Angels Among Us...one of them is Gina Piazza

I believe in divine intervention.

I don't know how many times it has happened to me that someone says just the right thing or offers just the right opportunity when I know they have no idea how much it means to me at the time.  It often happens right out of the blue.  I will pray a special prayer to myself and someone will use those very words to comfort me---words they could never have known I prayed.  I have heard sermons that I felt were written just for me, but could not have been.  When I was Methodist, I once broke down in tears to my minister, in his office, just before church was getting ready to start.  The sermon he gave to us during that service was so much the answer to my worries that he even pulled me aside after church to swear that the sermon he gave had been written weeks before.  I fully believe it was written for me, whether he knew it or not.

It always shakes me.  It always makes me cry grateful tears.  It has happened all of my adult life.

And so it has happened to me again.

My friend and wonderfully talented artist, Gina Piazza, sent me a complete surprise in the mail yesterday.  I cannot tell you how much her kindness changed my whole outlook!  I was instantly reminded that the best thing I have gained as a crafter is the lovely collection of friends I have acquired.  Those kind spirits have come to mean so much to me!  

So, if you don't know Gina Piazza, you have to check out her blog (click here).  You can also see other things she has made for me and for my daughter by looking at my Art From Friends page, or click here.

This is what she sent me yesterday....

I opened it to find.....

Magic!

There was a mermaid--- totally signature Gina!  Altered figure, mounted on foamcore, painted... Perfect!

There was a castle!

On the top, she had placed a packet of paper dolls!  Paper dolls from the swap.... the swap that I was too busy to participate in!  I opened them and felt like they were little reminders of the talented crafters in the Cricut Circle who had made them!  Like little crafty spirits!  And they were AWESOME!!

And there were some fun supplies for me!

And there was a sweet note... that note was what did it.  First of all, the card she made was pure art!

And it was sooooo 'Gina'!  Her note had me in tears.  She said that she had been planning this gift since Renee, the organizer of the swap, had announced the swap. She noted some of the unique and beautiful touches on the dolls that their makers had done.  She said she wanted me to have a 'cut book' of all the dolls.

All the dolls?  I only saw Sarah.  THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED HER CASTLE WAS A BOX!...And I had ALL the dolls!

They are treasures!  There are tons of them!  I was so impressed with them and learned so much!  I found techniques I want to try!

If you want to see them all, head over to Renee's blog!  You can start with the "Tyler" dolls (click here) and work your way back.  She has photographed them all from her swap and they are a joy to see!

Then I had to break the news to my helper that I wasn't sharing them!  Note the frown-y face.  Piper was in love with them, each one becoming her favorite.

I know this sounds crazy, but it was as if Gina had sent me crafty spirits that were telling me to "hang in there."  I couldn't even take these pictures until this evening because it just touched me so much that I couldn't look at them without getting teary.

The other BIG news in Gina's note is that we might just get to meet again at an upcoming crop!  YAY!!!  So what's there to be upset about.... gee.... I can't remember anymore.

Thank you, Gina, for your friendship, for your thoughtfulness, for your talent, and for your kindness!  You are an angel among us!