We all need a little unexpected treat now and then, don’t we? This, as you know, has been a bit of a worrisome week for us; especially for me, the Chief Worrier at Mockingbird Hill Cottage. So when Don came home from the Post Office on Thursday with a package for me from my friend and fellow miniature enthusiast, Barbara, I started smiling, which I suspect hasn’t been happening all that much of late.
Barbara had recently been to a miniature show and had asked if she could send me a little something she found there for me. Of course!
It turns out Barbara had also been setting things aside for me, so when I opened the box I gasped at the treasure trove inside. Actually, I’m sure I gasped more than once.
This is a picture heavy post. I hope you don’t mind. But with minis, if you simply group them together in one photo, they become indistinct. Besides, I wanted to play with an idea I’ve seen on Brae’s blog. She often uses scrapbook paper to back a temporary scene in which she displays new minis. Since the Top Secret Project is relatively unencumbered by furniture at the moment, I found a piece of scrapbook paper and tried my hand at photographing things in this new way. Eventually, I want to get a room box that I can use for just that, as well as playing with miniature scenes.
Don: Stop Right Here. Go No Further!
First up, a lovely little tin. (KristinaBears/Etsy)
And a tray. (Miniatyrmama/Etsy)
A beautiful wooden trunk, which opens like this:
(From VictoriaMiniLand)
Beautiful beads which can function as mini pottery.
A beautiful crocheted throw.
Yummy food.
Fabric.
Rugs.
And more rugs.
Two beautiful vases.
Eeek! Two Fiesta pitchers. (I have some real-sized ones in the cottage.) I used to collect vintage Fiesta and that collection evolved because I initially fell in love with the Art Deco look of the pitchers. The pitchers and vases were made by I.G.M.A Artisan Janice Crawley. Gorgeous.
And for the Top Secret Project:
A beautifully made guitar! Oh boy. (Made by LALittleArtist on Etsy.) I think I’ll be ordering another one…this is far better than the ones I’ve been looking at online.
Beatles posters. Don is going to love these!
And Beatles albums! (from LCMinatures/Etsy)
Some of these treasures will go in Caroline’s house. Some will be saved for a future build. Some, obviously, will go in the Top Secret Project. I will almost certainly use a couple of the rugs there because recording studios often have rugs to help with the sound.
Oh my goodness. Barbara: you have spoiled me. Thank you for your incredible gift. I showed Don a lot of it, though not the items for the TSP. He gasped, too!
I don’t deserve it all, but I am thrilled, nonetheless.
As if you haven’t seen enough photos, I’ll show you where I put some of these pieces in Caroline’s house.
For now, the Fiesta pitchers are on these shelves. That may change.
The blue vase is in the cabinet in the den.
The tray is on the bed.
The throw is on the sofa in the den.
And the green vase is on the coffee table.
Looks awfully cozy in there, doesn’t it?
I had such fun opening each little gift, then photographing them yesterday and finding places for some of them in the dollhouse.
Thank you, Barbara.
Book Review on Just Let Me Finish This Page today: Simon Brett’s cozy mystery: Mrs. Pargeter’s Principle.
Happy Saturday.
Simply charming! (It’s fun to see that Caroline enjoys a glass of “liquid refreshment” now and then!)
She does. I sometimes hear the clinking of glasses coming from her house. I wonder who she’s entertaining?
You are one VERY lucky gift recipient!
How’s the rain? A lot?
I am incredibly lucky.
It rained all night, but not all that heavily. Since the hurricane is headed out to sea, we dodged a bullet!
Wow! You are certainly blessed, Claudia. Beautiful things.
I am, indeed. Thank you, Sharon.
What a wonderful surprise! I am glad it made you smile and guess what, it made me smile also. Love the Fiesta pitchers and vases and the tray and the throw and the rugs…wait, I love it all.
hugs,
Linda
What’s not to love, right? xo
Fun Little gifts! Here’s an easy DIY for you, an addition to the Beatles albums—the ‘White Album”. It could double as a conversation piece: Guess-what-this-is. Oh, I’m sooooo witty, sometimes…
Great idea, Shanna!
Just delightful!
I think that was as much fun for us as it was for you, Claudia.
Thank you, Barbara!
I sure hope Barbara reads this post today, Nancy!
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery….and I suspect that Caroline loves your style! The reason I say that is so much of her decorating mimics yours!!!! I don’t know if you have noticed that ??
