we were both a little skittish on zippers.
I knew the one I made would have to be full of colour so I went to the rainbow side of things.
Plus, I got to play with teeny tininess which always makes me happy. Then I added a little Saskatchewan and sent it off. Cindy blogged about it here.
A week ago, this marvellous package arrived.
It's beautiful!! And huge! It's now my new knitting project bag (and the zipper is perfect. Yes, perfect. The one I did? Well, Cindy was nice enough not to mention the amateurish installation...) Cindy does these amazing things with selvedges. And this hexy flower is no execption! Somehow, I've missed taking a decent photo of the inside (so hard to get good light these days!), but the fabric is perfect and there's two big pockets. And then there were the goodies she threw in!
California honey, chocolate covered jumbo raisins and almonds (completely gone, by the way - so good!), a wonderful bag of pretty buttons (I have a weakness for buttons) and a box stuffed full of 1 1/2" squares. Joy!
Plus, something I've longed for since she opened her etsy shop, a custom pin cushion, all of selvedges and so completely perfect.
I won't lie and say that I didn't get a little misty-eyed, because I did. I was terribly sick and had a bad migraine to boot so it's timing was amazing. My thank you email feels inadequate. I am so lucky to have such fantastic people like Cindy in my life...
And now, I have a month's worth of blog-reading to catch up on but as I am officially on holidays, officially done shopping, making and wrapping, and officially into the buttertarts, I will be able to do so before 2013.
Regardless of your faith, background, geography or politics, I am wishing you peace, love, and hope today and every day of the year.
Much love,
Carly
merry christmas , lovely carly x
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you again Carly. Blessings on you this Christmas ; )
ReplyDeleteThe package that you received is great, but I am SMITTEN by the pouch that you sent! Oh my stars! So gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the pouch you made is adorable with all those tiny rainbow squares. I hope you have great butter tarts and a great Christmas, enjoy your time off! Hope to see you sometime in January! Michelle
ReplyDeleteI love the pouch you made for Cindy. It's amazing with those teeny squares. And her gift to you is very special. What a wonderful swap! Have a very Happy Christmas.
ReplyDeletePS I am putting your blog on my sidebar.....don't want to miss any of your posts! :o)
ReplyDeleteYour pouch is adorable, and so well done! Happy holidays to yo, hope you're feeling better!
ReplyDeleteTwo talented ladies makes for a lovely gift exchange!
ReplyDeleteWish you a happy holiday Carly!
; )
The pouch you made is absolutely beautiful, Carly! And I totally agree about how awesome Cindy is.
ReplyDeleteAs a Mom to a 5-year-old, I share your grief and sorrow. I, too, am searching for joy and hope. I'm getting there, I think.
Wishing you peace.
Even though I'm not a mom, I'm an aunt and I just can't imagine the horror and grief that parents are experiencing right now. I can barely talk about it without breaking down, but as you say, we all must try find the joy in our lives right now. Wishing you a very lovely Christmas and New Years.
ReplyDeleteThose squares are beyond tiny. I can't imagine! Zippers have nothing on tiny piecing for me.
ReplyDeleteI went AWOL too, just happens sometimes, doesn't it? Your pouches are both wonderful! And Cindy is a very sweet gal...
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful gifts, Carly! Glad to see you're back!
ReplyDeleteAgreed on how lovely Cindy is--she came and stayed at my house for a weekend and we had a great time, sharing stories and quilting time. I love her work, too, but I think your pouch is absolutely wonderful and creative. About going AWOL? I've noticed a lot of us have as we worked on our Christmas Secret Projects.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Elizabeth E.
opquilt.com
Oh wow!! What a great package! You both did amazing jobs on your projects! I may be a tad bit jealous!! :)
ReplyDeleteBeing away is okay as long as you have awesomeness like this to share! I am always impressed when people can sew such tiny pieces and get them to line up.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about being away. I have not written much in the last couple of weeks either... Not because I was busy though, somewhat like you, my mind seems to have been occupied by the world and overwhelming my brain with things that I would prefer not be thought about... I think your pouch with the tiny squares is quite wonderful and very thoughtful and you got such a lovely pack in return! Gives one faith is swaps!
ReplyDeleteThat purse of teeny-tininess is awesome. Good job on the zippering :)
ReplyDeleteWow... totally amazing!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Carly! Here's to an amazing 2013!!
Thank you for agreeing to do the swap with me. I just LOVE my pouch. It's really grey and foggy here in Fresno in January (which I happen to love), but I am using your pouch for a cross stitch project and it cheers me up all the time, not only because of the teensy piecing in bright colors but because of the person who made it. Thanks for your wonderful friendship. Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteYou and Cindy make a good matchup with your pouch swap...they are both fantastic and so creative. I am the happy owner of one of Cindy's selvage pincushions as well, and love it so much!
ReplyDelete