Goodies and Wrappings

I commented to someone earlier that my posting was just pitiful, and that it is! Not intentionally though. I haven't progressed quite as much as I wanted to over the last week so I don't have any newly completed projects to show yet. I do have these little goodies I received over the weekend that brought a big smile to my face...

I love Jenn Maruska's needlebooks and pincushions. I had ordered a needlebook from her a month or so ago and when my mother fell in love with it I gave it to her. This comes in so handy for me and it just makes you kind of happy when you pick it up. Jenn is so easy to work with. She changed a little something for me on this and I couldn't be happier with it.

This mason jar pincushion is from LeeAnn over at MintBasil. She has opened an Etsy shop and is a productive little crafter! LeeAnn and I were swap partners in the Pink and Green swap and it was the first swap for both of us so we were both a bit nervous I think. But it turned out fantastic and I'm an avid reader of her blog. She's creative, talented and really gets things done - which I am probably the most envious of. She was a fairly new blogger when the swap began and helped me make the jump to blog also.

She also sent me this pretty embroidered zipper pouch she made from thrifted fabric. The outer fabric is from a linen dress she thrifted and the inner fabric is from a thrifted sheet. (The embroidery she did of course.) How great is that?!! I really like this pouch - it's already in my purse holding my H&B ("health and beauty" per the teenager). I love it LeeAnn. Thank you so much!

One more thing I wanted to say about these orders I received...their packaging is so fun and exciting! (Jenn recently wrote about packaging here by the way.) Both Jenn and LeeAnn take time to wrap the items so nice. Jenn uses colorful paper and included candy and a note. LeeAnn wraps her goods with paper and twine, which reminds me of the "mercantile" days, and she ties on a vintage earring to the twine. This came tied to my package.

I thought that added the cutest touch. I wish I had taken time to get the camera out and take photos before I opened my packages Saturday, but I didn't even think about that until it was too late. I do appreciate the time and effort put into the wrappings though. It's just such a great little addition. The wrapping is something I've thought about for a while now, so I ordered these to add with anything I make and sell. I hadn't seen anything like this before but I can't wait to get them. I'll post about them when they come in.

The mailman is my friend sometimes....

Saturday was the first Saturday since mid-February that I wasn't at my mothers 30 minutes away, clearing out the house she is about to sell. She and I have both exhausted ourselves with that project and I cannot tell you how excited I was to have a Saturday at home to do other things, like sew. But by the time I cleaned house, visited the nursery, planted some flowers, washed some laundry and began to uncover my sewing table...the day was pretty much gone. When my teenager came in from her Saturday job she and I took off to the mall...you know...that place where she would rather live. IF she had the money. She and I had not been to the mall together since December and we did enjoy it. When she began to drive last fall I decided that if she asked me to go somewhere with her I would say yes (unless I just absolutely couldn't go) because her years at home are so quickly passing by. I'm glad she still wants me around now and then, so off we went.

Mother's Day Sunday was very nice. Church, Sunday lunch, spending time with my mother, daughter, an aunt and a cousin. A quiet laid back kind of afternoon that seemed to fly by and then it was Monday before I could blink.

I don't have any sewing to show yet but I do want you to see the needlebook I ordered from Jenn Maruska. I have been drooling over this for a while, so I finally ordered it. I love the pin cushions and needlebooks she makes. And her little "taskets" too.

I also got in on an item that Julie Marie was getting rid of when she was spring cleaning. I thought it was precious when she first wrote about it and I'm thrilled to have it. It's such pretty embroidery that you have to look hard to realize it says "snotrag". This will have to go to church with me every week. The card she enclosed is one of her designs and I just loved it too. (I forgot to take a picture of it though.) It is called "Magnolia". How fitting....the magnolia trees are blooming all around me here. Be sure to check out her cards here.

I also want to show you the goodies I received from Julie V. in a Journal Swap hosted by Create A Connection. I was so excited about this package. Not only did she send me a journal, but also the adorable 'flower pen', magnets and the book Memoirs of a Geisha signed by the author! I couldn't help but be 'giddy' about it all. The journal is from Amy Butler and Julie V. didn't even know that I sew or buy Amy Butler fabrics. I do love this journal - so much so that I'm going to order a couple more of them. Thank you so much Julie V. I love it all!

I'm trying very hard to be more organized for this weekend so that I can MAYbe get some sewing done. Organize, clean, de-clutter, sew, embroider, wash car, cut grass, plant more flowers, bathe E.J. (dog).....my list is getting much too long. But I WILL sew. I WILL sew.