A couple of months ago I entered a giveaway on the Decadent Housewife's blog, Daily Decadent. I love visiting her. She's very practical, down to earth, and also poetic. She is a kindred spirit. And she cooks and sews like an angel! Not to mention takes very good photos of what she cooks and sews…
I felt a little guilty for winning. She started her blog last year, and I've left comments all along (I don't remember how I found her…). I thought that someone else should win — someone newer, someone fresher.
But ha ha to them! I won.
Look at the cuteness of when you opened the package.
A sweet note, a sweet notebook….
She emailed me: “Well, I've finally got your apron cut out. I'm using a vintage tablecloth and it needed to soak for a few days and then one thing after the other happened.”
“I was actually very glad when I saw that it was you whose number I pulled. “She'll get it if I can't get this out right away,” I thought.”
— Well, yes! I'm getting something fabulous for nothing more than leaving a comment! I do understand! I'm so understanding that way…
Later: “Well – Believe it or not Ripley, your prize is done and squished into an envelope which will be in the mail when I pop over to the General Store before leaving for Town in another bit.”
This is really fun! Our own post office is the epitome of small-town life. We get our mail there, since the mail truck doesn't come down our dirt road and if I'm going to go to the end of it for my mail, might as well go another half-mile and actually talk to someone.
They are the nicest possible people, who will literally pack up your parcels for you in better boxes than the ones you brought, call you when a package comes before they close, and help you fill out passport forms. They know your box number without you telling them. They know which colleges your kids got into (because they stayed open a few minutes late to postmark the applications), and that you are sending said kids cookies and candy during exams.
But it's not in a General store.
Then followed (in the email she sent) a lot of wholly unnecessary caveats and quid pro quos regarding the handwork, which, to my gimlet eye, is perfect and quite delightful.
Not only made with the requisite flair for drama and color, it has pockets! And bias trim!! And rick-rack!!! and a vintage button!!!! And…it's made from a vintage tablecloth, contented sigh.
Is it not all you could have wished for? Thank you, dear Decadent Housewife! Go visit her and tell her how jealous of me you are!
scmom (Barbara) says
Ooooh, you lucky dog! I am jealous (but definitely not covetous!).
Pippajo says
Can I just tell YOU how jealous I am of you? Actually, I'm envious because I have absolutely no right to the apron and just want to have what is yours. But I do not resent you having it instead. So what is that? I don't know…I won something like that last year only I felt really bad because I was not a good or frequent commenter nor a long-time reader. I kind of just popped in one day, left a comment and PANG! won it!Our post office is similar to yours though we do get delivery right on our porch. Dad used to work in that office so some of the workers have even been to a few of our weddings. One of the joys of small-town life!
Crafty P says
that is just lovely and beautiful and so much fun! what a blessed lady you are today!ps. I've made some of your breakfast recipes and am typing them up as we speak. scrumptious. simply scrumptious. however will I thank you for that amazing better baking mix???? how have I survived this long without it???
Kimberlee says
What a lovely Epiphany gift to get in the mail! Such a sweet apron.
Sarah says
What an adorable apron! Congrats on winning. I love how you described your post office. There are definitely days when I wished we lived in a small town … Sigh!
Decadent Housewife says
Oh my! I was so surprised to see this in the reader this a.m. Looks so much better in your pictures. Enjoy! 🙂
patches of me says
Wonderful! You deserve it esp when you have a wonderful blog too. I once received a "squishy" in the mail – which is a small amount of fabric (about 1/2 yd) in a brown envelope – and it squishes and crunches in the envelope. Usually sent out from quilters. It was a joy to receive and I remember how excited I was. But you did SO much better – your "fabric" (vintage tablecloth, no less!), rick rack, and buttons was already made up into something special and wonderful. What a happy day! Go ahead gloat.
Sara says
Lucky, lucky, lucky! I'll have to go visit her now.
Anonymous says
Awesome, you deserve it. You are my hero. I know that sound goofy because I don't know you for real, but anyone that can devote tha kind of time you did to laundry. You know what I mean.Amy
Meredith says
What a happy gift!Thanks for introducing me to this beautiful new-to-me blog.
Anne R Triolo says
ooo! so cute! I already have an adlrable apron though…Yes people, Leila forgot to mention that she makes adorable aprons as gifts for other people, so who better to win and appreciate this gift??!