From Chalkboards to Chocolates…

I am kicking things into high gear around here as I have a Staff party tonight from our church and then Thursday night is the big party that I’m the hostess of… This is my 22nd year I’ve done a Christmas party for the Married Couples and I still have LOTS to do! I’m trying to divide my time so I can accomplish everything I have to get done… make cookies and chocolate cookie bark for the favor bags, put the finishing touches on my game, decorate the tables in the banquet room at the restaurant, decorate my candy jar where they guess how many are inside, figure out what I’m going to wear, get the decorations down from the garage rafters…(actually that’s my hubby’s job!), check my emails constantly to see if there are cancellations or anyone new signed up, you know, just lots of little details that can only be done at the last minute… so if I seem like I’m not around today, I am, but I’m just super busy.

* Please don’t forget that my Civil War dress ends this evening. I’ll be at the party, but I’m hoping I can get in a quick peek on my phone when the auction is about to end… If you want to see that dress again, click HERE.

** One more thing… on my ipad yesterday, the pictures of the scarves were like thumbnail shots on a few of them… I still don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t have time to mess with it right now. I will get it straightened out…just not today… On my desktop computer they were just fine…

Okay now to today’s post… (I sew for your dolls so my girls are usually in their undies…sorry for the “nekkid” girls in my pictures…)

Monday I got 2 packages in the mail… and both were utterly wonderful!
The first one I opened was from Eileen… she sent me the most adorable little prop I think I’ve ever seen… It’s a tiny chalkboard and is the perfect size for Lian, Isablle, and Janie…

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It didn’t take but a few minutes until Patsy and Ten Ping hopped down from the dolly shelf and said, “It will work for us TOO! Take our picture…”

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I just squealed when I saw it in the box… Thank you so much Eileen…I only wish it was August now, so I could do a “Back to School” set… I may have to come up with something “schoolish” for January… It is just the most fun prop you’ve ever seen.

Then all wrapped up, she sent me 3 different sized Tea Sets… One for Ten Ping or 8″ dolls, a Medium sized set, perfect for the Little Darlings and a larger set… that will be excellent for the American Girl dolls. I may have to find some fun tables for my girls to have a Tea Party! They are china and the little turquoise set for Ten Ping is so precious! Ten Ping needs a sister I think…

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Thank you Eileen! I was very surprised and so blessed by your gifts…I am humbled by your generosity… (and I haven’t forgotten about showing your doll in her dress.)

Then I had another box to open…this one was from Paula… Inside there were 2 sweetly wrapped boxes with little cards written by her “girls” thanking me for making dresses for them this past year. One had addressed me as Madame Jeanne Marie…I’ve never been called Madame before I don’t think… :o)

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Rebecca was home so she was urging me to open them up… I did, and found the prettiest rhinestone snowflake pin inside one box.

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It glimmered and glistened very much and is just beautiful! Thank you so much Paula. If I find the right thing for Thursday night, I might wear it…

Then in the second box, I read the little card and knew it was going to be candy… but I didn’t know it was going to be SOOOOO good.

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Not only was the candy delicious…with a capital “D” it was beautiful…look at the details in the chocolate.

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It was incredible and since Rebecca was there, I shared with her…after all, she made a few of the necklaces for Paula over the year. Well, as you can see, we were BAD!

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In fact, one time when I stepped out of my sewing room, Rebecca hid the candy and said we had eaten enough for one day. I did search my room and couldn’t find it, so I waited till the next morning and as soon as Rebecca came out of her room, I said, “Where’s the candy? I need another piece…” We finished it off and it was excellent! I would highly recommend the brand… It even came with a little paper Chocolate Guide…so you know it had to be good!

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So thank you Paula! You can never have enough chocolate in your life… :o)

I never in my wildest dreams imagined when I started this blog, that I would have the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful group of ladies who would join my little blog. I am blessed beyond anything I could ever have imagined and just wanted to thank ALL of you for the part you play in making my blog a success. I know I’m the one who writes it, but if you didn’t read it, and comment, it wouldn’t be any fun! So thank you to everyone who’s ever left a comment, or an encouraging email, or sent a package or a card, or mailed me fabric, or lace or yarn, or a partially made dress set, or bid on an auction, or sent anything to Sara for me to give her, or if you sent me pictures of what you’ve made because you were inspired because of something I said. I could go on and on, but just know how much I enjoy your company. May the Lord bless each and every one of you this Christmas season.

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

13 thoughts on “From Chalkboards to Chocolates…”

  1. Oh my goodness, Jeanne, how very sweet your readers are! That chalkboard is just adorable, and the tea sets simply divine! I can’t wait to see how they get used with the darling outfits you make! You will have to make sure that you say the props are NOT included in the sale!!!

    I hope you find something to wear that gorgeous pin with at one of your parties, so sweet of Paula! What elegant looking chocolates those were! It was nice to see that Rebecca got to have a taste too!

