A Spring Surprise

Today I received a "spring package" from a very dear friend who lives in Holland, Marijke. She is the author of the blog Waar Nostalgie en Romantiek elkaar ontmoeten (Where nostalgia and romance meet) and she also makes some of the most beautiful animals and dolls I have ever seen.  You can visit her (HERE).  She was so kind to send me this package of "goodies" to use in my sewing just because.  The laces, ribbons, and buttons are simply gorgeous and I feel humbled that she took the time to do this as she is very busy right now with a book she is writing and the birth of her first grandchild, a little girl.  (I'm so excited for her...those of us who have been through this know how exciting it is when your first grandchild is born).  I wanted to take this opportunity to thank her for her thoughtfulness and the friendship we share, it means so much to me.  So, thank you Marijke for being my friend.  We would have never met had it not been for blogging.  I feel so honored to call her my friend.

Beautiful Antique lace, ribbon, buttons 

Another view

This is some new fabric that I will be using to make up some new items for my shop...I love the colors.

Anna Griffin 100% cotton fabric

And these gorgeous silk sari strips will be used in the items as well.  Are you curious?  HA

Gorgeous silk sari ribbon 

Over the next few days I will be busy with sewing and I will be finishing up my spring cleaning.  The carpets will be cleaned tomorrow and then I can relax and enjoy the nice warm spring temperatures that spring brought us early.  After all, who wants to spend days like these indoors...not me!  What will you be doing this weekend?

Wood Violets

Wood Violets....

Image via ~ Maia C on Flickr

After seeing these little flowers growing wild and not paying any attention to them before now, I feel bad.  I never really thought of them as flowers, more like a weed but after reading a book by Sara Jio called Violets of March I reckon they deserve a bit more of my attention.

Wood violets grow wild and pop up where you least expect them.  They are also the state flower of Wisconsin.  Violet comes from the latin name viola and wood violets are the key symbol for redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation.  Perhaps this is why they pop up where you least expect them...in your yard, or a friends... where maybe a little redemption, forgiveness or reconciliation is needed.

Much prettier than a weed I must say
Image via ~ Maia C on Flickr

Violets of March by Sara Jio is a book I would highly recommend if you are looking for a mystery that holds your attention until the end.  It is about a young lady named Emily, a writer, who has just ended her 6 year marriage to her husband Joel.  Having writers block and feeling the need to take a break, she receives an invitation to visit her great Aunt Bee for a month who lives on Bainbridge Island in Washington State.  Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea, and hopes this trip will help get her past her writers block.  While visiting, she stumbles upon a red velvet diary dated 1943 who's contents reveal startling connections to her own life.  I won't go into any more detail only to say that I could not figure this out until the very end.

This book is what caused me to take a closer look at wood violets and their symbolism.  I probably won't ever look at these flowers in the same way again.  Funny how something you thought was a weed and something you tried to get rid of can be the symbol of something so wonderful.  So, if you see these beautiful purple flowers popping up in your yard or someone else's I hope it will give you a cause for pause....wondering who it is that may need a bit of forgiveness, reconciliation or redemption.

Quote and Song of the Day

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

- Dr. Seuss

And Now for a cool video and a great song!

This and That and Everything In Between

There hasn't been a lot going on with the exception that I've been helping a friend who will be moving into a new home soon.  She is getting new furniture so I have been taking pictures of the furniture she wants to sell and posting them Craigslist.  I am the contact because she works and cannot show the items during the day but I can.  I must say we've done quite well thus far selling her bedroom suite which now has her sleeping on the floor atop her mattress.  She has also had to resort to taking two kitchen chairs to use in her living room as her old sofa and love seat have also sold.  We only have a kitchen set and a hutch left to go.  Having to be available to show the items have kept me very busy.  I have however, been able to spend some time sewing up a beautiful pillowcase in a lovely quilted aubergine fabric, ( I love this color!) that has a white linen border and a small accent of silk that was hand dyed from silk saris cut into strips that I have sewn together.  I think its turned out very lovely!

