Beat the Christmas Blues Swap - again, 'S' is busy rocking it!

Yahoo! I got my package from my lovely swap partner over at ellecupcake! She sent me a bunch of super cute things which I adore.  Thanks to Alyssa from just putting it out there for organising us, especially since our messages refused to go through to each other. :)

She sent me a whole bunch of really cute sticky tape - I'm very excited to use them when I do some catch ups on neglected snail mail!

Hi-larious!  Aside from the fact that the bootylicious gum was made in Canada (I think bootylicious bubbles would have been a great opportunity for alliteration, by the way) - I love the subtitles on it: 'back dat flava up' and 'spankin' good flava.'  HA!  That made me belly laugh.

My awesome stash!  I especially like the coffee cozy - It kept my hands from burning on my coffee this fine morning... and who doesn't love Fun Dip? 

Pretty, pretty, pretty jewelery Danelle painted herself.  I would have posted this sooner, but I had put the jewelery on as soon as I got it, so I had to remember to take them off and bring them down to take the photo!

More 'S' to be grateful for - fabulous swaps, swap partners & organisers!  

I'm A Crafty Minx!

I'm resisting the urge to say "Top o'the mornin' to ya!" but let me tell you, it's a challenge right now.  I like a bit of cheesiness.  It makes me smile.  I have love for St. Patrick's Day... It has been celebrated at Glendowie Primary for just over 10 some odd years.  As Anne-Marie said today - it wasn't a celebration of just the Irish culture (in our school's case) but more the wealth of cultures, heritage and experiences we all bring with us.

Just before the end of the school day, our toes were set tapping to a fantastic and fun jig that sprung up out of nowhere... we were lining up to go to another classroom for a chat, and suddenly, two guys came around the corner playing the most rousing Irish Jig on a fiddle and a banjo!  It was great (and somewhat random!)  Such a fun way to end a school day. :)  Feeling particularly thankful for that, as I may have felt a bit challenged by some goings on today. 

Now, on to my crafty-minxiness.  I'm trying very hard to remember to take photos of my letters and packages before I send them off, as well as my knitting projects before I give them away.  The problem with both of them (as I have previously mentioned) is I get SO excited about them, I send them as soon as I can and don't remember to take a photo until it's too late.

But... I did remember to take a photo of the package I sent to my swap partner over at ellecupcake.  We had a bit of difficulty in co-ordinating our packages to get to each other because the emails we were sending one another wouldn't get through.  I was so happy to send her package off and I was thrilled she liked her bits and pieces.  Of course, I forgot to take a photo of the contents... but I did take a picture of the box!

A little box filled with goodies!  A post is planned over at ellecupcake later in the week to show off her pressies.

But that's not all!  I've been ridiculously busy clittering, clattering and clicking my knitting needles together to make my magnificent knit creations!  I spent aaaaaaages making (ridiculously adorable) vests for my friend's twin boys and forgot to take a photo of them.  I'm working on another vest (but in different colours) for another baby boy, so there will be a photo soon!

 

I can't get this photo to rotate, so you'll have to turn your head sideways.  I did this piece several months ago - it was the first thing I finished all on my own, with absolutely no help.  I was so proud of it!  I was going to keep it for myself "just in case" but when my dear friend told me she was expecting, I knew it had actually been made for her.  My heart melted when I saw the photo of her darling girl in it and I was so pleased I sent it over to them.  

 This one was another gift for another wee girl.  I really struggled with this one, but it turned out alright.  Not as good as I hoped, but I think she liked it.  I did think my racing stripes on the arms were super cute though. :)

Then I forgot to take photos of the many things I knit.  But more recently...

I felt very clever, as I whipped these up last weekend at Phillipa's request for her friends down in Manawatu.  It was the first knitting request I've had!  I was quite chuffed.

This cutie I also whipped up in a weekend (but only stuffed it yesterday) to send off to Christchurch for the collection that's happening over at Kiwi At Heart for the children of Chch.  I think he's gorgeous, as do my class!  I think the kids are starting to realise how cool knitting really is.

This jumper took me ages.  I'm technically not finished it because I haven't woven in all the ends - there are so many!  I did this one with a baby boy in mind, but upon meeting him, I realised it wouldn't fit come winter time.  So I'm hanging onto this one.  It may go in my hope chest, because I don't know that I will do something with little stripes like this again.  It was a bit of a mission with tangles... but so worth it.  I think it's my favourite item I've ever knit!

There's still one more knitting photo to come, but it's a little gift for Katy.  I'm giving it to her tomorrow, so stay tuned for photos.  Here's to hoping I remember to snap a picture this time!

'M' is for Mail!

Everyone enjoys a bit of snail mail.  I've always sporadically written and received letters from cousins and friends around the world.

The thing is, it's easy to forget how fabulous it is to get mail, because it just doesn't come as often as it once used to.  In today's day and age of instant gratification (I am no exception - I want it and I want it yesterday, thanks) the anticipation and excitement of opening a letter is palpable when I'm holding it in my hands.  I sometimes get the urge to do a little happy dance.  First,  I examine it to see who it's from and run my eyes over the envelope, next I devour the words within to unlock their magic and feel that special connection with someone else who has taken the time to sit down and write to me.  I can't help but to feel so special!

My very first letter writing friend was Karine... no one forgets their first.