Those vases look so much like your McCoy pieces!! What amazing and thoughtful gifts. Opening a package like that can turn a week around, can’t it?? I love the idea of the beads as decorating pieces. A great imagination is surely a wonderful gift. Have fun!!
I have noticed that – everyone needs a mentor of sorts, don’t you think?
I am curled up reading on Caroline’s sofa with the afghan wrapped around me….. It’s a cold & wet day in New England so I can’t think of a better place to be! Thank you Caroline for having me over.
Lucky you! Caroline doesn’t always have people over, Luanne! Enjoy!
What fun to share in your bounty, Claudia! Barbara must be one special person. Hope the distraction of the goodies and placing them in Caroline’s cottage chased some of the ho-hums from you. Have a better smiling weekend.
It helped a lot. Love minis and love putzing around with them – in the dollhouse and outside the dollhouse!
As a long time collector and former dealer of vintage Fiesta, I must say I absolutely squealed with excitement when I saw the 2 miniature Disk Pitchers. They are so wonderfully cute! I will now have to find out how to contact the artist to add a Fiesta mini to my collection!
You must get some. They are amazing!
Oh my gosh…Barbara you have such good taste…I bet Caroline is so excited over her new pottery and other lovely things…I think Don is going to flip when he sees all of that Beatles stuff!!…Enjoy Claudia…and thanks for sharing it with us…
He will definitely flip, Nancy!
What a wonderful gift you received! And the fact that it made you smile….all the better! Enjoy your Saturday! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae. You, too!
What beautiful and incredibly kind gifts! I have said it before, but bloggers really are the nicest people aren’t they! I love the little trunk with the lift out tray, that is gorgeous and of course I love the crocheted throw!! All very lovely!!! xx
They sure are the nicest people, Amy!
Lucky Caroline! I see the potential for a lovely friendship between Caroline and the new denizen in the TSP. Everything’s adorable.
Update from the Outer Banks of North Carolina: flooding across the roads, and lucky for us, we headed home yesterday, one day early and glad that we did so despite the sheeting rain pouring on us the entire way home. My lawn is downright intimidating here, the grass is so high. Today is a good day for a fire, a book, 2 cats, and tea. Thanks for sharing the photos!
Stay dry during those torrential rains, Dana! Glad you’re safe and warm.
All I can say is Wow, love all the miniatures you’ve received. What a generous and kind friend to send you all of those things. I think Caroline has more dishes in her hutch than I do. Love the Beatle minis and the guitar for Don too. Collecting miniatures look like so much fun, lovely post!
It is a lot of fun, Diane. Barbara is very generous, indeed.
That was so nice, such wonderful little gifts.
hugs
I’m very lucky, Nancy. Everything is wonderful.
I was so excited to see your post today. Our daughter is visiting and we went estate sale-ing and I bought a miniature dollhouse to rehab! I can’t wait to start working. Your inspiration and vision is my catalyst. Since I don’t have a blog I plan on using my Instagram account for posting progress. Thank you again for all the work and effort you put into your work. Stay dry this weekend! Blessings.
Yay for you! How exciting, Tracy! I can’t wait to see your progress!
HOW ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS!!!! This post has put a Big Smile on my face too! :D I love it when I see this kind of “JUST BECAUSE “, gift happens between people, because it affects not only the one who gives and the one who receives but all of us who get to witness, and share in the joy of this special moment. Well done Barbara! :D
It really is the most lovely thing that happens, Elizabeth! I can share it with all of you, I can thank Barbara publicly, we can all take delight in everything. It’s simply wonderful!
You deserve every bit of it. Beautiful things sent from a special friend.
Mere
They sure made a difference in a tough week, sister. xoxo
Claudia, thank you for giving a “shout out” to the various Etsy vendors. I think it’s really important to support these talented artisans. I’m glad you liked the Fiesta pottery – I only wish you could have attended the show and sale with me.
I’m a bit taken aback by all the comments today. My goodness, I think you have started an informal mini club within your blog! Claudia, I thank you for sharing, for initiating really good discussions, for all you do. And everyday, no less. You’re the best!
By any chance Barbara, are you in Canada? I just attended a miniature show and sale a couple of weeks ago and bought a blanket just like that one (recognize the color but I bought a different shade) and several other items. It’s our favorite event each year – we save all our little pennies and by the time the show comes, we have a tidy amount to splurge on items for our dollhouses. What great items you chose for Claudia!!
Barbara may not see this, Chy – but yes, she is in Canada.
How charming! Such a lovely and generous gift!