My cup runneth over.........

.....with loving kindnesses from dear friends. Each day I find there are thousands of fibres that connect us to our friends, discovering fragments of yourself in others..........even friends that we have never met.

One such friendship; (a friend whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting face to face), started just a li'l while ago in 'The Land of Blog'. I met Vicki of A Quilters Mission  perchance, whilst wandering (as you do) through cyberspace. You click on one blog, which leads you to another blog and another, and another; until you find yourself  wandering with amazement and awe through a maze of delightful blogs written by clever stitchers; showcasing their glorious handiwork and writing about their creative lives. 'Tis a wonderful world filled with colourful inspiration!

I happened upon Vicki's lovely blog and discovered that a lot of quilts that she stitches are for charity. Vicki (together with other ladies) stitches beautiful quilts transforming them from 'lemons' into 'lemonade' and raises money for local and worldwide relief, thus giving many a warm hug to those who are finding travelling along the road of life rather tough! The work that Vicki does is such a blessing to many........indeed the work that Vicki does (I think) is eternal!!

Anyway...........why am I telling you about my friend, Vicki? Well.....after a particularly sad day (I had just received some very sad news), my friendly postman delivered a rather substantial parcel, all the way from the USofA!! Imagine my surprise when upon looking as to whom the sender might be, I discovered 'Miss Vicki's' name printed thereon. When I opened my present, gorgeously stitched items by the clever Miss Vicki spilled out.

There were 2 scrumptious polka dotted strawberry pin cushions, a needle ring, a needle book, a thread catcher (I had never heard of these before entering the Land of Blog....I know, I know...I don't get out much), a zipper pouch, an armchair pin cushion and 4 gorgeous mug rugs!! All of these items are made of gorgeous fabrics from hues that I love!! There is even a Laura Ashley, cornflower blue, fabric design from which I had fashioned curtains, long ago in my humble abode in Sydney!

 

The two buttons on the strawberry pin cushions are some of Vicki's mother.

Though I love every fabric that Vicki has chosen, I particularly love the cheery aqua and pink/reds of the armchair pin cushion! I love the lemon backing on the mug rugs to remind me of the 'lemonade' quilts that Vicki so tirelessly stitches for charity! She's a treasure, is Miss Vicki!! I am so very thankful that I have 'met' her and so very thankful that she has travelled through cyberspace and happened upon my life!! 'Tis a blessed gal that I am!!

 

 Now........my cup runneth over with yet another token of thoughtful friendship. Anne, another dear friend, said to me the other day......."Miss Kim, I have a surprise for you!! I have bought a 'few' buttons for you!"

Mmmmmmmmm................just a few!!!!

  

 I might add that this is just one jar filled with these pretties. There is enough to fill ten more and then some!!

Thousands and thousands of glorious buttons spilling out in rainbow-filled hues.

 

 Those of you who follow my li'l blog, will know that every afternoon after school I teach children (prodigies....well I think they are) the art of stitching. And.......as so many of the projects they stitch demand oodles and oodles of buttons, I am slowly running out of these fastening doodads! And......of course these children who attend "The Kim Sharman School of Stitching Excellence" seem to have developed a sophisticated and expensive taste in pretty buttons.........mmmmmmm......I wonder from whom they have developed such cultivated taste!!!

I predict many a contented hour sorting through these buttons over the next couple of weeks. There is something soothing about running your fingers through a plethora of buttons!! I know, I know...I am a tragic.....but I LURVE buttons!!

 

Both these expressions of friendship, in their own way, have warmed my heart this week. They have been perfect illustrations of how daily miracles appear in the most ordinary of circumstances.

 

As I sit and indulge in a cuppa and home-baked treat (a favourite pastime of mine); with my mug resting on one of my gorgeous mug rugs, I can't help but be reminded of how "my cup runneth over" with warm friendships! Yes indeedy.....'tis a blessed gal that I am!!