8.12.2014

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!

16 comments:

  1. Some beautiful gifts given and received.

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    1. the swapping is such good fun~ its always fun to see what people make.

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  2. What beautiful bounty! I love mason jars to drink from... it's what we do when one gets a bit too old for canning. :-) My daughter finds them hilarious. That owl... Kim husband's amazes me!

    Thank you again for hosting such a fun swap! I will be back next year for sure, if you choose to host a 3rd.

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    1. I'm a fan of drinking from mason jars as well. especially the blue glass ones and the ones with the handles.

      LOVE the owl!

      you are most welcome~ thank YOU for participating! I imagine there will be more in the future, yes. February seemed a perfect time to host- a good way to liven up the late winter blahs.

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  3. Yay you got it!!! So happy it arrived safe and sound, and quick. Our mail is usually much slower than that. You are very welcome.

    And what a lovely swap package you received. So enjoyed this swap Amanda, thanks again for hosting.

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    1. I indeed got it and LOVE it! thank you so much, again. it was the sweetest of surprises.

      thanks for participating again!

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  4. Yay! So happy you like it! I love mason jar mugs and those paper straws and daisy lids make me so happy. Which card did Claire choose? xoxoxo

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    1. it's all so wonderful, Kerrie! she grabbed one of the purple ones with no writing and just a few designs, and she immediately readied it to send off and took it to the mailbox!

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  5. Your package looks so sweet! Thanks so much for hosting this swap. It was a really wonderful idea and I'm hoping to have one in person in the coming months too.

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    1. you are so welcome~ I'm glad you participated and enjoyed it! Oh I hope you do have one at home- they are so much fun!

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  6. oh I'm so glad it got to you! You received some lovely items this time around!! These swaps have been so much fun and I'm so happy to have been apart of them.

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    1. I have been spoiled! thank you, thank you, thank you. I'm so glad you've been a part of them, Summer!

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  7. so many lovely things! i would love to be on the receiving end of any of those packages :) so many wonderful gifts! this is all such a great experience :)

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    1. there really are lots of awesome things being shipped all around right about now, aren't there?! I think this is my favorite part- seeing all the goods and reading how happy it makes people to open up their packages and send them out as well.

      I just know your package will be fantastic when it gets to you!

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  8. I am so happy to have been a participant. I'm glad I can now put a check mark by swap. This was so fun to be a part of. I love it's heartfelt simplicity.

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    1. I'm so glad you played along! and what a beautiful and thoughtful package you sent out..... I love the little rattle, very very sweet.

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thanks for taking the time to read and comment~