Winter Brings Out

This weekend I had plans to do so much more and get more accomplished. It's always seems that way around this time of year. After a day of shopping with my mom, to which I still didn't get too much holiday shopping done, I went to her home and gathered some very rustic nature provided materials to work on a wreath for our side door. But I found myself using some of it to decorate the mantel in the dining room. Woodland, birds, rustic, simple - perfect. 

I also received the most perfect parcel in the mail the other day. My ornament swap partner, Erin, sent me some rather beautiful ornaments. The fluttery red and white paper handmade one is from a vendor she sees at the craft fairs every winter ( love supporting the handmade community). The twine bird is from her favorite little gift shop, and I can see why it's her favorite. Oh thank you Erin!! 

The host of the swap also received her cute little surprise handmade ornament I made for her and her baby Felix, so now I can show them off. Red snowflake cross stitch, hung in a small hoop, with a sequined scattered star for a Christmas wish. Felix's first Christmas ♥. I haven't done cross stitch for a very very long time - but winter brings out knitting and cross stitch. 

Happy Things To End The Week With

 Getting my new business cards in the mail and they look even better in person.

Finishing up a lovely little baby shower package for a dear friend.

Amazing birthday gifts in the mail. 

These birch tree candle holders are from my vintage soul sister.

I know just the place to put them in the new house.

Hope everyone else has happy things to end this week with ♥

Happy Mail

Absolutely love opening my mailbox to happy mail!! There were two things to be excited about this time.
First was an ornament from my dear vintage soul sister. She gets me.

It was a total surprise. If only she could see my reaction when I opened it. Isn't it just beautiful!!! The ornament is from Jupiter Designs - and I adore everything about it.

Thanks so much Micaela!!!

The other surprise in my mailbox was a giveaway I won over at NanaCompany. Lady luck must have been on my side that day because there were a lot of entries. What I won was an amazing quilt blocks book called "Modern Blocks" and Amy herself has two blocks that she designed featured in the book. Just flipping through this book gave me tons of ideas.

Amy also included some great little extras as well. Can't wait to use those trims! The handmade trivet is beautiful.

See all those tiny little hand sewn stitches?! Thanks so much Amy. I don't think it will be mine for much longer though. Someone, who will remain nameless...but not pictureless, has already proclaimed it hers. This is the very reason she didn't see me open my package from Micaela :)

Why I ♥ Swaps!!!

Some people would say I was a little coo coo for doing 2 swaps in the same week I have to prepare for the farmer's market. At first I was thinking the same thing. There is just something about a good swap and meeting new crafty people that is so appealing. Also the added bonus of meeting new blogging buddies.

If I had to sign up again I would do it in a heartbeat. Happy mail is what arrived today and yesterday. The kind of mail that took away all the stress of finding a tent, preparing bags, tags, and supplies. First package I got felt like it was my birthday, and rightfully so since it was the birthday treasury swap from Susan.

The shadowbox got an "OOOOOO!" from Odyn and Ms. Aries wanted to keep it in her room. Damien said it was nice - which is the very best compliment you can get from an 8 year old boy. All the little details like the watering can, vintage needle holder, and cute cake all made me smile. It's perfect! I know the very special spot in the studio where it will go. Plus Susan was so thoughtful including bunny wrapped chocolates, spools of thread for the feet, needles that came in the needle case, and that wonderful cottage style paper. Thank you again Susan - your work is amazing!

The next little package I got in the mail came from the pampered swap that I sign up for on April Maybe's blog. Oh how lucky was I that April herself was the person to pamper me! The box had pretty pink Eiffel Towers all over it. Her package came at just the perfect time, for today I do feel like I need to be pampered a little.

April was little psychic too. The night before the package arrive I entered my Hubby and I into a giveaway for a trip for 2 to Paris. So upon opening my pampered gift I felt like I already won that giveaway. My inner Amelie squealed to see that I got a very cool Paris mug (perfect for tea), yummy French chocolate wafers, jasmine lime soap that I can wait to try, amazing jade green nail polish, a much needed eye mask, silky cotton linen body milk, an Eiffel Tower key chain, and a pedicure kit that I am sure once Aries sees, a girls night will be announced.
My absolute favorite part though was the mixed CD that April made for me. Once girls night is underway, Aries and I will be dancing with painted toes all night long to it. Thank you April for hosting such a wonderful swap and for pampering me with such wonderful gifts.

Stay Handmade Etsy Swap

Recently I participated in this wonderful Etsy swap. Jessie was our fantastic host for this and she paired me with the most amazing blogger ~ Micaela. Being a follower of the Dolce Vita blog I was super excited to be paired with Micaela. Her style is one that can't be matched. We emailed each other back and forth - quickly we became great friends :)

It was so fun getting surprise filled packages in the mail that were just for me. These are the items that filled those packages:

This gorgeous hankie - that I had been eye balling from Random Retro for quite some time. I am going to frame it and once I find those perfect nightstands for our bedroom it will have a home there.

This gorgeous mermaid print - another of my favorites! It's from Artist Andrea's shop. I have not found the perfect spot yet - but I will I promise you. It will look fabulous in the most shabby vintage chic frame.

Andrea was also wonderful enough to throw in this really stunning organic tote bag that has one of her original drawings on it. Of course the real diva in the house saw that it said ooh la la on it (same saying that one of her shirts has embroidered on it) and announced it was hers. We have dubbed it her treasure hunting bag and with the amount of tag sales we go to I am sure it will get much use!

The gift that really touched me was this wonderful tin - isn't it the sweetest?! Micaela picked it out for me at her favorite vintage shop. Again I knew we were vintage soul sisters because I was looking for tins just like it to hold all my not so pretty bath products in.

It matches our half bath perfectly (sorry for the dark picture - but it is really difficult to take a good picture of a half bath!) I love love love this swap. I had an incredible time and the best part about it was that I met a really wonderful person who will remain a friend for a very long time. Thank you so much Micaela :)!!! If you want to see what I got Micaela - and I know you do - head on over to her blog Dolce Vita. While your there make sure you check out her to die for art collection.

Mail Call

I got the best surprise in the mail! My oldest loves to get the mail when he comes home from school. He takes each piece of mail and holds each one out before he puts it on the kitchen table. Well today was different. He opened the mail box reached in and was "What is this?!?!?!" I said "Oh! It looks like it's a package from my friend Vivienne. It came all the way from Ireland." Then it was "Can I open it?" "Is it for me?" "What is it?".

I barely got the package in the door. I asked him to go get my camera ...run run run, get camera, walk as fast as I can without running with mom's camera. He couldn't contain himself. As instructed he opened the package carefully. "Oh mom it's pretty. It must be for you." Aries heard the word pretty. "Me like pretty!" I was able to get a few pictures taken before the items were claimed.

Aries informed me that the brooch was now hers. Damien stated that the Irish linen sachet smelt so good that the best place for it would be in the upstairs bathroom (otherwise known as the kids bathroom). I am proud to say that the items made their way back to me. The brooch is now pinned on my purse and the sachet is in mom and dad's bathroom. Thank you so much Vivienne! It really made my day and my kids day too. (Isn't she the sweetest?!)

 I know I will be sharing this lovely corsage with my daughter but if you want one of your own visit Vivienne's shop. The picture doesn't do it justice.