Delinquent Easter Swap

As I'm sure just about everyone out in stitching blogland already knows, Terri over at Dixie Samplar host an Easter/Spring exchange.  Poor Bea, first she and I both had to worry about her package, lost in the international mail system, then when it arrived, I was caught up in dealing with "stuff" so never got a chance to get pictures posted.  It actually arrived on Monday, the day after Easter, and was great timing to give me a smile that afternoon.  I really needed it.

Bea totally went over the top with what she sent me.  The box was filled with all sorts of surprises, and it seemed like I'd open one thing, just to see more surprises inside that one.

There's a fabulous stitcher's box, with the cutest Ewe, Eye and Friends design stitched and mounted on the top.  All of the finishing details are immaculate, with very sweet details, featuring my favorite color - red.  Matching the box is an absolutely adorable wooden thread keep personalized with my name, and some some skeins of Nina's hand-dyed threads!  I've seen these around the internet, but have never had a chance to try them.

But wait, we're not done yet!  Bea also included not 1, but 2 of the most adorable handmade wallets.  One is a stitchers wallet with scissors and marking pins inside and the other is a cute little notebook, with pockets to store special little things.  Both of these are amazing, sewn with beautiful fabrics, leather, and some unique buttons used as closures.

Bea didn't stop there.  She also sent some really adorable wooden charms, with hand-carved/burned details on them.  She also sent me a true treasure trove of vintage mother of pearl buttons, from the 1930's.  Those are definitely getting saved for something very special.  They just don't make buttons like that anymore.  These are so silky smooth and cool to the touch, with some great heft, and just enough aged patina on them to make them gorgeous.  Bea respected my dieting wishes and kept the sweets to a minimum, only sending some absolutely delicious chocolate.

This exchange was very special to me, not only because I got the chance to meet 2 new stitchers, but the timing of receiving my package, and also it challenged me to try a new finish.  I stitched a Blackbird Designs project for Kathy (no blog), and used the same finishing technique suggested.

BBD Birds and Berries, stitched on 40 ct lined
with overdyed floss.

The design itself isn't very Easter-y, and sort of more a summer theme than spring, but Kathy said Blackbird Designs was one of her favored designers, so I went with it.  The finishing was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be, and something I'll probably do again.  It would be so easy to adapt the tri-fold design of this to a simple fold in half thing.

Since I didn't stitch an Easter design, I made up for it by including LOTS of Easter goodies.  Some of them were old favorites I always associate with the holiday (Cadbury Creme Eggs) but most was just me having fun in Trader Joe's.  So easy to go overboard in that store!  I also included a few stitching related goodies, and some travel size Burt's Bees products.

While we're on the topic of stitching for other people and Trader Joe's, I'll mention the small RAK I sent to Becky.  This is so out of date, since she posted about it right away, but this blog is also sort of a personal journal for myself.  Months ago she'd mentioned she and her family enjoy pepper jelly with cream cheese and crackers, and I had some homemade pepper jelly I wanted to send her.  I use it as a condiment on grilled meats.  Of course I had no idea where it was hidden away, so while I was trying to find it, I stitched up something small to into the package.  Remember this?  It was the BBD I stitched in 2 different colorways.

Of course since it was also so close to Easter, Becky got some Trader Joe's goodies as well.  I figure you can't ever go wrong with chocolate and candy.

Okay, I'm off to figure out what's for dinner, figure out what's making Annie act like a crazy dog, and hopefully finish my paper on corporate code of ethics and get it submitted.  Thank you everyone for all your kind words and thoughts, and putting up with me and my lack of blogging and commenting!