surprise, surprise

This week has be filled with beautiful weather. Sunshine! Temperatures in the 50s and, yes, even 60s! We opened windows and doors to air out the house. One mild night, we slept with the bedroom window slightly ajar. It was refreshing! Even though it is still early, some of the trees are starting to form the starts of buds, hoping springtime will arrive with a flourish.

On Thursday, when I got home from a very busy day, I walked in to set my bag down by my desk, and there was a big package, plopped down on my desk chair. A package? For me? Surely it was for my husband, and he had just set it down in a hurry. I checked the label. Nope. My name. I checked the return address. Cambria! Ah! A surprise from my friend! My insides jumped with excitement. I literally threw down everything I was holding and tore open the package. So. Fast. Inside was a beautiful, hand-made quilt in vibrant colors. "Oh." It was all I could say. 

I knew said friend was working on something special for me. And I have something in the works for her. But I did not expect that it would be something so perfect. It is everything I envision. Bright colors and patterns. Lovely and beautiful.

My friend and I have been going back and forth for a few years now, sending surprises and swapping art and crafts back and forth. But this quilt has so much to live up to. I am working on something unique as revenge, and I started it months and months ago. But life has kept me busy and it is not yet ready. I pledge to buckle down and finish it soon so that I can ship it off for a surprise my friend will never expect.

Thank you, Sam. Your work in incredible. 

malabrigo swap winter 2011 - received

I just got an AMAZING package from Bethany, aka psammeadred, for the Winter 2011 Malabrigo Swap on Ravelry!

Funny thing that I must share before I get to the goodies: I was stalking the delivery confirmation numbers for the swap this morning, and noticed that Bethany’s parcel was out for delivery in my city. Well, my daughters always get in the swapping mode when they know a package might be coming, and they were on the look-out for the mail truck all morning, hiding under bushes and behind tree trunks, waiting to ambush the postal delivery man! LOVE!! The entire family was home to help me dig in--and everything was unwrapped and being discovered in record time.

The theme for this swap was The Simple Life:

• 2-3 skeins of Malabrigo (they can be sent as is or knitted/crocheted into something for your partner)
• Something edible or drinkable
• Something to read or listen to (book/pattern(s)/CD/audiobook)
• Something your partner can’t live without (something THEY say they can’t live without)

Mother Nature favors me today, what with the sunshine and warmth, so I took photos outside! Here’s the loot:

For the yarn category, Bethany graced me with three cakes of Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Tuareg! The color is fandamntastic! As soon as I saw it, I knew that I already had big plans for it!

Something Drinkable includes three types of tea from a local teahouse! There’s Sweet Almond, Raspberry Vanilla Green (OMG!), and Lavender Earl Gray (my favorite EVER!). They are individually packaged in little heart tins with clear tops so you can see the beautiful colors of the herbs. So pretty!

For Something to read or listen to, Bethany picked Douglas Adams’s The Salmon of Doubt and a set of bright and spunky ear buds with interchangeable colors. I haven’t read this one yet, but I heart Douglas Adams so friggin’ much!

Finally, and with great suspense, the Cannot Live Without, which is nature and things that grow! -- A lovely gardening apron with yellow and blue butterflies, the books Colorful Hanging Baskets by Evelegh and Patterson and The Window Box Book by Fausch, and organic seeds for a kaleidoscope mix of carrots, a carnival mix of peppers, moon & stars watermelon, and mammoth melting peas! PERFECT, especially since we will be starting our seeds in less than a month!

 

A huge "Thank You!" goes out to Bethany for the time and thoughtfulness she put into this wonderful package! Everything coordinates beautifully! I cannot put into words how much I love everything! She really nailed this stalking thing!

heartfelt handmade bag swap

I got home from a very busy day at work yesterday to the most fabulous package from Angel waiting for me on the front step!

The bag is crochet and the colors are perfect! And I love the pink button! Also included in the package was a hank of re purposed yellow wool and a tin filled with notions! Awesome! Many thanks go out to Angel, who is so very thoughtful and generous! I already used the bag for my knitting today when I went to the park and I love it!

recieved: mother-child spring swap

Back in April, I decided to start a Mother-Child Craft Swap group. This group hosts swaps for mothers and children who love crafting and love receiving surprises in the mail. The purpose of this group is to give everyone a chance to participate in a swap, regardless of age or skill level. Each swap we will exchange handmade items based on a theme. Even though the group is hosted on Ravelry, crafts are not limited to knitting or crochet.

This particular swap is Spring themed, and packages should include:

Three handmade item (something knit, modeled, strung, painted, etc.--the options are endless!)
One kid-friendly recipe
A sample of the sender’s favorite snack
A handwritten note or postcard (or hand-drawn picture for younger children)
Something for Mom (a skein of yarn, something handmade, sweets, etc.)

