Oiseaux

Autumn Swap 2009, or: Rampant Joyful Generosity

Last year I participated in Sofia Barão's Autumn Swap: I put together a surprise package for Kate in Australia, and received one from Danielle in Ohio, and in the process gained two new brilliant, creative friends.

This year I signed up again, and was so occupied with pulling together a package for my new recipient (more on that later) that I completely forgot I had a package coming to me. I was just returning from the post office with Beau when we drove up to find a big box on top of the mailbox. Beau said, "Look, Mommy, it might be from Santa!" and we ran inside to open it up.

The package came from Liz Kalloch, and talk about rampant joyful generosity! It might as well have been from Santa... a really cool, artistic Santa...

.. and I've been having a lot of synchronicities in my life lately, and Liz's package was full of them.

First of all, Liz lives in San Rafael, CA, where I used to live as a little girl.

Secondly, I open up a card from LIz (one she designed) and the message on the card is exactly the same sentiment as two pieces of art I've been working on.

Then I open up a custom-made aromatherapy oil blend that LIz made herself ("for Joy & Creativity") and a beautiful burner.. I open up the oil, and the scent is a dead ringer for one of my favorite aromatherapy candles that's been discontinued for years!

The rest of the box is like Christmas morning:

• Two (two!) books: The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner (I've been needing a new book for months now) and The Vision Board by Joyce Schwarz.
• Raspberries in dark chocolate.. danger!
• Shimmering gel pens (had to hide them from Beau)
• beautifully designed sticky notes (ditto)
• a "Oiseaux" CD of mixed songs, that included one of my favorite songs ever, "Golden" by Jill Scott
• a collection of goodies designed by Liz: a bird journal, magnets, a gorgeous pocket calendar for 2010, and six greeting cards!

At this point there was paper and bubble wrap everywhere, and Beau's attention had been happily diverted when I noticed there was a secret trap door at the bottom of the box, and in it was a beautiful matted piece of art, entitled Song of Revival!

 

Such incredible generosity.. I was so humbled.

 

Liz is an exceptional artist and designer, with two blogs: one for design and one for knitting. She also has an etsy shop that you must visit. I so look forward to enjoying all of her gifts, and for getting to know her better.. I am already a fan of her blogs.

***Thank you, Liz!!!!!***

.....................................

Add on:

Jennifer from Odette New York just received my package, you can take a peek here! And check out her beautiful jewelry, I have a few items already on my Christmas list.

Celebrating Autumn with 100 degree heat

And I wish I could write a bit about this, but Typepad keeps insisting that everything I type be turned into a link, so I shall continue with another post when I am free of this silliness. BTW, it is HOT here. Really really hot.

***

Add on:

Now that I can type normally (yay!) I wanted to mention that Sofia Barão is hosting her Autumn Swap again this year. I was a part of it last year.. I had a blast and made two new friends: one in the US and the other in Australia. Check it out, it's really really fun.

Wish

Wish, 2008

I can finally post this little collage, because my autumn swap partner has received her package! I'm so happy that Kate likes all the things I sent, and just as happy that the package got to her before she heads out of town for two months (I was sweating when I read that on her blog a few days ago) If you're interested on seeing what was in the package I sent, there are some photos here, and do check out Kate's lovely blog and her wonderful etsy store chock full of fun paper madness... it's a dangerous place for collage artists.

Another fun note: I had my 300th sale this morning! Yippee for Oiseaux! It was this time last year when I was just thinking about opening my store. This time last year.. it was only a wish.

:)

Autumn Swap 2

Okay, finally... here is the amazing package I received from Danielle DeBoe from Cleveland, Ohio. 

:)

Her package was decorated with Ohio leaves and stickers from her beautiful boutique, Room Service.

What fantastic goodies inside! Everything I opened was perfectly chosen, like Danielle had known me for years. She included handmade chocolates from her local chocolatier (Please check out the website to see how gorgeous these chocolates are, most of them are already in my tummy so I can't show you myself), coffee from a local shop-- Karma Blend-- that smells amazing, 

a sweet little birdie soap wrapped in beautiful packaging, 

an Animal Rubber Stamp set that I adore (guess which one is my favorite?),

and a lovely little pop-up book called Animus.

All wrapped in this darling retro children's ABC wrapping paper! Danielle is amazing, I know that I didn't mention that I collect pop-up books; everything she sent was chosen with so much care... I know that part of her gifting skill comes from owning a boutique, but the rest comes from having a huge, happy heart.

Thank you, Danielle, for making my autumn a cozy place!

Yippee for Autumn Swaps!

Okay, so I'm a few days behind schedule for sending out my autumn swap, but I have an excuse... 

please see below.

This is one week of orders, and most of these packages contain more than one set of bookplates.

I have been working my tail off! 

Happily, of course.

Now for the fun stuff...

My package is ready to go off to a faraway place, and I'm very excited! I had a blast wrapping all her presents this morning. I took some photos of the items inside before I wrapped them up, and I've decided against posting them because I want my entire package to be a surprise, but I'll list my items just for fun. Hopefully she'll post some pictures once she gets her package!

My partner is a stylish, smart, funny woman who loves design, books, art and all things beautiful. I've had such a fun time lurking around her blog and trying to see what she might like. I wanted to give her mostly handmade things, so I did some work myself and also turned to esty. 

Her package contains:

A handmade greeting card by All The Numbers

A necklace from a certain etsy seller that I think she will love

Yummy soap and a selection of teas from my favorite store in Malibu

A set of vintage bookplates from my shop, Oiseaux, personalized for her books

A beautiful vintage children's book

One of my favorite books in the world

A fun mixed bag of tags, envelopes, stickers and hand-painted gift tags 

Chocolate filled with one of her favorite flavors

and finally,

an original small collage that I made just for her.

:)

(I have also received my package! I can't wait to post about that, I'll be taking some photos later today.)

Thank you, Sofia, for hosting such a wonderful swap. I have two new faraway friends, and that's the greatest feeling.

Happy Halloween!

This is Beau's first self portrait, and a rather eerie one at that... hope everyone has a fantastic Halloween!

Autumn swap update... I have already received an AWESOME package from a very cool woman in Ohio, and my package goes out in the post tomorrow (one day late, but I hope she'll forgive me once she opens it up).. pictures and details soon...