Glad Tidings from Lands Far Away!!!

How truly blessed I am to have made so many lovely aquaintances through sewing and quilting...both friends I could just squeeze to pieces at the shoppe where I am fortunate enough to share my time....and friends I have only met through a shared passion in quilting....my friends from across the pond and lands far away....

  

In the last week I have received two packages from two people I adore to my very core!

I posted earlier about my sweet gift from Suz....whom I share daily conversations about life as well as sewing.  Susan spoiled me with a sweet peg apron!  And as it turns out, I can actually use the peg apron as a cooking apron too!

     

Along with the apron were 3 ornaments....all now residing on my Christmas tree...

but this ornament is amazing!  The stitching is so tiny and perfect!

 Then later in the week, I received another package from the UK and the most talented Clare!

Clare and I decided in late summer to do a little swap.  We have exchanged emails and I was very smitten with her English Paper Piecing....I knew she was good but when I saw my swap from her - I was truly awestruck at her work.  Perfection!!!

   

I certainly feel like I owe her something else....her gift to me was special indeed!

This Rose and Star quilt is simply lovely and soooo me!  But the back is almost as good as the front....

Look at that embroidery!

If that was not enough - and it surely would have been - Clare tucked in a few other holiday treats ;)

This sweet gingerbread girl is nestled between the horse and the blowfish on my tree!!!

   

And this selection of vintage fabrics are waiting for just the right project....YAY!

the framed art was a drawing done by my dad while in high school - it is his Aunt's house in Ohio....

While this star swag is hanging in my kitchen....the place where I spend most of my time!

I just don't know what to say....I am not sure I deserve all of this...but I do appreciate Susan and Clare and their friendship is absolutely the most wonderful gift of all.

So you don't think I am just a Greedy Grinch....I did send packages to both as well....

Although, I think I got the better end of the deal....LOL!

For Susan I sent a small quilt with a special French themed fabric that I found...it is a very petite bow tie quilt with aqua and red as the main colors....

I know I took pictures of the full quilt but at the moment I cannot find them on my computer...grrr.....but Susan has a lovely post...so pop over there!

And for Clare I sent a pickle-dish....with lots of white for a fresh look...

The pickle-dish was paper foundation pieced....

  

And both quilts were hand quilted with size 8 perle cotton....

I am so glad both arrived safely to their destinations and each quilt has a happy new home!

Lots of love :)

mary