a lovely gift ~ and proof of my non-crafting ways

One thing that really makes my day is receiving a gift in the mail.

Carol from Art and Sand sent me these gorgeous hand-crocheted

cotton napkins. She even wrapped them with a cool tag.

Look at the detailed work on these edges...I'm in such awe.

Thank you, Carol. You are generous and wonderful.

Now for a good laugh. This is why some people shouldn't be allowed

near paint and Mod Podge. Those said people should stick with vignettes,

thrifting, and cooking. My intention was to spray-paint a stenciled design onto

 a plain, white lampshade. Easy enough, right? 

First mistake was using spray stencil adhesive to stick the stencil onto the

 lampshade. It made a gluey mess. And because I'm also impatient and don't

 take the necessary precautions before starting a project, I didn't protect the area

 around the stencil from the spray paint. So I ended up witha sticky, partly 

spray-painted lampshade. Not to let that deter me, I thought, "Fine! I'll just

spray paint the entire lampshade then!" Umm, no.

Last ditch effort: bring out the Mod Podge and go to town. I got three sections

done and gave up. I had more Mod Podge on my hands than on the lamp.

I actually don't think this would look too bad if I could finish it somehow.

What would I do with all those raised seams going down the length of the 

shade? And the top and bottom trim? Use a glue gun to glue on some ribbon?

A friend of mine stopped by last night and she said perhaps use some of those

large "jewels" to go down the seams...and then use ribbon on the top and

bottom? Another laughable thing about this project...I put the lamp shade

back on the lamp last night and turned it on. With the dark papers covering

the shade, it barely casts any light!

But the most laughable part about all of this? This lamp is on Brian's side

of the bed. He turns on the lamp every night while reading in bed. And

he hasn't even noticed that anything is different - he hasn't said a word to me!

Perhaps if I put it on my head and danced on a table?

gift of grandma's ruby red glassware

 A friend of mine came to visit the other night and walked into my house carrying a box.

She said she had a gift for me.

She is moving to Washington next year and will be living in a much smaller house,

so she can't bring all of her stuff with her.

I opened the box to find an assortment of beautiful, deep red glassware.

 My friend said these pieces had belonged to her grandma

and she can't take them with her on her move due to lack of space.

She wanted me to have them because she knows how much I love red glass ~

and that I will love them and take care of them.

I was so touched!

The box contained plates, bowls, cups, and a vase.

I hand-washed everything carefully and put some of the items to use

in my Christmas decor.

 

  I told my friend that my grandma loved red glass, too.

And that I have a set of her red drinking glasses.

Funny how we're all connected.

I cried as my friend gifted me with her grandma's precious red glassware.

Because my friend trusts me to take care of, appreciate, and love something

that belonged in her family. Because I will miss my friend who has lived

across the street from me for 22 years.

Linking up to Mockingbird Hill Cottage's Favorite Thing Holiday Edition .