A good look at the fabric

The white linen border and silk sari accent

A better look at it in its entirety.  

I loved making this and have more silk sari pieces to incorporate into other pillow cases.

I also want to mention that I was one of (5) lucky winners of Eliza's (Interior and Design) HERE to win one of these lovely pillow or door ornaments from her Spring Collection!  Aren't they gorgeous!  They are made with antique crisp white linen, hand tinted silk and velvet, ribbons and  finished with an antique brooch c 1930-50.  Thank you JO!

Well, that's it for today.  I'm heading out to the hairdressers for a cut and maybe a nice iced coffee!  Have a wonderful day!

The Good Samaritan

Image via ~ eclecticemily.com

This blog post was one written last spring when I first started blogging.  I wanted to re-post it because I see instances like the one I am describing below all the time and I am always amazed at the number of people who just walk on or turn their eyes in a different direction.  What do you think they are thinking? I hope this post will help us all remember that this could possibly be us....

I am always amazed at what I see when my husband and I go for our morning walk and this morning was no different.  As my husband and I were taking our usual walk, we saw a man walking down a walkway with a cane that is typically used by blind people.  He looked well dressed and as we met up with where the walkway met up with the main sidewalk he looked a bit lost so we asked him if he was okay and he asked us if the sidewalk was a cross street that led to the corner and the bus stop.  Well, we didn't see any bus stop but we had passed one on the corner.  It seemed he had come out the wrong door and was heading in the wrong direction.  He was blind and his eyes had been dilated while he was in the doctor's office.  (Why they let him leave like that I don't know! )

He was starting to get more confused and agitated and kept asking if he was on the street we had just crossed over.  We asked him if he needed help and he said yes.  We escorted him to the bus stop and while chatting with him found out that he was 85 years old, a very young 85 year old.  He talked about how discourteous and impatient the bus drivers were and how drivers had previously run over the tip of his cane while he was awaiting the bus.  We could sympathize with him as we too had experienced first hand the rudeness of drivers and how they fail to obey traffic signals so this was nothing new to us.

The bus had pulled away from the stop just minutes before so he would have to wait about 15 minutes.  I was concerned and asked if he was going to be all right and he said he would.  As we told him goodbye, I wondered if he would be okay and why he was alone.  Does he have children or a wife at home and if he does why did he go alone to the doctors office? Even more worrisome is the question of why a medical professional would let a blind man with dilated pupils leave the office alone?

 As we crossed over and continued on our way I turned around to see if I could still see him and couldn't help but wonder if that might not be me one day and wondered if there would be a good samaritan there to help me.

image via ~ galileounchained.com

Winner of My Giveaway

First off, I want to thank everyone who participated in my Giveaway.  It goes without saying that I wish I could give everyone something.  But alas, I can't so after letting husband select the winner from a bowl placed way above his head and me shuffling the entries very well, he selected Maury of Life on Mars.  Congratulations Maury!!

Send me you're address so that I can send you your book!

Tine K Home

A few months ago, I came across this lovely Danish Homeware website, Tine K Home, (HERE) and wanted to share with you some images that show some of the beautiful items that you can purchase through their website.  Shipping is available to the US on their website.  I think this is a gorgeous look and I love the shades of purple, blue, grey and white that's incorporated in this look.  Enjoy!

Add caption

Image via ~ Pinterest  Elaina Bianca

Image via ~ Pinterest ~ Peggy Imbeaud - Les  (I'm in love with this purple shade and the linen tablecloth)

Image  via ~ Pinterest ~

Image via ~ Pinterest ~ (Love the look of this pottery - It adds a rustic look)

Image via ~ Pinterest ~ Alis

Image via ~ Pinterest ~ Emmas Lookbook

Image via ~ Pinterest via Northern Light  (Love the sconce and the purple shade)

Image via ~ Tine K Home Blog

Image  via ~ Tine K Home Blog

Don't forget to visit their blog (HERE) and follow them on Facebook.