Birthday Gifts: A Glimpse into My Life

I am declaring this Birthday Week at Alliwell Studios. While my birthday has already passed (mark your calendars for April 17 next year), I’ve been thinking a lot about birthdays lately. I felt very cared for and known this year and thought I’d share a little bit about myself in the form of some gifts I received. All of these presents have been a delight to me. I can’t wait to use each one of them and together they tell a sort of story about my life these days.

My sister gave me a collection of books including The Dressmaker’s Technique Bible, Take One: 80 Structural Design Ideas, Wreck This Journal, and 25 Kites That Fly (she got that one at the Fullerton Library sale). She also subscribed me to my fave glossy: ReadyMade Magazine.

Hayley gave me my very own copy of Fran Bigelow’s Pure Chocolate. I’ve enjoyed some of her recipes myself, some vicariously through this dear friend, and I’ve dreamt about others. I’m excited to not only try them out but learn more about the ever-enigmatic substance that is chocolate.

Knowing that I have envied her side of our yard for a year now, Melissa delighted me with white Iceberg rose bushes for my little flower bed. They were gorgeously blooming when she brought them over and now I’m anxiously waiting for round two of blooms.

To support my growing love of power tools, my brothers- and sisters-in-law gave me a Dremel 300 Rotary Tool. I’ve been stumped about what to use it for first. I’ve got to come up with a project that requires some intricacy. I’m often a slap-it-together kind of gal but my projects can now be much more precise with this addition to my tool collection (yes, I have a tool collection).

With some coaxing from Tim, my parents gave us tickets to what promises to be one of the best nights of my life. This coming Saturday, we’re headed to Ojai for the meal of a lifetime at Outstanding in the Field. It is a traveling restaurant that takes place on farms across America. They’ll have a regional chef, locally-sourced food, and a table for 200 people in the middle of a field. Doesn’t it sound amazing?!?!

I also received a spectacular gift from Tim and my in-laws. They gave me a Brother Serger! I can’t believe it. I’ve loved dabbling in the little bit of sewing I’ve pursued but I feel like my world of projects is now wide open. I’m sure I’ll just be serging all the time. In fact, I am probably serging something right now as you’re reading this.

Thoughtful gifts have always been very special to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not just a material girl. Good gifts just make me feel known and loved. I’m thankful that I was blessed so much this year on my birthday with well-wishes, cards, phone calls, friendship, …and this great stuff!

Tags: books, Chocolate, dinner party, dremel, Gardening, kites, outstanding in the field, power tools, projects, Roses, serger, sewing