Mail Sent - Mail Received

I think all of us that do crafts enjoy exchanges. There's nothing quite like receiving a package that you know came from a stitchy friend whether it's cross stitch, quilting or whatever.
Today I'm showing you pictures of a mail art envelope I did as an exchange with my friend Angela in UK.
Sadly, it looks as though the envelope has been lost in the mail as Angela never received it but she has asked to see it so here it is.
The pictures show the envelope front, the envelope back and for inside I stitched a pinkeep with a mermaid on the front and Angela's initial on the back.
The stitching is done on 32 ct antique white linen using two strands of Vikki Clayton's hand dyed silk in Garnet.
I'm really sad that this exchange went so sadly wrong but that's the risk we take when we send things like this through the mail.
On a happier not I want to show you a fabric postcard that I received from my friend Christine in Canada.
Christine knows how much I love mermaids and wow, isn't this a beauty?
Click on the picture for a better view of the gorgeous sparkly threads and crystals that are on her belly, forehead and on the crest of the waves.
Christine is so talented. I'd love it if some of you went over there to check out her work and please, please leave her a comment as it sometimes seems there is only me visiting there.

My Favourite Things

Whenever I see the words "you've been tagged" I go all shy and run and hide for a few days but Heidi tagged me for my favourite things and this time I've decided to be brave and just do it.

Favorite:
Sound – That would have to be the sound of the ocean. I love to hear waves crashing on rocks or even just a gentle lapping as I sit dreaming in a deckchair at the waters edge. The sound is mesmerizing and very soothing to me.


Late Night Snack – A bowl of cornflakes with cold milk is good!



Smell – Impossible to choose just one......newly mown grass, bread from the oven, scented candles, new books, freshly ground coffee, honeysuckle and roses...........

Color Combination – Pinks/browns/beige/soft green



Nut – Almonds grow everywhere here in Spain and I love them.




Time of Year – Spring



Books – What Katy Did was my favourite childhood book. These days my favourite author is Jodie Picault. I love to browse quilting books especially those by Thimbleberries.


Female Actress – British actress Helen Mirren



Flower – Stargazer Lily



Vacation Spot – It doesn't get any better than where I am right now here in Spain but my childhood holidays were spent at Bamburgh in Northumberland. See pictures at the top of this post.

The area is now owned by the National Trust and is totally unspoiled.
If you're interested to learn more go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamburgh_Castle




Pizza – Keep it simple. I hate pizza with too many toppings. Margarita is good and it's named for me :)




Subject in School – English was my best - math my worst


TV Channel – Any that might have a good period drama on it.



Radio Station – I love to listen to Country music


Holiday - Christmas, of course!




Perfume – Este Lauder Knowing


Shoes - I've never been an Imelda Marcos type shoe collector. I have one pair of boots, one pair of good shoes and assorted casual shoes.
Shoes are manufactured in this area and are very cheap to buy on the markets.



Candy – Thornton's Continental chocolates.


City to Shop – There's not much shopping here where I live but I used to love to go to York in UK each year for Christmas shopping.




Beauty Products – I've used Liz Earle skincare for more years than I care to remember and they are my desert island essentials.


Item to Shop For – Stash of course unless you meant which beauty product in which case it would be Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish



Now I need to keep this going so I tag Nancy and Christine.

A Tisket a Tasket.........

A couple of weeks ago we visited a place called Gata De Gorgos about an hour north of where we live.
It's a lovely little town with plenty of the old style houses which I love to look at.
Gata is famous for basket weaving, wicker furniture and objects made from rush,cane and bamboo. There are over 50 shops and they are just overflowing with an amazing assortment of every kind of basket you can imagine and also the local ceramics and pottery.
Some of the "shops" are actually the living quarters of the person who has things to sell. Tomatoes, grapes, baskets etc. It was quite fascinating to get a glimpse into these old style Spanish homes.
Of course I had to buy a basket but how to choose! The one I finally chose is prettily lined with cotton and has a lace trim with little buttons at each side. I plan on using this basket to store my favourite fat quarters of quilting fabric.
On the outskirts of the town are many huge outlets selling an amazing array of pottery and ceramics. The two pictures I'm showing are of the outside and inside of just one of them. The inside shot is just a tiny corner of the floor area!
From here I bought a garlic pot to match the salt pot I have already.
Next time I go I'd like to visit the church and the museum. I'll save that for another post but I hope you've enjoyed the little glimpse I've given you of Gata De Gorgos.

Stitchery swap partner revealed!

Last month I showed you the bag and thread catcher I made for Bren in the stitchery swap that Paula arranged through her blog.
I had absolutely no idea who my swap partner was until a couple of days ago when I received a package all the way from Australia.
Inside was the most gorgeous drawstring bag that Donna made for me.
The bag is beautifully made and Donna's stitching is perfection. Donna signed the inside of the bag and also sent a postcard of Coonamble N.S.W. with a nice message on the back.
Although I've taken part in cross stitch exchanges this was my first stitchery swap and I enjoyed it so much I just can't wait to sign up for another :)
I seem to have quite a collection of bags now and have to say I'm becoming quite bag obsessed! Every design I see I'm wondering if it would make into a nice bag!
Thanks again Donna for this lovely addition to my bag collection.

I'm so lucky!

A few weeks ago Linda showed the most beautiful quilt on her blog. I'd been following the progress of this quilt for quite some time and had fallen in love with it long before I ever saw the finished article. The quilt is made up of 23 small stitchery blocks from a book called Flowerbed by Australian designer Bronwyn Hayes .
When the quilt was finished Linda generously offered to put the names of everyone who left a comment on the quilt into a draw for the pattern book. I was just desperate to win that book and it must have been my lucky day because it was my name that came out as winner of the draw! I was just so excited.
When I finally received a card from the post office letting me know there was something for me to collect I couldn't get there fast enough!
I was puzzled when I found myself signing for a BIG box that was lightweight for the size of it. I tore into the box and imagine my total surprise when I saw Linda had sent me not only the book but one of the gorgeous craft totes that she makes.
There's a free pattern for this bucket tote on one of the blogs out there. I'd been planning on having a go at making one but I know without a doubt that I could never have made anything half as nice as this one.
The bag is beautifully made in such pretty fabrics and it has little flower buttons sprinkled over it. I'm just thrilled to have it. Thank you so much Linda!