Thursday, January 16, 2014

Sharing a Little Birthday Booty: JCrew Cashmere T in Verdigris, jewellry, something very special


Hi all!

It was a splendiferous day yesterday.  It was warm and sunny and could walk the dog with only little cashmere gloves on, which made me almost giddy.

I will take this January thaw, as it is always followed by a January deep freeze!

I had coffee with good friends, I got two chapters rewritten and I helped a friend.  Really - can you ask for anything more from a day than that?

I also wanted to share my birthday booty for those of you who might be interested. 

One of the gifts, the J Crew Cashmere T in verdigris, has been a box under the bed since November. 

And you say I have no willpower!  Well actually, you don't say that, I say that!

I picked it up on a promo/40% off sale and I am glad I did - it is lovely colour:



I think I am staring at my daughter in this picture...

I also got a lovely necklace from my son's girlfriend.  This is the only close-up I have and that is my son's finger and no, I am not impressed.



I genuinely did try to be a good mother....

I also got a lovely bracelet from my kids:



A beautiful bangle, made from a twig mold, with a lovely little crystal charm.  I just love it!

And my last present, is, I admit, my favourite:



Barry purchased the original artwork that was done to accompany my article in the Globe and Mail.  It is so gorgeous and vibrant in real life!  I know the Barry club is going to be all over that!

The talented artist, whose name is Miko Maciaszek, was happy to sell it to him and wrote me a lovely note:



I was so touched, and if you go on his site, you can see some of the original drawings associated to the final piece that was used.

So yesterday morning, I trotted off to my favourite Framers, Joy of Framing, and together we have come up with a lovely way to present this very lovely and very meaningful piece of art.  I can't wait to get it back in a couple of weeks.

I only hope that this is just the beginning of a long career and the framing of many book covers and the like!

So really, I could not have asked for a nicer birthday.  It has been a great week so far!  Now I am off to go through scarves....Only 50 more items to get rid of!

What are you up to this fine Thursday???

Stay safe out there! 

59 comments:

  1. While I hate to be negative, I rank the very cute J Crew cashmere (40% off barely gets my attention) a distant 3rd behind the gorgeous twig mold bangle & Miko artwork/note, Either way it's a great haul,

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    1. Jimmy, I would completely agree with you! That sweater is not in the same league at all!!!

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  2. You have received beautiful gift, but the original art work from your husband is such a beautiful and profound gift. You have a lovely man by your side Wendy.

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  3. And the Barry club slowly gathers, starts a slow hand clap and then cheers for Bazza! What a great idea and something to treasure for ever.
    Lunch with mum today, nowhere is ever good enough unless it serves champagne and costs £100 a head - we are going for a coffee and a sarnie in a local cafe - I can see her lip curling already.

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    1. Yay for lunch with Mum. She is a champers kind of girl as we all know, but you tell her she survived the war, she can survive coffee and a sarni!

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    2. Ooh, she wouldn't go, it wasn't good enough for her, what a little madam! Wish I had seen this comment, what a great line.

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  4. Three cheers for Barry! What lovely presents! The verdigris is a gorgeous colour and I love the bracelet and necklace. The finger cracked me up!
    The picture is such a lovely present, so thought ful

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  5. I think art is a most wonderful gift. And this particular piece is so meaningful to you. Your man is a treasure!

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    1. Jen - I completely agree! And he will love being called a treasure!

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  6. You are so lucky to have Barry! I recognized that picture immediately so it is already associated with your article :) I like the styling for you necklace - sorry but I laughed! much better than some styling some catalogues do Wendy - but then again I am quite immature at times...

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    1. Of course you have a fabulous eye! As for the necklace styling - well he is almost 19 and needs direction so I will send him right over to you and you can help him break into the fashion styling business! Or get in trouble together!

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  7. Aw, you are number one in your son's book! Love everything. How very thoughtful and proud Mr. Barry is towards you and your accomplishments. Nothing like having true love in your corner.

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  8. Oh Barry outdid himself, top that George! I told you he can write a book for boyfriends and husbands. Everything looks wonderful but most important, I can feel the love behind all those gifts. I thought your son was showcasing the necklace at first (a la The Price Is Right). He's one naughty boy.

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    1. Marie, I thought that too till I saw which finger it was...

      Yes Barry is a keeper!

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  9. Wendy, the artwork is really, so gorgeous, and your article that it accompanied was even lovelier. A great birthday and an exciting year ahead for you!

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  10. You were spilt rotten Wendy!
    Gorgeous green jumper. Lovely necklace. Your bangle reminds me of the Bois de Rose collection by Dior. And the artwork is the piece de resistance!

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    1. Hi Curator! The bangle is from a local jewelry firm which is now defunct. All handmade locally, so very special!

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    2. Argh! Predictive text! That should have read spoilt rotten!

