Monthly Swap

06 February 2012 One of my creative projects this year is to do one swap every month to bring back some love in the mail. Bills and ad folders aren't as attractive as it once was - when being an adult and being responsible felt like a novelty then. It's been a while since I got regular surprises in the mailbox from people around the world - I thought it's time to bring it back.



This past weekend I got my first sunshine in the mailbox! The parcel from Alenka, my January swap partner, was filled with 10 items of cuteness as it was the theme of our swap. I got a few of her handmade goodies, a Hello Kitty booklet with pictures and stories and stickers in it, pens, stickers, chocolate and stationery. It was a pretty nice loot. ^^



This is what I sent her wrapped in my new Tilda wrapping paper that I have been wanting to use since December. I thought some spring colors would bring her warmth in this cold Dutch winter.

This is what's inside the parcel:


1. Deco tape 2. Noodoll bookmarks 3. Mini playing cards 4. Mushroom & cake buttons from my stash 5. Re-ment Donut set 6. Noodoll pocket notebook 7. Cake recipe book 8. The tea party page off my sticker book from kikki K. 9. Cute mini post-it notes 10. Grape (or raspberry) flavored candy

I love putting gifts together for people. I also love the whole experience of finding the perfect present, and then wrapping it up prettily. It makes me giddy like a kid; like I'm the one receiving it. Then comes the joy of knowing they like it and that I somehow made them happy makes it all worthwhile.

Just Because Blog Giveaway Winner

28 February 2010 Thank you to everyone who participated in my little blog giveaway. I love love love reading all your comments. They made me laugh and cry happy tears. I'm really touched and encouraged by your words and thoughts. It's great to know people like you!

I think most of you will agree that giveaways are really exciting. Most people really like winning things. I think that's why people like playing the lottery or playing games at foxybingo because there is always a chance that they could win something. The anticipation while you wait to see if you win is such a great feeling.

I thought it would be great to give all of you the chance of winning something Sometimes in life it can at times feels like nothing is free, that we aren't given much, so it's really nice for me to be able to give something back. As I said it really means a lot to be that you all took the time to enter.

Just Because Blog Giveaway

22 February 2010 Now that I finally have a breather from all the chores, home improvements and baby preparations, it's time to give this blog some lovin' and a boost of regular updates. So for this week, I'm hosting a "Just Because" Blog Giveaway!

The first item is this Dutch Blond Amsterdam home organizer. It's perfect to give as a present or for personal use. It has 8 colorful postcards inside and pages of illustrated week overviews where you can write appointments and such. It makes home organizing so much funner! Housewives, girlfriends, mothers, women in general will love this.

Of course, what use is an organizer without a pen? So for my second item, I'm giving away this pink polka dot pen from my favorite Dutch shop, Hema.

That's not all! I have one more thing to give away but it's a mystery item. I will post a photo of it on my flickr account once the winner receives the package. I don't want to spoil the surprise. :)

So here's what you have to do. Leave a comment and tell me something nice and happy. It can be a quote, a poem, about your day, a picture, a simple greeting, anything really.

This will run until Sunday, February 28 and I will randomly pick the winner at 8 p.m. (my time) with a blog post to follow thereafter.

I hope you have/had a great start of your week!

Happy Monday! <3

xoxo,
Gracey

P.S. Please make sure to submit your email address in the email field of the comment box so I know where to contact you should you be the winner, otherwise I will have to choose the next name.

[Photos are gone; accidentally deleted from the webserver.]

Creative and Fruity Swaps

12 August 2008 I'm so way behind posts. There are lots, and I mean LOTS of things I want to write about but simply don't have the time and energy to. I hope to catch up though and get back to regular posting because I think this blog needs a bit of lovin'. It's just really been a busy week.

Last Tuesday, I received two lovely packages from Japan. The first one is from my creative swap partners, Xena and Jim.



