Three Artistic Friends That Inspire

 "It is lovely when I forget all birthdays, including my own, to find that somebody remembers me,"

~ E. Glasgow

I wanted to share some of the beautiful hand crafted items I was blessed to receive for my birthday.

My blogger pal Jayne sent me these gifts tags.....honestly I have never seen any more beautiful.

They are dripping in rose buds, silk ribbon and rhinestones and were created by

Under The Night Moon on etsy.

Jayne is always sharing her favorite finds on her blog Bunny Chic Boutique and promoting fellow bloggers and etsy shops!

She also sent this adorable felt bird.....

and all these goodies ~ many she created herself ~ all wrapped in my favorite pink chenille.

I don't know how she knew but Jayne I thank you with all my heart!

I cried when I opened it because it was so unexpected.

This amazing hand crafted scarf was hanging on my door knob when we came home.

It turns out my friend Lisa (Christmas Cookie Queen ) who also is an amazing cook can do just about everything else to perfection as well!

(ummm.... she is also a mother of 6 ranging in age from toddler to late 20's)

This scarf was crafted with a beautiful yarn called Ella Rae Latte

It is a combination of alpaca and milk fibers.

As Lisa said, " Who knew milk had fibers!"

I have worn it every time I have walked out my door since.

It has already become somewhat of an adult version of a security blanket because I can feel Lisa's love whenever I wear it.

This is a felted bag and necklace she made for me last year.

She uses only the best of materials.

If you'd like to contact Lisa feel free to email me and I will connect you.

And then there is dear Pat ~ who's beautifully hand dyed silk ribbon rival any I have ever used.
Except for finishing up some I already have in my stash ~ Pat's is the only silk ribbon I will ever use again.
The colors are so rich. I love the multi colors ones ~ perfect for pansy petals!
She has blessed me in a million different ways and I am ever grateful!
(Pat offers directions on dying your own silk ribbon on page 36 of her magazine""Crazy Quilt Gatherings"

And so now at 52 years of age I realize this ~

"Age has extremely little to do with anything that matters.
The difference between one age and another is enormously exaggerated."
~ R. M. 

(pictured below is the beautiful coat my daughter Cheri gave me)

And so another year has gone by. I am so thankful for the cards received and facebook greetings!

And so my gift for you ~ some birthday wisdom to consider.

"May you live to be a hundred years with one extra year to repent.'

~ Irish Toast

"Don't seek to recall yesterday that is past

Nor repine for tomorrow which has yet to come:

Don't build your hopes on the past or future.

Be happy now and don't live on the wind."

~ O. Khayyam

"Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy."

~ Rabbi A. Heschel

"Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be...."

~ R. Browning

Recipe for the easiest Happy Birthday Ice Cream Cake Ever

Take a half gallon of ice cream from the freezer.

Cover sides and bottom with a layer of lady finger,ginger snaps, oreos depending on flavor.

Place back in freezer until ready to use ~ then slice.

" Another candle on your cake?

Well, that's no cause to pout,

Be glad that you have strength enough

To blow the darn things out."

~ anonymous

To My Dear Blogging Friends

To My Dear Blogging Friends ~

Today is my 51st birthday. Since I have spent the last 4 birthdays “with” you ~ I had to tell you how much you have been on my mind.I have to Thank You SO Much for your friendship.Anyone who doubts the validity of a blogging friend ~ has never had one.

 I have missed you so much. There has been a tremendous amount of personal business to take care of and have not been able to blog or even do much visiting to your blogs.

I still take pic’s of things I think you will enjoy, things I’ve been cooking and creating, the bulbs that are staring to emerge in my garden ~ but no time to sit and post.

This week ~ my Grama had a stroke. I know lot’s of grama’s have strokes ~ but I never thought she would.I lived with Grama most of my growing up years ~ I can’t imagine life without her.

 I hope to be blogging again soon ~ but especially today ~ wanted to send you my love.

Please pray for my grandmother.Enjoy the wonderful sights and smells of spring that will soon be exploding all around us very soon ~ know I’m thinking of YOU.

