Happy Mail

 

Good evening, friends! Recently the mailman has brought me lovely unexpected presents from far far away. A slightly crumpled envelope arriving on an unprecedentedly frigid November day is such a treat, so heartwarming. Quilters and blog friends are so generous and so kind. I am so touched.

From Penny all the way from South Africa!--an assortment of treasures small and smaller.

I became friends with Penny through my blog, with our common interests in antiques, quilting, gardening, and food/wine. I had no idea she is such a fabulous knitter.  

Aren't these mittens just the best. I love open fingers  for access to keys, doggy treats, phone. These are the softest sweet yarn, slightly more pinky lavender than in photo. Rowan yarn. Note the perfect tiny cables.

Plus thrifted Liberty lawn fabric! I had just used up almost all of the pansy print from Lori /HQ, so this was a special treat. [not similar, just that they are my much loved pansies]; the wonderful ashes of roses color similar to the mitts.

Other bit and bobs and treasures,like pencils in a fave fabric pattern, and of all things, a much needed drawing eraser.A charming fan for those hot days when the power fails, an issue P and I both experience more often we'd like.

Darling tags, to encourage me to keep doing my tiny paintings, or to at least try?And all these wonderful vintage patterns. I do love them all. The patriotic traditionals are so inspiring.

I may have to look for more of these for the quilt shown. The ship and the eagle/ date; center w flags especially appeal to me. Oooh and a Pineapple. The needle turn applique would keep me busy for many summers on the deck.

I fell in love with this pattern immediately.

I was all set to start cutting when for once I looked at the size and it's big, a full sized quilt. But so beautiful, so Lizzy.  I set it aside while i think about how/ if I can reduce the size.

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Then , when I admired a thrift shop find of a vintage Cheri Payne pattern booklet,  FB friend Rosemary immediately messaged me that she had two copies and would share one with me. Yes, yes, yes.

So many cute Cheri ideas, 

love the kitty.

And this angel!

I am liking the idea of a small Christmas Log Cabin quilt this year [my home alone project during hols], like a candle mat.  Inspsired by this pattern in the book--maybe w Kitty?   

---and this postcard quilt, December 2023 from TQC.

And last, my dear brother sent me a big box of pink Christmas ornaments!

I  said I want to fill my big wooden bowl w pink ornaments!

And also need some to repair the wreath he made me years ago now. Sadly due to much love and use and storage  few of the original balls have cracked. Now I can replace them.  Also in the box were these gorgeous pink kugels! I love them! Put them out right away in my bittersweet bowl.

You can see how inspiring how exciting, it is to receive gifts and ideas from friends. I do hope the return mail, the thank you mail, pleases as much. What fun we have.

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I  finally fixed my printer, so catching up on two scribble journal pages. [I color on a printout, not on the original bec printer ink is more stable]

 November is noticeably less colorful than the summer pages were. I wonder what I will find in the dead of winter? May be drawing rocks and shells.

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The zinnias keep on, bravely flourishing. We had [bogus] frost warnings Monday so I brought the rest inside.

Here is Mo, come to see what mommy is doing and where his ice cream is! Too cold for ice cream is not in his mindset, it will take me months to train him out of looking for ice cream at 3 PM, sigh.

And the nasty pods from the ugly locust trees planted in public areas. The pods wrap around Mo's ankles and scare him.

Have a good weekend? Did you get your turkey, bake your pies yet?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...