Gifts of friendship's love

This has been a special week for me. I had my birthday this week which meant receiving some fun gifts in the mail from online friends and we had a Valentine's Day swap with a special group of stitching friends.

My swap partner was Judy. I got her package in the mail about three weeks ahead of the day but we had all agreed to wait and open them on Valentine's Day. She had wrapped them so sweetly that I wish I had taken them out of the box and set them like this on display for those three weeks. I got a tin of Mrs. Field's chocoates and these presents. Aren't they pretty?

But open them I did.....

I received these sweet needlefelt lollipops with a special needlefelt tag card. I have placed them in my Valentine's Day tree and they look so adorable.

She also gave me these adorable little red handled scissors with a handmade fob with needlefelt beads. How cute is that! Thank you so much Judy for my wonderful treasures!

My friend Margaret in Spain made me this beautiful red and white pinkeep. I just love samplers and this is so pretty!

The fabric for the backing is a red and white toile. It is just beautiful.

Margaret also sent me two red threads from Spain and three differents ribbons. I will easily find projects to use these for. I received two metallic threads from my friend Hazel in England. Christine in Canada sent me an autumn packet of two quilt fabrics, an acorn button and hand dyed silk ribbon. My mother, who is now becoming a cross stitcher (go mother!), sent me a series of Olde Willow Stitchery hand dyed threads. Thank you all for being such sweet friends and the wonderful and thoughtful gifts!

I can share this gift with you as Carolien is at this moment on her way here probably bicycling in the sunshine. I made her a beaded fob. It is using red beads and a flower and butterfly charm. If you look at her blog, she has pretty photos of her garden at the moment. I was inspired to make this the day I met her for the first time last month. She invited me to join her and her daughter for lunch. Well, Fleur is the sweetest little girl! Carolien and Andre told me they call her their butterfly. Needless to say, I had to create this fob especially for her. I am also giving her some embroidery scissors and two heart buttons for Valentine's Day. I hope she likes them.