I literally sprinted to the mail box during lunch to see what the post lady delivered today. And today she didn't disappoint me. I found not one but two swaps waiting for me. Luckily Keiran was distracted inside with his dad so I could race out to the mailbox without having to wait for him. If I say I'm going to get the mail and start walking out there, he'll start screaming as only a four year old can. Then I have to patiently wait until he catches up with me and then go out at a snails pace to get the mail. Sprinting is much more my kind of speed when it comes to getting to that mailbox.
My first package was my vintage book swap from Donna in Devon. Donna and I were a perfect match with our love of vintage and thrifted items. We were also both late with our swaps to each other but ended up mailing them on the same Saturday.
The flower in the center is actually a beautiful broach. It's already on my coat to cheer me up on the cold and dark days of fall. She did an amazing job of wrapping everything. Dh laughed at me when I had to take a picture of it before I could open it. The wrapping is just as special as the package. I mean how often do we get to open something so beautiful.
Donna is so thoughtful. The Halloween bag she included was for the children. And not only that, but she picked out some sweets that had no artificial colorings or flavorings. Thank you so much Donna for thinking of them and our diet. They loved the sweets with bugs on them, especially Keiran.
Donna picked out items that were so perfect for me. I'm an old (age of movies not me) Disney movie fan so the Mary Poppins book was perfect. She sent this gorgeous blue bag that is soooo me. I loved it the minute I saw it in the package and nearly forgot about everything else. I already have a million uses for it and I just have to decide which one to pick. The tea time apron is already hanging on my apron wall and the tea towel is also in the kitchen on my vintage towel rack. Donna included two buttons on a card that were made from vintage fabric and more chocolate (Cadbury) sweets for the children. Donna thank you for everything.
Swaps tend to stress me out. The reason is that my personality is such a conundrum. I love to be organized but I really don't like to tidy. I have an endless energy in my mind but I have very little energy in my body to follow through with everything I want to do. I am addicted to swaps but am a born procrastinator. How does this all compute? Well, it leads to swap stress. If it isn't already invented I think I'll coin that phrase. Do any of you get this type of stress? Yet it all seems to disappear in a heartbeat when I find a package like Donnas and open it and discover so many beautiful things. When I am putting together swaps I am really looking for them to be as perfect as they can. I want to glean as much information on my swap partner so that when they open their package, their eyes will light up and they will smile in delight that I was able to find things that really interest them. But looking for these perfect items usually take more time than the swap deadline allows. Maybe like taxes we could file for an official swap extension. Once I have gathered everything together then I start looking for creative ways to package everything. Of course being interrupted by children arguing, chickens escaping and phones ringing slows this down even more. Eventually the package gets mailed and I let out a huge swap sigh of relief all the while signing up for new swaps.
This is the Tea Towel swap I received from Jen. I felt a wee guilty as I haven't quite completed her swap yet. I guess I can add Swap Guilt to my swap vocabulary list. It's coming soon Jen, I promise. Included with this swap Jen sent me was a recipe that I can make and eat. They are caramels and are gluten free. I can't wait to try this recipe out. The tea towel with the girl on it is from an antique store, the herb towel in the middle is from a garage sale (which I think is very fitting for me) and the third is my favorite. Jen took a Martha Stewart towel and embellished it herself.
Although someone worked hours on the woman in the dress, tea towel, the fact that Jen worked on this towel especially for me made it extra special. Look at all of those lovely French knots. All three of the towels also went on my vintage towel rack. Thank you very much Jen and thank you Jackie for organizing this swap.
On the subject of swaps and stress, I'm thinking of organizing an apron ATC swap. Anyone game?
What a lovely bunch of goodies.
Posted by: Pam | October 16, 2006 at 08:19 PM
Oh I love everything you got!! Just love it! Thanks for stopping by my blog, and yes my vintage little painting I did was watercolor. Oh please, please I would love to be in on your swap!
Posted by: Teresa | October 16, 2006 at 08:33 PM
Amazing swap goodies!! That package from Donna is great! I have her for another swap - any hints?? Love the tea towels!! Those are really beautiful - especially the one she made! I'm in on the apron ATC's - I think those are my new favorite things to make!
