T Stands For Two Hearts Beat As One (and a ton of gifts)

I'm back sharing Hearts with you at my dining room table, as well as Art Journal Journey.   

This is my T entry today, and it's also my entry at Art Journal Journey.  

In case you are asking if this meets AJJ's size requirement, I measured and it is just slightly larger than 4.25 X 8 inches (10,795 X 20,32 centimeters).

I colored the beans using my dark brown water soluble crayon and the coffee using the lighter brown water soluble crayon.  I added five real French roast coffee beans to the page and

added the computer generated text, which reads:

Two hearts beat as one!

However, that's not all I want to share this week.

I have received gifts and cards from two friends, too.  I bet you can tell from the dock return address that the card is from Kathy from Hummingbird Woodland Studio.  Wow, look at that Janis Joplin stamp!

I like the Snoopy Valentine on the back of the card, too.  The Valentine she chose for me was wonderful.  The Eiffel Tower, hearts, and a key.  All huge favorites of mine.  She couldn't have picked a sweeter or nicer card if she tried.  The thoughtful message she wrote inside was heartfelt, too.  Thank you so much, Kathy.  I hope someone made your Valentine's Day as happy as you made mine.

The huge box of goodies is from my internet friend Jeanie whose blog is The Marmalade Gypsy.  Many of you know her because of her varied and eclectic posts.  If you've never been to her blog, you should visit.  She decorates her home for every season and holiday, and she throws both elaborate and casual dinner parties.  She and her love interest are in a group called the Cork Poppers and once a month they evaluate different wines and have a feast afterword.  She writes about her love affair with books, photography, trips to the ditch, the lake in summer, and Rick's (her love interest's) grandchildren.  She further writes about her travels, and takes photos that you drool over or make you feel you were there with her.  Her cat Lizzie is her constant companion.

Since I have a small heater in my craft room, I decided to share the contents there.  I had opened the box at my dining room table and knew I would freeze before I got to the bottom if I stayed there.  It is simply too cold in other parts of my home, with the exception of my office.  Opening the box's contents in my craft room served another purpose.  I was able to put stuff away as I unwrapped it.  I swear this was like Christmas had come late, or my bEARTHday had come early.  Right off the bat, I spied tiny letters and ephemera.  On top of the card was beautiful gold thread and some gold stars.

Wood mounted rubber stamps, sheets of enameled birds and flowers, large rick rack, and bunches of tags were unwrapped first. 

7-Gypsies letters, a book about cats, tiny wooden dice, and cabinet cards were next.

Have I not mentioned I'm easily distracted?  I took time to read the Zen Cat book.  LOVED this spread!  It reads "The CAT does not negotiate with the mouse."  The quote is by Robert K. Massie.  This book definitely went in my living room to be proudly displayed.

There were paper doily hearts, other hearts, sticker hearts.  There were more tags I can alter, as well as cat stickers and rub-ons.  BUT, the kicker was all those postage stamps can be used when I send mail, even though they are older than both Jeanie and yours truly put together (OK, slight exaggeration, but I've never seen any of these before).

The final package I unwrapped was all about paper.  A postcard, Workbasket (I think it's a book that shares crochet and knitting patterns), a Santa cook book, sheet music, one of which is about Australia, which will go in my 7 Continents book, children's pages, and large sheet music.  I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but to say I was blown away was definitely an understatement. 

Last, but certainly not least, is this note card, a watercolor painted by Jeanie of Lizzie Cosette, her precious companion cat.  BTW, Jeanie sells these note cards and they are well worth whatever she charges.

Now that I have shared my drink and bounty, it's your turn.  By now you probably know the "rules," but in case you don't, please show something drink related. It can be photos, a place you visited, movies, tea cups, coffee mugs, a tea or coffee service, postcards, books, magazines, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, tags, ATCs, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, as long as it in some way relates back to a drink, any drink.  Please share below and Bleubeard and I, along with the rest of the T gang will be by to visit.   Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday, and not just this year.