Santa was kind

I am most blessed.  Santa was SOOOOO kind to me this year, and to those I love.  If I ran down the exhaustive list of the bobbles and trinkets that landed in my lap this past Christmas morn it might even sound exorbitant or greedy, so instead I'll touch on just a few particularly relevant highlights that readers of my blog might find of interest.

First... let me just state publicly that I love, love, LOVE my husband Tim with all my heart!!  (Even when he's NOT buying me gifts, by the way.)  This year, he spoiled me positively rotten with the most amazing array of beautiful and special goodies, including one that's right up my artistic alley -- a pen & tablet, the BAMBOO FUN by Wacom.  I can't wait to get it installed and start playing around with digital illustration.  Whee!!

Second, enormous thanks to my wonderful family -- my sister, parents, and sons -- who equally spoiled me with so many personal and thoughtful gifts.  I especially love the digital frame my boys gave me; when they're out of town visiting their dad, I'll be able to watch a beautiful, ever-changing array of pictures of them and their sweet, smiling faces.  What a special gift.

Last, since I wrote about them previously and posted pictures of everything wrapped, I want to share what the fab folks at www.illustratedATCs.com sent my way via the Secret Santa mail service.  WOWZA, pretty much sums up my reaction to every last thing I received.

Kristi (merricat) sent me a gorgeous bunch of the most wonderful stuff, much of it done in a favorite style of mine -- that of Cassandra Barney, who features slender, stylized women in serene, natural settings.  So pretty, feminine, and romantic!  I was so incredibly lucky to get:

• the most unbelievably beautiful art quilt -- my first ever! -- embroidered and stitched and featuring such intricate detail, with gorgeous embellishments, ribbons, and findings.  I can't wait to find a place for it on my walls; I'm not even sure my house can do it justice, it's that lovely.  And I really don't have words to explain what a precious gift of time and talent and energy this is; I feel incredibly blessed to have received it.  "Thanks, Krist" just doesn't say enough.
  
• a pretty, pretty painting (I think I recognize it as a Barney repro) in a beautiful style, in acrylics, on a square canvas the same size as one that OY sent me (see below)
• a heaping pile of wonderful tea bags, and several squares of sumptuous chocolate.  Yum to eat!
• a popcorn gel pen.  Yum to smell!
• a pretty scarf pin made with pearly, girly buttons.  Very me!

Thanks so, so, soooo much to Kristi for these wonderful, personalized, thoughtful, and beautifully made gifts.  I'm just at a loss for words; I'm that grateful.  Here's what Kristi sent:

Sarah (Original Youth) sent me a heaping gob of incredibly fun, artistic, and beautiful goodies.  First was the Tip Top doll which I actually bought from her as a gift to myself; it's so funky and wonderful; I encourage you all to get one for yourselves!  The face is just outstanding and so depthful, with gloriously pretty eyes and really imaginative detail!  Also, I was such a lucky bugger to receive a second Tip Top -- an ornament (so cute) -- and a wonderful painting on square canvas (the same size as Kristi's -- they're a pair!), also in Cassandra Barney style.  Pretty!  OY also sent me three fantastic ATC's in that same style, framed in matte black and free-standing; they make a great display.  Really, I love them to death, girly.  I got a pedi set; edible tattoos (was that a gift for me, or for Tim???); and some paper bits and Tip Top stickers, which are darling.  Lucky me!!!  And lest we forget, Sarah is also the person who sent me theat fun & funky art doll I posted earlier.  Thanks so much to Sarah for a beautiful hug of gifts on Christmas day.

Last but not least... Robyn (chronata) sent me a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) for being the "address keeper" at iATCs.  Even though she wasn't officially a Secret Santa partner of mine, I can't feel good without posting huge public thanks for the incredible gifts she sent me.  If this is what happens when you become addy keeper at iATCs, maybe I should take on more jobs there! :)

Robyn sent:

• coffee, Life Savers, and chocolate kisses -- delish!
• a bar of handmade soap which appears to have been created by Chronata herself.  It smells scrumptious!
• a heart punch, which I'll use to death
• the cutest little felted bunny rabbit, and a special one at that -- the second feltie she ever made, she wrote.  I know how much work goes into making those so the heart behind this gift really shined through.  I love him!  And his name is Chauncey, a special name for me, because one of my pieces named Chauncey -- a skunk -- won me a huge bear industry prize a few years back.  A wonderful gift!
• a gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous framed ATC featuring a masked harlequin figure.  Beautiful!

Huge thanks to chronata for an out-of-the-blue, wonderful gift.

Did I have a gloriously gift-filled, inspired holiday, or what?!?

Hope yours was just as bountiful...!