swap (comings and goings)

sent out: one jar of honey, one jar of raspberry jam, some garlic from the garden, a pair of crocheted cotton dishcloths, and a couple of handmade collage notecards.  My swap partner should receive her goodies on Wednesday, and I sure hope she likes them!

incoming:  Kerrie at Wild Mae sent me the nicest package~ three etched monogrammed drinking glasses (mason jar glasses at that!), one for each of us, with the sweetest cut-out lids and straws that look like paper birches.  she also tucked in a stack of hand-painted postcards, one of which was immediately claimed by Claire so that she could send nana a note that said "happy holiday, nana!".

Kerrie, thank you.  it was so thoughtful to include all three of us in your generous and beautiful package.  I love it all!

there was a second box in the mail that day- Kim from Mothering with Mindfulness saw fit to send a little something my way as well so it really kinda felt like Christmas.  a jar filled with dried nettle leaves from her garden and adorned with a hand knit cozy, hand salve, a sweet card, and an adorable little owl that her husband made out of a piece of black walnut.

love it, love it, love it~  thank you Kim! (and thank you Kim's husband!)

hosting this second online swap has been a lot of fun~  it's a different (obviously) vibe and atmosphere from the ones I host at home, and there's something sweetly vulnerable and exciting about exchanging these handmade goodies with folks we don't really know all over the country and beyond.  I continue to be so pleasantly surprised by the amount of time and energy everyone puts into their packages, and touched by the thoughtfulness and attention to details.  I've heard from a few folks who haven't quite sent their packages off yet due to this or that (mostly summertime busy-ness, and some because of waiting on this or that item or because the summer brought along very unexpected family emergencies), so know that if you haven't gotten yours yet, it is on the way!  we all understand how hectic life can get, so no huge worries there, but do let me know if I need to contact your swap recipient to let them know a bit of a delay is to be expected.

I'm feeling like we're about due for another live and in person swap, and I look forward to getting the ball rolling on that soon.  If you think you'd like to host your own swap at home and are interested in some pointers on getting started, please read the article I wrote for Grounded magazine, here.

thanks to everyone who participated in this summer swap for making it all possible!  can't wait to keep seeing the photos roll in as you receive your gifts in the mail!

*had to edit to add this last photo- I received a surprise thank you in the mail today from Summer at Summer Plays House~ a hand sewn trivet, coaster, and a hand painted peg doll of (and for) Claire. thank you Summer!