While packing up fairy swap and other items that needed to be mailed, I decided I should be sending something to my family too!
So, I made up little packets of photos of our visit to see them all, added a hand made charm to each bundle and tucked a sweet little quote about sister hood into each before tying them all up with pink tulle bows and black velvet ribbons.
For my friends that are coming to visit on Wednesday, I cut some more sisterhood quotes out of the same book, but to these, I added a drop of vanilla rose essential oils and then glued down a vintage button.
I have made up flower pots to welcome them to my cottage. Inside are the scented quotes, magnets I have made from old jewelry, a white crocheted doiley, a floating candle shaped like a flower and wrapped in white tulle, and a pair of earrings.
I made the earrings for them from colored pearls. I don’t know how pearls get colored, but I like the result. They are genuine pearls that I bought in about a dozen colors or so. I kept them simple by just adding them to silver French hooks.
All of the earrings are wrapped in vintage newspaper quilt patterns I picked up when I was on vacation in Indiana. The date at the top of the paper says 1929 and 1930.
The earrings are hung from a business card, then wrapped up in the old paper and tied with raffia. I’ve added my buddie’s names in gold pen to the package before gathering up all the gifties to add to the pots.
Photo copies of my favorite watercolor, "Blue Hydrangeas" are glued to the terra cotta pots with gel medium, after backing them with a bit more of the 1929 newspaper.
This day has been a lot more fun than it would have if I had spent it cleaning house like I should have done. Between wrapping up bundles to mail, posting, blog reading, and making gifts, I read some of the 1929 articles, including some reviews of Lon Chaney as the Phantom and the lurid details of Joan Crawford’s brother’s ugly divorce. I’m sure my friends will be happier with presents and Hollywood gossip that I picked up, than they would be with sparkling light fixtures.
Although, they have never been out to visit and now that I am out of time, I am having second thoughts and wondering if I should stay up all night to clean so I can make the house look good……….
See, I knew you were a kindred spirit! I would always rather do exactly what you did than clean! I have decided the crafting makes better memories than cleaning. I always figure my kids will be more likely to remember that we had fun than that our house was spotless. I am sure your friends will remember your thoughtfulness much more than some silly cobwebs! After all, we all have those, we do don’t we, it’s not just me?! Thanks again for playing swap with me, I especially appreciate it after seeing how incrediblely busy you have been!
Wow girl you have been busy. It all looks soo wonderful !!!! Happy Monday Clarice
Everything looks so lovely and pretty. You certainly know how to make a guest feel welcome. I’m sure they will be so enraptured with their gifts, that they won’t even notice any cobwebs or dust!
I love all the things you put together! I too am a last minute housekeeper! And then the whole time my guests are there I lament all of the things I would have done If I would have had time,like iron their pillowcases etc. oh well I think you made the right choice again it looks like you have had a swell time! Enjoy your guests!
There is always time to clean but there’s only one chance to make that memory. They will remember your hospitality and you. I dry the leaves and then I do treat them. This time I sprayed glue to adhere to paper. Then I gently used versa mark and ultra thick embossing powder. This way the leaf was sealed on both sides and gave it body. Since natural things are delicate, sealing it helps slow down or stop the decaying process. I’ve used this to adhere leaves to boxes even. Thanks for asking.
Everything is so special. Your friends and family are indeed lucky!
Elaine from SoCal
Clean…Play….clean…play….. oh honey! You definitely made the right choice! Feed your soul….always! I’m sure your house is just fine…
Beautiful stuff!
Thanks for stopping by! I am looking forward to meeting you at Silverbella! It will be such fun!
What a beautiful combination of treasures.
Oh Karla you have spent so much time doing all these lovely things for your friends.
Don’t worry about the house …. uggh … as Scarlet O hara says … think about that another day!
Enjoy you day with your friends. I wish I was there:)
best wishes Ginny
(aka – Twinkle Pink – in England)
Okay, here is the plan – I’ll come stay at your house in your beautiful guest room, raid your “shed” and receive a beautiful pot full of gifts as well! LOL. Have fun with your friends, don’t get caught up in cleaning! A quick dusting and mopping and you should be good to go!
Karla
Oh Karla … I just drooled on my keyboard!! Lucky friends!
Your guests and family will be thrilled with your treasures. Is there anything more fun than going to the mailbox and finding a parcel?
Jody
Your friends won’t even notice that you didn’t spend hours cleaning! They will be wowed by what treasures you’ve pulled together for them & will cherish the memories of the time spent with you that they’ll remember whenever they look at their sweet gifts! Lovely job!
Thank you! I received my lovely packet yesterday evening. The pictures are fun, the charm is sweet, the sister quote is special, but most of all the bundle of love that was inside touched my heart.