Friends.. Precious Friends!

My friends are turning me mushy. Let me explain. First, someone whose name translates to 'Beauty' in Sanskrit (and many other Indian languages). She lives in Europe. Besides being a brilliant engineer, a licensed micro-plane pilot, a 'thinker' and a 'shocker', she is into paints - oils and acrylics. It's her birthday in May. I designed and knit a simple tube for her in a funky green and shipped it as a birthday gift for her. Here is the tube:
And look now - birthday gal in zany green. Happy Birthday dear!!

And the best part: She's declared it the best birthday gift ever. That's HUGE!! I'm overwhelmed and that's an understatement.

Then there is my friend who I met up with recently. She is in the Bay Area on business travel. This is what she gifted me: wall art designed and created by her sister-in-law, a professional artist in Bangalore, India.
So thoughtful, so beautiful!

And today, yet another friend
surprised me. She has been labouring over 2 needlework pieces for months. I got to see them all finished today! Sadly, no pictures. One, the smaller one, was the image of a young Chinese girl - perhaps 8 years old - done in very fine beadwork. The second one, an overwhelmingly huge and intricate cross-stitch piece, with the 3 Chinese Gods of longevity, prosperity and good health.

It is a wonderful feeling to share and appreciate art - especially with friends as lovely as these! Don't tell me I hadn't warned - bring up the subject of friends and I'm all mush!!