Sunday, October 4, 2015

My letter box beareth a pretty gift

Sometimes in life people do the sweetest things. A little while ago my letter box beareth the prettiest  of gifts. It is always exciting to receive a present in the post; sooooo much nicer than a nasty bill, which unfortunately appears much too frequently. The gorgeous Jeneta from Plum Jam gifted me this treasure which she had found at an op shop, taking it home to live with her. This treasure sat......sat some more .........and sat even longer in Jeneta's lovely home. Jeneta said, try as she might to find the right spot in her home for this pretty, 'it' just wasn't at home.  Jeneta said she felt very strongly that this pretty should come home and live with me. I can think of no lovelier gift to come and live with me in my humble abode.


It is a lovely impressionistic-like printed canvas with dainty cross stitches interspersed here and there. 


There are two young ladies of a bygone era, dressed in pretty lace trimmed dresses, carrying  parasols; and a little girl standing in a meadow of dainty flowers. This pretty really is exquisite.




This lovely print brings to mind those paintings of the Impressionist era. The Impressionist era is my favourite period of great art works. I have enjoyed many a bewitching hour strolling through art galleries drinking in works by Monet, Renoir, Manet, Degas and the like. These artists, especially Monet, strike a chord deep within me. In my mind's eye it is easy to visualise Claude Monet painting these ladies plein air in one of his flower-filled meadows in Giverny.

I deliberated for a while what I would do with these ladies. I thought of stitching a cushion but then I remembered I had a shadow box like frame in which I could place it. The shadow box frame is 46cm x 38cm so the lovely canvas would fit perfectly.






Of course this pretty cannot sit in the shadow box unadorned, now can it. Though the canvas is beautiful just as it is; me wouldn't be me if I didn't embellish.....if only a little. Besides, the embellishing of this pretty makes for a more alluring post.......does it not??





Once again I found myself rummaging amongst my snippets of lace and crochet doilies and all those little bits that would add a little  pizazz when embellishing.










I gathered together various visually pleasing French and vintage laces, carefully stitching them around the border of the canvas.



I espied a crochet basket of flowers hiding in my plethora of pretties. I stitched it to the canvas, filling it with a beauteous, floral arrangement using a melange of crochet flowers that I snippety snipped from doilies. I added various leaves, fluttering butterflies and tiny silk flowers to fill in the gaps.  I do find the prettiest things in my lace and doily stash!!

A basket always looks so much more appealing with the addition of a pretty bow.








I twirled and swirled the ribbon in a rambling fashion across the top, meandering it's way down the side and across the bottom, adding swirls and swirls of other ribbons, cinching them down with various pearls, buttons and a few pieces of vintage ornamentation.


























The embellishing of these ladies has been such a delight. I spent many a happy hour in my sunny sewing room this week playing.......stitching a button here......stitching a pearl there......swirling ribbons round and round till they happily found their resting spot.




I spent many a happy moment in my sunny sewing room reflecting what a blessed gal I am that Jeneta should think of me and gift me this lovely treasure.


Yes indeedy, my letter box did indeed, beareth the most wondrous of gifts.......thank you, Jeneta, from the bottom of my heart!





Wishing you all the most wonderful week. Until the next time...........

Linking up with the lovely Stephanie's 'Roses of Inspiration'.




32 comments:

  1. Your lace framework and detailed basket makes a pretty picture Gorgeous ! Just goes to show how beautiful your imagination is. Lovely, lovely lovely

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  2. What a beautiful piece! I love the way you have framed it in embellishments and detail. Gorgeous!

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  3. You are amazing Kim!! The canvas is even more beautiful with your pretty embellishments. Every time I see one of your creations I am truly amazed at how wondrously creative you are!! I am so glad these girls have a proper home now. xxx

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  4. What a unique painting and how beautifully you adorned and framed it! If I understand well, this is a painting on aida and then stitched? I would love to try doing this although I don't paint but I love cross stitch and this looks so lovely! I will have to find some way to try it. Thanks for the inspiration. AriadnefromGreece!

