A Hooker's Gift and Prairie Homeplace Blessings

Got you puzzling???  Well, it's Monday, and I'm not feeling very clever with titles yet.  (Or anything else for that matter.....)  But some special gifts have come my way lately, and I am ever so late in expressing my gratitude and appreciation, and I'm feeling guilty about that so, I need to do so - creatively or not.....

First off:  Ever heard of a hooker who gave her "goodes" away for free??? No?  Well, you've never met a hooker like my friend, Miss Margie of Hungry Hook Primitives.  She is amazingly talented with a hook and worms (no not THAT kind), as well as many other crafts.....But she's probably best known for her amazing hooking.  She recently celebrated her blogiversary in grand style by having several weeks of generous giveaways.  I was the lucky chickie who won what I think was the best gift of all.....A little chick mat or ruglet hand hooked by Margie herself:

 I LOVE me my little chicks!! And Margie's hooking is absolutely incredible....Being a (part time/sometime) hooker myself, I appreciate the amount of work that goes into each piece....But, yes, it means I can be a wee bit judgmental critical discerning too....And, let me tell you, Margie has a beautiful gift.....Her hooking is perfectly even and smooth as glass.  When I grow up, I wanna hook like Margie.....

Margie also sent me this sweet little hooked pillow keep (told you I love me my little chicks and birds!!):

(You should see the sweet little legs and feet Margie stitched on this....sorry, the photo doesn't show them well....)

And this sweet magnet that says "Life has no blessing like a good friend:"

(Yes that's a rabbit head you see; and no, I don't have all my Easter down.....Heck, I didn't even get all my Easter "up.....")

Margie also sent a beautiful card that I neglected to photograph. :o Thank you so very much, Margie ~ I can't tell you how much the gifts of your heart and hands warmed my heart....but the gift of your friendship is a gift that warms my heart and soul.  

Margie has a wonderful series of hooking tutorials on her blog (and I believe they are all G-rated.....) So if you've ever wanted to learn the "craft," pop over and pay a visit.  She also sells her yummy hand-dyed wools, rug-hooking kits, and some of her amazing finished goods on her blog also. You can also find her on Primitive Handmades Mercantile. 

*****************

So that was the "hooker's gift....." part of this post....  Now for the "Prairie Homeplace" blessings....

Besides being a part-time/sometime (ok, maybe-never-again-after-seeing-Margie's-hooking-and-feeling-woefully-inadequate) hooker, I have another secret.....It's Prairie Homeplace, a wonderful blog where the madly talented proprietress, Mary, offers up some of her amazing hand-dids.  I love, Love, LOVE what Mary does and how she does it..... 

I recently ordered this wonderful whisk broom doll from Mary:

   

Pretty dang irresistible, hey?

What's not to love? A black doll, old blue calicoes, whisk broom, socking??? Prim perfection....

Anyone who knows Mary even a wee bit knows that not only does she have a amazing talent, but she also has a heart of pure gold.  As a gift, sweet Mary also sent me this wonderful sock kitty (I have a strange addiction to little kitties made from old socks):

Isn't he adorable??

And this sweet little "Woolens" ditty bag:

Thank you so very kindly, Mary.  I adore my new treasures.... Your creative gifts - and the gifts and kindnesses of your heart - never cease to amaze me.

If you're not familiar with Mary or her Prairie Homeplace offerings, you're missing something special.  Besides her blog, Mary also offers her wonderful hand-dids on her PictureTrail and on Early Work Mercantile.