Wednesday, September 30, 2009

I am blessed...

Living on the school grounds means we don't have our own letterbox, all our mail comes through the school office before being placed in our family's pigeon-hole. The last few days the office has been closed for electrical maintenance so we've not been able to access our mail.
This morning Slicer and Blossom finally retrieved our backlog of mail, and amongst the letters and bills were some parcels of blessings!! This was so funny as last night I shared with you how much these blessings from friends across-the-miles mean to me. :-)

Firstly, I opened my Hug Swap parcel from my partner Kris of Tag-along-teddies. Boy did she spoil me! Kris blogged about the swap items I sent her and in her blog post she photographed the package being held in the arms of one of her beloved teddies, so I thought I'd photograph my package in the arms of the first doll I ever made, my 'Jenny-doll', as she is affectionately called. :-)

Look at the Mug Hug and the Mug Mat she made me! Can you see the *J* in the middle...all for me!!! Kris, I just LOVE them!!! Thank you so much!!! {{{{{hugs}}}}}}

These are the Hug Swap items I made for Kris...I appliqued some of my Oopsie Daisies for her. This photo is from Kris's blog because silly me forgot to take my own photos before I posted them. ;-) I'm so glad they fit her mug!
The next parcel I opened had me so intrigued! When Slicer came in the back door with the mail I knew I could smell lavender! As we don't have my favourite flower growing at the new house I wondered why I could smell it? I opened this package from my sweet friend Jane in the UK and look what she had sent me! Lavender sachets, her very own lavender grown in her garden!! It's soooooo beautiful....can you smell the fragrance? Blossom oohed and aahed with me so I offered to give her one of the sachets. Without a moment's hesitation she snatched one up and hugged it to her smiling cheek! Thank you sweet Jane.

But wait - there was another parcel! Diane is a delightful blogger whose comments and emails are always so bubbly and bright. What a wonderful surprise to receive this little package of goodies, all the way from the USA. The ornament is 3D and will be hanging on my corkboard from today ~ the stitch ripper has found a home in the pocket of my new sewing machine mat, and the emery board, why it's just too pretty to use so I'm sitting it on my desk where I can see it each day! As soon as Blossom saw the emery board she commented that it reminded her of the quilt that was made for the movie "How To Make An American Quilt"...it does too!!

Last week I also received a couple of parcels from lovely friends I've met through blogging. Kaaren and I agreed to do a little private swap a while ago...but my idea of little and hers were very different! She blessed my socks off with this beautiful bag, and an assortment of goodies to fill it. Dear Kaaren, you have a heart of gold, bless you so much.

And this package made me smile and smile all day!
Vickie from Humpty Doo is an avid op-shopper like me. She said that when she saw this in the op-shop it screamed "Jenny!" at her so she bought it and posted it off to me...and I LOVE it! I hope to hear something call her name to me one day so I can return the joy. :-) Thanks Vickie!

And last, but not least, the latest issue of Creating Country Threads arrived...and I made the cover for the 3rd month in a row!!
My Shabby Roses Christmas project is featured in both colourways - the green and the blue. I really *love* this design so I am thrilled to see it in print.

If you cannot get this magazine in your country you can purchase the pattern from my Etsy Shop.

~~~~~

Today is the last day to enter the Gum Tree Designer giveaways!! At midnight tonight the draws close, and the winners will be announced on our individual blogs (as well as our combined Among the Gum Trees blog) tomorrow.
Have you entered Fiona's giveaway yet? She has a beautiful parcel of gifts if you win, including a COMPLETE kit to make her quilt!

~~~~~

As much as I love being blessed, I also live by the rule that when I have the means or the ability to bless others it is my God-given responsibility to do so. Giving is not just in the material sense, but it is in sharing your heart, to listen, to hold, to share a meal, to make yourself available when you'd rather be doing something else. Giving in all it's guises is a true gift - may you be blessed today with the gift of giving, and may you bless others with your own gifts.

Love and hugs
Jenny
xxx

PS: A few questions I forget to answer :
Pina asked for my email address - Pina, click on my profile in the left sidebar and you'll find my email address.
And the fabrics I used in the "In My Garden" cushion? The borders to the embroidered block were all from the Birdie range by Moda.

