Friday, March 19, 2010

Heartfelt Thanks for A Handmade Heart

I know I have shared the WONDER of the generosity of beautiful souls in Blogland in previous posts and today, I have to say again I have been blessed. I received this beautiful HANDMADE HEART from Sylvia of Villa Extra (Click HERE to go visit her) who lives in The Netherlands. Sylvia & I became blog friends last year when she was going down a bumpy road herself. I sent her a book that I thought would help see her through. And since then we have continued to share a wonderful friendship. I NEVER MISS A POST ON HER BLOG BECAUSE HER PHOTOGRAPHS & MOSAICS ARE AMAZING! She starting making Handmade Hearts sometime last year. Always using vintage fabrics & trims the hearts are each a piece of ART! When you visit her be sure to scroll through & see the different designs. This heart she made for me was made from a piece of a tablecloth that used to belong to her grandmother. And the stuffing for it was from one of her sons childhood toys (she loves to re purpose things in her life & I found this touching to open the toy & to put it to such beautiful use). Here is shot of this beauty outside in the sunshine & flowers. The weather is so beautiful today & is supposed to change tonight. So, I though I better get myself out into the sunshine & share some of the wonders of spring in my front garden. The HEART laying in a bed of violets under my front bench looks beautiful doesn't it?
And I had to share my favorite flowers of all Viola's or another name for them Johnny Jump Ups. They self seed themselves every year in my flowerbeds. The wind scatters the seeds so who knows where their sweet faces will be found. Imagine hundreds of these darlings smiling up at you as you walk down my front path.
This is a Lone Ranger that came up in the mulch next to the entwined branches of an ornamental hibiscus.
And here is a close up of those violets under my bench again. My friend Monica of The White Bench said these are her favorite spring flowers so when I saw them nodding at me in the sunshine I snapped a photo of them for her & Kim. Enjoy them my BDay girlfriend (hope you'll hop over to tell her Happy Birthday).
Also, I received the beautiful hand painted portrait of my sweet Reba girl from the amazing artist Violet Skiles. If you missed that post be sure & go HERE to see it. If you have a much loved pet that you would like to capture forever Violet is the girl for the job. THANK YOU AGAIN VIOLET! Have a beautiful weekend. Today it's in the high 60's & tomorrow they are calling for chances of snow. YIKES! If you don't like Texas weather... wait 5 minutes they say. Guess I'll be covering my peach blossoms hoping to save them so I'll have peaches this summer. HUGS!

27 comments:

Nan said...

That heart is just beautiful. I love it in with the violets.

Bunnym said...

Your violets are gorgeous Charlene.
I love this springy weather although here in Cali it hasn't been very consistent,,hot, cold, wind, rain,warm...kinda like Texas...except snow. Have a wonderful weekend.

tootles,
bunny

Blondie's Journal said...

I so envy those viola's! They wouldn't reseed here because of our cold weather, but I would love it. How pretty your sweet heart pillow looks amongst the flowers. How talented Sylvia is.

Now I have to go say Happy Birthday to Monica. Oh, and BTW, we are expected to have rain OR snow tomorrow! Boo hoo!!

xoxo
Janie

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Yes I so agree, there are some of the nicest people here in blogland. So generous with their time, love and talents. Your heart is stunning. What a sweet and precious gift. Love the flowers. I am so ready for some. Hugs, Marty

Hearts Turned said...

What a beautiful gift, Charlene! I love that the materials she uses have a story, too--how wonderful!

Gorgeous garden pictures! I love violets and johnny-jump-ups--yours are so lush and fabulous!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Jan Hennings said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog..I really appreciate it:)
Beautiful blog and I'm loving these beautiful viola's and the sweet pillow!

DeeDee said...

oh yeah,,, love your gift too..just lovely

DeeDee said...

Oh La la! I got stuck on her blog for a good while now....thanks so much..I like your little flowers too...so pretty..

Inspired-Simplicity said...

Charlene,
The heart is beautiful. I love the way you displayed it for the pictures.
Blessings,
Carolyn

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Dearest Charlene,

What glorious flowers here! Oh, we need to get spring started here in the mid=west, but we lead the way in COLD COLD COLD! Thank you for sharing your precious find and for coming to visit my glitter post! A crazy but wonderful addiction!!!

Have a wonderful weekend, Anita

Anonymous said...

your heart looks beautiful!
thanks for dropping by my blog, I thought I'd come take a peek at you too...

looking for your follow button...

come back anytime!
ciao bella
carmelina

sylvia said...

hugs, hugs, hugs, so many hugs for you!! And you combined the heart with my favorite flowers!! Purple violets, I am in heaven!

