Valentine's Day--A PERFECT Gift!

I have the perfect husband! (sigh!) He left today around noon for Atlantic, Iowa for the weekend. Yesterday he had to go to Cedar Rapids on some business, and he had this all planned beforehand. A month or so ago, I asked Louie to please not send me flowers anymore, for any occasion. I hated seeing $45-$50 being spent on something beautiful, but perishable, and even though I RARELY buy quilt shop fabric, not because I don't love it, but because I am a thrift-a-holic, at those prices, I could have a LOT of NICE fabric, even from the quilt shop. As you all know, I am the 'Queen of Thrift', and I have a really hard time spending any considerable amount of money on myself. I told him that for $50, that would be a nice day out on the motorcycle, or a wonderful day 'Thrift Shopping', or a nice meal and a movie....oh, the list goes on. I told him if he wanted to get me any kind of 'bouquet', make it silk, so I can look at it forever, or a 'fabric bouquet'. (I have been known to recreate previous real bouquets, by having them made up into silk, so I can enjoy the gift and remember the giver(s) for years to come.) I guess he listened to me.

First, he went to Goodwill, and he found this basket. He also found the flowers in the center there. He also found the fabric that you see on the very bottom crumpled up...also Goodwill. It is actually a piece of heavier fabric, like drapery or upholstery almost, but not quite that heavy. Now before some of you cringe, most of my 'stash' came from Goodwill, in the form of curtain panels, valances, tablecloths, and ALL of the backs of my quilts are sheets.

He then went to the Cottage Rose Quilt Shop, http://www.cottagerosequiltshop.com/and told them he wanted fabrics to match the flowers, as those were the colors I loved. He helped them pick the fabrics, and he bought 16 fat quarters, and a quilt kit. He did not buy the book that goes with it, because he did not know if I had it, or even wanted it, and from looking at the book on the internet, I don't think I would, but I do like the fabrics. Some of them are flannel, and some are cotton. He just bought the kit, because the colors were right, and he knew that I would love them. While he was in the shop and the gal working there was helping him, a woman around our age came in and started admiring what was going on. She asked Louie, "Is that a valentine gift?" He said that it was. She then asked the clerk, "Did he pick those out by himself?" The clerk said, "Yes, he did." She just looked at him so amazed, and said, "You have restored my faith in men! My husband is down at Planet Audio, and he would no more walk in a quilt shop than anything. Why, I would just die if someone would buy me a gift certificate!" Louie then said, "So I've lost my curley tail?" (laughter.....)

SOooooooo for those of you that know me, you know what I do with fabric gift baskets, or any other kind of gift baskets, and gifts, for that matter. This 'Fabric Bouquet' will probably be a long time centerpiece on my coffee table, because it was put together with such LOVE by the love of my life, and my very best friend. He is a gift from God that I will ALWAYS cherish!

Here are a few more pictures so hopefully, you can see the fabrics from all the way around.
Happy Valentine's Day, Louie.

I love you!