Gifted.

Many people who know me wouldn’t argue that I’m, um, gifted. Like the people who shared the ski lift with me on Monday who got to watch me somehow manage to get my ski bindings tangled as I attempted my chair dismount. And I’m calling it a dismount, because I have to think it resembled something you’d see on a gym apparatus during the pummel horse rotation. My dismount ended with me crashing to the ground with a thud – BAM! – then rising to my feet in victory. Much to the lift operator’s surprise, who thought for sure I was broken. (I think I took away one of his nine lives for sure.) Take that, Nadia!

So, yeah – I’m gifted alright. In a pathetic, poor lamb sense.

But when I returned home I was gifted in an entirely different (and better) sense. First, the lovely photo I bought from Etsy’s Victorian Bushfire Appeal arrived. Winter Tree by Julie Webb is one of many unique nature photos in this talented Canadian-based photographer’s Etsy shop. It’s perfect for my master bedroom, and anytime I can buy arts and crafts to support a great cause…well sign me up!

What I didn’t expect was the additional blank note card, and the one Julie used to write me a thank you. How lovely! And how perfect will they look framed together against the blue wall?

Her notecards are beautiful, and an inexpensive way to add a pop of color (and original artwork!) to your home.

I had also ordered a hand painted shirt from the fabulously talented Jen’s Etsy shop, The Crafty Home. Many of you here will know Jen from her equally fabulous blog, Sanctuary Arts at Home. So darn talented, that one! I had my eye on the shirt for a while, and while I was in her shop purchased a cute little black and antiqued white floral branch painting (can you tell I have a have a thing for the branch motif?).

But wait…what’s in the extra little poof of tissue paper?

Pour moi?! Thank you so much Jen! The beachscape is perfect for the shore house, and I love the sentiment written across the back:

My life is like a stroll on the beach...as near to the edge as I can get. – Thoreau

Just as long as I don’t get to near to the edge of the chairlift when by boots are stuck together, I'll be just fine.

:-)