If you have read this blog for more than a minute you may or may not have heard about our handmade Christmas gifts.
It’s all a little over the top.
Like the time my sister made thistle artwork out of the first 3000 words of my blog.
Or my brother carved the thistlewood logo into the top of a wine barrel.
Or the time my sister made an entire family tree out of the pages of our lives.
I know it’s not Christmas.
I understand Mother’s Day is knocking at the door.
But I had to bring it up in conversation because this week a present showed up at my front door that made me dance and sing and twirl and shout with joy and literally do pirouettes in my kitchen from someone who I want to invite to join our family.
Adrienne.
I think you are my long-lost sister.
Can I adopt you?
Let me start at the beginning.
This year I launched a book called the DIY (Decorate It Yourself) planner. It’s all about sassy decorating and how to pick out a rug and how high to hang your chandelier and how to pick out the perfect paint color for your laundry room.
Adrienne was my launch manager for the book. She is amazing and incredible and has more organization in one finger than I have in my entire self. She helped me launch the book and make it a best seller and made me laugh and filled my heart with joy and for that I was already her biggest fan.
But the story doesn’t end there.
In the planner on page 52 there’s a drawing of one of my favorite chandeliers on this planet. It’s made up of wood beads and hung in the front entry at the farmhouse. When we moved back to Texas and left the chandelier behind, I waved a tearful goodbye and told it to stay amazing and I thought I’d never see it again.
Until.
Until these showed up at my door.
A pair of tiny little wood bead chandelier earrings.
CAN YOU EVEN?
Adrienne and her sister MADE THESE EARRINGS FOR ME.
They are tiny little replicas of the wood bead chandelier that used to hang in my entryway.
The very same.
The tiny beads separating one bead from another.
The wood frame.
The wire holding the chandelier together.
But wait.
That’s not EVEN THE BEST PART.
Are you ready?
Are you sitting down?
You might think that these are mild-mannered chandeliers, just hanging around with their wood bead selves.
But when the party gets started?
THEY LIGHT UP.
I know, right?
Just a wood bead party ready to get started.
Here’s me yesterday wearing the earrings.
Aren’t they perfect?
Aren’t they one-of-a-kind.
Thank you my wonderful, amazing, incredible, awesome earring sender friend, Adrienne.
Thank you for getting me.
Thank you for celebrating the book.
Thank you for filling my heart with joy.
But most of all thank you for sending me a little piece of the farmhouse…
….to the heart of Texas. 🙂
PS Adrienne, can you make it this Christmas?
PPS Adrienne’s sister who created these earrings has an etsy shop.
You can check it out here.
oh my gosh, how thoughtful! That Adrienne is absolutely amazing!
What an amazing gift! And you are rocking them in this photo! Great hair day!!
Those are SO FABULOUS!! I can't even...
Oh! Woow! Too much! That gives me ideas for beading...
Oh how adorable! And what a sweet and thoughtful thing to do. I think I would have danced and sung and twirled too...and maybe even cried a little. ;-)
These are the sweetest earrings. How wonderful to have such a friend that gets you like that and not only gets you but created a one of a kind gift for the one of a kind person that you are!
You look all adorable in red lipstick and chandelier earrings!!!!
OMG!!! Those are perfect for you and look gorgeous on! You look so happy!!!!! She is a special friend to know exactly what would warm your heart like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just lovely, you and the earrings!
Adrienne is a rock star! She is one of the most talented and thoughtful people I know. What a lovely gift to celebrate someone as awesome as you, KariAnne!
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.! Who has that kind of talent and patience?! I need to rub elbows with her!
What a lovely surprise from your sweet friend!! xoxo
Dear heart ,,,just a suggestion, please think about using a eyebrow highlighter ...it creates a focus for the eye and places it correctly on the face.. I was told this years ago by a makeup artist. If you do one eye and compare the difference you will be amazed just as I was . The photo with the earrings was so cute . Hope you don't mind my suggestion.
What is eyebrow highlighter and who makes it? I, too, have light eyebrows and, even with a pencil, they don’t show up.
Oh my goodness. Those are incredible. Love them.
Oh....my....gosh! How cute are those??? And when will they be in her etsy shop for us to purchase?! You look precious in that picture by the way. And oh my gosh how your girls look just like you.
Those look cute on you!
What a wonderful friend!
Those earrings are amazing and so intricate! You must be a very happy camper!
Can I adopt all three of you??? So thoughtful,heartfelt and perfect.
They are totally awesome! They look amazing on you! What a friend you have!
They look great on you!!! She has passed the family entry exam!
Yes, the mini-chandeliers are adorable and unique, and I can see the joy in your face!!! What a special friend Adrienne must be!
Those are so you! Unique, cute and fun. I love how she replicated the farmhouse one to make these. A-maz-ing!
Holy MOLY, these earrings are so frigging amazing for you, KariAnne! Love them for doing these for you. So perfect. More than close to perfect! Just perfect! They light?! Be still my heart!
I was sure you were going to be singing "You light up my life" in this post! ;) Such a lovely, full-of-thought gift.
WOW... just WOW! And you rock those like no one else could, KariAnne!
I sure needed a good laugh today...and I sure got it as I read and scrolled down PAST THE ADVERTISEMENT (ugh) with great anticipation about these beautiful earrings that...LIGHT UP! No way, that is too funny! What a creative and fun loving friend you have! I LOVE THIS BLOG!!!!
These are awesome and memories associated with them is the best. What a wonderful thing for someone to do for you. They rock!
You are blessed! Those are amazing!
What an amazing friend and I LOVE those earrings!! Oh My Goodness <3 Happy Mother's Day!!
KariAnne, These are AMAZING, not close to amazing, but incredibly AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lights and all! Yes, Adrienne must be a long-lost Wood sister. Judith
I thought you were kidding, but when I see them on you--they rock!!! (And you too.)
Adorable! What an awesome friend!!
KariAnne, your absolutely glowing with your mega watt smile and those gorgeous earrings.
That is just too stinkin' cute for words. What a thoughtful, perfect gift and yes, you do rock them!
How nice of your friend to do this for her "amazing" friend, KariAnne! These earrings are really unique! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to you! Blessings!
These are SO ADORABLE! What an Amazing Friend you have. Would love to have been a fly on the wall when you got them! Love and Hugs
Unbelievable!! Those are amazing! She must be incredibly gifted to create those little light up chandelier earrings😊 Makes me smile just seeing you!
HOLY COW!! Those are amazing. And so you! Perfect in every way!! The best heart gift ever!! I think this settles it. ..she is now part of your family.