Lovely People

I thought I'd mention 3 wonderful gifts I'd received lately.

Firstly, from Michael C, of www.wormspit.com.
He sent me a selection of Pony needles in a lovely little wooden needlecase (I've never had a needlecase before!).

These are very very fine needles - as Michael says in his Live Journal. Some are gold, and he gave me one gold one in each size as well!

"The tiny fine needles make less traumatic holes in the silk ground of the embroidery, allowing me to get crisp, close stitch placement. They're also a bugger to thread."

Lacis carries one size, but "The (Indian company that makes them) explained that they don't do small orders, only wholesale - but then a manager emailed me and told me that he was impressed with my silk site and my devotion to needle work, and he sent me a shipment of needles with his compliments. I was SO excited!
(have I embarrassed you, Michael?)

These will be wonderful for the finer work I intend to do in my historical sampler.

Secondly wasn't actually a gift, but me winning a stash contest from Paula Hewitt at
Beauty of Life, described at http://paulahewitt.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/blogging-dancing-naked-in-the-backyard/

- the CQ pack : some crystal organza, panne velvet (stretchy), sari fabric, threads, beads, yarns, etc.

I felt I needed to share my bounty, and gave some of the velvet to Kit after she selected colours via the phone. She's very excited to receive them in the post, and just loves the colours.
She's going to make some small bags from the pieces.

And lastly but not least, my old friend from work, Steve, gave me two books, which arrived yesterday as a very pleasant surprise.

The Medieval Flower Book is described at http://shop.bl.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/BritishLibrary/ISBN_9780712349451/87594

Here's an example page

The other book he gave me is the companion book to the exhibition we're going to in a couple of weeks at the State Library.

The exhibition is described here :

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/programs/exhibitions/kmg/2008/medieval_imagination/

And the book is mentioned here http://www.readersfeast.com.au/index_mi.html
or available for $90 pre-order on Amazon. (It's nice to have a book being more expensive in America than in Australia for once!).

It is as richly illustrated as the Codices Illustres, divided into the same thematic sections as the exhibition, containing a short history for each theme, and then at least a double page spread for each item of the exhibition, with perhaps a full page image accompanied an analysis of the subject, design and technique used.
And it's edited by Nigel Morgan and Bronwyn Stocks. (need one say more?)

Thankyou all.

And also to the many people who have provided so much advice to me