Look What Came in My Mail!!!

Don't you just LOVE it when you are expecting a package in the mail???

I was so excited about this package, I walked to the mailbox, a ten minute walk,

twice this last week, even though I was sick, because I hoped this package 

would be in the mailbox... but it wasn't there yet. Bummer. 

But it did arrive a few days later!!!!! YAY!

In October, Pat, of Pat Winter Gatherings Blog, had a birthday giveaway, 

celebrating her very own birthday. She is very generous to give a gift to a blog friend for her birthday! 

If you are familiar with her blog, you know she makes the most amazing 

Crazy Quilt ... everything! Quilts, and purses and wall hangings

and every one of them is unique and beautiful,

just like Pat herself.

        This is the beautiful neck purse she custom made for me as my gift! Isn't it gorgeous??!! She asked that I send her my color selections and I asked if I could send her some fabrics and laces and ribbon to include in my purse. I thought that might give her an idea of what colors I would like and she could add whatever she felt would look best. I was so excited, I cried! I had purchased a kit from her last spring, when hubby and I were so ill, and really enjoyed watching the DVDs while in bed getting better. I still hadn't the courage to actually make something. I have been going to, but I chicken out...And when I saw her offer to custom make a purse, I was thrilled that I might have a chance to win!  To Pat I mailed the small key, top left, the cream lace on the top right, the olive green and gold vintage ribbon just below the cream lace, the antique gold cording she used as the vine for the roses, the vintage gold loopy trim on the lower left (Trim I purchased from LuluLiz Etsy Store!), the fabric in the center on the bottom and the antique gold and gold loopy trim just above it.  There were a few more pieces I mailed her but they were for her to choose from and to use however she liked, in other items if she wanted to. Pat does such detailed work. She sent me an email when it was sewn but not yet embellished and I received it while we were in Germany.  I was so happy I could hardly sleep that night! It would be Christmas again when we arrived home in January! 

Even the back of this purse is beautiful. She used a gorgeous green and gold fabric that is quilted for the back of the purse.  The quilting is textured and some of the most beautiful fabric, I just love it! 

The inside of the purse is lined and has a pretty trim around the edge. 

That is such a sweet tag really personalizing the gift. 

I just love everything about it!

Here is an enlarged view of the work on the top. Can you see the beads sewn to 

the outside of the purse clasp that keep the fabric attached to the clasp? 

What a beautiful way to finish it securely! I love the beading across the key to keep it in place. 

Each of the pearls are beaded around, with many more beaded flowers on the front. 

The silk ribbon embroidery, sequins and beads are just so amazing. 

The fabrics she chose, the threads, the embroidery stitches,

and that beautiful victorian lady, it all just takes my breath away.

I love those silk ribbon roses....so pretty.

I love the many colors and variations of color there are in this purse. 

and now, I am excited to try to make a small CQ project myself. 

I am also working on a chain, with a few baubles, to use as a strap on this purse.

I will post about that when I get it finished. I have really enjoyed just working on the chain!

I am so happy to have won this amazing gift for Pat's birthday!

She is so generous with her blog followers. 

Happy Pat Winter's Birthday to ME!

And to Pat! 

Thank you so much, Pat! 

I  LOVE  THE  PURSE!!!!

HUGS,

Betsy

My Beautiful Gifts from LuluLiz!

I enjoy looking at Liz's Etsy store, LaCroixRosion, frequently. She has amazing vintage finds there for sale at very reasonable prices. This beautiful Battenburg Lace doily is handmade. You can see all the hand stitches on the back side of it, a machine could not have made those stitches, only a skilled artisan could have done so. This is one of the items she gave to me in my Christmas Basket!

Look at this sweet Frozen Charlotte doll she gave to me! I have a "tiny doll fetish"...

I don't even think Liz even knew that! I have wanted one of these, 

but hadn't been able to find one the size I wanted and this Charlotte is just the right size! 

Isn't she adorable? I do want to place some sheer lace about her so 

she doesn't look quite so cold, however!

Another thing I love is vintage buttons, and Liz has many kinds of vintage buttons! 

I think Liz has given me buttons in almost every order I have received. 

She always adds little adorable items wrapped so beautifully. 

I will add these to my button bottle when I get home.

A wonderful vintage wine tasting cup, we will use it for tasting sparkling cider,

which is no surprise to you, is it!

She gave me these very old curtain clips and they are serious clips!

They have SHARP teeth on them that will hold the curtain tightly in place, just as it should be.

 I purchased some 20 years ago for some curtains and I returned them to the store. 

The fabric just slipped out because there were NO teeth in them, such as these clips have.

I love this beautiful detailed pin cushion,
I have always liked making pin cushions since I was young.
I love the three strings of pearls, beads and embellishments hanging from the base of the pin cushion.
The top view of the pin cushion.

"J'adore" this all Eiffel Tower she gave to me!!! 

I have always wanted one of those too! 

I have just the place to put this!

The old French key is just fun!
I have a few key collections,
but I believe this one will go into our youngest Daughter's room that I am still redecorating.
The gorgeous vintage lace and trim... I can't have too much lace! The trim is a favorite of mine that Liz has for sale and I love the peach, pink and cream together, I plan to make a "bell pull" with this piece. 

That darling the little basket, just perfect to fill with dried flowers 

and leave on the table on a spring or summer day.

The trim with the clear beads on it I had purchased from her and she 

included it in the basket, hand delivering it to me as well!

Here you will find my post about us meeting Liz and her hubby in Brighton, and 

 Here you will find Liz's post about meeting us in Brighton with pictures 

of my gift to her, just in case you want to see her presentation of it.

She takes amazing photographs and it looks so nice on her blog post!

