Pardon Me While I Gush?

 Carmen sent the sweetest care package, and I've been having so much fun with all the crafty-goodness!   She is so dang funny...that little post-it note says "Yay!  Plastic bags :)  Hope you like them.  Just kiddin".  ha!  I was cracking up, because yes, indeed, the treasures were packed in amongst some plastic grocery store bags.  ha!  Cutie-pie.

Speaking of cutie, she completely constructed and decorated this little box ~ with compartments! and wee little pin cushion! and buttons! ~ out of plastic canvas.  Really, now!  Some people are so clever.  :)  And thoughtful too!  Look at Tippy the Turtle!  He grows 600% when you put him water (which I can attest, is true) and she sent it along knowing that my boys would love it.  Too true.

You know, there was a time in my adolescence when I went through a "phase" where I used a bunch of little boxes like this to organize the drawers in my dressers and desk.  Everything had to have a little nest.  Goodness...what would I give to have that kind of time on my hands now?  As things stand, this little fellow sits on my sewing table and, because it is totally stocked for quick mends and buttons, it will no doubt save me time (and my sanity) in the very near future.  For now, just sit there looking adorable, please.

Could you just die?  Seriously.  An amigurumi turtle and this custom-made post-it dispenser...they are going on to my desk at school immediately.  Do you love that little "B"?  It's for my last name!  It's funny, because Carmen and I kept laughing about all our similarities, and all the funny little ways that we'd "accidentally" hit on each others' quirks and preferences.  This was definitely one of those cases!  I am obsessed with post-it notes.  Any office supplies, really, but my extensive post-it note collection (which knows no bounds on color, size, and shape) is impressive to say the least.  Good call, Carmen! 

But this turtle takes the cake...I think he's flirting with me.

One of my favorites (oh, really, they're all favorites!) and for many reasons.  First of all, they are perfect little coasters.  Second of all, they have this mountain/Colorado theme, which will always remind me of Carmen.  And last but NOT least...they are something made out of something else!  I LOVE something made out of something else!  These used to be a tea towel (the fabric is fantastic, trust me) and she thrifted it and made it into these coasters.  Swoon!

Yes, it's still going!  This was a box packed with cute, let me tell you.  She made these cards!  I can tell you for free, scrapbooking and card making are an art...ones that I have no access to, by the way.  These cards are very stylish, too, with a little fold over (do you see the turtle button on the green one?!?) and the sweetest details.

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about.  See the "s" on "thanks"?  When you look closely, you'll see that the 's' sticker is upside down.  It's such a small detail, but doesn't it add a lot of personality?  I love stuff like that!  And, I appreciate it even more, because I know from experience that whatever that bone is, that says "this would be visually so interesting if I just _____"....that bone?  I don't own it.  But I know it when I see it.  Love these cards!  I'll eventually use them (not the turtle though!  I'm going to frame him!) because that's why she made them, but I'm going to hold onto them for as long as possible first.  What?

I know, can you believe it?  Still more!

I pulled this apron out of the box (kick pleat!  look at those fabrics!) and I tied it on, and literally, I haven't taken it off.  I am wearing it right now as I type this.  I've worn it every day since she sent it.  I think it's adorable!

Didn't she just nail it!  So much functional beauty, so quirky, so incredibly crafty and creative.  I love everyday things that are made to inspire, to be used (for sure!) but also to be appreciated.  And I do!  I appreciate her thoughtfulness so much.

Happy sigh!!!!  Tomorrow I'll share what I sent her, too.
Edited to Add:  Carmen wrote the best backstories for all the swap items at her blog!  You can find it here,  and these stories make me love each item even more, if that's at all possible....