full(ish) disclosure . . .

Since I celebrate my birthday pretty much for the entire month of October, it probably won't surprise you that birthday gifts come in over the course of the month, too.  This year I got some really lovely *quilty, stitchy* gifts, and I wanted to share those here!

I think I already shared that Joc and her crew got me a 16.5" Creative Grids square ruler, but I'll share again, because Edith is so cute . . .

She couldn't for the life of herself understand why this made a good birthday present, much less why it made me so happy. But she proudly paraded it around!

And I shared that Todd had gotten me the 10.5" square ruler, but he also got me a lovely wool applique book:

Very fitting that there are pumpkins on the cover, no? He knows me so well!

Lots of lovely, wonderful patterns inside. This will keep me busy for a while!

The Panter crew sent me Kathy Schmitz's Tiny Treasures, along with a bag of Samovar's Masala Chai (not pictured). 

I've wanted the book for a while ... it's filled with so many sweet little embroidery patterns! And the Masala Chai by Samovar is the best chai I've ever had.  Perfectly blended spices to give it a warm, full-bodied flavor.  It's the epitome of a fall tea for me!

My darling friend Gail gifted me with an Etsy gift card.  I put it to good use pretty quickly!

One kit and three patterns!  (Not pictured is the pattern for the Jack-O-Lantern placemats!)  The wool Thanksgiving bowl fillers are the next season project I think I'll tackle.

My sweet friend Sarah brought me three spools of yummy, gorgeous perle cotton and a spool of shiny, pretty green that just reminds me of pumpkin vines, winding their way in and around the pumpkins in the field . . .

What's funny is that these colors all work just perfectly for the next Hospital Sketches block I'll work on.

I mean, right??!

And dear Janet (Rogue Quilter) send me a lovely package that smelled so good before I even opened it! Some of her handmade soaps (which I treasure), some Hot Cinnamon Spice tea (another fall/winter favorite of mine!), and Pocket Prayer Quilt made in my favorite colors!!

Isn't that so sweet? I love the pocket prayer quilt — it has a cross between the batting and the cotton, so as you hold it, you feel the shape of the cross. Such a powerful, thoughtful gift!

Today is cold, dreary, grey and wet, so no boating.  I spent some time in the Nook this morning piddling around and cleaning up after the barrage of projects (the Trick or Treat bags, the placemats, and hemming costumes).  Then I came in and had some tea . . .

Yeah.  The day calls for a POT of tea, not just a spot of tea.  ;)

Sunday I'm participating in the Halloween Trick or Treat blog hop sponsored by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching!  Should be lots of fun. Each participating blog shares a letter that forms a secret phrase! You hop 'round the blogs in order, gather the letters, cipher out the phrase, and report it back to Jo! Doesn't that sound like fun??

Happy Friyay!