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  5. Hello Kim, how wonderful that your friend sent you that print, what a lovely surprise to receive in the mail box. I just adore what you have done with it .... put your own little embellishments onto it. It looks amazing & just beautiful & the frame is just perfect. I think you must have the most amazing collection of "pretties" that I have ever seen. Your vase of spring flowers looks beautiful too. Have a wonderful week x x x

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  6. You have taken a lovely heartfelt gift and embellished it beautifully.

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  7. This was such a beautiful gift and now you've made it even lovelier. It looks perfect set amongst the flowers and lace :)

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  8. You truly have a gift that many of us wished we had. The way
    you've made an already beautiful picture come to life.Amazing.
    Cheers, Anita.

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  9. How lovely, I do think unexpected gifts are always the best. x

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  10. Your embellishments are so pretty and wonderful around the picture and the frame is perfect too!

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  11. Such a wonderful gift....but now it´s even more beautiful.Your so gifted.Love how it looks now.
    Take care.
    Hugs
    Caroline

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    Replies
    1. You are very sweet, Caroline.....thank you. =)

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  12. I was wondering how you could possibly improve on such a beauty of a gift but alas......you have done it again ; ) Simply perfect. I think I could stare for hours! Is the blue background all cross stitched? It's gorgeous Kim. Have a delightful week enjoying spring

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  13. You took something beautiful and made it alive and amazing! What a work of love you bestowed on this pretty picture Kim, you are magical with your sewing. I love the photos of all that frothy lacey goodness, and that tiny little hand holding the ribbons is absolutely perfect!
    Wendy

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  14. My dearest Kim, it was already so very pretty, but you've made a true masterpiece of sweetness of it, it's so very lovely with its frame in the position you've chosen, truly an amazing creation, which delights one's heart !

    Thank you for sharing your so beautiful work, my sweet friend, sending much love
    Dany

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  15. Absolutely stunningly beautiful!!! What a pretty stitched piece of artwork and you have accomplished to make it a masterpiece!!! I wish I had your vision and talent!!!!

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  16. Oh my, what a beautiful gift, and you have made it so pretty with all that lovely embellishments.
    Its just a treasure.

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    Replies
    1. I am blessed to have received such a beautiful gift, aren't I.....thank you Loes for your sweet comments. xx

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  17. Magic, just magic the way you take something already embellished and you make it even better! I truly love your work. Perfect for your shadow box; a true treasure to enjoy.

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  18. Obviously it was meant to come and live with you! Love what you've done to add to it - it's a perfect marriage!

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  19. Not only is that a lovely stitching but the embellishing around it is absolutely stunning!!

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  20. Jeneta could not have sent this pretty find to a better home. You framed it so beautifully, Kim. So creative, so stunning!!

    -Soma

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  21. Hello Kim,

    The ladies do look right at home amongst the pretties. Just make sure you keep it out of the sunlight. I remember stitching a cross stitch that was painted many years ago and the painted bit just disappeared and it wasn't facing a window to get sunlight.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

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  22. Such a sweet and generous gift and your ethereal embellishments are like a dream! How very pretty!

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  23. Oh my gosh Kim, you are amazing! The canvas is absolutely gorgeous!! I loved it from the beginning and thought, what a wonderful gift. But oh my, you truly have a gift. I would never have thought to do that. You turned a beautiful canvas into a true piece of art. I adore it!!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  24. Your letter box is gorgeous! I love the Victorian ladies and all the dainty embellishments that you added. Thank you for sharing with us!

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  25. Absolutely gorgeous !!! First time I see something like that !!!
    Thanks for your kind visit !
    Have a nice day !
    Anna

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  26. Nossa! Que trabalho primoroso! Parabéns, belíssimo!!!
    Abraços.
    Márcia.

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  27. Amazing you have turned an already beautiful canvas into a work of art. :)

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  28. Kim, this is just stunning. What an imagination you have! Love, Mimi xxx

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  29. Thank you, Mimi. I must say this pretty was a joy to embellish. xx

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