A Grande Birthday

Well *slight cough* Had a small rant yesterday, being slightly out of sorts due to illness on birthday & wotnot. However, I had some family round for the day yesterday, and seeing some other actual human beings, in person, was quite refreshing.

They also brought gifts.

My darling aunt Margaret, my mum's sister, made me these beautiful little wrist warmer things.

 

  

They are hand made from merino wool and some other wool called Finn, as far as I can tell from her little label. Margaret "does" all her own wool and other fibres - spinning it, treating it, dyeing it, knitting it, etc. So when I say these are hand made, I really mean it.

She also MADE these exquisite fingerless gloves.

  

  

I am quite in love with them. These are knitted in silk, rabbit, and camel. Don't ask me how. But they are the softest things I have ever touched. They permanently look as though they're in soft focus.

 

 

  

 And speaking of making things, my beloved, Jay, made me this beautiful card

 

  

Inside is a picture of us having tea

  

Which is quite fitting really, because with the card came a booking for afternoon tea at the Hotel Windsor in Melbourne! Something I have wanted to do for years. I shall wear my best hat.

And possibly I shall take my new parasol as well, also a gift from my beloved.

  

  

The colours are a bit off there... this is the true colour

  

 I received a new bag for the occasion as well. I did feel spoiled!

 

 

And a new travelling case! My beloved knows me well.  

 

  

 The most exciting and not entirely unexpected item, was my new sewing machine. 

Hello, gorgeous.

 

This is the Janome MS5027LE. For each machine sold a donation is made to support breast cancer research. You can see more here

 I come from a family of sewists & creatives. My mum made a padded cover for the machine

 

And this nifty little kit to go with it. 

 

 

  

So, after a bit of attention, some presents, a lot of pills and the first good nights' sleep I've had in a week, I'm starting to feel better. I'm on holiday from work this week so I'm hoping by the end of the week to be well enough to go shopping & get out of the house for a few hours. In the meantime I have some new toys to play with!