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Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Pleasure of Giving (and receiving)

One of the things we all love about Christmas is the pleasure we receive when we are able to see our friends and loved ones light up with joy when they open a gift that we painstakingly searched for or took the time to create with our own two hands. I wish that my friend Cindy from Lilly's Lace could have seen my face when I opened a most unexpected package the other day. I could not believe what a beautiful and thoughtful gift she sent me.
 The detail she put into this was incredible. The Santa wore a coat embellished with vintage wedding lace, buttons and a beautiful hand pleated ribbon.
 The basket he carries has bobbins, buttons and more bits of lace.
 There are so many wonderful goodies it takes time to soak it all in!!!
 I don't know if you all remember the beautiful belt buckle that Cindy made for her first Giveaway, but I should have known after seeing that, what an extraordinary artist Cindy is. She collects these treasures everywhere she goes until she finds just the right project to use them on.
 She really personalized it to fit me. I think this is one of the most beautiful and thoughtful gifts I have ever received...


And in the spirit of giving... I have created a little sidebar button for anyone who wishes to take it. It is one of my favorite quotes. I thought it might be particularly appropriate for today's times, that we remind ourselves that the only really important things are our friends and family.  

(You can grab the code from the sidebar
of my design site Valentine Design. )


I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with lots of laughter, love and eggnog!!!!
You all mean the world to me! 



46 comments:

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I have that quote hanging in my home. It was said by Helen Keller. It is definately one of my favorites.
Your new Santa is fabulous!
Merry Christmas to you and your family....

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

That is just beautiful, Karen! What a wonderful gift. I think I would have had tears in my eyes opening and looking through all the little goodies. What a wonderful friend you have!

Gracefully Vintage said...

I Just adore and only give home made gifts, as i think the love-thought behind it means so much more than the cost..
YOu have a true Treasure...
Have a Merry Christmas
Karryann
Thank you for your Inspiration
xoxo

Creative Grammie said...

What a fabulous gift you received Karen! Your friend is definitely an artist.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Most of all wonderful blessings of health, joy and prosperity for the coming New Year.
Thank you for sharing such a great blog.
Hugs, Creative grammie

Gail said...

What a beautiful gift and one with such detail. Awesome!
Merry Christmas

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hi Karen,

What a beautiful santa! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Merry,
Stephanie ♥

Such a Wondrous Place this Faery Space said...

Hello dear one! Happy Holidays!

Margo said...

So so pretty!!! He fits right in to your beautiful home!! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Margo www.piecesoflifeetal.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Hi Karen!
What a wonderful gift you've received! I can't wait to visit Cindy's blog to see more of her work. This was just so creative!
Thank you for the lovely button, which I have added to my sidebar - I love that quote.
Merry Christmas :)
Hugs,
Sabre'

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Beautiful Santa Karen! Lucky you! Something made with your own hands and from your heart is a very special gift! Merry Christmas! ~ Hugs, Patti

Tallulah's Antique Closet said...

Nice collection of Christmas decor. Thank You for sharing..........TALLULAH'S

Cheryl ~ ZanyMayd said...

Merry Christmas, Karen

Marie Arden said...

Just found your delightful blog. I love all your pretty vignettes.
Marie Arden Pink Living

fairyrocks said...

How lovely, what a generous heart and rare talent, your friend has.
Merry Christmas to ALL

Karen said...

Merry Christmas Karen! I hope you and your family have a wonderful and safe Christmas!
Blessings! and hugs too! Karen

Vicki said...

I am the lucky recipient of her beautiful belt buckle. She is incredibly talented. What a lovely, lovely gift. I wish I could see it in person. Merry Christmas, Karen.

Sarppu said...

Oikein Hyvää Joulua ja kaikkea hyvää vuodelle 2011.

Sandy said...

I just had to stop by and say "Happy Holidays" to you and yours.. I so enjoy your blog..
hugggsss
Sandy

Pat @ My Tattered Elegance said...

Your gift is lovely. I know you just love all the treasures. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!!
Hugs, Pat

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas Karen! Your gift is lovely but in my life this year you have been one of the best gifts of all in blogland for me. You are loved, Hugs to you Sweetie, Marilou

Tracie~MyPetiteMaison said...

Hi Karen,
What a lovely, thoughtful thing for Cindy to do for you. It's beautiful.

Merry Christmas to you, Karen!

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

This is really an awesome and thoughtful gift, Karen! There are so many sweet details to discover. I went over the pictures several times because I didn't want to miss a thing.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Karen!
Hugs,
Julia

Unknown said...

