Unexpected Surprises!

This post is being edited because I made a BIG mistake. I checked, double checked but dang it, I didn't check a third time, (even after other pics had somehow mysteriously fallen off my post) that all my gal pal's pages were represented. Somehow, Linda's pages from the book got dropped. Linda is such a sweet person, always upbeat, always a smile on her face and just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside! I feel terrible that her pages were left out. Lynda is the one that got the posters made for the party, she got the cake, darling plates, champagne, the balloons and the wonderful birthday banner and her pic wasn't in the post! I am so sorry Linda and hope you realize that it certainly wasn't intentional. Thank you for all you did to make my birthday celebration so wonderful!!

Last Saturday and Sunday, DEB, Julie (no blog) and I all took a Catherine Jordon map class with our Guild (the Kindred Spirits Sampler Guild). Deb posted some great pics on her blog so I won't show you more but I have to show you this. It has nothing to do with the map class except that Roz had it at the map class. I oohed and aaahed over it so loudly, I got shushed by Catherine. Yikes!


These are pics of the antique porcelain doll family that lives inside my KSS friend Roz's stitching basket! WoW! How cute are they? She found them in an antique shop and just had to have them - can you blame her? I am so on the lookout for a little family of my own to live in my sewing basket. Well.... I'll have to make a sewing basket - I have a little something but nothing fit for a family this grand. The outfits on these dolls are so exquisite - I just had to show you. Isn't the inside of Roz's basket gorgeous?! She does the most beautiful work! Oh, and if your curious about the walnut in the basket with the ribbon wrapped round it..... well of course, a baby lives in there too! Look:
Don't you think everyone should have a baby living in a walnut in their sewing basket? I DO!!!

Anyway, after class on Saturday, I was going to spend the night at Julie's house 'cause it's quite a drive for me to get to the guild meetings and Julie lives about 10-15 minutes away. On the way to her house after the Saturday portion of the class, she says "Josh is at a pool party/sleepover, do you mind if I swing by there before we go home?" Well of course I don't mind. Julie just wanted to make sure everything was alright before heading home. I followed her to the hotel and all the while I was thinking "She is such a good mom! I don't know that I'd have gone and checked on my kid." We get to the hotel and go up to the room and I could hear Sponge Bob (an American Cartoon) playing in the background. Julie knocks and then finally lets herself in and "SURPRISE!" all my dearest gal pals were in the room to surprise me for my 50th b-day! To say I was shocked is an understatement. I couldn't believe it! I think I'm pretty savvy and think I'm pretty hard to get anything over on but this time they got me (partly because my b-day is a couple of weeks away yet)! The room was decorated with balloons and cake and champagne!!!





After the shock wore off and we'd drank the champagne (well Linda and I drank most of it, I think), I got to open presents! Have you ever gotten a gift that was made with such love, time and caring that looking at it you just knew, it would be one of your best presents ever? I got just that kind of gift. Julie asked all the girls (there are 8 of us altogether) to come up with some of their baby pictures and to write me a letter about our friendship. Julie made this book for me with all of their input. She even contacted my mom for my pictures! She gave each of the gal pals the exact paper they were to write on with it pre-torn to fit the page she had envisioned. Then, she began creating this lovely book for me. she made it all from cover to cover (including the cover!) and I just love it and have to share it with you. Check this out!


Me:

Julie:


Linda:

Sheila: doesn't the line up of first communion girls look like a Life magazine picture?

Lisa:

Christina:

Sally:

Gretchen: Look at the stranglehold she has on that cat!

This page is a composite of some of our many outings:

This page is when we all went to see "Menopause, the Musical". Yep, that's me, right in the middle of the Red Hat Ladies - I wasn't old enough to join them but I will be come August! I thought they all looked so cute, I just had to have a picture with them!

The posters Linda had made for me:




But, as if this wonderful book wasn't enough - they also gave me this:
I just love her! The funny thing about this is that this is from my frame shop that went out of business a few months ago. Anyway, Sheila and I were looking for bargains when we found out it was closing and I loved this angel. However, at 50% off it still wasn't a bargain so I told the gals to call me if it went to 75% off (assuming it was still there) and I'd get it. They said the would. A couple of days later, Rob and I were having dinner at a restaraunt right across the street from the store and who do I see come out of the store with the angel? Yep, Sheila and her DD Meghan. They sort of looked around to see if anyone (me, I guess) was looking - not seeing anyone they ran to their car holding the angel. I said to Rob, "Look! There goes my 50th birthday present." He laughed and said the joke would be on me if she was buying it for herself but I knew better! Thank you, my friends - I just love her. But wait! That wasn't all! Nope, hard to believe but there is more. I love jewelry, and Troll Beads are a favorite. They gifted me with 4 new Troll Beads! Whoo Hooo! They're all beautiful but I couldn't get a good picture of them so you'll have to trust me.

After the champagne was drank, the gifts were opened and the tears were shed, we went to dinner. Here's a pic of all of us.

This was a wonderful surprise and I am so thankful to have such dear, sweet friends! Isn't it wonderful!? Aren't friends grand!!? Thank you (in picture order) Lisa, Christina, Gretchen, Julie, Linda, Sheila and Sally (not pictured)! I love you all! The only thing that would have made this evening better was if Sally had been able to be there, but she was on vacation.

Are you still with me? Whew! Long post, huh? I've got a couple more things I'd like to share with you. A while back I posted about this wonderful clam shell needlebook our Guild president put together. PATTI loved it and asked if she could get one and the answer was yes! So, I've got yours PATTI and will try to get it wrapped and mailed this weekend. (BTW, can you BELIEVE I won Patti's Giveaway!? Me either? Guess I can't say I never win anything anymore, can I? I can't wait to see what comes from across the pond!) Anyway, I got a few extras in case any of you would want one. They're gorgeous!!! They are $25 for the kit + shipping and it includes everything needed to finish except glue and that sort of thing. Let me know if you want one. Here are some pics I took of Sharon's finish:




Remember back in April when I showed you Paula's Dutch Beauty? Well now it's finished and framed - have a look. Is this not amazing? I love it.
Congratulations Paula (no blog) on such a spectacular finish - I love the frame and everything about it!!!


Okay, I'm almost done! If you are still on the fence (MARGARET)
about joining in our SAL, please hop down and join us. There aren't a lot of doo-dads to this piece (some, but not a ton) and it'll be fun! If you don't have a blog and would still like to join, shoot me an email (in my profile)/ Please look and see if your name is on the list in my last post - if not, and it should be, or you want it to be, please contact me. This is gonna be one sweet sail!

Finally, my Tyler gets back on Saturday after two weeks in Virginia and I CAN'T wait to see that boy! Here's a pic of my father and Tyler getting ready to hit the links! I can't wait to see you, Tyler ~ we missed you TONS!!!




Thanks to all who have joined our SAL and thank you for the comments on my blog. I'm telling you, it is some kind of fun to take a peek and see that there's a new post! Thank you so much!

Have a great weekend, my friends!
Peace,
Terri