27 comments:

loulee said...

Phew, it must have felt like Christmas in your house.

Kim D. said...

Beautiful Gifts you received Jenny I've found that quilters are so kind and generous. I love your post and you are blessed. Have a fabulous day.

Granny Goose said...

Wow, are you lucky, what a thrill to receive all those beautiful gifts. Congratulations on being featured in Creating Country Threads. Well done.

gg

Cattinka said...

Wow so many goodies. -I´m happy for you!
KATRIN W.

Vicki ♥ said...

Wow...just fantastic and you deserve all these lovely goodies Jen :) What goes around comes around :)Congrats on being on the front cover! Wow...you are so clever! hugs
Vicki

Sew Useful Designs said...

Hi there Jenny sweets!

Gorgeous post sweetie... with gorgeous goodies too! You are so right sweetheart, it is a true gift to give, for it fills our hearts full of joy. I believe that there is joy and prosperity enough for everyone... we just need to believe that we deserve to recieve it. You bless our socks off every day!

Hugs darling friend!
Vikki xoxoxoxo

Searchfamilies said...

Happy Christmas well it must have seemed that it was Christmas lol
Boy you certainly been spoiled it nice to get packages.
Congratulations on making it in to the magazine for the 3rd time
Hugs Janice

Maria said...

What a lovely surprise to receive all those gifts. Lucky You!!

Love your Xmas tree,can not decide which colour way I like best.Can make both. Will go get a copy of the mag.

Kris Meares - Tag Along Teddies said...

Hey Jenny! So pleased you like your gifties! I had a 'beary' fun time making them for you and hope that each time you have a cuppa, you remember your blogging buddies sending happy thoughts and hugs your way! Bear Hugs! KRIS

marina said...

How wonderful getting all those goodies in the mail. I love it when you are waiting on swaps.
Such lovely things too.

retdairyqueen said...

Such lovely gifts and Ive already congratulated you on the magazine
Hugs

Vickie said...

lovely indeedy Miss Jenny..all them gifties ..sooo lovely...congrats on the cover agin...you have earn't it,cheers vickie

Abby and Stephanie said...

What lovely packages--I spy a Prickly Pear bag from Kaaren that is just perfect for you. :o) Congratulations on being a cover girl!

Miriam said...

Congratulations on being in the magazine!!

What a beautiful lot of gifts! Well deserved!!

Joy said...

Darling Jenny you deserve to be spoilt!!!
Congratulations on being a covergirl 3 times in a row!!! Yay for you and your gorgeous pattern :o)!!
Hugs,
Joy :o)

Diva Kreszl said...

looks like Christmas arrived in your mailbox! it's all lovely

Anonymous said...

woah what a beutifull gifts and you made in to a magazine again, Congratulations. I'm mailing with a famous quilter ;0)

Myra said...

Wow! What exciting mail goodies Jenny! Lucky you! Christmas comes early in your house! 8-)
Wonderful you've hit the magazine! Woohoo, good for you! 8-)
Happy stitchings...

Anonymous said...

Oh what beautiful pressies, you deserve everyone of them, you share so much of yourself and its lovely to be able to give something back. hugs xxx

Carin said...

Jenny what a wonderful day full of great gifts! Congrats on your cover!

Crispy said...

What a fun mail call you had!! Love all the gifties you recieved. I think that they should change the magazine to say "Jenny Presents Creating Country Threads" LOL.

Crispy

Allie said...

Wow, Christmas at Jenny's, lol! What lovely blessings you recieved - and I'm so glad, because you ARE such a blessing, dear Jenny.

Anonymous said...

Jenny,you are blessed with so many nice gifts and I can understand you are a special person.
You and your swap partner got so well done works and I hope I´ll hear from my partner soon.
Louise D

Carrie P. said...

Wow, it is like Christmas at your house. I know that fun opening each package.

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Jenny,
oh, ah, well done on being published again. Such a sweet piece.
Gosh, It must feel like Christmas at your house with the mail coming in all at once and all those yummy goodies you've received.
Hugs,
Anna

Maggi said...

What wonderful gifts you received. Have fun with them

Unknown said...

Congratulations! have a wonderful day!
hugz
Pam