Saturday, July 9, 2011

A Gift in the Mail and Birthday Goodies

I got the sweetest package in the mail yesterday from Linda at Parker's Paradise ! It was one of her ticking pin keeps ,and I love it.She  stitched Opal 1911 on it and it is darling.Perfect timing to because to day is my birthday.LOL! If you haven't been over to her blog then please be sure to pay her a visit at:
http://parkersparadise.blogspot.com .You will not be disappointed because Linda is one of the nicest people around.Thank you for thinking of me Linda! Here is a pic of my newest pin keep.

Yesterday was a good mail day. Tricia over at Hillcrest Home Prims sent me a sweet birthday card and a package of Sweet Pea flower seeds. Trish is another sweet gal .If you haven't been to visit her blog then you really should take the time . You can find Trish here :http://triciamcn.blogspot.com .She also has an online store and a little birdie told me that she will be adding new goodies to it before long.

My sister  bought me a wonderful gift a little earlier in the week and I was doing the happy  mouse dance ! She found a pair of firkin lamps and she knew I would be over the moon to have them.I LOVE firkins and wooden bowls. I will admit that I found the shades to be a bit ugly but that was an easy fix. She asked me what color are you going to paint them and was surprised when I told her I am not painting those lamps. So here are a couple pics the before and after :


 An now the after , the fabric I used on the shades is a brick and tan homespun. I couldn't get a clear picture of it.I found the fabric for a couple dollars at a second hand store.I love a good bargain. LOL!



The reason the shades seem to sit  crooked is because some dingbat took the taps off the top and forgot where she put them.I am another year older( my excuse)  and the dingbat that did it.Geez I seem to loose everything anymore. LOL! 

For the last few years hubby has been building me something for my birthday.I much prefer something he built as to something he went out and bought. One year it was my settle bench,last year it was my tv cupboard,and this year I asked for a prim sewing machine cover .Yep, I got it and love it !I have been blessed with a super hubby.He shakes his head and says no but he always comes through with things for me.
 Here it is :

Here is a closeup of the color , again I can't get a true color to show up.

The top two drawers actually open so I can store thread and things.Aren't I a lucky ducky? 

Okay I confess I bought myself a gift too.I found  a large long buttock basket at a good deal and could not pass it up.It is almost 24 inches long and 12 inches in height. I did do a makeover on it as well.It was unfinished so I stained it with Early American stain .I think it came out really nice.



After the stain :


I was on a roll so I stained another smaller basket that I had on hand.
 After the stain :

I hope that I haven't bored you to tears with all my pics today.I also want to send out a big thank you to all of my new followers and to the ones that takes the time to comment .I truly appreciate you all! Well I am off to have some birthday toast.Hope that you all have a wonderful weekend! Hugs,Jen


21 comments:

Judy said...

Happy birthday, Jen! What wonderful surprises you got! LOVE those firkin lamps,,,very unusual, like your new shades. Sounds like your hubby is a keeper! Have a wonderful day!

~Judy

Lil Raggedy Angie said...

Happy Birthday Jen! Looks like it's off to a very happy start with all them goodies! Those lamps are darling good job on the shades! That Linda well shes just so sweet to all , and Tricia is an absolute dear and her store has some awesome things in it! And I d say that hubby of yours is a gem , how very sweet of him to make such an awesome cover! Enjoy your day ! hugs lil raggedy angie

Angela said...

Happy Birthday to you Jen. Sur wish blogger had a page or something that listed everyone's birthdays and then we would know ahead of time so wishes could be on their way!!! Love those lamps and you did a great job on those shades. Love your baskets, but I LOVE the cabinet the mister made for your machine. That is one nice piece. You are a lucky girl. Love the pinkeep from Linda. She is a sweetheart. You have a great day, and celebrate !!!!

Hillcresthome Prims said...

Happy Birthday Jen!!!
Yiu sure did get a get goodie from Linda, she is so sweet and thoughtful!
I love what your sister bought you and what Hubby made came out AWESOME!!!!

Have a great day!

Lois--Huckleberry Lady said...

