New Year Wishes

And Surprise Gifts.....

I shouldn't be Surprised, Dear Readers, but I was utterly Floored by the gift my Sister sent me for Christmas! Several years ago I showed you a peek of a lovely quilt she was making for her little doll house, made from scraps of silk I had given her, scraps left over from the magic star wands I make and sell. Well, it turns out, she was also making one for Me!!! It is pieced together "Crazy Quilt" style, and then embroidered with the loveliest little details.....

I simply could Not believe my eyes when I opened 

the package which had arrived Christmas Eve!

We don't always exchange gifts.... 

it is more of a random thing, 

so I wasn't expecting to get anything at all!

The above picture is what I saw when I opened the box...

I can't tell you how much I Adore this quilt!

The only question in my mind was Which bed it should grace.

And the first bed I tried it on was the one in the

Chinoiserie bedroom of the Lovely Old Dollhouse....

I had only bought this bed a few weeks earlier and was 

planning for it to be the bed in the new Willowcrest house....

and only placed it Temporarily in the Lovely Old Dollhouse

while the Willowcrest is being worked on.

But now I think I have accidentally found the bed 

that always belonged in this room!

And with the new "Old" Quilt, 

I think it looks just the way this room should look...

Filled with beloved Old furnishings and 

"Great Grandmother's" heirloom quilt!

Thank You, my Dear Dear Sister!!!

It is unexpected Gifts like this 

that make the Dollhouse World

come alive for me!

And on a Similar note, I did receive other gifts that were

Unexpected this Christmas.....

My Mother sent a collection of little Treasures from her Thrift Shop...

Including the wreath  you can see here....

Which I think is supposed to be for a candle....

But really works Wonderfully in the Castle Great Hall....

Which Lately has been the setting for and Old Fashioned House Party....

And some of our Friends have gathered there by the fire....

Oh, the Stories I could tell....!

But there were also other little Trinkets from my Mother...

such as these two little Saint Nicholas figures...

Here you can see them on the Kitchen mantel  of the Lovely Old Dollhouse...

Where it seems there is Never Ending conversation

and good food around the Kitchen table!

And speaking of Good Food....

I also received other little Gifts from Dear Birgit 

of BiWuBaren Blog fame....

Don't these Gingerbread men and cookies look Delicious?

and that was not all she sent me, Dear Readers,

But all the little items on the table you see below....

 

Tiny animals, A Flying Reindeer and two beautiful 

Tiny laser-cut wood scenes!

(And many other tiny trinkets too!)

 But I can't forget the Marzipan....

WHO has been eating the marzipan, you ask?

Well, I think it looks like a Lovely little Buche de Noel...

Sliced up on a little platter......

And served with Tea.... or Coffee.... or Hot Cocoa!

Which is exactly what Blue and Sir Orion and Brother Beorn

are having for Supper on this New Year's Eve!

Thank You Birgit!

And I can't leave you there either, Dear Readers,

because I Finally finished drawing my Christmas Card...

And wanted to share it with All of you...

If you look closely you might recognize a scene or two!

(Be sure to poke the picture to see it larger.)

(And if you see it here before yours arrives, Dear Mom,

I hope it will not spoil it for you!)

So, I should not have been Surprised, Dear Readers,

by each and every one of these Gifts,

But I was Surprised, and Deeply Touched!

Thank you for thinking of me!

 

And I would like to Wish All of you,  my Dear Readers,

A Wonderful and Endlessly Rewarding New Year!