I have been working posting my blog posts from my cell phone while

I was in Germany and the UK and it is so difficult for me

to get them to look very good. I still have a few more things I wanted to show

from Liz, but I want to get this post up! I will do another short post 

another time! But I am looking forward to creating with

these items and decorating in a few rooms with them!

Thank you so much, Liz, for the beautiful gifts and time we were able to spend together!

Thank You, to all of you, for your wonderful Blog Friendships.

They mean so much to me!

January Hugs,

Betsy

We Took a Little Jaunt from London...

And I was so excited I could hardly keep my composure....

We were heading to

Brighton, England!

I have never been to England before, even though some of my ancestors are from there. 

But look who met me there at the train station.... I saw her coming swiftly toward me and then we just ran and hugged each other!

This is LuLiz from Lalaland!!!! Isn't she beautiful? I was so happy to see her face to face instead of just over Skype, I just cried! She is just as joyful and fun in person as she is on her blog and over Skype. We started to talk and hug and talk and hug and then my family caught up with me getting through the gates.

I introduced my hubby and Liz introduced her hubby, we have all said hello to each other over Skype at different times. But it was wonderful to hug and renew our acquaintance. We took this picture and headed off to go see The Royal Pavillion all together. What a great thing to go to a museum with a blog friend who loves old vintage as much as I do!!!

Liz and I linked arms and walked down the street like two school chums catching up after summer break! We were grateful for our patient husbands, they were fairly ignored for a bit, while we talked and scarcely drew breath!!!

I did have to take some pictures of the city while we were walking.

A French Patisserie, with yummy looking treats in the window, had to stop and take a look at that! 

We walked on down the street, Liz and I in front and our hubbies and our Daughter*4 and her hubby, with our Grandgirls in tow, following along behind. 

There was such beautiful old architecture to be seen, and many two deck buses. It was a very busy city, full of people walking out about the town. We only had a bit before the museum would no longer allow visitors to enter, so we hurried as we continued talking. 

This is the street we needed to turn on, and it was a beautiful street. Just look at that stone on the street, just gorgeous!!! Liz's hubby walked down a ways to find an entrance to the museum for us. It was on the right, just after the light post with the yellow sign on it. 

We hurried in, not wanting to miss the door! So, we all just went down the walking lane, it was not an obvious entrance to a museum. But as we got closer it was obvious we were in the right location as we saw this view...

The Royal Pavillion!!!

Can you believe this Pavillion??? Built by King George IV for his mistress, which was a little bizarre to me. So, I ignored that part and enjoyed seeing the inside and chatting about everything with Liz!

This place was amazing and unbelievable! They would not allow us to take photographs inside the museum, but It was incredible, the amount of detail in every way and every room!!! The draperies and tapestries and furniture were stunning, and much of the furniture was original, very well preserved furniture. If you Google The Royal Pavilion, Brighton and click on images you will find pictures of this amazing place!

It was a wonderful time discussing and "Ooing and Ahhing" over the serving dishes, the chandeliers, 5 large Dragon Chandeliers in the largest dining hall, the great table and massive fireplaces and mantels. They were carved and sculpted and very intricately finished. 

Suffice it to say we were in Vintage Heaven! I was so happy we had planned to go to the Royal Pavillion, because Liz and her hubby had not been there before, either! Our husbands did lots of smiling and teasing us about our comments about things... It was fun and very interesting for them as well. 

We visited the gift shop at the museum, and bought a few souvenirs and went to find a place to eat dinner. We ended back to this street and dined at the restaurant on the left of this picture. "Strada Italian Restaurant".

Liz and I sat down and gave each other gifts. We were both so excited, neither of us got our cameras out take take photos, even though we both had planned to. 

Everyone had ordered dinner and finally our Daughter said, with a smile, "Mom, you'll need to stop talking so you and Liz can order, the waitress is waiting for you..."

We had not even noticed what was happening at the rest of the table! 

We were very busy looking at the gifts we exchanged! My hubby even gave her hubby a gift from our family farm. A hat with the farm logo on it! I think he got a kick out of it! 

The meals we enjoyed were fabulous, they even had a few gluten free options! 

We had to catch the 8 pm train, so we were only able to spend a precious four hours together. We walked and enjoyed the night air back to the train station. It was a gorgeous evening!

Liz and Hubby, they are so cute together! Our hubbies really are patient. We each have a wonderful husband.

The Grandgirls were so well behaved, and they are adorable, if I do say so myself!

The wonderful afternoon had passed so swiftly, and as it was coming to an end, 

it felt as if I had just finished the last bit of cotton candy from the cone at the end of the first rodeo I ever went to!  I had a sweetness in my heart that I savored and it has lingered for weeks! I went from thrilled anticipation of going on a train in a foreign country to visit a town I had heard of in movies to visit a dear friend, I had never met in person to completeing the journey with the warmth of continued friendship glowing in my heart!

While heading there on the train, I knew it would be such a very short visit, but it was going to be wonderful so I decided to not think about it being over so soon, and enjoy every second of it. Which we did!

As we hurried to the train, I just had to take another picture and this is what I saw when I turned around...

It was such fun to actually spend time with a gal who started as my "Fairy Blog Mother" and has become a dear, sweet friend!

Yes, the project board from the last post was for Liz and I am so grateful I was able to hand deliver it to her, while we were on our vacation! Such a great day seeing Old Things in an Old Place and spending my day making a Memorable Time with a Beautifully Familiar Face!

My heartstrings are stretched and holding tight! 

I love this blogging adventure and all you wonderful friends who make it that way!!!

Hope you had a great New Year's Eve celebration, and that this new year is your best ever!!!!

Happy Birthday, 2015!!!!

Betsy