Yesterday started cold and wet and dark and far too early and carried on in a fairly miserable way for the rest of the morning. I could feel my spirits drooping and with a busy afternoon ahead of me I wanted nothing more than to go back to bed with a hot water bottle and the dog on my feet! Then at about one o'clock the postman arrived and my day was completely turned around. You see I have to confess to having a bit of an obsession with 'snail mail' and yesterdays haul was guaranteed to boost my spirits.
First of all, there was a box containing the Radiant complexion creme from Virtue Natural that I won on a giveaway at Springtree Road. Thank you to Maya and Sosae for this lovely prize which seems to have immediately soothed my still itchy and very reactive skin, I am definitely going to be looking at the rest of the products in the range!
While on the subject of sensitive skin, my second parcel contained two JR Liggetts shampoo bars ordered from America after reading a very interesting post over at SpiderWomanKnits. The acute symptoms of the Stevens Johnson's syndrome have gone but it has left me sensitised to just about anything (the organic shampoo I have used for 10 years now makes my head bleed) so this looks like just what I may need at the moment....I will let you know how it goes.
My last envelope contained Amy Butlers Barcelona skirt pattern purchased in preparation for the Chickpea Studio, Sew 12 challenge. When I saw the idea of sewing for 1 hour, for 12 days, in 12 months it looked just what I needed to jump start the clothes making plans I have had for some time and the Barcelona skirt will be my first project.
By the time I had opened all of that and admired it, smelled it and read all the instructions, I no longer felt down in the dumps and tired, I felt pampered , excited and Inspired. So it occurred to me what I need, is to know, that at least once a month, something special will be arriving in my bright red post box to cheer me up and make my day. I would love to join in with some of the amazing swaps that others of you have done ( buttons, seeds, hearts....) but I never seem to be in the right place at the right time and I only ever see posts about the end of the swap NOT about how to sign up! So I have decided to try my own special swap....and I am hoping that there are others of you out there who also like to receive a parcel or letter in the post.
What I would like is for twelve different people to sign up to do a swap with me for one month each over the next year. I would like you to leave a comment with your idea for what our swap should be and which month you would like to claim. So for example - a long hand written letter in September or a parcel of Vintage bits in March. Nothing should be too expensive and as you all know I love anything handmade (I am open to the idea of papercut or brooch swaps too!) I will look at all your ideas and email the twelve swappers as soon as I can to confirm details. I would love to get started with a June swap and will fill all the months on a first come first served basis as soon as I receive your ideas. I can't wait to hear what you come up with and to make some new worldwide friends, would you like to swap with me?
*Edited to say - all Months full, thank you so much for your wonderful response!*