Thursday 6 May 2010

Kindness

My luck with raffles and such is woeful.   I did once win a bamboo back-scratcher when I was about 10 years old.   Whatever happened to that, I wonder.....?

However, Cathy from One Pink Goose had organised a GiveAway on her blog and although I rarely jump on the bandwagon, I so love her work that I thought I would throw my hat in the ring.   (Takes some doing, simultaneously jumping on a bandwagon while throwing your hat in the ring.)     And, lo and behold - I didn't win!   However, Cathy has such a generous nature that she not only had a main recipient, she devised a way for several lucky runners-up to receive prints of her work.   So I am now the more-than-delighted owner of The Hen Collector.   Isn't she just great and wouldn't Fanny, Madge and Hilda love to be carried around in little baskets?   Thank you Cathy.























Cindy, who lives on the coast in Northern California, is another of life's naturally generous folk.   She's a fellow pebble fanatic and bought some handmade felted versions from my Etsy shop and we had some lovely correspondence as a result.   Isn't it funny how you can know you like someone even from the briefest of emails?  






Anyhoo, Cindy was desperately keen to send me some real pebbles from the shore near her home and although the postal service spirited away Cindy's first package, the second one arrived this morning.   Aren't they beauties?   I couldn't love them more - a heart, a coal black one, one with a kiss on it, three that are perfect for stacking and two very special agates with exquisite markings.   All the way from the Pacific Shore - magic.   I wonder if Cindy looks like me when she's beach-combing?   Bent over like a half-shut knife so as not to miss anything on the way out and bent over like a half-shut knife with the weight of pebbles in the pockets on the way back.   Thank you Cindy.

And I hope Lesley (her wonderful blog:  PrintedMaterial) won't mind me showing you the most magnificent hand-made notebook she sent me.  It's been a very inspiring little book and is now my very favourite.  It goes everywhere with me, so that I can quickly jot down notes and ideas before they vanish in that gaping cavity between my ears.    I've never been very good at working through creative ideas in a lengthy way, most often just jumping in and getting on with it, but Lesley's beautiful book with its tempting pages has helped me work in a different way and one I'm really enjoying and benefitting from.     It even came to the V & A with me last week!

And, gulp, some adorable buttons - did I mention before that I go weak at the knees at the sight of mother-of-pearl?  OK, maybe once or twice I did.   And a humungous bundle of luggage labels - which is leading to a little project that I have in hand - all the notes for which are safely stored in my little blue handmade notebook.    Thank you Lesley.



So much kindness in the world, isn't there?


Hope you're all having a wonderful week, whatever you're doing!

14 comments:

Jill said...

Isn't it great to receive parcels of treasure? Goodness know what customs would make of a package of pebbles flying half-way round world. 'Must be a couple of mad women' and they're right, but mad for all the best reasons.

Uta said...

And you think you aren't lucky. Look at all the treasures you got :)

gerfiles said...

Indeed... A gift of pebbles, wonderful...
PS: Each time I visit here, I´m again enchanted when your header felt pebbles appear on the screne...

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Chrissie,
You neglected to say that I have been on the receiving end of your own kind and generous spirit. I am now the lucky owner of a beautifully illustrated children's book - one of my own passions (as well as buttons too!)I'm a great believer in 'what goes around comes around' and how lovely it is to know that all over the world there are similar souls. Magic. Lesley x

Gina said...

What beautiful gifts you have received. I was overwhelmed by the package I received from Cathy. I'll blog about it soon when I'm ready to pass on the book.

ELK said...

oh goodness from rocks that look felted to a print and a journal ..you have really turned that luck around!!

Ange said...

Chrissie, I'm just loving the fact that all that kindess is going to you. WHat BEAUTIFUL gifts. Félicitations!

florcita said...

What a beautiful print!
How nice to get so many presents :)

Chrissie said...

Jill - 'mad?, moi?' !!
Uta - You're right - I thank my lucky stars every day for my luck - I just don't ever expect it to come from lottery tickets!
Ger - thank you :-)
Lesley - xxx
Gina - Aren't we lucky, look forward to seeing your goodies.
Elk - one happy girlie!
Ange - merci x
Marian - the picture makes me smile every time I see it!

Anonymous said...

Lovely things happen to lovely people - well deserved, Chrissie. That print is adorable ............ and sooooo you!
Love Anne

Deborah said...

Congratulations on winning your lovely treasures!

silverpebble said...

I was one of the lucky winners too! Aren't Cathy's cards and images stunning?

Those pacific pebbles are serious treasure - how mind boggling to think they've come all that way.

Cathy said...

Thanks very much Chrissie. So glad you enjoyed the print and that the hens have gone to a very good home. You have some gorgeous pebbles there and that handmade book, buttons and labels. Your felted pebbles on your header are wonderful. I remember visiting a beach on the west coast of Ireland with my brother and his partner years ago. Lesley and I got back in the car weighed down with some lovely, seaworn, large pebbles to use as doorstops at home. We got into trouble from my brother though who felt we were stealing. They were simply being rehomed...lol.

menopausalmusing said...

I too have been on the receiving end of Lesley's generosity... the books are just wonderful! Your print looks gorgeous too. This is a wonderful place, Blogland..... :O))))))