On Wednesday, we got home from a beautiful day at the Sunwatch Indian Village and found a surprise waiting for us--Eva's package from her nine-year-old swap partner, Gigi! Let me say, Gigi hit it on the nose with her pink themed package of gifts for Eva! Here’s what Eva got…

First thing’s first, there was a fantastic recipe for Pizza Surprise--a sweet treat that we made for an afternoon snack on Thursday. It was very rich and delicious! Gigi also made an AWESOME card of Chihiro from Spirited Away--one of Eva’s absolute favorite movies, I might add--with a handwritten note inside. Gigi has absolutely beautiful handwriting! Now, on to the snacks--two Snickers bars and a box of Nerds! These were a real treat for Eva since we do not give in to candy all that often. The candy sure did not last long at all, though. Eva had a friend over on Wednesday night, and, between the two of them, when I went to recruit Eva to take pictures on Thursday morning, there was not any evidence of the candy left! So much for savoring it!

And then there are the crafts! Gigi picked the PERFECT projects for Eva! She LOVES sparkly pink things! Gigi custom designed three lovely matching items--a hat, a pair of flip-flops with beautiful glittery flowers, and a lovely tote bag.

Next, paired with a skein of soft PINK yarn was a pair of awesome girly hand-made knitting needles in size US 8. Eva has already switched her latest project from her boring plastic needles she had been using before to this awesome pair

There were a few more surprises lingering in the bottom of the package, too--a box of crayons with an attached crayon sharpener, an Alice coloring book, and a pocket-sized notebook with matching ballpoint pen. These items will surely come in very handy for the many lazy summer days ahead of us.

And the surprise for mom? Two lovely skeins of Cascade Superwash Paints! ‘Twas love at first sight! The colors are AMAZING! They remind me of the beach!

A big thank you goes out to Gigi and her mom, Nerissa, for such a wonderful swap package. We love everything and we hope Gigi enjoys the package Eva put together for her, too. Check out what we sent Gigi!

recieved: it's all in the bag

I know, I know... It's been a good couple of weeks since I received my swap package from Amber and I haven't posted about it yet. But, I am on vacation now, so I should have some time to get some things on my ever-growing to-do list crossed off.

The swap is for the Malabrigo Swap Group on Ravelry. As I explained in my previous post, the theme for this round is It's All in the Bag--a project bag theme, where everything sent to the spoiler must fit inside a knitter's project bag. The only other rule is that only one skein of yarn can be sent. It was a secret swap, which means I had no idea who would be 'stalking' me and sending me a package. I was thoroughly surprised when I opened my box from Amber to find the best smelling, most wonderful OWL bag by Dancing Sheep!! The colors are perfect and it’s so absolutely cute! I LOVE IT!

The skein of Malabrigo is to DIE for! It is worsted in Sauterne--and it’s perfect! I love the bright color! I have lovely plans for this yarn!

I also got this beautiful shawl pin made from reclaimed wood (I love that idea!):

Amber also included notions out the wazoo: post-it flags for pattern tracking as well as some cute ‘s’ post-its, a pair of AWESOME folding mini-scissors, stitch markers, unscented SOAK (which is a gentle wool wash), and T-pins for blocking my knitting! And she gave me Mad-Libs!!! I love Mad-Libs! Eva and I did the first two puzzles over breakfast the morning after my package arrived, and we have done a few since then!

She also got me a lovely one-of-a kind sheep mug made by a local Mariland artist! I have already enjoyed countless cups of hot tea in it! This mug is already my new favorite! And, I’m sure you’re asking what made the package smell so good, right? It’s the soaps from a local soapmaker (you’re right, Amber, they are heavenly!) and a beautiful embroidered sachet filled with dried lavender! Add some Burt’s Bees Lip Balm and some yummy dark chocolate-hazelnut and I’m set!

And on the CD were the patterns, Maddox the Mischievous Monster and In Threes--A Baby Cardigan. Here is a picture of all of this awesomeness together:

 
I am surprised Amber got all of this wonderful loot in one tiny little project bag! Amber is the best! This was such a kind, thoughtful, and generous gift. Everything is so…me!! I am beyond giddy with how awesome this package is! My thanks go out to Amber for all the heart you put into the package!

my spring swap package from lila

My swap package from Lila arrived yesterday! This swap is a spring theme. Everything she chose for me is wonderful!
Lila sent me: two hand knit lacy cloths in beautiful spring colors, two lovely kitchen towels, a photo album with daisies on it, a skein of Peaches & Creme in a nice spring green, a package of little flowery binder clips (which will come in very handy!), a pouch of peppermints with a little rose tin, and a pack of notecards that I will put to good use right away.

Here is a photo of the beautiful cloths:

And a picture of all the wonderful loot:

Many, many thanks to Lila! I especially love the binder clips and the little tin! What a thoughtful package!