Friday, November 27, 2015

Barb's birthday...

My dear friend Barbra turned 40 this week, and today she and Heather came over for a few hours of stitching and feasting!

I think Barb has the most beautiful smile. She lights up the room...


I baked a moist chocolate cake...


...and served it with vanilla cream, berry coulis and cappuccinos.


Tastebuds satisfied, we sat back and watched a couple of episodes of Kirstie's Handmade Britain while trying to stitch - I say trying because when our eyes weren't glued to the screen we were pausing the DVD to chat about all the ideas that were running through our three minds.
I think next year we're all going to have a wonderfully 'domestic' crafting adventure - but more about that when it happens!

I designed a little stitchery for Barb and embroidered it with variegated Cottage Garden Threads on cream hanky linen. With some pretty Tilda fabric for backing this became a lavender sachet. Barb spent most of today holding this near her cheek, inhaling the relaxing scent - in fact my living room smelled amazing...


One can never have enough lavender sachets, and they make lovely gifts, especially if you add a small stitchery to the front. 
 Perhaps you have some orphan blocks you could use to make some sachets as Christmas gifts?

Hope you have a lovely weekend,
hugs



18 comments:

meyra66.blogspot.com said...

It's lovely!

Christine B said...

What a lovely gift lavender sachet Jenny! It looks like Barbara had a lovely birthday celebration with you! Christine x

Ju said...

Olá Jenny,
Que linda comemoração! Felicidades Barb! Que delícia de bolo, também quero, rsrs
Sachês são sempre maravilhosos e ótimos presentes.
Beijo
Ju

Christine M said...

A lovely way to spend Barb's birthday. I love the lavender sachet you stitched for her. Have a lovely weekend, Jenny. xxx

Anonymous said...

Agree wholeheartedly definitely can't have too many lavender bags, a gorgeous gift, I can smell it here in Sydney just from your lovely description of your special day celebrating Barb's birthday, your table looks lovely and inviting too, including that yum cake and coffee. Love the stitchery design on the lavender bag Jenny. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful weekend. Judithann :-)x

Sharon - creativity and family said...

A belated very Happy Birthday to Barbra. It sounds such a lovely time and the cake looks delicious!

Cassandra Cusack said...

Oh Jenny I gave to disagree lol, I'm so allergic to lavender. In fact fields of lavender or the lavender pot plants at my Aunts house in Melbourne fill me with terror. I use mandarin oil or a mixture of cinnamon, vanilla or cloves. It's so funny how different we humans can be. Have a wonderful weekend.

Brenda said...

Jenny, Your dessert looks delicious! So good to know that you and your guests had a fun and rewarding time together. My new stitching buddies and I have finally settled in to a routine and instead of just talking all of the time, we are now sewing and talking; getting quite a bit of sewing done for the holidays. Lavender is one of my favorite smells and a sachet with your stitching absolutely makes a remarkable beautiful gift to cherish. Using an orphan block is an excellent idea for making a sachet gift with. I truly do get so many fantastic ideas from you! Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful creative day!

Julie said...

OOhh Jenny everything is just beautiful in this post & I am drooling. I want to reach into my screen & taste a piece of that delicious looking choc cake with berries & while I am there I would like to steal one of your red dotty cups & saucers, pinch that gorgeous vintage looking tablecloth & also acquire myself that wonderful lavendar sachet you have stitched for Barb. If any of it goes missing you will know where to look first !!!! Belated birthday wishes to Barb x x x

Anonymous said...

I love imagining being there and sharing your cake and stitching time, gifting Barbara with something she'd love. I can hardly wait to see what the three of you have cooked up to do next year. You are such a lovely hostess. I have never been that person - try mismatched mugs of hot chocolate and the one cookie I make well ... most of the time. LOL Thanks for sharing this bit of Barbara's birthday and tea party. What a lovely lavender bag and stitchery.

Carmen y Prady said...

Una reunión preciosa. Y una bolsita par la lavanda muy bonita.
Un beso

shirley flavell said...

Oohh your chocolate cake looks wonderful and the berry couli and cream. Makes my mouth water at seeing it. Your red spotted cup and saucer is beautiful. Your lavender sachet is beautiful and a lovely gift. Barb would have had a lovely birthday with great company.

Rosie said...

Thanks for the wonderful day Jen, it was delightful and delicious!

Baa. xxx said...

Mmmmmmm...yummy cake, good friends, birthday celebrations, pressies, ideas flowing..... what a super, super day!

Ondrea said...

I love Barb's dimples! I can see her smile would light up a room. Such a treasure to have around. Yummy cake and toppings. I sooo love that sachet you made for her. I do hope that design will be available to purchase soon. It is so sweet and I certainly love lavender. Such a beautiful post. Thankyou.

laceystitcher said...

Love all the festivity for Barb's special day! Your red cups are adorable; I can only imagine what fun the three of you had! Your sachet gift is absolutely adorable; it makes me want to try it. Do you purchase a special lavendar? Have fun doing stitchy things..................

Pam in KS

selina said...

beautiful gift!
lavender sachets are what i want to make but i haven't come to the right moment or found the fabric but i do have a large jar & a half filled with lavender i dried :))
glad barb enjoyed her birthday!
you also have some adorable tea sets!

thanx for sharing

Águeda said...

Mis mejores deseos para su amiga Barbra. Le deseo un buen y bendito año. Me encantan las fotos y les agradezco que las hayan compartido. Muchos besos.