Happy, happy birthday, Jen. Hope you have a great day!!!!

Love all the things you received. Loved how the baskets turned out. Must try that with some I have. Was going to paint them.
You've got a keeper there!!!!

Lois

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday,Jen!
Adorable pin keep.
Love all your new goodies.
Tam

TheCrankyCrow said...

Happiest of birthdays to you dear Jen!! Wonderful gifts indeed!! I see Linda Claus Parker is up to being her wonderful sweet and generous self again! Cute pinkeep....And Tricia is another for sure sweetie! Love your new lamps and what you did with the shades....And yup, your hubby's a keeper!! And those baskets...WOW....they are perfect!! They look like true antique treasures...You did a fantastic job on them!! Woo Hoo!! Now go do something fun on your special day!! Smiles & Birthday Hugs ~ Robin

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

love that little prim pillow you received from Linda..she is the greatest...love!!! your firkin lamps and love the baskets all primmed up too..love the sewing cabinet..hubby does nice work..have a great weekend.;)

Tam said...

never heard of a Firkin Lamp but I love them, the basket look so much better stained.

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

Sweetie.you are most welcome.
I have to tell you about the name and date. My Dad is the youngest of 13 kids. He had 2 sisters, both older than him. One was Betty Jane and the other was Opal. When we were growing up, I heard all the stories about Betty Jane and Opal. I knew them through Dad's stories because they lived so far away, we almost never saw them. I can still hear my Dad reliving his childhood with them. Opal was born in 1911. That's why I put those on a pin keep. Betty Jane is out there somewhere because I mailed her off, too!
I love how you redid those lamp shades. I have 1 firkin lamp and I couldn't stand the burlap shade it came with. I replaced it with a dark red/cream checked one. Hmmmm? We must have similar tastes....
Tricia is a doll, isn't she? I got some heirloom fabric pieces from her and just love them!
Hope your birthday just keeps going on.....
Hugs()()()() ★Linda★

Shirlee said...

Happy Birthday Jen!!! You certainly did have a special one! I hope the coming year is filled with much happiness! Blessings, Shirlee

Earlene said...

Jen Happy Birthday to you and I hope you had a great day!
Did you have cake?

Mary said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jen! Sounds like you are having a wonderful one! Those firkin lamps are awesome, love what you did with the shades, I have to say they do look so much better. Linda and Tricia are both sweethearts, always bringing smiles to others. Love your new sewing cabinet...Hubby did one heck of a job on it! Enjoy your day my sweet friend! Hugssss Mary

Deppen homestead 1862 said...

Hi, Jen
Happy Be-lated Birthday~
Hope your day was wonderful!!!
Loving all your birthday goodies!!!
smiles
Teresa

renee said...

Happy belated birthday Jen!
Thanks for visiting my blog! My laptop is weird, it won't let me follow for some reason, so I'll have to get on my hubbys' computer.
I LOVE those lamps! Oh my gosh, they are cute! I like the red fabric you used!
Well~ I guess the hubby is ready to tackle the potting shed after all! What a man! I can't stand this humidity at all! LOL! Must be age! I have a milestone b-day happening in a few weeks! My poor mother~ she is beside herself about it! I am like Mom stop REMINDING me already! LOL!
Have a great day!
Hugs,
Renee

Trace4J said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR BLOG FRIEND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Hugs Trace

www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

Happy belated birthday! Great stuff. I love the lamps!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday...what wonderful gifts you have received. Love the stain on the baskets...you are truly blessed!!

renee said...

Thanks for you kind words! I am looking forward to getting better acquainted!
Renee

marie said...

Looks like you got some special treasures for your birthday ~ I love little pin keeps and I love pillow ticking! Combining the two is perfect! Those lamps are great ~ much improved with your shade transformation. I think I have a similar style lamp packed up here somewhere!
Your new sewing machine cover is awesome. Your husband did a wonderful job ~ how special these handmade gifts must be to you.

Happy birthday to you Jen.

PS. Love the basket too!

Brenda said...

Happy belated Birthday girl!! Great stuff you got!!

Brenda