Do something nice.....

I'm completely overwhelmed sometimes by the support and appreciation that is out there in the blog world. The comments, personal stories, and thanks keep me going every day and motivate me to keep trying to create something new and better. I mean, why else would I spend my days writing up posts and tutorials for people I've never met in person? Granted I've stepped into a world where the "crazies" come out of the woodwork and for some reason would rather use their energy to try to tear people down. BUT, for every "meanie" out there in blog/etsy world there are 1000 nice, well-intentioned readers......that is a pretty great ratio which is why I think so many people enjoy blogging and sharing! (Thinking of jumping in? I love this post by Shey.)

My post today is just a small request: do something nice for someone today.

I've had a couple recent "nice" things done for me that have reminded me to do the same. I know the people that sent them probably wouldn't want them to be advertised but I want to "broadcast" how important the gestures were to me! A simple thank you never seems enough!

I had written on Facebook one day that my cheap $99 sewing machine was dying. A reader named Sharry had recently bought a new Bernina and she sent me her old machine as a thank you for giving back to Haiti. Sharry, words cannot even express how much I love this 30-year-old machine......


.....and the handwritten notes in your manual. I will treasure it and care for it like it is my child ;) This was such a generous and thoughtful gesture.....and I have someone in mind who needs my machine! (Note: mine still works.....it is just a little temperamental at times.)


Another reader, Shannon, sent me her family's new year card to thank me for my resolutions subway art tutorial which she used for her card idea. She included the nicest note on the back. It made my day.


And then there is the "orange" fairy: the elderly man who lives behind us and throws bags of oranges over the fence. Boo thinks that someone is "throwing their oranges away in our yard." Small gesture.....but it took thought and time to pick the oranges, bag them up and toss them over the fence. It made me think: here is our neighbor.......that we've NEVER met.......and he is throwing gifts over the fence. No one does things like that anymore!


So we took some girl scout cookies (the only ones left after I got to them)....and Boo painted a picture......


.....and we wrapped them up into a present and took a walk yesterday to give them to him. I think we made he and his wife's night. They wanted us to stay. He looked exactly like Mr. Fredrickson from the movie UP......hearing aids and everything....no idea how he gets those oranges over the tall fence, but he tossed another bag over to us today!