When the Gift is Far More Than the Present

            On occasion, in this rather crazy and serendipitous world of ours, you may be fortunate enough to meet a person who shares with you a number of characteristics or traits, whether they be a soulmate, or just a like minded soul.

Well, thanks to Flickr, I have "met" (not physically but mentally and spiritually) a number of such like minded souls (since I already have my soulmate).  If you follow my photostream you will know that I am blessed to be surrounded by a number of artists, including the artisan who gave me this present, and more so, a gift that goes far beyond the present itself.

I am one of those people who really enjoy Christmas.  I enjoy it for many reasons, not least of all because I get to give gifts I have gathered throughout the year to my family and friends, and I get to wrap them up in beautiful papers and bows.  I don't do it for the accolades, or even for a word of appreciation.  I do it because I really get so much pleasure from the gift of giving, and the art of gift giving.  This artisan friend of mine is exactly the same, and to quote her Christmas card to me this year, she is a "rare individual who truly appreciates the art of giving and sharing ART."  I feel exactly the same when giving gifts.  Often it is far more than the gift itself, but the experience of receiving the gift and the delight, joy and anticipation of carefully unwrapping a piece of art, to reveal a piece of art that I am giving.

Imagine my excitement and sheer delight when my artisan friend from half way across the world sent me the most wonderful gift of a handmade tassel.  This collage is made up of images I took when I received it, with the tassel in the centre, details of the tassel to the right of the central image and details of the wrapping to the left.    

The present came presented in pink tissue paper affixed with a small pink star to hold the folds.  As the tissue paper fell away, it revealed an ornately decorated silver box upon which was a carefully thought out layout of graphics and images inspired by my stories, likes and interests that came from the magical drawers of her studios: eclectic diners at a table, jenny Wren reading a book (doubtless of faerie tales), a pink seal featuring a feather with a real blue tinged feather sticking out of it!  Inside was a pretty piece of blue and cream Regency striped silk, held in place by a tiny antique crocheted doily (the perfect size for my 1:12 miniatures) underneath which was some silvery blue tissue paper with a scalloped edge carefully cut with pinking shears, the folds of which were affixed with a small paper cartouche featuring my initial in beautiful calligraphy.  Beneath that was a second layer of the lustrous paper, upon which was a Regency image of Beauty and the Beast, once again connecting to my love of faerie tales and children's illustrations.

Unfolding another layer of blue and white regency striped silk, I found the tassel, made up of ribbons and laces, mostly in shades of blue (my favourite colour), decorated with the most remarkable collection of silver charms, all of which are connected to me in a personal way: teddy bears and a brolly, a beautiful and ornate chair and a teapot!

As you know, if you listen to my teddy bears, I'm an old softie - even more than they are - so by the time I reached the tassel, I was a blubbering mass of tears, not because I was unhappy, but because I was so touched that my artisan friend took the time to create a gift of art, so deeply faceted with layers of her careful observations of me, my likes and passions, that it quite stunned me!

This year has been a very difficult, stressful and painful year for me personally, and this Christmas, some of my dearest friends, several of whom I have never even physically met, have made me feel so well understood and loved through their kindness, care, love, good wishes and in some cases the judicious selection of gifts that really are ones of a kind and that are gifts that go far, far beyond the present itself! 

I shall be forever grateful to this small and select coterie of friends who have helped brighten my year and make me smile (and cry tears of joy) when I have needed.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Taken on: December 22, 2023

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