Ok….so it wasn’t quite my birthday BUT what is a day or two here or there at my age? (Never you mind just what that is though! LOLLLL) BUT Yesterday I had a most WONDERFUL surprise that just totally blew me away! I was so speechless I couldn’t even type for HOURS! (And yes, believe you me that is a rare happening indeed! LOLLL)
Coming home from our weekly grocery shop with my mum and dad, as I turned into our driveaway I spotted none other than a PARCEL protuding from the mailbox! I pulled up and looked over at mum and said “I wonder what I have ordered this time”…..
It isn’t unusual for a parcel to pop up as I order lots of stuff via snail mail for my bag making endeavours, since I can’t get much nice stuff locally….nor is it unsual that I can’t remember briefly what I may have ordered….
Now I have to say here, before you have a smart comment to add below…it is NOT my because of my AGE that I can’t remember LOLLLL….sometimes things take more than a month to arrive and well….quite frankly I don’t want to think about what is coming otherwise I will be always checking the mailbox for goodies….so I deliberately put it out of my mind and Voila…there is a nice surprise to be had……
BUT NONE have ever compared to THIS ONE! Let me tell you……Once I saw WHOM the parcel was from I just had to tear it open right there and then! Never mind the groceries melting in the searing heat or poor old mum & dad thinking I lost the plot as I tore at the package like a hungry wolf…..
You see I knew SOMETHING was coming from the most AWESOME sewist I have ever had the pleasure to…well…um…not exactly meet BUT….well….you know what I mean! LOLLLL….BUT I didn’t know WHAT! LOLLL
Yes….Maria of Mia Creates and I have been laughing at each others emails for many months now…ever since she introduced herself and asked if she could test my patterns for me….Of course at the time I didn’t realise I was speaking to the most incredibly straight sewist ever to walk the earth …but anyway….LONG story short, going back in time a little, she had tested my Sugar & Spice bag for Australian Homesun Magazine.….and low and behold her test bag ended up being shown in the magazine so I posted a copy of the magazine to her…afterall…now we were BOTH famous! LOLLL Anyway….she told me she wanted to send me a little something in return……WOW…a little something she called it! LOLLLLLLL
OK..by now you must really be wondering what on earth was so special I have had to rave on about it like this…Well inside the parcel was the most AWESOME Dresden Plate table topper and two matching mug rugs (Man they look so fiddly, each one must have taken her HOURS!) I have ever seen! Maria always seems to pick the most scrumptious fabrics, just perfect for whatever project she is creating and this one was no exception! I LOVE these fabrics!! OK Ok….so I will share some pics! LOL
There were a few creases from being folded for the weeks it took to get here which I smoothed out carefully BUT let’s get real…..WHO cares about a few creases when you see stitching like this:
HA! Can you believe that Maria told me this wasn’t her best work! She said, and I quote: “The stitching is no where near as good as it usually is”! LOLLLL Is she KIDDING ME??
I have followed Maria’s blog from the beginning and have seen so many wonderful projects that she has posted about….I have always admired her work BUT I admit sometimes the thought crossed my mind that she may have photo-shopped a wonky stitch out here and there….after all who is that perfect at stitching? (OK so I could be caught doing that on occasion so why wouldn’t someone else do that too? LOLLLLLL)
BUT NO….let me tell you that search as I may, (and trust me, I tried! LOL) I couldn’t find ONE wonky stitch…and I mean not ONE! LOLLLL Photos do NOT do Maria’s work justice…you cannot know how good her work is until you see it yourself! (Photoshop? NOW I believe she has some super dooper laser guided computer aided futuristic sewing machine! LOLLLL)
Look at this cute little tag with it’s cute little hand embroidered rose:
OK…I cannot put this table topper on any table I own…it’s simply too beautiful to use! I would official STRANGLE anyone who dared drop a crumb on it! LOLLLLLL Same with the mug rugs….there isn’t ANY coffee cup going to be resting on them anytime soon! LOLLLL I need to frame it all behind glass and hang them on the wall…. or something….
Has anyone else received a gift that was SOOOO nice you simply couldn’t use it in the manner in which it is supposed to be used? So what did you do if you did?? LOLLL
Now I am off to slink back to my…um….sewing……Perhaps I need some new sewing glasses so I too can sew as straight as an arrow……or maybe my machine needs an overhaul…no wait…I just had it serviced AND bought a new one..LOLLL……Oh heck….maybe I just need some lessons from Maria!!! Who’s willing to shout me a plane ticket? (Serious question!)
Happy Straight Stitching! Good luck to you….LOLLL
Its Lovely !! Lucky you 🙂
Beautiful(as always)! Maria does do such beautiful work. Many years ago I received a quilted piece that I didn’t want anyone to eat near so I put it on a long narrow table in my living room and displayed framed family photos on it. All these years later, I am still using it…and not one stain on it!! Happy b-day!
Those are fabulous Christine, I’m quite jealous!!!
p.s. blatantly I would have gone over it with a magnifying glass looking for wonky stitches!!!
Wow what a review!!! I’m speechless. I’m so pleased you liked it and that it arrived in time for your birthday. When I took it to the post office and they told me how long it would take I worked out you’d get it a few days after your birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, have a wonderful day, I’ll be thinking of you and wishing I could be there in person to wish you well.
Maria’s work is just incredible! She’s really quite special! Like I commented in her blog is great to see such great friendship. Enjoy!! And Happy Birthday (or Birthmonth) whenever it was!!
