Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The Letter, the Cushion and the Guitar Tuner!

Our post box is set in the wall next to our gate (French homeowners are big on gates and privacy) and we sometimes forget to check it until quite late in the day. This happened
to us the other evening, with the result that I brought in two rather chilly but most exciting items: one a letter from California, the other a parcel from England.The beautiful card contained a letter from Janie, my partner in Denise's Letter Writing Swap! Janie has a wonderful blog, called Panini Girl, about her life in California and her love for Italy, but it seemed very different, and particularly special, to recieve a handwritten letter from her.
What a good idea this letter swap is! Do click on Janie's link, as she currently has the most amazing picture of an Italian apple tart, and information about the recipe book...
The parcel could have been one of two - I am doing Lululiz's rainbow swap, and thought it might have been my blue parcel, but instead, it was a remarkably speedy parcel from Serenata, with a gift she wanted to give me, plus a great thrifty item she wanted to pass on as part of the Utmost Challenge... ...plus a few more wonderful things, as it turned out!
Pretty card! This cushion cover is the gift that Serenata so kindly made for me. I'd seen
the similar one she made for her son's birthday, and made a passing comment that it would look great on my sofa and the rest is history! I am so grateful, Serenata. There will be plenty more photos at the end of this post so that readers can judge if I was right!Well, another passing comment to Serenata was that I was going to be 'challenged' to find a thrifty electronic guitar tuner, as requested for Son 1's new guitar lessons. She emailed back quickly to tell me that she had an unwanted one in the back of a cupboard, and could she send it along with the cushion cover? What a kind and thoughtful gift, and how appropriate to the spirit of the challenge to make or reuse rather than buy new...Son 1 was delighted with the tuner, and got his guitar just right within the next 20 minutes. It's going to make him a more independent player, which makes a real difference. He was also heartily amused by Serenata's card for him - just his sense of humour!While I show you thrifty things to do with the new guitar lessons, I just thought I'd show you the new strap on my old guitar case - guitar and case date from when I was only a little older than Son 1, and I was blowed if I was going to buy a new (second hand) case when I could stitch a new carrying strap onto the old one! It's a good thing that Son 1 is very behind the idea of this challenge, as the result is hardly cool... 'Cool' is not a word he admires, fortunately...
Cool blue is certainly the theme of this wonderfully generous bag Seranata also made for me, though! I wish I'd thought to take a photo of the wonderful fabric on the back, too. Maybe for another post...
Serenata is selling these bags through a local shop and I think they are going to be snapped up! I am so absolutely thrilled to own one. It will join Sharon's Clover Cottage bag on my Vide Greniers outings from now on.And then there was more blue! There is a super little vintage button in the middle of this lovely brooch - at the moment I've got it pinned to my bag! Oh, so lovely.Now, more details of the cushion. This is why Seranata can sell things she's made - attention to detail and skill with a sewing machine. I am not kidding when I tell you that my cushions are either stitched up by hand or held together with brooches etc. Lovely buttons... envy-causing button holes...This is why I felt it would go so well - do you think it tones in? A nasty draught howls down the back of our necks when we sit on the sofa in winter, so we've taken to putting a draught-excluding cloth on the stair bannisters at the back of the seating area. It works. This year's cloth is the lovely, almost CK-esque print I found at Veti Relais last month. A great match for Serenata's fabric, surely?When I put the cover onto a cushion and placed it on the sofa, it made the 'end of weekend' sofa look truly shabby in comparison, and not at all chic. I set to, tidying it all up so that it could match my snazzy new cushion.And here is the result! I'm happy.So thank you so much, Serenata, for finding and making so creatively and so generously. It was absolutely lovely, and even somewhat overwhelming, to open such a fantastic series of parcels. The blogging community is a truly vibrant and inspirational place to be!

21 comments:

Ticking stripes said...

It really is Floss. I've been really touched by the generosity of spirit I've found in the community. People are very busy but it's great to receive comments and even more special when somebody picks up on something which we may have just said in passing never dreaming that anyone elsewould follow it up. (Like you and the chocolate stamp!)

claire said...

lovely Floss x
(and the sail boat fabric is divine...)
blogging restores faith that actually the world is made up of lots and lots of kind generous people despite the general idea that it is made up of horrible selfish people.
I have made some fabulous friends through blogging (and the shabby chic forum):)

Pomona said...

