GORGEOUS! EVERYTHING! She is going to LOVE it! I wouldn't be surprised if there some "happy tears" shed.

hugs, Karen

Punk, that is gorgeous ! Your friend is so lucky to have a friend like you :>)

Susan

Well Karen, aren't you just on top of this post! Like it called out to you as soon as I posted. I'm sure the tears will come. Thanks again for sending me in this direction. I knew what I wanted to do as soon as I viewed your post and it finally came together.

I'm so glad you like it. That means alot to me, since it was your idea.

Punk

Very beautiful, punk...what a wonderful gift of yourself for your friend. Cups & saucers are very elegant...and your topiary is gorgeous. TFS! Jeanne s.

It's *perfect*!

Beautiful gift and a gorgeous setting. :)

What a wonderful job you did on the topiary. I'm trying to get up enough never to try one.
Tell us just how she reacted when she first saw it.

Susan, oh your comment is so sweet. I think I'm the Lucky One to have a friend like her.

Jeanne, thanks, I'm so glad you like it too. She is such a wonderful giving person.

PM, thanks so much and all of you are making me blush.

Milosmom, I can only hope she will think so too and so glad you like it.

OA, After reading all of these great comments from all of you, I might call her and see if I can go deliver. I will let you know what her reaction is.

Thanks and I hope you try one. It takes more flowers than you would think so buy lots. I had a hard time finding the roses I wanted to use.

The ones I wanted were $7.99 for 4 roses and I knew that was to much to spend on this project after buying the cups and saucers. The red and yellow roses were $1.99 a bunch and I used more than 1 bunch of each color. The pink ones were $5.99 and I would of bought them in the red and yellow but it wasn't an option at Michaels.

Punk

That is just beautiful! You did a wonderful job!

In my late night IPP (Internet picture prowling), I found these adorable teacup decorating ideas.
I want to do something like this first one for sure. And hope others of you do too for that matter.
Wouldn't these make delightful gifts!
I can't remember where I saw the St Paddy one, saved it months ago. However the two Easter pictures are from someone (periwinkle vintage) who I think sells her stuff. The pictures were on FlickR.
All are terrific ideas, but then I love teacups and this gives me an excuse to pick up a pretty
one antiquing occasionally. (never any like this in my GW unfortunately. And with antique prices,
I can usually resist buying them. Tho a rose one called my name last year and I 'needed' it.

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Hugs,
Karen

Punk, you did a beautiful job making the topiary, it turned out just beautiful and really makes a pretty vignette with your silver tea service too. I'm sure your friend will be so thrilled with your gift. Luvs

Punk...you brought tears to 'My' eyes!!
What a beautiful gift you made..both from your heart and with your hands. She is going to just love it.
You both are blessed to have each other in your lives.
I'm so happy for you.
BTW...your photos are beautiful...love that tea set.

jane

Punk you've done a very professional job of that topiary! Lovely gift for a special friend. Colors of roses are perfect. Did you use a 4" styrofoam ball and did you paint it or moss it first? I just started doing topiaries before Christmas and am still not sure of the best way to do them. I know I want to do more tho and am inspired to do a teacup topiary with one of my $1 china cups.

Old Country Roses china brings back some lovely memories for me as at one time many moons ago I thought I would buy that pattern for my china. Never did buy but still like it and I'm sure I have a teacup/saucer packed away.

Punk, my apologies, I wasn't trying to hijack your post. Too late I realized I should have put those teacup photos in a new post.

hanging my head in shame,
Karen

Wow, Punk, that looks like something out of a magazine! You are one very talented gal! How wonderful for you both to have found each other. It's a lovely story. Can I make one suggestion? Your first pic up there is really beautifully photographed. It would make a lovely gift in itself, if you enlarged it up to a 4x6" or 5'7" and popped it into an inexpensive easel-back frame. It sure would brighten up a table, desk or shelf . . . for you and your dear friend.
Lynn

ahhhh...perfection!

Kathleen, thanks for your comments.

Karen, I love them. Thank you so much and don't you ever think you have to worry about showing more goodies. I'm not like that and the thoought would never cross my mind you were trying to hijack my post. That's not what friends do.

Luvs, she was so thrilled and thanks for your comments.

Luckygal, thank you for the comment. I used a styrofoam ball that fit perfectly in the cup and glued around the edge. Then used a little larger one for the top. Don't know what size it was but the roses are at least 1-1.5" so don't think it was that large. I went by Karen's link she provided and used both mosses on the balls.

I wish my cup would of been $1.lol I hope you make 1 or more and post for us.

Lynn, thanks so much for your comments. I love your suggestion and may do that.

Jay, thanks so much.

Now I can tell all of you how she reacted to receiving my gift tonight. She told me that she wanted to give me her whole set of Royal Albert dishes including the topiary in time.

Then she opened a beautiful velvet box and pulled out a strand of her cultured pearls and ask if I would wear them. She also said "I hope you don't think I'm trying to buy your friendship". More tears of joy have not been shed. Now can I say she is a Priceless friend? Can't out do her no matter what I do but I'll do what I can.

She had brought me a lace tablecloth for my Easter table in yesterday. I'm hoping to set a table before that with it so she will know how much I love it.

Punk

Beautiful story Punk..
I'm so happy for both of you. Family & Friends are true wealth!

jane

Thanks Jane and goodnight. Punk

Thanks, Punk.
And I loved hearing her reaction. What a special lady she is. Her gifts show just how much she treasures and loves you! I know sharing her beautiful things makes her happy, and she knows they will truly be appreciated and cared for. Giving can be a blessing in itself.

hugs, Karen

Punk, I'm sure she is thrilled to find a friend who loves the same kind of things that she does. We've all discussed many times how usually the kids do not love Mom's collections like she does--and many end up in TS or antique stores because no one in the family wants them. You are making her feel good by allowing her to find a "good home" for some of her favorite things!

Luvs

Oh I agree with both Karen and Luvs.
I agree Luvs..I've gone to too many of those sales that made me feel so sad that 'No One' in the family would want anything..even for its sentimental value.
I feel Punk's friend is feeling so blessed to have
someone in her life who cares and wants to share what she loves.

jane