They both made me this clock using an Oya Stone which is said to be a kind of tuff created 20 million years ago. Amazing huh? What's more amazing is that they decided to part the stone and give it to me, as it was a souvenir they bought in one of their out of town trips earlier this year. With their combined creative talents, they were able to whip up this clock. I'm really really touched by this gesture. Such generosity and ingenious talent they shared to someone they only know by name. Thank you so much, Xena and Jim! I will treasure this clock. I'm planning on hanging it in my craft room when we're done working on it.



Aside from the handmade clock, they also sent me some Japanese snacks, beads, paper craft materials and notebooks. Love them all! Thanks again X & J!

The second parcel is from Ivy, who I have been doing swaps with since December last year. This time, we decided to do a theme swap, which is one of my favorites: fruity!



I love all of the stuff she sent me. It's all so fruitilicious! I couldn't help but gasp ooohs and aaahs while opening the box. They just look so yummy! I love the Apollo Meiji chocolate! <3 strawberry + chocolate!



She also included some non-fruity things like the flower interior lanterns, ribbon, mini fan, incense and decoration balls. She forgot that we agreed on doing the fruity theme and bought some "flower" stuff. But I love them all the same! Thanks for the great stuff, Ives!

It was definitely a good mail day. I'm looking forward to more days like that! Haha. I love getting mail. :)

Of Movies, Kawaii and Good Mail Days

06 August 2008 As much as I aspire to, I'm not really in the mood to write these days. I'm enjoying crocheting more granny squares (I want to finish the blanket!) while we're watching movies in the evenings. My days are nothing out of the ordinary; I just do my usual stuff.

The movies we watched since last weekend:

- Batman Begins
- Knocked Up
- August Rush
- Bourne Ultimatum
- Legends of the Fall



I also discovered these miniature food cuteness in a model kit store downtown. I've seen Re-Ment stuff on some websites I visit and on flickr, and wished I had them, too. I don't really know where to get them online so I thought I'll save it for when we go to Japan or US. When I saw them lying on the bottom glass shelf among the boxed vinyl Tokidoki toys, I just knew I couldn't leave the store without them.

Now, I'm on the hunt for the furniture pieces! The collection begins!



These postcards came in my mailbox recently, except for the Norman Rockwell print on the top left which was the first postcard I got via Postcrossing. They are my favorite among the 16 cards I received so far. The cutest one, though, got here today all the way from China. I guess you know which one I'm talking about. I can't get enough of kawaii things. They make me all mushy and childlike. I love it!



These, too, was a colorful surprise which came all the way from Japan. Thank you, Caryn, for these origami paper goodies! I will definitely use them in the near future.

Creative Swap: July

30 July 2008

This is what I sent to Caryn for July's Creative Swap. Since she celebrated her birthday on the same month, I included some extras for gifts.



I made her this necklace and a pair of earrings. Wasn't able to make decent pictures of them, though. This is the only one that looks okay. Maybe she will take photos of them. (I'm still using my phone as camera since my lens broke. I have to buy a new lens soon!)

I really had fun putting these together and I'm glad she likes them. Can't wait to receive mine! :)

If you'd like to join in our next swap in September, you're very much welcome. You can read about it here.

Creative Treats

29 December 2007

The Japanese magazines from Ivy arrived in my mailbox two days after Christmas. I couldn't stop drooling over the gorgeous pictures and the number of projects I'm looking forward to make. I'm literally itching to start the year with crafting but for now, I'm going to sit back, relax, and enjoy the remaining days of 2007.

The other book came in the mailbox sometime ago which was something I have been curious about since I've read about it in the craft blogs I frequent. I must have mentioned it a couple of times during dinner or on our usual conversations because Mike ordered it online with the intention of surprising me. I don't know why or how, but when I saw the package that he so happily handed over after he emptied the mailbox that day, I knew it was that book. Disappointment was plastered all over his face when I said "oh, it's the Crafter's Companion!" without even opening the package and he was hoping that I would be surprised since he kept mum for a week about it. But I was surprised. It was totally unexpected. Just that when I saw the package I knew what it was and I have no idea why.