I met Karine nearly 20 years ago (holy crap!) at a weekend yearbook publishers' conference.  We got on famously from the moment we met and we decided to keep in touch... there was no email, msn or Facebook way back then. We wrote letters back and forth for many years.  First we wrote within Ontario, and then Nova Scotia-Toronto... then I ended up in Halifax for university, where she already was.  That signaled the death knell of our love affair with the letter.  I got an email address when I got to uni, and that's how we stayed in touch.  I think there was the odd letter here and there after that, but never as consistent as it once was.  We also spent quite a while in the same cities (Halifax, and then Toronto) so we just picked up the phone for a chat.  The instant gratification of a phone chat appeals to my impatient nature... so the letter writing fell by the by.  I'm going to write Karine a letter tonight.

So now, I'm addicted once again - but like I never have been before!  I've started writing letters, cards, sending bits in the post, getting packages and I'm loving it!

Incoming (over the past couple of months):

I got this beautiful card from Sasha.  The photo on the front is a photo from her Mum's garden - it reminded her of the Koru (aka Fiddle heads); her trip to New Zealand, and naturally, of me.  She sent it before I went home for Dad's funeral, but I got it when I came back to Auckland, from Canada.  It was lovely to have this here, with a gorgeous message inside, waiting for me. 

The most recent, wonderful card from wonderful Faiza.  Sent to give me love and strength to help me through when I'm feeling blue.  I am so blessed to get so much mail from her.  I love her. 

This was my very first swap item - A mixed CD from Tillie.  I really, really heart it!  I tried to upload a photo of the postcard she sent me after she received my CD, but it won't work... rest assured, it is a great postcard.

The most fantastic, awesome, fun package EVER!  Megan from Time After Tea sent me this package as part of Passion's New Friend Swap.  I got it after being off school, sick for a day and a half - what a lovely treat to come back to!! I whipped the tag off the bracelet as soon as I opened it at work and popped it on my wrist.  She wrote the sweetest card to go with it... and how cute are these toasty warm socks??  Thanks to Passion who organised this swap and who gave me an amazing partner!

I got this package as part of Tillie's Simply Delightful Package Swap.  It came all the way from Indonesia - I loved that!  You can't tell, but under the key chain, is a tubular shawl.  It's really quite neat, but I'm still trying to figure out how to make it look normal on me.  I also got a really cute belt with a bow on it - it's upstairs, hanging on my mirror, helping to keep me motivated and on track with my exercising.  Thank you, Tillie for such a fun idea and for being my first swapping partner!

Outgoing (again, over the past couple of months):

My partner for Tillie's Simply Delightful Swap was her very own pen pal in Australia.  We had to send three of our favourite things, so I sent her an journal which was made from 100% recycled products and it was made in Canada; some of my favourite note cards and post cards; inspirational and pretty magnets (our fridge is covered with magnets) and some stickers with some lovely quotes.   I hope she liked it - I had a lot of fun picking out what to send her.

LeeAnn is a postcard enthusiast - I got the odd postcard from L when she was in Nova Scotia and I had moved back to Toronto... and then when we both moved overseas, the postcard trend continued... a quick note scribbled back and forth, but nothing meaty.  I've decided to start writing L meaty mail.  I really enjoyed using my new stencils to decorate her envelope... I went for a summer and beach theme for the back of the envie because it's cold here right now and I've got the heater going on full!

Faiza often sends me the most wonderful and lovely cards.  I feel as though I let her down on this end, but I realise that posting is a passion of hers and I've got a way to go yet, but  I'm working on catching up and sending her my belated share of postal love!  Once again, I have a lot of love for my new stencils.  Faiza loves flowers, and I thought that since I didn't send her fresh flowers for her birthday, I'd decorate her envie with some pretty flora. 

I've recently started following Tillie's blog - I participated in her package swap and I swapped mixed CDs with her.  I thought I'd drop a note in the post for her (well, it'll be dropped in the post tomorrow, when I go to the post office!)

Tillie mentioned that it was her mum's birthday recently and she was getting a kick out of all the mail Tillie was getting, so she thought it'd be great if her mum got some mail.  Here's my belated effort (I sealed the envelope before I took the photos... but trust me, the inside is pretty.)

Last but definitely not least, my second letter to Megan (after her swap package... I won't post a picture of it, because I'm not sure if she's received it yet.)  She and Faiza also send letters back and forth, so I knew of her.  I'm so pleased that I'm now getting to know her!  I decorated it with stars because the first time I read her surname, I read it very quickly and I thought it said "Sparkle" and I thought it was the most awesome name ever!  So now, every time I see her name, I think of sparkling and stars.  I haven't told her this bit of cheesy dorkiness (yet somehow, I think it's okay to broadcast my nerdiness it on the internet.) 

I'm off, to write some more letters!

Swaps

I need a little something to lift my spirits, so I've decided to take a leaf from Faiza's book and I'm going to participate in the swaps that she posted on her blog. 

Check them out - they look like a bit of fun.  Just writing about them, reading through the swaps and doing my bio has perked me up already - imagine how happy I'll be when I get my package in the post!

"Life without friendship, is like the sky without the sun."

Passion's New Friend Swap

This looks like something that could bring a smile to even the most sour puss.  You write a small bio, and send it in by the 26th of May.  Just follow the instructions on Passion's blog and you're off to the races!  I've found it a bit of a challenge to write a bio about myself, but I'm really excited to get a package in the post from a new friend!

Go Ahead... Make My Day.  
 

Then there's The Simply Delightful Package Swap. If that name isn't enough to convince me that it's going to be fabulous, the above graphic completely won me over.  This one is easy peasy - send in your interest and Tillie will email you a short questionnaire to answer and again - you're off to the races.  The deadline for this one is the 31st of May. 

Both of these swaps are international, so there are no geographical restrictions or limits. 

Thank you, Faiza for posting these on your blog!  I can't wait to give it a go.