    You be sure to have a wonderful time at your parties! I’m sure it will be exhausting, but when you give so much to others, it makes it all worthwhile.

    1. HI Linda,
      I’m going to take 5 minutes and answer as many comments as I can…
      Isn’t that chalkboard just the cutest thing… I can’t quit looking at it. I know… I’ll have to remember NOT to include them…
      I don’t know what I’m wearing tonight…that’s next… I have my favor bags made, my game finished up, my shower, my head washed… and now it’s time to find something for tonight’s party..
      Thanks Linda,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. Jeanne, “oh, my” !! I feel like the elderly lady in the Buick commercial who is so surprise and impressed with the looks of the new Buick models!! Those chocolates…… I would have done the same thing. They would be gone in a flash. Yum, yum!
    I love your new chalkboard. It is perfect size for the smaller girls. It certainly could be a back-to-school feature. The girls could model their Christmas gifts of new outfits {if they have received any made by their mother}!! New sweaters and skirts. Sounds like a new project for you over the New Year’s holidays ! Unless you are all wrapped up in social gatherings and hostessing more parties. Don’t know how you do all of this and Christmas too. More than I could begin to imagine.
    I am wrapped up in preparing the house for the arrival of daughter #2 and the Butterflies. It will be a fast six days and a flourish of activities. Lots of running, fluttering and skipping here and there. We do have a trip to the AG store planned and I have been told that they are already having trouble sleeping with visions of AG dolls dancing in their heads. Grandma will have her cell phone camera ready for lots of pics of the end resulting BIG red shopping bags.
    Enjoy your party this year but do be careful as you step here and there. No more badly sprained ankles please!!!

    1. HI Jeannie,
      Yes, those chocolates were delicious… really delicious!
      I hope you have a great fun packed week with your grands…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Hi Jeanne,
    The chalkboard and tea sets are adorable. One of the AMG girl’s era needs a chalk board like that. How cute. The little tea sets are adorable. Ten Ping, Patsy and Isabelle look so cute standing there by the chalkboard too.
    I’m glad you enjoyed the chocolate and the pin. The Louisana girls are taught to call any married women “Madame”. Especially my girls from the Civil War era. They receive lesson’s on etiquette, you know. ; )
    Not to change the subject, but I wanted to comment on the background scenes from AMG. I never realized this before until I saw the picture of Trisha in her new outfit by the Christmas tree. They show up as 3D in photos. Am I the only one who didn’t know that until now?
    Jeanne, God speed on your work for the parties – I know everyone will have a great time. Relax and enjoy the Christmas merriment! Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la..

    1. Hi Paula,
      The AG girl, Maryellen, does have a school set with a chalkboard. It isn’t nearly as nice as this one though. For the 1950’s I would have expected a really great set.
      I loved the picture the other day of all your girl in their “Jeanne Marie” dresses. The Civil War is one of my favorite eras as well. It’s nice to know someone through this blog that gets to enjoy those exquisite creations.

    2. Thanks Paula,
      I’m looking forward to some tea parties with my girls… they can all one now!
      I’m getting finished up with all the party plans… It will be Friday soon and I can breathe!
      Thanks so much,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. That is the cutest little chalkboard I’ve ever seen and the tea sets are just precious I have Felicity’s tea lesson set and a miniature one from Samantha and Nellie to practice tea time etiquette. Those props will be wonderful to use for years to come.
    What a sweet snowflake pin. I have one I wear in the winter from my grandmother and the sparkles make you feel very cheerful. The chocolates look delicious and at Christmastime you are allowed chocolate for breakfast and the calories don’t count. 🙂
    I hope that your parties are a lot of fun, what hard work you put into them. I’m sure everyone appreciates the festivities each year.

    1. Hi Laura,
      I might be able to use the chalkboard for my AG dolls if I put it in the background… maybe…
      Thanks for your comments Laura,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. What I want to know is how many days “Christmastime” is so that I can have chocolate without calories on all of them.

    Your gifts are just lovely and I too am looking forward to seeing them displayed with lovely dresses for seasonal teas. It’s being such a nice Christmas season on the blog, with chocolates, the charming chalkboard, Thulie’s doll, the snowflake pin, the pictures of all the beautiful doll clothes, the yarn scarves, and Rebecca’s red Christmas dress and cap auction finishing tonight.

    Yesterday’s snow here was inconvenient enough that the university cancelled FINALS. Thanks to two nice women neighbors, my sidewalk is shoveled. I did part of it and they came along and did the rest. You aren’t the only lucky one, Jeanne.

    1. HI Marilyn,
      Snow??? I’m glad it’s pretty mild here…in the 50’s because it’s more conducive for party goers…
      Thanks Marilyn,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Great little presents for you! And well deserved too.
    I had to get my Jar-Lu a buddy, so Ten Ping joined her. Then there is Gigi! She is awfully cute.

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