Thanks to everyone who has sent virtual hugs and kind thoughts this week – I’ve made the changes that I needed to make and I’m moving on with my life now. I’ll tell you all about it when I’ve had a bit of time to mull things over.
My week is, however, ending on a high note – I’m having a day of baking and crochet and I’ve just received the most wonderful parcel from Australia.
For months now I have been visiting Anne Lawson’s virtual shop and trying to choose a painting to buy. I really wanted one of her feathers, but I dithered and couldn’t decide which one. And then a couple of weeks ago she offered to make any of her blog readers who asked a little sketch book – how could I resist? Sending something all the way from Australia seemed a big ask, but then I realised that if I bought a painting, I could pay for the painting and for the postage for it and cover the cost of sending the sketch book.
So, after much more dithering a I chose a fabulous feather: toffee-coloured and created with a combination of watercolour paint and coloured pencils. And this morning this arrived:
My parcel
As you can see, I even managed to curb my excitement long enough to photograph it before it was unwrapped!
The little bundle made me smile so much. The feather picture is beautiful and simple and will be on its way to be framed in the next day or two (I have plans to decorate my work room with art and crafts from my friends from around the world), there was a lovely card with a message from Anne and there was the sketch book – hand-stitched and made from watercolour paper with some of Anne’s work already on it (including more feathers). But what about the cover? A fabulous rooster adorns the outside. What a special gift. Thank you Anne… now I just need to decide what is going to go in my very special book.
and so my spirits are lifted… light as a feather and ready for the next journey…
The Snail of Happiness 
Kate
/ February 20, 2015Beautiful. Wonderful drawings. 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 20, 2015They really are lovely… and she’s a very talented botanical illustrator too.
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Kate
/ February 20, 2015I have tried botanical illustration but I’m not patient enough… Anyone who does it are fantastic draughts people. 🙂
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Map of Time
/ February 20, 2015Hugs and hope things look up a thousand times more and soon. 🙂
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thecontentedcrafter
/ February 20, 2015What lovely gifts! I hope your weekend is filled with many uplifting moments! I’m sure your wall will soon be covered with colour!
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narf77
/ February 20, 2015What lovely artwork Ms Snail. A little waft of Aussie summer to warm the cockles of your heart. Glad to hear you have put your changes into place and that life will move on now. Always good but never easy. LOVE that feather by the way. As my good mate Mary Poppins would have said ‘Practically perfect in every way’ 🙂
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katechiconi
/ February 20, 2015Isn’t her work beautiful, so meticulous and detailed, but free and delicate at the same time. Dear Snail, I hope the changes will not continue to cause you stress, and that you will have happiness and peace very soon.
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anne54
/ February 20, 2015I am so pleased that my little parcel lifted your spirits. And what a wonderful idea to have a wall of art works from friends around the world. (But don’t forget to add one of your own lovely yarn works of art.) Hugs to you. X x
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 21, 2015Sorry I got over-excited about writing a blog post before I sent an e-mail to thank you! This morning, I took it to be framed… so looking forward to hanging it in my work room.
Thank you again and again ❤
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KerryCan
/ February 21, 2015It seems only fitting that you should RECEIVE lovely things in the mail sometimes, given how many you send to others. Anne is so talented!
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Lori Fontanes
/ February 22, 2015Feathers are great for lifting birds…and spirits! 🙂
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katythenightowl
/ February 22, 2015What a wonderful gift for you, Jan 🙂
I am always awed by those who have such an amazing gift like this – it must be so satisfying to be able to recreate something in such a life-like way 🙂
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thegrangerange.wordpress.com
/ February 24, 2015Simply gorgeous.
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