Sunday, March 2, 2014

Craft Swapping and General Life

First off: I am participating in Amanda's craft swap!  Now, it was not the reason I started blogging, but the promise of new friends and treats in the mail was the impetus to get this thing off and rolling.  Thanks for the push, Amanda!  I should also say that I originally saw an invitation for it on Beauty That Moves, which led me over to Sweet Potato Claire.  At any rate, 68 bloggers signed up, we all made a homemade something-or-others for the blogger we were assigned, and now have either gotten packages or are waiting with bated breathe.  I am in the latter category and it. is. kiiiiiilllllllling me!  I have been stalking the other bloggers, oohing and aahing over the gifts they've been sending and receiving.  Seriously, stamps, knitwear, soap, snacks, jewelry... you bloggers are a talented bunch.

So, here's my contribution:  I did a little research about the geographic local of my partner (that map thing, I just love them) and incorporated that into my gift.  Gah, I hope she likes it!  Here's the wrapped package, all ready to head to the post office:

I was nervous sending this off into the world!  Totally excited/nervous, like in a check yes/check no "will you be my friend?" sort of way!  Dudes, I hope she likes it.  A picture of the craft would really narrow down who its for, and she's supposed to get it Monday.  Yay! 

Now... what else has been happening in my world:

Crafting at work:


The month of March is themed "Travel With Books" at the bookstore I work at.  BossWoman wanted map luminaria, and after some fiddling around I came up with these guys.  They are fun in the window display, and generally anything involving maps looks attractive to me, but I think the paper needs to be a bit more sheer.  Either that or the lights a higher power (ahem, fire at the bookstore, anyone?).  The Christmas lights we are using just don't quite shine through the cutouts like I wanted them to.  Ah well.

Also at work, we are rearranging and painting the back of the store to turn it into a children's section, with an adjacent break room/hang out and read space while your munchkins roll around on the carpet.

Reading, at home:

I just finished Mink River, by Brian Doyle, which I disliked, and then loved by the end.  A nice surprise!  More on this later, I think.  ( And this weather!  Again!  Lets skip the part where it snowed like crazy for a while, those photos didn't turn out as pretty.)

I saw this post on Pinterest, and decided to make my own...

I think I like the final result... I'm going to have to leave them up for a while and think about it.  I'll also have to get a good photo of them later.

Finally, in closing, a gratuitous pup photo, because she's the best: