Gifts from the heart

Gifts are always lovely to give and to receive, 

but gifts made by the hand from the heart are always extra special.

Unanticipated gifts are over the top!

I was lucky to "meet" Betty Dekat of primitivebettys right when I started my blog.

I was a big fan of her designs which you can see at her Etsy shop and on her blog.

Betty has always been a very generous person and shares many free designs on her blog.

I was so thrilled recently to find an unexpected box from her on my doorstep!

Inside I found this lovely treasure wrapped in the beautiful big red bow!

I am so very lucky! Betty is a master of so many mediums - from cross stitch to needle punch to rug hooking. She also refinishes and repurposes vintage and antique items.

Her latest foray has been weaving.

In her usual, wonderful, make-do style she has been using t-shirts and blue jeans in her weavings.

This beautiful rug is woven entirely of blue jeans.

I love the variety of the shades of blue from light and well-worn to dark and outgrown ;)

It's a work of art that I will have a hard time putting on the floor.

I have to find a place where it can be admired but not tread upon :)

Thank you ever so much Betty for your thoughtfulness and generosity!

I don't have big enough words to tell you how much this unexpected heartfelt gift means to me!!!

And I am so blessed that this isn't the only heartfelt gift that I received recently.

My Mom made this sweet Easter Egg mat for me!

I received it on my recent visit and put it out as soon as I got home!

And Mom didn't make just one, but three - one for my sister and one for my niece who recently got her own "grown-up" apartment.

Thank you so much Mom! 

I just love it!

I, in turn, brought her a little gift as well.

Colleen MacKinnon has a lovely blog filled with tutorials.

You  can view her blog here. 

Recently she shared how to make wonderful pentagon boxes.

I immediately ordered her sweet pentagon box kit from her Etsy Shop which you can find here.

Before utilizing my lovely new kit, I thought I would make a "practice" box.

So I made my Mom this.

Using a variety of neutral wool, a hand-dyed ribbon and an antique shoe button. 

I think Mom liked her new box :)

Now I have a few ideas for a few more heartfelt gifts that I would like to make and pass on...

I just need to find more time for all of my ideas!

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and never fails to bear fruit.”

~ Jeremiah 17:7-8

Blessings, Patti