Love You Always,
Terri

Treasures From Pat

"Love is the true means by which the world is enjoyed;
our love to others, and others love to us."
T.Traherne

How did I ever get to be such a lucky girl?
I was supposed to pick a birthday gift from Pat's shop back in March but wanted
to "save" the fun for a special time .
The other day was that special time and in the blink of an eye ~
this Treasure arrived at my door!

AND this absolutely amazing cell or card case and charming "Shop Till You Drop" pin

AND all of these other treats including her hand dyed silk ribbon which is the best you will find.

PLEASE DO double click on the photo's so you can see up close the details!!!

The best part is the love that pours out of her work. It makes me cry every time ~ which my husband thinks is very funny ~ in a good way.

Teddi starts to lick me like crazy ~ not knowing they are tears of joy.

One of my favorite quotes reminds me very much of my special friend ~

whom must be rich in all the very best ways ~ if this quote bears any truth ............

Life begets life.

Energy creates energy.

It is by spending ones self that one becomes rich. s.bernhardt

Thanks you Pat Winter for making my life richer by your friendship.

Happy Monday Morning!!!

It is a beautiful Monday morning here in Conn, USA!
The sky is a deep blue with a slight chill in the air.
Before I head out into the garden ~ I wanted to wish you a HAPPY MONDAY!

This week-end ~ Frank and I went on an awesome bike ride on the Farmington Rail Trail.
We just started bike riding again last week-end.
When is the last time you got on your bike? Oh just go ahead and try it again!
Go to this site to find the bike trail near you ~ http://www.biketrails.com/
I was visiting a blog from England ~ I wish I could find it again!
She had wonderful pictures of her bike rides through her narrow village lanes and
was the proud owner of one of those cool 1950's looking bikes complete with a basket!

This past Tuesday ~ I met up with a dear friend from LA in New York City for the evening.
We had dinner, took in the 2004 Tony Winner "Avenue Q", paid a visit to the famous Sardi's http://www.sardis.com/,
and sat in the middle of Times Square soaking in the lights before I took the 1:46am train back to Ct.
Our evening wasn't really like a tea party but.......


More like this! Hee hee ; )

Just kidding!
She is one of those friends that you can bear your soul to without feeling judged ~ the best kind!
I am proud of Lori! She has been a comedian in LA and NYC for many years.
She writes for Joan Rivers and has a long list of impressive achievements under her belt.
She played Dangerfield's while she was in the city last week.
We had some fun adventures in our youth ~ driving cross country in her brand new Mustang.
I love ya Lori!

This week I am breaking out all the cleaning supplies and getting ready for my Mom to fly in from South Carolina on Fri for a week!
We always have a great time! Can't wait to see you Mom!


" The only good teachers for you are those friends who love you,

who think you are interesting or very important,

or wonderfully funny."


B.Ueland


ps Thanks to all you awesome souls who offer free clip art on line.

Special Gift From Pat

When I see "Pat Winter" on the return address label ~ it means stop what I am doing.......
sit in a comfy spot .......
and savor the moment.
Anything that comes from that address is filled with love and is something I will treasure ~ be it her beautiful hand dyed silk ribbons or just a simple note.
BUT ~~~~
Frank saw "FOOD ITEMS" written on the box. To him ~ that meant
RUM CAKES!!!!!!!
Look at his determination as he rips into MY treasure!!!!
He got yelled at big time as soon as I took the picture!

Now I can't say much about this. It is too special and too touching ~ it almost seems TOO special to post.
I cried my eye sockets out when I layed them on the beautiful crazy quilted box.
Any of you familiar with Pat's blog will remember the story behind it.
It now holds my Grama's gold locket, one of my childhood bibles and Mom's charm bracelet. Soon it will also carry my dreams and goals for this coming year.
Go to this link to see how she created this amazing treasure ~
http://gatherings100.blogspot.com/search?q=voting+begins


And yes ~ there were Rum Cakes in the box!

My precious son Franky gathered this beautiful beach glass for me the other day. He was working at a home on the Long Island sound ~ located on a large piece of private beach front.

Beach glass has always been as exciting to me as I guess diamonds are to most girls. It is the purest form of nature taking something not so nice (litter) and turning into a thing of beauty. I am fascinated by it.

When I began blogging and "met" Pat Winter (http://gatherings100.blogspot.com/) ~ I was reminded of this love of mine through her blog. She makes frequent visits to the beach with her Mom ~ and often gets a loving "wink" from her Dad by way of the blue beach glass that she finds.

