Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Kindness of Ellen and Posts of the Week

This is another scheduled post as I'll be away again for a few days starting today. I'll be back early next week to reply to comments and visit your blogs.

One day last month, a parcel arrived in my mail box. I immediately recognized the sender's name and knew what was in the box. I opened the package, easily assembled the three pieces and admired this lovely item.


So do you know what it might be?

Don't worry, I don't think I'd have figured it out either had it not been for the discussion that Ellen and I had in email a while back.

It began with this post on Ellen's blog. I commented to her about the fact that Frank got me started collecting feathers a couple of years ago. The two of us pick up feathers - just about any feather that we find unless they're in ridiculously large quantities (like at the duck pond or spilling out of a down-filled pillow) and we save them in various containers. Frank keeps the smaller ones in the lining of his hats. You might say that he's a bit of a birdbrain. I, of course would never say that.

A brief email exchange ensued and before I knew it, Ellen was so kindly offering to send me one of her beautiful handmade feather keepers. I felt honoured to be the recipient of such a wonderful gift.

If you've never visited Ellen's blog before, please do yourself a favour and check it out. She's a wonderful writer and an amazing artist who works with glass primarily, and her crafted pieces are stunning. Her art studio website showcases her incredible work, and takes you through the arduous process of glass etchings from drawing board to finished product.

If you're not already a fan of Ellen's and I know that many of you are, you will probably become one after "meeting" her today. Her art, blog or both will win you over for sure.



Here's a look at the feather keeper adorned with some plummage from my collection.

Thank you so much, Ellen. This was a generous and thoughtful gift which I'll cherish always.



And now without further delay, here are the...


Posts of the Week

The icon to the left here is yours for the taking if your blog post has been named as a Post of the Week - either as top post or as a runner up, today or in past weeks.

This week's top post goes to:


The Final Ride-along
by Sandra
at Add Humor and Faith

Other wonderful posts in no particular order are:

Memories of Home
by Kathryn
at Crystal Jigsaw

Y'cant Make This Stuff Up
by June
at Aging Gratefully

Things Are Looking Up!
by Bonnie
at Original Art Studio

Little Miss Smarty Pants
by Lori
at My Life Interrupted

Maui Wowie
by Tom
at A Pacific View

My Gramma Title
by Steviewren
at A Little Birdie Told Me So

Lake Papaiannia - The Storm
by MaggieGem
at This Life Through the Lens

Autumn Equinox
by Tammie Lee
at Spirit Helpers

Time in a Garden
by Brenda
at A Fairy in My Garden


Readers' Choice

Recommended by: Maggie Gem

If Not Now, When?

by Kat
at The Kat Eye View of the World


Please drop by their blogs for a visit and leave a kind comment if you have the time. Also, please feel free to add your own choices (for any blog except this one) for a specific blog post in the comments section below, where others can see them.

Thank you.

I'll be back tomorrow with another scheduled post

34 comments:

Kelly H-Y said...

I'm headed over to visit her right now! :-)

Frank Baron said...

Yep, she's multi-talented all right. You did well to shine a light her way. :)

Joanna Jenkins said...

A feather holder! That is the greatest idea I've heard in a very long time. Love it.

Thanks for the POTWs. I've been sick and am way behind in my reading and blogging but I'll check them out as son as I can.

Cheers, jj

Maggie May said...

That is really lovely.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Zuzana said...

Oh, I love your gift - what an unusual and enticing looking item.;)
Congratulations to everyone nominated here, I am sure these are top posts.;)
Enjoy your week dear Hilary,
xoxo

Sueann said...

I love the feather keeper! She is incredible!! I will definitely pay her a visit today! Thanks for introducing us.
Congrats to all the POTW recipients! I will check them out!
Thanks Hilary!!
Hugs
SueAnn

Sueann said...

I just realized that I have been a follower of Ellen's for months! Ha! For some reason I didn't know of her feather keepers.
Very cool!
Hugs
SueAnn

Brian Miller said...

what a cool gift...and thanks for always put such thought into those you select...enjoyed the mix...