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  11. Lovely lovely! Standing ovation for Barry, what a gorgeous man he is!
    Laughing at the finger, I have an ole rascal so I understand. That green is fab on you too, stunning with your hair and skin.
    I had a mani-pedi yesterday but now it's down to brass tacks for a pre-tax filing meeting with our finance guy today. Oh joy oh rapture. As soon as it's over I'm going to treat myself by taking photos for a colour story!
    Enjoy your day darling!

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    1. Oh I love a colour story! I did scarves last night and will likely have something to say about scarves in next few days!

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  12. Barry the wonder came through! He is such a gorgeous, thoughtful person!
    Happy birthday, Wendy!

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  13. Hope you've alerted the framer to the possibility of book jacket art...

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    1. Not yet! I am still (literally) meditating on that! But I will say that the book gets better and better and better, thanks to some great feedback, and also thanks to me just learning and getting better! I am working on my Gladwell 10,000 hours!

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  14. What a wonderful gift of the artwork. I'm not sure if you thought about it but perhaps the framer could incorporate the artist's note on the reverse side of the frame. My children with their love of crude humor and potty mouths would approve of son's finger. Barry did so good! I hope he doesn't read all these glowing comments today or his next DIY project will be enlarging the doorframes so his growing head will fit through!

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    1. SC - we are soul sisters! That is EXACTLY what he's doing!

      He has some unfinished business around here, that keep him humble and his wife nagging...

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  15. What a fabulous present - three cheers for Barry! Also love the jewellery gifts, and the cashmere looks so lovely on you. Happy Birthday - I think you have an amazing year ahead of you!!

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  16. Oh Barry, you have done it again! What a wonderful and thoughtful treasure. Art is always a great gift, but when it has so much meaning behind it, even better. I love the bracelet, necklace and gorgeous green sweater as well! It sounds like a divine birthday, I'm so glad. :)

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  17. We had dismal rainy weather on your birthday in the New York area. I was hoping that you were having a better day and I am glad to hear that it was a lovely day for you. The family did great jobs with your gifts. What a wonderful momento the artwork will be hanging proudly in your home! Also good job on the streamlining . I think it is a difficult task for those of us who love our treasures. Keep up the good work on the acquiring side of the coin. I have vastly improved my shopping habits as well during the last month.

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  18. A belated Happy Birthday Wendy! Sounds splendiferous indeed!

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  19. You did really well Wendy! What a thoughtful gift from Barry - he deserves all the accolades! I'm assuming that your daughter was the driving force behind the gift of the bangle - it's very lovely.

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  20. I've been offline out of town so missed the birthday celebration but wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! It sounds like you had a wonderful day and like very one else, I think your presents were all so lovely but the art piece really takes the cake. And I have to say, at 51 your skin is such that I totally envy it at 35, so you have definitely got a good routine going there!

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  21. Lovely gifts! Barry is so thoughtful:)

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  22. Fantastic!! Such a wonderful gift and I'm so so glad you are the owner of the lovely & meaningful piece! All the other gifts are lovely! Have three big boys...so I know their 'sense of humour'!! Off to get my sister & her little darlings, who'll be here for 10 days! We're going to have FUN...I needed an excuse to rewatch some of my fave Disney movies!

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    1. Thanks Rebecca! I am actually trying to watch Brave and Tangled before we go - not familiar with them at all!

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  23. What lovely presents - and that green is such a great color! The artwork is beautiful - please post photos when it's framed! :)
    Have to get through work, then home to do laundry and pack - tomorrow afternoon off to Vermont and then NYC.

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    1. Oh have a fantastic trip! Two of my favourite places!

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  24. Barry is such a sweetheart but you deserve him! I agree that these are thoughtful gifts. Did your son do the finger before or after Elizabeth Moss on the E! red carpet special (not sure E! broadcasts in Canada so not sure if you saw it)?
    I went to a movie with my best friend. It doesn't get any better than that for me especially if the movie is such a good one like "Gravity"!

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    1. I loved Gravity! Yes, Barry is a pretty good guy!!!!

      I did see E! We love watching the pre-shows!!!

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  25. Stunning picture, so very free and the green is lovely. At first the rock on the side looks like she has cast off her coat.Could you add in link of your article in the Globe and Mail, would love to read it. PLus your son is clever with his hand modeling-styling. Talking of green that sweater is perfect colour on you, lucky birthday girl.

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    1. She has taken off her coat! I thought it was apropos as I had been known to disrobe now and then!

      the link is http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/facts-and-arguments/i-was-holding-my-dying-fathers-hand-when-my-blackberry-buzzed-i-answered-it/article16125073/

      I have another article I am working on, but not sure where I will send that one. Am trying to break through on many fronts! The great thing is that the article was the number one viewed article in the Globe and Mail the week is was published!

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  26. Your husband is so thoughtful. The other gifts are nice too!

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  27. Of course Barry's gift reigns supreme. Tell him I said that.

    Happy Birthday month, Wendy :)

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  28. Ooops, I'm a day late to wish you wish you happy birthday. I'm glad that you had such a lovely time. CONGRATULATIONS!

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  29. Barry for the win! What a fantastic gift! That cashmere tee looks great on you too. :)

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Kindness is a virtue...