As I studied each piece ~ I couldn't get Pat off my mind. Suddenly ~ what did I see but the name PAT clear as day ~ across one of the pearly white beauty's! Do you see it in the middle photo!?!

....... These are the moments that make life so rich. Beautiful sea glass hand picked by my son ~ the name of someone so dear to me randomly etched in it.

The President Gets Lucky!

My friend Brenda has worked tirelessly not only for the Republican party but for all things that she believes in. She has a long list of achievments and has a special passion for helping to improve her local school system.
After a long day of volunteer work she did at a recent event President Bush was attending ~ he chose her pretty face to pose with. I say he was one lucky guy!

Wonderful "Winter" Project .... get it?

I wanted to let you know Pat Winter has added a Hair Comb Kit to her Etsy site that matches the pattern in her new book " Pat Winter Gatherings.....My Crazy Quilting Journey"
The kit includes everything you need to make your own beautiful hair comb. YIPEEE! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=80476

Special Friend

This is my friend Lisa (on the left) at a wonderful get together her and Jay give each year. We became friends about 20 years ago. Our girls attended the same kindergarten. Each day we would stand outside waiting to pick up our girls ~ both a little shy and intimidated by some of the other more boisterous Mom's.




















I was also ready to "pop" with my 4th child.
The day after Ashley was born ~ Lisa gave my twin daughters coloring books and little gifts to celebrate having a new baby sister. I have loved her ever since!
We have shared many of life's joys and disappointments together but can easily go close to a year without seeing each other ~ although we live less than a mile away. There is a quiet knowing that if ever one needs the other ~ we will be there : )

note to self ~ 4 or more French Martini's will make your eye's look like slits :)

Book Review ~ Pat Winter's New Book!

"Pat Winter Gatherings ~ My Crazy Quilting Journey" Pat's JUST published book has arrived!!! I've had it just a few day's and it is already well broken in from reading and rereading , falling asleep with it as I read in bed 2 nights in a row and showing off to my family and friends. I am SO proud of her.

It is a wonderful medley of her stitching and garden intermingled with bits and pieces of her life.She shares her favorite threads, techniques and her best sources.You find yourself coming along for the ride as she expresses her creative mind and you get to "sneak a peak" at some of her stash. Most important ~ it is chock full of eye candy from cover to cover!

I had just "showcased" 2 of Pat's altered children in a little Ikea frame and was so excited to see one of them in her book. One of the projects is a crazy quilted hair comb. I made the blue one shown last night using her simple instructions ~ it was a delight to make!

You can order your own copy directly from Blurb http://www.blurb.com/home/3 or save about $5.00 on shipping by ordering from Pat's Etsy site http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=80476

I encourage all of you to take this journey.

As Pat says on the last page ~ ~ ~

" I'll see you in my garden........"

Some Wonderful Books To Check Out!

LOOK who just wrote a book!!! "Pat Winter Gatherings ~ My Crazy Quilting Journey" is Pat's first but more are in the works. This one is self published and can be obtained by going to Blurb http://www.blurb.com/home/1/ and type in PAT WINTER GATHERINGS. Congratulations Pat!!!!
Below are some other books I have recently purchases ~ all through Amazone.com ~ which has the best service! "Waverly Honor" is an amazing 223 pages of nothing but embroidery designs and another 10 or so pages of instruction. It was published in 1989. If you enjoy embroidery ~ you will LOVE this book!

Pat Makes My Day ......Again :)

I had just come home from work and made a cup of hot tea when I heard that familar "THUMP" at my door. Yippee ~ the mailman had come ~ and just look what he brought! An amazing herloom handstitched by Pat Winter. She was ever so sneeky and looked at my kitchen pic's to include all my colors. It touches every heartstring ~ though I've had it for 2 weeks I keep finding new surprises. Most times it makes me smile ~ sometimes it makes me cry that someone would care so much as to take the time to do this for me. Life can do a fairly good job at knocking us around but this sweet little tea cozy has served as a "battery charger" for my heart these last few week's. Thanks Dear Friend! (see better pic's of this treasure on Pat's blog ~ just scroll down a little) http://gatherings100.blogspot.com/