Friday, May 1, 2009

and a little sunshine peeps through...

by Kathleen


I wanted to post about how even though I've been stressed and down occasionally there have been many nice things that have come through for me as well but, you know... it's hard to post about how hard a period of time has been without sounding whiny... and my Mom gets enough of that on the phone.

So I shall simply show some really nice goodies I have gotten from the thoughtful generous people I have had the great fortune to meet on-line.

First off... Gaylen had a little contest on her blog... she posted photos showing tiny bits of her four dogs and challenged us to identify them. I did get which two were the bloodhounds and which the bassets, but except for that I got every single one wrong!

Whoohoo! I AM talented!

Only two of us showed that great ability to completely mis-identify dogs and she drew my name and I won...


The cutest pincushion! I'm not sure I own pins cute enough for this cushion...

Thanks Gaylen!!! (Oh, and I think she had a prize for the person who got the dogs right too, but that's so prosaic.)


Then I participated in a swap on Ravelry called Pill Bottle Swap. the idea is that you get one of the very large bottles that pharmacies get their vitamin and other pills in. you decorate it and fill it with goodies and send it on...
From Teri...


All sorts of goodies! Sparkly beads and stick-ons; vanilla scented lotion and spray; Reisen candies (gone by the next day); yarn! including the leftover from the cutest knit bag; a grow your own kitty (just in time... DH has been talking about getting another cat); all wrapped up in purple and green paper and bags and boxes with ribbon!



Cute bag! From recycled rayon... the softest I've felt yet.



Yarn! Not sure exactly what kind... fingering weight in a soft purple.


Last time I showed you the pretty yarn and rovings I got, but I failed to mention that both vendors included little gifts of thanks with their shipments.



From Susinok's esty shop Slackford Studios...
A sweet pair of stitch markers!

And from Impulse of Delight...
A pair of copper shawl pins!
Look how they glow against the yarn...


Now I know he's not not an online acquaintance, but still... a sweet mood lifting gift.
DH and I went thrift/antique store digging a couple weekends ago (one of our favorite ways to spend a weekend morning). We stopped off at a jewelry place to ask a question about pocket watches and they were having a sale on their silver. And in an estate jewelry box DH spotted something...

Mexican silver and dyed coral... a bold and artistic statement. LOVE it! Love him.

And this Sunday I'll be going to the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. No big purchase planned. In fact I'm planning on being very, very discrete. But I always get an uplift from petting the cute sheep and smelling the yarn fumes (or is it petting the cute yarn and smelling the sheep fumes?)

Well... I feel better.

But, I swear I'm hearing muffled cries of distress in... Swedish...? Caroline? Any ideas....?

6 comments:

Darcys Knotty Knitter said...

What lovely gifts you have received wish I could go to the festival.Hugs Darcy

Mom said...

Those shawl pins are beautiful. And that is a very interesting bracelet. Can't wait to see it in person.

Summerset said...

The bracelet is gorgeous! Love that red!

Melodye said...

Katherine, Thanks for stopping by. Unfortunately we didn't stay long on Sunday. DH was having trouble breathing so I only stayed long enough to make my purchases. Sorry I missed you. I think that if I hadn't worked in my office I probably could have bought a lot more! TTYL

jackie said...

I hope I am replying in the right place - you have so many blogs. Kathleen, yes I mean programmed stitching on the Pfaff. I don't use it much and need to revise every time. Great shawl pins.

Anonymous said...

Look at all the pretties!!!! Wow! And that is the most gorgeously unique bracelet, DH is a keeper!!!

I hope you had a wonderful time at the festival! One of these years, I'm gonna try to make it there too ;)