Wednesday, April 21

Long distance swap!

Yesterday after picking the kids up from Pre-K, I saw something in the crack of my front door. Immediately I recognized it was a USPS receipt.  My heart sank when I saw that I had missed delivery of a 'parcel'.  So I paid Lily 25 cents to watch out her window for the little blue & white truck.  I know Mike's route like the back of my hand, & in about 30 minutes he'd be heading down the opposite side of the street.  I figured when I got the signal from my spotter, I'd dart out the door & throw myself in front of his truck.
Thankfully, Mike saw the international postage & had mercy on me.  He made a special trip back, saving me from injury & social humiliation.

You see, I've been expecting something from a friend far away.  We've been planning this swap for a couple of months, she even threw me a little bone on her last post!

I carefully began to unwrap each layer, stopping occasionally to take pictures, & squeal.

The first thing I uncovered was THE most amazing fabric collage ever.  I wish my sad photo could really do it justice.  I didn't shrink this image, so if you click on it you should be able to see the details. 

And the back looks like an old fishman's sweater from the Baltic Sea.
Oh, I love it so much!!!
A close up shot.
After I wiped the drool up off the table... I opened this bag, very, very carefully. 

Wonderful smooth, brown sea glass.  I'm seeing some sort of collage or assemblage combining these, with the seaweed Dorthe sent from Denmark.
I was blown away by the care & creativity that went into each gorgeous package.
Can you believe the crustiness of this buckle? It looks like it came from an old ship wreck or something.
How special is this tag? Linen, music & my name stamped on muslin. This would be a great name tag for my big teaching gig!

More treasures, each with her special mark.

I tried using Altavista to translate, but came up with zip. 

What awesome treasures to create with!

Special numbers & some of her tiny ribbon flowers, made just for me!
I have every yummy gift displayed on my art table, even the little bags, & the stamps from the parcel.  Boy, this beautiful friend really knows me, & spoiled me bad!  Each & every treasure makes me smile, & that rich shade of umber will always remind me of Julia!

I just hope she loves her gift as much as I love mine. Thank you Julia!

44 comments:

Diva Kreszl said...

you are one very lucky girl to have such a wonderful friend! Such beautiful treasures, and each wrapped with the greatest of care :) I'm going over to pay her blog a visit right now!

Miss Gracie's House said...

Hi Lisa,
such pretty treasures...and I know you'll do something wonderful with them!
Thank you so very much for the words of compassion and prayers for me and my family...I was so blessed by the love...
Rene'

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

WOW! Gorgeous! And I love how she wrapped everthing. So much detail all in one package. You will have lots of fun with this beautiful gift for sure:)
~Debra
Blog: Capers of the vintage vixens

Outofmymind said...

Now that I've wiped off the drool from my keyboard and stopped saying Holy crap, I have to say HOLY CRAP!!!!! SO BEAUTIFUL and so much thought and love into each package and art. You are truly one blessed girl. Thanx for sharing your treasures with us. kelli hansen

Tina said...

what a beautiful swap Lisa - you lucky girl. Everything is so beautiful and that fabric collage is just amazing - wow
xo Tina

Inspired-Simplicity said...

Girl,
You hit the Mother load on that awesome gift. Posting at 6:11, I'm impressed.
See You Soon :)
C.

sweetpea said...

Lisa, it's all so beautiful. I am blown away by that little envelope with the sewing on it. How can you stop looking at them? Or have you?

Hugs,

Shelley

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Beautiful swap...I am not surprised your heart went pitty pat! Love the name tag!

Unknown said...

oh my goodness lisa but these are stunning treasures! Julia is so very sweet and talented! I just love her and her creations. you will treasure them all i'm sure. and you most certainly deserve it as you are just as sweet and talented!
:)

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Lisa,
I would be squeeling too! I couldn't unwrap those packages fast enough! Beautiful things for a beautiful person.

hugs
Sissie

Lori said...

oh, MY!!! that is the most gorgeous fabric collage...so many beautiful layers and embellishments...what a dream to own such a stunning creation...enjoy Lisa!!!

Debby said...

You are such a lucky girl! That collage is so beautiful and all the wonderful treasures, amazing. I would be jumping for joy also. Absolutely gorgeous swap!
Debby

Unknown said...

Lisa,
This is absolutely beautiful! What a talented friend. I want one!!! Love the sea glass.
Mary

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I would be looking and touching all those treasures for hours. What a fantastic box of goodies!

Sweet Old Vintage said...

The box full of goodies are just amazing... Was a generous and talented package.... Enjoy...

Lululiz said...

What an absolutely breathtakingly beautiful gift to receive. So many wonderful treasures, Julia is such a very generous person.
( Re the translation, if you meant the little German bit on the tag, it means - just like a bird.

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Hi, sweet Lisa, You are very welcome and I'm so happy that you like my goodies! Thank you for taking all the lovely pictures! I know I will love your treasures as well and I'm waiting over here with great anticipation for the mail lady bringing your package :-).
Have a wonderful day!
Big hugs,
Julia

Diane said...

I love reading your blog, Lisa. It's like an adventure,and you post your treasures so well--wonderful little gifts from a very talented artist!

Dorthe said...

Hi dear,
It certainly is "christmas" as you wrote yesterday,what an exeptional beautifull collage Julia, made you ,-she is such a talented artist- and the tags are wonderfull,too.I`m almost sure that the words, under the birdcage one is :"So wie ein Vogel" whish means:
just like a bird.....Correct me please dear Julia if not, when reading this....
And all the rusty treasure are fantastic pieces for you to create your beautifull art with, Lisa.
Love the envelopes too.(Own one myself).
Lisa, love to you and hugs.
Dorthe

Mollye said...

