Sparkles for a New Year

At last 2008 has come to an end! While there have been happy events to be thankful for...there have also been horrible events to bring us all down. Personally, it has been a very trying year. I'm glad it's over! But, never one to stay "down" long....I'm looking forward to a brand new year....Yea!!!!! I don't know about you...but I'm ready for something sparkly and happy and fun! While I realize (and you do too) that the year ahead won't be all fun and games...we can still make it a point to count our blessings, enjoy each other, share our "stuff" and make it as happy a year as possible. We can do it. And we will!!

I'm going to start it by thinking of something that makes me smile. How about some of my sparkly things? You know, I'm kind of like a magpie...I seem to collect sparkly things...buttons, old jewelry, etc., and store them in this Nest. I love my sparkly things and from what I read in your blogs...you do too! So, I'm going to share with you a quilt and some other things that shine and make me feel good - then hopefully you will too. A great way to start a new year.

This little quilt (14 inches x 16 inches) was made for my 55th birthday by my friend, Jim. Jim belongs to my Knot group....we are called the Knot Crazy Beaders, but actually, we quilt, knit, bead, paint, and every other thing you can think of...and make crazy quilts too. Jim and I have been friends for a very long time...longer than this group has met. He's very talented as well as funny. He wanted to do something special for my birthday in 1999...and this little project is what he made. Jim has always called me the Queen of Everything.....so this quilt pretty much says it. He took a photo of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.....and put our faces in place of theirs. Sometimes Jim calls me the Queen of Everything through gritted teeth (we manage to have a few little disagreements here and there)...so I'm not sure he was in a totally great mood when he chose WHICH picture of me he would use. This photo of my face isn't all that complimentary, but to be honest, I've not ever seen one that was. I just have "one of those" faces. Anyway, it IS me! I notice Jim looks just fine in his photo. Whatever the choice of photo...I laugh whenever I look at this quilt.

Jim has decorated the quilt with all kinds of flea market jewelry.....sparkly indeed! I even managed to find a crown button to sew on over the crown which was in the photo.....it's a pretty nice crown button and it amazed me that it was exactly the width needed to fit on top of my head!!! More sparkles!

In another photo, you can see several sparkly things below the quilt....these are some of my "jewels." Some of them have their own photo. A tiara. It's a really nice sparkly thing. Several years ago, Jim and I happened to be teaching quilting classes at the same event in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Before my class started, he brought me this tiara and said since I was the Queen of Everything, I should wear it throughout the class....I did. We got lots of laughs out of that experience.

There is an antique black net dress yoke that has beads and "jewels" sewn all over it. It is so beautiful and very fragile. I probably should do something with it and frame the piece as it certainly wouldn't be able to last through anything where it would be worn. I have no idea what to do with it, but something will come to me one of these days. It is very pretty and I wonder what garment it came off of...as I know it was removed from a garment. (Wouldn't I have loved to have the rest of it!!)

There is a pink business card holder that says Queen. You will have to click on the photo to see it larger. It was given to me by my daughter, Kelly. It's a terrific thing.....all shiny, pink and with a finish so clear you can use it to look in and put your lipstick on. Speaking of business cards, Kelly also helped me design my cards. These use the same quilt that we used to create the banner on this blog.

There is a variety of old buttons, pins, broken jewelry, beads and "whatnot" that I have gathered from the local flea market. The newer beads I find at various places such as Hobby Lobby and Michaels. I get such a kick out of finding this kind of stuff. I'm telling you...I work in a Nest...I'm a magpie!!

Then, there is a photo of my hand and I'm wearing a crown and heart ring. I've had this a long time and rarely wear it. But, it too is sparkly and makes me smile. I bought it long ago because certain folks call me the Queen and because I tend to put a heart on just about everything I make. I'm sure it was meant for me.

So, some "sparkly" fun things to look at on New Year's Eve. A brand new year coming in a few hours. Hope for a brighter day! I'm going to enjoy looking at these things tonight......and thinking of all the wonderful things that are going to happen to YOU and to ME in the coming year. I will look forward to hearing from you and sharing with you.....and I'll be wishing you the happiest and most glorious year yet! Stay safe, warm and happy and have a wonderful NEW YEAR!!! Pat