Laura said...

Oh how wonderful! I love your feather keeper...and all of your beautiful feathers too! I will now head over to visit your friend, my curiosity is peaked!

Sandra said...

Hilary -- I'm truly honored to be your post of the week. Thank you.

Sandra said...

Hmmm. I guess it shows how excited I was to be the POTW that I forgot to tell you how great I think Ellen's feather keeper is! Although, won't Frank be a little let down when he no longer has "a feather in his cap"? ;)

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

I can feel how 'tickled' you are with your new feather keeper. Ellen sounds like a very creative and thoughtful person.

Thank you for including me in your list of POTW. I am honoured to be included in such a stellar list.

June said...

I love those! Talk about personalized art!

Thanks for the POTW mention, and thanks to slommler for the heads up. I wouldn't have gotten here to thank you so soon otherwise. :-)

steviewren said...

Your feather collection is beautiful. I love the blue jay feathers.

Thanks for adding me to the POTW list. I'm honored. I'm off to check out the rest of the recipients.

Lori said...

How sweet of Ellen to send you send you this feather holder...I will have to go check her out next...I made my rounds to your wonderful picks of the week..I am so thankful that I had this time this morning to do so. Thank you for the POTW mention..I am honored. XX

Daryl said...

Oh boy I love that .. so whimsical and yet very utile .. and another bunch of interesting blog posts to peruse ...

ellen abbott said...

Oh thank you Hilary for all the lovely things you said. It looks great with it's new headdress. And you are most welcome. What you didn't tell them was that it took about 6 months for me to get it to you.

messymimi said...

What a fascinating item! A good reminder to keep soaring.

(Although it is hard to soar with the eagles when you live with a bunch of turkeys as I do!)

Bossy Betty said...

Incredible art work! Very cool! Thanks for the suggestions for some great posts!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Well, thank you so much for the mention! I wondered what some emails were talking about when they were congratulating me. And now I know. Be safe on your trip.
Brenda

Lisa said...

You told me about this feather keeper on one of our walks at the cottage; never could I have imagined it would look like this! What an incredible piece.

Kat Sloma said...

Thanks so much to maggie gem for nominating me! I'm enjoying all of these wonderful posts of the week! :)

Nancy said...

I love this feather keeper! I also love Ellen's blog. What a thoughtful gift to a sensitive and kind blogger. :-) You deserve it!

Tammie Lee said...

such a wonderful gift from Ellen!
thank you for including my post amongst the other wonderful bloggers. I hope you are having a wonderful time away.

Dianne said...

that is so beautiful :)

Karen said...

Wow, Hilary, that's a wonderful piece! I'm going to hop on over and see her site. Thanks.

Wendy said...

Hi Hilary,
I was very impressed with Ellen's artwork. Thanks for steering me in her direction. Will go back to see the "process" and view the rest of it. And how kind and thoughtful of her to send you the feather holder. It is an unusual gift.

Will check out the posts of the week. Some of those titles look quite interesting.
Enjoy your time away.

LadyFi said...

That feather keeper is just gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

A feather keeper! What a great idea! I'll be sure to head over there for a visit, along with your other many suggestions of the week.
A visit here to you, Hilary, is always a blessing in my day. ♥

Maria said...

I'm back to POTW after a very long time....I think I got lost in the blogosphere for a while.

Nice to be back again, Hilary.

Kathleen said...

WOW! I want a feather-keeper, too. How beautiful!

Unknown said...

I've never heard of those,
how unique. I will visit Ellen..thx

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

Perfect! I haven't walked out in the woods much like I did in Oregon but this is such a pretty way to display feather treasures! I will bookmark her site cuz I hope to get back to Oregon one day.

Cheryl Kohan said...

What a beautiful piece of art...and useful, too! Ellen's creativity is remarkable. Am going to visit her blog and then check out the POTWs. I'm waaaay behind but I do enjoy them so much.