That all looks really fantastic - I have seen Serenata's things on her blog and really admired them - it all looks perfect in your house! I also know Janie's Panini Girl blog very well - it is one of the first that I discovered, and funnily enough, although she lives in the States, she knows my little part of England very well, and has a close friend who lives nearby! What a small world it is! It is a lovely blog, too - lots of lovely things to eat, amongst other things.

Pomona x

Serenata said...

It was more than a pleasure Floss and I am so thrilled you are happy with them and that they fit in so well. The cushion does indeed look perfect on your sofa. :-) Now off to read Janie's Panini Girl Blog!

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Aren't gifts from blogland such treasures.

Victoria xx

Lucy Pursglove-Jones said...

We have that very same guitar tuner! Very handy. I don't play but my husband does, a 12 string acoustic; beautiful!
I too miss hand written correspondence. I have an English friend currently living in Finland I could write to though, I really should. Xx

Lululiz said...

Those are wonderful gifts, Floss, Serenata is such a good seamstress. Bloggers are the nicest people!

A Bun Can Dance said...

wow! Such a lot of excitement in the Floss household!!
I am so pleased to hear you've had a lot of fun with the letter swap, and a lovely letter from Janie - it's great to find out how the swap is going.
Your gifts from Serenata are just amazing - I love them all. Your cushion looks really fabulous against the red sailing boat cloth.
As you say, isn't the blogging community a truly special place? Everyone is so generous with their thoughts, words and gifts - there is a lot of love in blogland!
Happy days to you Floss,
Denise x

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

What wonderful and thoughtful gifts you've received! That is so sweet of your swap partner to send along a guitar tuner. And the cushion is LOVELY!

Lola Nova said...

I heartily agree with all the other comments here. Wonderful goodies and amazing the folks we come into contact with in blogland. I also have that same guitar tuner and it works so well.
How fun to get all those lovely things in the post!
I will have to check out those blogs soon.

Olga said...

Dear Floss! Thank you for dropping by. I hope you are doing very well and are enjoying yourself. I see you are still as devoted to blogging as ever and are able to find the time, I really admire you being such a good organizer of your time. Say hello to your mom and the family and take care. Cheers, Olga

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

Isn't it fun to get presents at any time of the year. We've both been very spoilt this week I see. You are right about the very kind, generous people out there in blogland. I guess most of the world is full of lovely people.

I love that cushion, very smart looking. I must make a few as well. Mine are awful! Your seats always look so comfy.

Apron of the Month Club said...

Hi Floss, handwritting is becoming an ancient art. It is a special gift.

Also, today I was given confirmation that my relocation pay-request was agreed upon. Yeah!!!

It was nice talking again. I am planning an evening with fabrics and threads. I'm not sure what apron design I'm starting but it will be fun.

Yoli :)

Jackie said...

I love the cushion Floss ~ iy looks wondeful in your sofa with that rather lovely red printed draught excluding cloth. It's always nice to receive parcels throught the post ~ I'm expecting my rainbow swap parcel anyday now :O)

VintageVicki said...

Am so excited to have signed up for my first 2 swaps - having seen other peoples posts & pics I shall be camping out waiting for the postie!!

BTW have just made your ginger biscuits - they smell and taste amazing. Will let you know the boys verdict later and probably even blog about them tonight!!

Have a great day xxx

Unknown said...

What wonderful things and what fantastic kindness there is out there! Suzie. xxx

The Curious Cat said...

Gorgeous bag and pillow - how lucky are you? Isn't blogging great?! :) xxx

silverpebble said...

I never tire of seeing the overwhelmingly kind presents exchanged by bloggers. That little nautical cushion is gorgeous - I loves how it blends with your draught excluding fabric. Magic!

Angela said...

What lovely gifts - blogland is such a wonderful place to be! And your thrifty repair on the guitar case is certainly worthy of many Brownie Points!

Sal said...

Hello Floss! Lovely post.
Thank you for your kind comments on my blog when I was ill...very much appreciated!
Love,Sal ;-)

karen said...

Hiya floss
I'm your partner for the christmas stocking swap. Just thought I'd pop over to say a quick hello and I will email you tomorrow when I got a bit more time.
Hope that's ok
(((hugs)))
karen