A Gift and a Shift

Miss Bonnie's best friend is getting married over the weekend so I thought I'd share with y'all what I made for the happy couple.  Jessica loves browns and golds, she loves animal prints, and she loves contemporary, so I decided to make this initial picture. I always make my own gift bags ~ I have so much fun doing them!

Here's what I'm wearing to the wedding. As you can tell by my dress I am SO ready for Spring!  I'm playing it safe, and bringing a little shrug sweater.

Shoes I got on SALE!!  Don't you love those words?????  Now I have to paint my toes to "spiffy" up my old winter white feet.

Speaking of weddings, when I give a wedding gift I like it to be something "personal," not just some little thing off the registry.  From our wedding 28 years ago, I still have a few very special items that I cherish.  Sheets and toasters get torn and broken, but something handmade lasts a lifetime. 

Whenever I think of special wedding gifts I have to think of my sweet Mama.  Her most cherished wedding gift was a large decorated bowl. I don't know if it was because she was in love with the pattern, or if it was because it was given to her by her best friend ~ whatever it was, MAMA LOVED THAT BOWL!  EVERY time, and I mean EVERY time we had a special dinner we would always have to use this bowl.Early on Mama referred to it as the "potato salad" bowl, and the name just kind of stuck.  No matter what we were having, it was still referred to as the "potato salad" bowl. 

Mama kept it up on the top shelf of the cabinet for safety, and we were instructed to NEVER, EVER touch it unless she was around.  Whenever my sisters or I would go to reach for the bowl Mama would always say, "y'all be careful with that bowl....Mary Ellen gave it to me when your Daddy and I got married (insert correct number of years) ago."  She made us so nervous about dropping the bowl that none of us ever wanted to be the "one" to get it;) 

Mama and Daddy were married for 51 years when he passed away.  What I wouldn't give to be back in the kitchen with my Mama, cooking together, all the while worrying about dropping the potato salad bowl....... 

I know this is a totally random post, but it got me to thinking about what my most treasured wedding gift was ~ it wasn't the most expensive or fanciest gift my any means, as a matter of fact, it was handmade, too.  I'll show mine tomorrow, and if y'all wouldn't mind, I'd love to hear about (and or) "see" your's, too!

Much love,
Susan P.