Posted by: Jackie | October 16, 2006 at 08:42 PM
What lovely things you got. I always loved Mary Poppins (the film) as a child but it wasn't until I had children of my own that I actually read PL Travers books. You and the children will love them.
Posted by: carolyn | October 17, 2006 at 02:19 AM
Oh yes, swap stress, I know it well. Trying to get a couple of things togethere here and procrastinating as usual!
Posted by: Ali | October 17, 2006 at 05:16 AM
i get swap stress, for sure! I'm addicted to them too, and I said that when i finish the ones that I had signed up for on craftster over the summer, i would take a break. but now i'm in three more - the Holiday Elves swap from Green Bean Baby, the Coloriffic Swap, and the Favourite faerytale swap. *sigh* what am I doing?? This is a problem!
Your swap items received are beautiful!!! Where is it that you typically sign up?
Thanks for your input on the quilt made of denim that i'm putting together :)
Posted by: Jen | October 17, 2006 at 05:48 AM
I'd love to see a pic of your vintage towel rack. I'm trying to figure out how to display my vintage linens in a nice way.
Great swaps - try not to stress ;).
Posted by: Eileen | October 17, 2006 at 05:53 AM
Oh yes - I can relate to swap stress - I love to find the perfect items for my partners too..all the while signing up for more swaps:) I think I am signed up for about 8 swaps right now:):) But it is SO fun!! I would love to do an Apron ATC swap if you organize one. I am still waiting for my vintage book swap and my tea towel swaps to arrive - one is coming from Australia and one from Canada I think and that makes it all the mor exciting:) Have a fabulous day! I get to go to work late today and just may hit Goodwill on the way in:)
Posted by: raesha | October 17, 2006 at 06:12 AM
neat stuff! Has the mail truck delivered your etsy purchase yet????
Posted by: Tracy's Turret | October 17, 2006 at 09:35 AM
oh.my.lord.
i am picking my mouth up off the floor. that mary poppins book is to.die.for.
i am a huge mary poppins fan (like her, i am practically perfect in every way...BWAHAHAHAHAA).
what an amazing package.
oh and i'm right there with ya on the swap stress. if i get a partner that i really don't "know" then i stalk their blog like crazy. every piece has to be important to them and has to be something they like. of course this all means that the package is late and i feel like an ass.
{sigh} but i still sign up for them anyway. oh, i'll send ya an email when i do round 2 of my vintage vixen swap. my first one was such a success. i got spoiled rotten (this of course was not why it was a success) i had the best partner ever!!!! everyone had a blast.
Posted by: elizabeth | October 17, 2006 at 10:56 AM
How do you make an ATC? I'm such a swap NEWBIE. :) It sounds like fun so count me in! (Love how I signed up with no clue what I'm supposed to do)
Posted by: Rebecca | October 17, 2006 at 01:03 PM
Oh you got it at last, I'm soooo pleased (wish we had global priority here). I stressed so much about this swap you wouldn't believe. I read and re-read your blog, had three different books lined up and then it all clicked into place. I thought your dh might snaffle the chocolate buttons actually. My sister lives in Colorado and she misses Cadbury's chocolate so much, hehehe.
Posted by: donna | October 17, 2006 at 01:12 PM
Oh my gosh. The wrapping and thoughtfulness in the first pacakge is AWESOME. The yellow gingham tea towel in the second -- I just can't believe all the work she put into that. It is so pretty! Did she applique the red cardinal? WOW. What a great, great day to make a sprint to the mail box.
Posted by: Kelli | October 17, 2006 at 03:45 PM
Wow Donna & Jen outdid themselves!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Angie | October 17, 2006 at 07:55 PM
Wait...what's an ATC? You received some wonderful gifts. I also get swap stress because I want my gifts to be just perfect...and that is why I spend hours reading every last word of your blog! I have the gift formulating in my mind for the recipient, and then I can think of nothing else until it's just right! I have been influenced by the Rachel Ashwell Gifts book. Have you seen it?
Posted by: Lynne | October 19, 2006 at 09:01 AM