I'm showing but not telling!

I had so much fun working on my Secret Sister's last giftie from me!
I'm going to show the gift but not tell who my ss is, lol. Not even a tiny hint, lol.

I had a vintage tea tin that I've had for years so I thought I would put it to good

use.

I had a fun cqing the thimble!

I hope my secret sister likes her gift, I thought about her with every tiny

step.

I'll be popping it in the mail to her tomorrow.

A little teaser for my Secret Sister.

For the past five months I've had a Secret Sister and this month is the last month to send something to her. I found a Christmas image I wanted to use of a cute little girl with some birds but I didn't want it to be Christmas since I wanted this to be a year round gift. Here it is as the Christmas image.

I fiddled around in Photoshop Elements 6 over the weekend and came up with this.
So the lady who gets this image on an item I'm making for her will know that it is me who has been her Secret Sister for the last 6 months, lol. A little teaser for you!

Going back to the 70's for 2009.

My daughter bought me an Angel Hair Spider plant for Christmas. It's different from the usual spider plant because the leaves kind of curl giving it a fuller look.
I wanted to hang the plant in the corner of my living room but I didn't have a plant hanger. In the 70's I used to macrame plant hangers so I thought I would make one. I haven't made one for like 25 years, when I sat down to make it I had a big blank and just stared at the cording not know how in the world to start. When I made them in my 20's I could make them with my eyes closed, lol, so I was really frustrated! I saw some on line already made for as low as $5.99 but I refused to buy one even if they were giving them away for free! I can make these I just know everything will come back to me! I typed in macrame plant hanger instructions and read it over and yessssss, it all came back. So on January 1st, 2009 I revisited the 70's and made this plant hanger. I wanted the knots loose to look lacy. I think it came out pretty good!

Now I just need to figure out what to do with the pot, get a new
one or cover this one?

My Christmas Goodies!

What a wonderful Christmas Cracker I received from Debbie S! It was loaded with wonderful things, I love it all Debbie! Thank you so much! It's amazing how much you can stuff into these little tubes, lol.
Here is a picture of the contents.

Thank you again Debbie, it was a wonderful Christmas Cracker!
Next I got a gift from my Secret Sister! Thank you SS I love it! It's a beautiful CQed bookcover for a notebook! I love note paper, lol, how did you know?
Isn't it beautiful you did such a wonderful job!

Thank you Secret Sister!
My mother covered a vintage mirror with lace and bridal lace motifs, she really did a fantastic job I can't even find any seams! Thank you mom, I love it! It will look beautiful on my dresser!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We drew names this year and didn't have quite as many over for dinner so it was the most relaxing Christmas I ever had!

A Birthday Gift

November 11th was my Birthday and the day before on Monday I got the most wonderful box in the mail from Donna my friend who lives in Az.
She told me that when the box came I was to call her on the phone, it would be like she was here with me while I opened it.
It was a rather large box and when I opened it, it was full of packing peanuts. I went digging through and pulled out something that was really protected with bubble wrap and then plastic wrap all held securely with packing tape. I was so excited to get whatever it was unwrapped and it was taking too long! lol. I finally got everything undone and wow, wow wait until you see what Donna made for me! I absolutely love it and couldn't take me eyes off of it.
It is this beautiful Victorian tray that she made out of a picture frame!
Isn't it just beautiful and so darling!




I really love this tray! It is so Victorian and dainty and me! lol
Thank you so much Donna, I will treasure this forever!

A swap with my friend Donna.

Donna is a friend of mine for at least 20 years or more.We used to talk when our kids were younger and had some nice conversations but we were so busy with kids we never really talked about interests like hobbies and such.
Donna moved to Arizona a few years ago and we kind of lost touch, maybe talking once a year or two.
Over the summer we have started talking more and more and now our relationship is deeper and closer then it ever has been. It's wonderful that the Lord is renewing our friendship and we are both enjoying it so much!
Thank you Lord Jesus!
We were talking about our new interests and Donna told me that she had written a book and I told her that I had gotten into crazy quilting.
Donna told me about her book and read me one of the poems and I sent her some pictures of some of the cq work I have done.
We decided to make an exchange, Donna would send me one of her books and I would make her a pillow. At first Donna didn't know if it would be fair because of the time it would take me to make a pillow but I told her are you kidding it took you months to write this book and it would be a fair exchange!
The name of Donna's book is Rhymes... by God
Spirit Filled Poems for God's Kids of All Ages.
Here is one of my favorites>
Pearl of Great Price
A merchant watched for pearls every day.
He found a pearl of great price, selling all to pay. ( Mt 13:45-46)
God so loved the world He gave Jesus, His Son.
All who believe have eternal life and would not perish, not one. (Jn 3:16)
Believers are the beautiful pearls with no flaw. ( S of S 4:7)
With His everlasting lovingkindness, He continues to draw. (Jer 31:3)
A pearl is formed when it is irritated by a grain of sand.
With time and patience, it grows into a precious jewel so grand.(Phil 1:6)
As our precious faith is exercised, we grow to become complete. (1 Pet 1:3-7) (2 Cor 4: 6-7) ( Mk 4:30-31)
Speaking God's Word will overcome satan's irritations for his defeat. (Ps 17:4) ( 1 Pet 5:8-9) ( Rev 12:11)
It is not the trial that changes us, but renewing our minds in God's Word. ( Rom 12:1-2) ( Jas 1:2-4, 3)
Even though our precious faith is tested by fiery trials, (Ps 34:19)
God will deliver and perform a good work in you. Count it all smiles!
(PS 91 all, vs 1-2, 9, 14-15) ( Ph 1:6) ( Jas 1:2-4)
Copyright Protected.
Isn't that a wonderful Poem filled with God's love and Promises!
Here is a picture of Donna's book that I was so blessed to receive!


If you would like to buy one of Donna's books email me and I'll forward your email to her so she can get in contact with you.


My part of the exchange was to make Donna a pillow. She wanted one for her living room sofa. She sent me some pictures so I could have a better idea of her style and use of color. Donna has the most beautifully decorated home! Talking about eye candy! I was drooling over every pic she sent me. She is one talented lady! She likes everything that I like, lace and vintage and victorian and pinks! lol

Here is a picture of her living room so I could see the sofa. I would like to post all the pics she sent me but I will have to get permission first, lol.



After going through hundreds of images I decided on this one for the pillow. I think it will fit wonderfully on her sofa! Now that I have the image, I can't wait to get started!



What you think?

Pay It Forward and the Winner is!

I have the winner to the Pay it Forward! This is how I came up with the winner.
First I went to Random.org and put in everyone's name and the generator randomly gave me a number for everyone who posted. Then I took the numbers and put them in the generator and it randomly picked out one number.
The winner is>>>>>> Candi! Congratulations!
Thank you to everyone who visited my blog and commented on my work. I appreciate your wonderful comments!
Thank you for playing and I look forward to seeing what Candi is going to make for her Pay it Forward commitment to keep this going!
Hugs to all,
Jill