...Halloween Gift Swap & Magic...

“I'm so glad I live in a world

where there are Octobers.”

~ L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

We’re not quite in October yet but the quote makes me think about how glad I am to live in a world with Halloween.

First, I want to write how grateful I am to Katarina at Ms. Misantropia for having the idea of putting together an International Autumn/ Halloween Swap. I had as much fun putting together a package as I did receiving one.

Part of the surprise was not knowing where one’s gift was hailing. My gift came all the way from Sweden and arrived on the first day of Autumn. My swap gift was from the beautiful and talented Linnea-Maria at linneapalandet.blogspot.com. She also runs http://alongthegreenroad.blogspot.com/ where she shares amazing recipes and gardening tips, and she even runs http://linneainthesnow.tumblr.com/ which I stalk for the pictures of nature close to her home, including a beautifully eerie spider web.

 

When I opened the package, I was so happy that I felt like crying! It was a hard commuter week with Pope Francis visiting Washington, D.C. The university shuttle bus didn’t run a normal schedule; trains were delayed. Everything took a little extra time that day but it was a beautiful day and walking to and from the train station and my university was quite pleasant. But, it was the perfect day to receive a surprise.

“A little magic can take you a long way.”

~ Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach

My fella keeps talking about how magical it was to watch me open the package. In many ways for him and for me, it’s a confirmation that we can find our people and our friends who don’t necessarily live in the same city, state, country, or even on the same continent.  

It was way past my bedtime (8:30ish PM) when I first opened the gift. The first thing that I discovered was this gorgeous handmade box with three bats on the cover. I gently opened each item while Halloween confetti fell everywhere. If any of my family members read this they’ll laugh because I went through a phase where I put confetti in every birthday and holiday card and delighted in that I placed it in a way that the confetti would fall out of the card as it was opened. My brother used to open his cards from me over a trashcan. I LOVE confetti! I have saved it all, along with the crinkly package filler, and I’m going to display it in shadow box it or something. Somehow I want to box this experience.

Everything is handmade and absolutely gorgeous! Even better, everything comes with a story. Linnea-Maria explained what was included in the items and why they’re special. She made ornaments transforming items like light bulbs and vintage bake forms; she made earrings using vintage crystals and clock hands; she made a brooch/ hair bow with a glittery spider; she made a candle from all recycled materials and added an antique crystal prism. There is a beautiful banner that I immediately hung on my grandfather’s handmade corner cabinet; she included some gift bags, paper cards, and a personal card that is not only beautiful but heartfelt.

There are so many details that I could describe but it’s the overall feeling that I get when I look at this gift. This woman really went to the effort and spent serious time and energy to send magic in a package.  I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.

Thank you again Blogosphere for bringing us all together.