It Wasn't My Birthday

Often times I just don't know where to begin when writing a blog post. This is one of those posts. Because I know that I can't really express in words how very happy a few of my quilty friends made me feel this past week. I was Charise's recipient in the Strawberry Pincushion Swap. The package she went me was so incredibly wonderful! Here's what went through my head when I opened the package....oooh, that's pretty paper, there's a lot of stuff in here, oh, there's glass, oh what is it?, it's a strawberry top, it's a strawberry bottom, oh goodness, it's a vintage strawberry dish (FYI Charise told me it's a 1950's Hazel Atlas milk glass jelly jar). I start jumping up and down with excitement. Then I open the Strawberries. Squeal!!! They're even prettier in person as is the berry basket! so petite and adorable. She also included the cutest vintage strawberry tea towel. I'm like, no way, this is awesome. Then I saw the last package and I start to open it. I'm all like, is it? no. is it? no. Wait. Oh my goodness, IT IS!!! IT IS!!! Charise sent me one of her beautiful pouches. When I saw these on her blog my heart skipped a beat. I am thrilled that she gave me one of them. This pouch is gorgeous! It has the perfect prints, beautifully crafted and the cutest little strawberry zipper pull you've ever seen.

Gina, asked for my address so she could send me a little hostess appreciation gift. I thought, wow, that's so nice. When her package came I was blown away. She sent me two adorable strawberries, and the most gorgeous hand embroidered tea towel. Really, the embroidery is extraordinary. It amazes me when I see skill like this. I don't have that. They are like the cleanest most perfect little stitches and yet you can tell it's handmade not machine embroidered. Completely gorgeous! She has some beautiful pictures and one of the back of the tea towel on her blog. She also sent some other sweet little goodies. Some vintagy strawberry fabric, some felt strawberry cut-outs. A cute card and it was all wrapped in pretty baker's twine (I get excited by things like pretty baker's twine).

Renee sent me a hostess appreciation gift too! She sent me the cutest strawberry that has patchwork that looks like stamps sewn onto it. I love it! She also sent me the most beautiful strawberry pillow. I gasped when I unwrapped it. Each strawberry is hand quilted differently. Then she hand quilted around the outside of each one. The stitches are superb. The prints she used are beautiful. She even added rick rack to the edges!!! I love it so much. I keep staring at it. Just all of the little details...swoon.She also sent me the sweetest little card that was taped on with pretty floral washi tape (I get excited by things like pretty floral washi tape).

With each of these packages my toddler kept asking if it was my birthday. So cute! It really felt like it was. Thank you Charise, Gina and Renee, for sharing your gifts with me. All of you are so incredibly talented. I know the time and thought that went into each of these packages and I truly appreciate that! Your above and beyond generosity has really touched my heart.

xoxo Erin