Well Christine I know how perfectly Maria stitches and I knew whatever you received from her would be a treasure because Maria is a treasure herself! She is an excellent seamstress (does anyone even use that word anymore?). I am thrilled for you and for Maria that you love her gift to you. It is a beauty. Use it in any way that you want to use it or just admire it hanging on the wall.
Happy belated Birthday Christine! Nice to see we celebrate both in January! That was amazing present! Most beautiful! x Teje
Happy Birthday, Christine!!!! How blessed you are to have another year and blessed to have Maria’s friendship. How exciting to receive a special package from somewhere-far-away just for you. Thank you for sharing your joy (and Maria’s beautiful handiwork) with us!
And if I were you….whatever you do with your gifts, I would suggest you keep them on display somewhere where you and everyone else can enjoy them. Years ago, a friend cross-stitched some beautiful kitchen items for me. They were too beautiful for common use, so I kept them in the bedroom closet, and much to my shame they are still there! I think I’ll frame them in a shadowbox so they can be enjoyed!
You know, the two of you should get together in person!!! That would be fun to see (because I’m hoping/assuming you’d share the visit with the rest of us!). It could happen!
Have a wonderful day, and thank you to both ladies for giving us something uplifting and wonderful to witness!
Maria’s work is always beautiful and the set she sent you is no exception. It’s just gorgeous and I wouldn’t want to use it anywhere near food, either. I can totally relate to forgetting what I’ve ordered… and it’s definitely NOT age related!!! Enjoy your beautiful present, Christine.
Happy Birthday whenever it was. FINALLY unpacked my sewing machine (moved in May) only to find—or rather, not find–the foot pedal control…..holding out in case it turns up or else I’ll just have to break down and order one. Hard to get back into sewing after being out of it for so long..even after really getting into it after 20 years of being out of it! Lovely quilt..just beautiful…Yes, I would prefer a dark one so coffee or tea or cake stains could not ruin it if I tried! Hope you had a great Christmas and may 2014 be prosperous, full of joy and thankfulness, Christine.
Happy birthday to my favorite designer
From your second favorite tester…LOL
I am really intestered in knowing how to photoshop wonky stitches.!! 🙂
Thank you Diya….Yes indeed I am lucky! 🙂
Oh that is a great idea Marilyn! I am going to take my time and find the perfect place for it….even if I have to buy a special table just so I can display it like that too! LOLLL Oh and thanks for the birthday wishes! 🙂
HaHa…Trust me, I DID! LOLLLL
Maria I can honestly say your gift was just the pick me up I needed! I haven’t stopped smiling since! ………….Despite not being able to track down any wonky stitches! LOLLLLLLL Yes I WISH you could be here too….but then….I would have to share some of my birthday cake with you, which would mean less for ME? right? LOLLLLLLLLLL
Oh yes she really is very special! I have always considered myself extremely lucky to have such a great friend…..She has such a great sense of humor and lights up my days……never a dull moment with Maria! LOLLLLL Thanks for the birthday wishes! 🙂
Yes she is Daryl…..I ‘almost’ used the word “Seamstress” in my post BUT thought it looked odd….. and somehow didn’t sound right! LOLLLLL Glad I am not the only one to wonder about that word! I am going to think carefully just how I will display it! 🙂
Thanks Teje….and Happy Birthday to you for whenever it is! LOLLL xx
Thanks for stopping by Krista and for taking the time to comment too….it is always such FUN to read everyone’s comments! YES…you should frame your cross stitch gift in a shadow box! That’s a wonderful idea! I might check into shadow boxes myself! I can’t quite decide between that or buying a special table to display it along with some photos (As per Marilyn’s reply) ….which is a great idea too! 🙂 Oh the dilemma! LOLLLLLLLL So far I can’t even bring myself to detach the mug rugs and tag! LOLLLLL
Thanks Pam, I will! Oh and I am pleased to hear you agree it is NOT age related! Some people just don’t understand….LOLLLLLLL!!
Thanks Cathy…..I hope your Christmas was good too and wishing you all the very best for 2014! I hope your foot pedal turns up soon so you don’t have to buy a new one BUT…..NO MORE EXCUSES! Get SEWING! LOLLL
WHO says it isn’t possible to TIE in first place? LOLL You don’t have wonky stitches either so you don’t need to know any Photoshop tricks! LOLLLLLL BUT just for the record, Photoshop is a wonky girl’s best friend! There is a little tool called the “Clone Stamp Tool”….find at least a couple of straight stitches and Bob is your uncle! LOLLLLLLLLL
Oh and thanks for the birthday wishes! LOLLLLLLLL
Yes, Ma’am!! My Granny Nanny job ends in 1 month–that could either make more time for me to start sewing, or give me less depending upon what new job I get. (Mommy can’t stand working away from Lilly so much and is cutting back her hours as an RN. Daddy will watch Lilly then on weekends.) 🙂 PLUS a great granddaughter is due in August and I still have to put together the wedding quilt. Guests signed squares of fabric I’d cut out….so lots of sewing already on my To Do List!
Such a special present and so beautifully sewn (as always with Maria!). Have a great birthday xx
Oh how gorgeous!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Sounds like you have your work well and truly cut out for you! LOLLLLLL
This is so beautiful -the color combo, the craftsmanship, the pattern.. I love everything about this! Lucky you!!!
Thanks Stephanie, I did! 🙂
Thank you Robin! 🙂
Me TOO and yes I am! 🙂