Oh I am swooning and trying to catch myself from falling out of my chair from the beauty of this swap. What an amazing trove of treasures to keep and look at for a lifetime of memories. I bet what you sent her was equally as magnificent. Just lovely all of them. Happy week your way, Mollye

Raspberries and Rose Petals said...

Unbelievable! I love the time and thought your friend put into packaging each treasure! We will wait with excitment to see what lovely things you make with all this fabulous stuff!

BellaRosa said...

Lisa amor, those lil peaks you sent me, were so beautiful...but my stars...the rest truly left me drooling! Julia said she was new to all this crafting and collage art...but ahem...I beg to differ...after seeing all this beauty and literally wiping the drool for the 10th time, I think she is a Pro! Her collage is stunning...a good thing that I love ya amor, or I would be figuring a way to Texas to steal that lil lovely :) and then all the other treasures she sent! Gorgeous!!! I was oohing and ahhing at everything and smiling because each and every beautiful item you showed yelled "LISA" how awsome is that! Julia is such a love, she makes me laugh and smile everytime I visit her blog or read her wonderful emails...not to mention how I love everything that she creates...I love how she got you when she created these beautiful things with you in mind...Ooh you lucky, lucky girl :) Enjoy all your beauties amor, you so deserve them! I can't wait to see Julias post & pictures when she receives your package :) Besos, Rose

ps...just a reminder....stop counting my words..brat lol cause ya know....Your not the boss of me :)

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

Wow...what wonderful treasures full of inspiration for you! Enjoy!

Sue@MyArtsDesire said...

Oh you blessed girl, you! Even if you would have had to throw yourself in front of the mail truck, this time it would have been worth it! What an outstanding work of beauty. Loved your descriptions of everything! I'm stopping by all my favorite blogs to personally invite them you to stop over if you get a chance for my giveaway. I meant to tell you that I visited that website of the artist you featured a few days back...what FUN! xo Sue

Anne Lorys said...

That's pretty amazing, Lisa!
I don't know whether to swoon or be jealous. I'll do both! ;-)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Anne

June said...

Lisa I don't get jealous often, but I'm afraid this has pushed me over the edge a bit. It is so beautiful. Wow Julia knows just what you love! I love that name tag!
I hope the babies are feeling better and back their little selves. Landon is doing so much better, and I couldn't be happier.
I hope you are all having a great Spring.
hugs

mary pernula said...

OMG!!!!! I am so happy for you. I want to get involved in a blog swap, I can see that it is exciting. Thanks so much for sharing........XO MARY

debi said...

That's what I call a special delivery! What beautiful treasures!
That collage is just gorgeous...and all those bits and bobs are going to be lots of fun to create with.

Janet Ghio said...

What an exquisite collection of gifts and the collaged piece is gorgeous!!

Calsidyrose said...

Thank you for sharing your photos of your swap package--your friend did an awesome job packing things. I am taking notes for packaging my PC Retreat Swaps.

Julia's collage is stunning. What a wonderful keepsake!

Looking forward to meeting you at the Paper Cowgirl Retreat!

Claudia said...

Oh.my.gosh. What a wonderful swap! Everything is beautiful, made with such care and creativity.

Congratulations!

xo
Claudia

Chani said...

I could tell right away that it was Julia who made the collage and all the other AMAZING things... they are sooo beautiful ad I envy you :) :) You're so lucky that you got this great gift!

Anonymous said...

OH MY GOSH!!!! What a fabulous exchange!! Girl, you are going to have some FUN with that stuff! And her assemblage is to die for! I do NOT blame you for flagging down the delivery guy! He knew what was good for him! ;-)
Wonderful!
Blessings!
Diane

The Feathered Nest said...

What GORGEOUS treasures Lisa!!!! My goodness, Julia SO knows you girl!!!! Everything just speaks "Lisa" doesn't it? There is so much attention to detail in each piece of this wonderful package...I love it all too sweetie!!! hugs and love, Dawn

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

It just kept getting better and better as you showed all of the loot. You must have been squealing with joy as you opened it all!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

OH Lisa...what wonderful goodies you received! Like Christmas morning! You must have wanted to sit right down and play!!

Karen Valentine said...

Wow, Lisa! You had so much self control! I don't think I would have been able to stop and take photos! That collage really is gorgeous and all the rest of the special goodies are just yummy! Once again... I am envious of my friend Lisa!!! Take sweetie and have a happy Thursday!

Karen
My Desert Cottage
Valentine Design

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

Lisa ~
That is gorgeous gorgeous and so very much perfect for you ~
The detail is amazing ~ WOWWWZAAA !!!
xoxo
Lori

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

What an amazing swap, so cool!
Thank you for you last comments on my blog. You say that you have some things to donate to our orphanages in Ethiopia! You can send them directly to me and I'll see that they get there. Your so sweet to be doing this. I've always loved you and your work, now I love you, your work and your heart.

Big Hugs
cindy@stitches

cindy geilmann
2256 West Hobbs Drive
South Jordan, Ut 84095

mary pernula said...

Hello and what a fun thing to do, I would love to join in a blog swap, how do I get hooked up to this? Please let me know how I can join this fun group. XO MARY

Carole said...

Julie is amazing. Saw her creations on her blog and almost fell over. You lucky girl!
Have a great weekend.
xxx
Carole

Erica@ZunkyChic said...

Wow! What treasures, and what a beautiful swap.

Dumpster Decorators said...

The fabric collage is wonderful

Ruth in PA said...

The round numbered tag is a cow ID tag - used to identify each animal in a herd in order to keep track of feed, milk production, etc. My husband carries one on his key ring, but I'm not lucky enough to have found one yet.