The Rustic Victorian said...

Hi Charlene,
It was so nice to hear from you. I have not been on the computer much lately. Moving is a thing I hope never to do again. I managed to strain my self a few times, then it takes days to recover. Getting older is hell. Looking at your violas and heart from Sylvia is a great way to start the day. The little surprises and cheer of voilets jumping up are a thing I miss from Oregon. Maybe they will grow here. I scrolled down to see the wonderful time you had with all the amazing jewelry artists, how fun.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy the Spring.
Love
Marcie

Deana Sidney said...

I love your blog! Those violets are amazing... just in time for violet jelly! What a lovely heart she made for you... blogland can be so full of good things!

Rebecca said...

Good Morning
Well I woke up to it snowing this morning here in Chicagoland but I came to your post and it felt like the first day of spring...thank you for the lift! Thank you also for stopping by and saying hello a- you left such a nice comment.
Blessings
Rebecca

Deana Sidney said...

I have had violet jelly in England... there is a recipe for it on line I am sure. It is heaven with clotted cream on scones. May I also recommend Creme de Violette liqueur. I did a blog about it last year. It is the most beautiful violet color and you can get it online easily. The scent is something and with champagne... ooh la la! Hooray all things violet!

Auntie Cake said...

That heart is so sweet and those violas! I am sure there are a couple fairies living in there somewhere. A luscious carpet!
Kate

Lisa said...

Oh how sweet! I love the violets too! Enjoy your sweet gift!
Hugs, Lisa

Susie~From My Home To Yours said...

What a lovely heart! I'm loving your violets. I used to have a lovely patch of 'em, but I've moved now. Luckily, I found some on Ebay and am anxiously awaiting their arrival!

I am also just in love with the Johnny Jump Ups...they are just so sweet and make me smile when I see them.

Blessings,
Susie

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

Can you believe we got snow! I about freaked when I looked outside this morn!

You have a charming front bed...I think I neglected to tell you that when I visited you on Tuesday. And that heart is beautiful!

Jodie (everything vintage) said...

Hi Charlene!!!!
I'm so glad Lisa sent you my way so we could "meet" before we get to Savannah! yay!!!
Sylvia's blog is beautiful and how lucky are you to have one of her beautiful hearts!!! I'm jealous ;)
Don't be stressing over the P&P swap...just let it flow and I'm sure something beautiful will appear from your hands...no doubt!
So nice to meet you Charlene, please keep in touch...see ya next month :)

koralee said...

Oh my what a thoughtful gift and one you will treasure. I will have to go visit her.
I so so love Johnny Jump Ups...they remind me of my childhood...they grew all over my grandma's lawn.
Wishing you a blessed week my friend. oxoxo

Monica said...

Oh dear Charlene!!! How sweet of you!!!!!! Thank you!
I have my garden filled with lovely pretty faces too (and yum! They smell wonderful), and the daffodils are ready to bloom! Kim wants to stay outside all day long- but only if I do too ;))
The white heart is lovely, and the portrait of Princess Reba... just amazing! Love Blogland!:))
Hugs,
Monicaxo.

Anonymous said...

Your Johnny-jump-ups are beautiful BUT here I plant them & they spread for awhile then they eventually freeze-out! Bummer!!
So-o-o-o I just plant them again!!
Great Post.....
Have a Wonderful Week!!
Love,
Marilyn
xxoo

Lynn said...

The heart is just beautiful. Especially when made with items so loved. I never thought of taking a stuffed toy apart to use in another way, but what a beautiful way to have that small part go on into something else. You Viola's look just like Pansy's to me. I have to go online and see the difference. I always loved pansy's for their little faces. As a child, I had a small garden surrounded by white birch trees. I have never been able to garden well in Florida. So much of what I truly love will not survive the heat here in summer. So many tropical plants died this year during our "cold winter" (for us it was unreal). I have to catch up with you and go back and read some more of your posts. Also going to check out the "heart blog", sounds like a beautiful place to vist and I am part Dutch.
Have a happy day!
Lynn

Michelle Palmer said...

Your Johnny Jump Ups are GORGEOUS! Such a beautiful photograph~
Great blog! :)
Wishing you all the best,
Michelle

BellaRosa said...

Charlene amor, what beautiful gifts you received! Both so loving and heart felt :) I didn't know these flowers were self sewing...maybe that is why they didn't come back this year in my rose urn?? I think mr wonderful & I pulled them out when they "died" lol Besos, Rose

ps...now I have to make a trip and get some, they look so pretty in that urn too ;)

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