Merry Christmas Karen!
Your home looks FABULOUS!

~Liz

NEEDLEWINGS said...

Wonderful! Love your awesome blog! Have a wonderful Christmas!

Cassandra said...

Just thought I would stop by to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What a beautiful post!

Happy Holidays
Cassandra

Snugglebug Blessings said...

Merry Christmas to you too! Your gifts you received we gorgeous, all of it. Love the Santa with the lace and the little snowman and more. Friends can be so wonderful.

We served dinner on Christmas eve with my family and friends. It was wonderful. I gave everyone a gift bag full of goodies and they were very happy and surprised. It felt so good to see their faces and know they were happy with the gifts. I don't know who was more blessed, them or me. Merry Christmas. God bless.

Charlene said...

That Cindy is the BEST! She is indeed an amazing artist & a wonderful friend! I am soooooooooooooo glad you introduced the two of us! And I can't wait until you get here this Spring & we all get to hang out together!!!! HUGS!
Charlene

GwendolynKay said...

What a beautiful Santa! And made with love is all the better. Love all the sweet little details. Thanks for making and sharing a great side button.
Christmas Blessings~
Gwenny

Something Special said...

Okay, that Santa is seriously the most beautiful one I have ever seen. I have done up some of those kinds of Santas in years past, but that one has more detail than I have ever seen. Yes, I must say that giving a handmade gift or even a vintage one that has sentimental value are the best physical gifts, because then we can cherish them! (then they won't ever get re-gifted! ha)

Unknown said...

Hi Karen,

Everything is so beautiful. Love all the pictures you posted. I never get tired of buttons and pretty things. And I absolutely love Helen Kellers Quote too. I will be putting that on my blog. Thanks for sharing. Have a very Happy New Year.
xo
Janet Bernasconi
Janet's Creative Pillows

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

May your New Year be filled with many Blessings and abundances of Joy for 2011. From my mountain to yours, Until next year
Hugs and Smiles Gl♥ria

Toyin O. said...

Hope you had a good Christmas.

Rebecca said...

Hi Sweetie
Many many blessings to you this Christmas week and wishing you a wonderful new year filled with beautiful surprises.
Blessings
Rebecca

Jessi Nagy said...

Hey sweets,
just poppin in to say Happy New Year!!!
oxoxo,
Jessi

Rustique Gal said...

Hi Karen, I love this quote and the sidebar gadget! Your Christmas pictures are so pretty. Hope you all had a wonderful one. Best wishes for a great year to come!
Hugs,
Sherry

Myrna said...

What a beautiful gift, Karen..and what a wonderful quote!
Just wanted to pop in and wish you a Happy New Year!!
Blessings!
Myrna

Lisa said...

Wow Karen, the Cindy must love you! What an amazing gift she made. Quite a talent.
You house looked just amazing for Christmas, all of your hand made touches, perfect.
Have an awesome 2011! Hopefully this will be the year we meet.
Lisa

Romeo said...

WOW! The attention to detail is incredible and makes this an extra special gift indeed! So do tell, how can someone be so good that Santa put that name at the top of the "good girl" list ;) No need to answer, we all know how wonderfully kind and gracious you are!!!

Thanks for sharing such a beautiful gift!!

Here's hoping that your new year is full of love, kindness and beauty!

Purrs!

Romeo and "her"

Tara said...

I'm so happy to have found your blog,we have a lot of common interests.I'm now following along..xx

Anonymous said...

Still making my way around to wish friends and those who inspire me a happy holiday season.
Wishing you the very best in 2011 and a wonderfully successful year.

Looking forward to another Where Bloggers Create!

Tink's Stuff said...

love your cottage, I am an old hand at making web pages but new at blogging, crafting and creating all sorts of things is my passion, among other things. I really had a pleasant visit. Tink

Julia Phillips Smith said...

Hi Karen -

I'm interested in your custom blog designs but can't view your email address without going outside my computer firewall. Could you email me at:

julia.smith2@gmail.com

I discovered your blog through your huge April blog event. I've been waiting since then to re-do my blog, or rather, to start up an actual web site, and I'm very interested in your collage designs. They're gorgeous.

sweetpea said...

karen, thank you so much for your comment! all the best!

hugs,

shelley

myriamkreativ said...

Thank you for sharing this wonderful pics. Hope you had a special christmas and wish you a great new year 2011. Hugs Myriam

Unknown said...

oh what a wonderful sight!!! everything looks fabulous!!!!

vintage wil said...

Your blog is gorgeous!!!

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