Gifts from a Special Friend

I just love going to the post office in our small town.  It seems like I always run into someone I know and it’s a great place to catch up on what’s happening in the community…and I don’t mean gossip.  *wink*

Yesterday was no exception because this was waiting for me…

My birthday gift from Julie in Australia! 

I was expecting  a parcel from Julie because she told me when she had posted it but nonetheless, it’s still a joy to find that little white card in the mail box stating that you have a parcel waiting to be picked up inside.

Mr. Painted Quilt was driving as we had run a few errands prior to making the post office our last stop before returning home.  Upon our return, I took my time putting the groceries away and did a few other things just to prolong the anticipation before opening the parcel.  I just wanted the good feelings to last and last.

Not until all my “chores” were done did I decide to take the plunge.

Inside was this beautifully wrapped package tied with a big red bow!

I first opened the card which expressed Julie’s sincere birthday wishes.  Can you see the koala on the front?  If you notice, I was still taking my time to savor every moment before opening the package.

This is the first gift that I found.  A simply awesome candle mat called “Under the Cherry Tree” done in wool…my absolute FAVORITE!  The sheep and the stitches are so tiny and the detail is simply amazing.  It must have taken hours upon hours to stitch this gem.  It now sits in our living room on one of the side tables and that will be it’s permanent place for all to see.

Next was this pincushion from Rosalie Quinlan’s new book…because Julie knows that you can never have too many pincushions!

Then I found this tiny scissor fob attachment x-stitched with the tiniest stitches.  The ‘K’ is for Kaaren and the ‘J’ for Julie to commemorate our friendship. 

And here’s a peek at the other side.  It is now hanging on our Christmas tree…front, center and at eye level!  Gorgeous, huh?

Then I found this Schnibbles pattern called ‘Tuffets’.  These are already on my ‘to do’ list for 2010.

And last but certainly not least…

A pair of “chook” scissors to add to my addiction…I mean collection and a gorgeous scissor sheath.  They took my breath away!

I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world for having met Julie through a swap that she hosted.  I think our husbands breath a sigh of relief that we live so far away from one another because there’s no telling what kind of trouble we’d get into if we were any closer.

Thank you, Julie…and from the bottom of my ♥ 

Your gifts and friendship mean the world to me.

And I just have to end this post with a picture of our Westie, Mac.  He just came back from the doggie beauty shop about an hour ago and I decided that I’d better snap a picture quickly because…being a typical male…he won’t look this clean, neat and tidy in a couple of hours from now.

 Not too bad for an eleven year old, huh?  No, not me…Mac!  *wink*

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