you're special every day HAPL swap

one of the members of HAPL organized a "you're special everyday" swap.  bless you, sparkles, for popping back into our group when we needed it the most.

i haven't done a swap in a while.  probably a good year and a half.  i thought it would be fun to participate.  we answered a questionnaire of what kind of yarn we liked, our favorite way to pamper ourselves, etc.  a secret swap buddy was assigned and we were to make up a "care package" of goodies for our buddy.  we had about a week to send it to our buddy in time for mother's day.  i had so much fun picking yarn and goodies for my swap buddy.  yarn, chocolate, stitch markers, a little something that represented where i lived.

the "homemade" portion of my giftie:

look at all this fiber goodness!

can you believe this?  noro yarn, on sale.  i got 2 skeins for less than what one skein costs.  unbelievable.

all wrapped up and ready to go.  i had to find a bigger box.  i planned on using the cheez-its box, but there was no way i could get all that knitty goodness in it without squashing it.

i planned on wrapping the package with some martha stewart twine, a'la "brown paper packages tied up with string", but i worried that the string would get caught in a machine and the package would get damaged or lost during transit, so i chose to just doodle on it instead:

mailed out monday.  my buddy should receive it within a day or two.  she has been having an especially difficult time recently, and i pray that it lifts her spirits, and that the yarns inspire her.

my buddy received her package on wednesday.  she loved it so much, she slept with it next to her, and she'd stroke the yarn.  i guess i done good with my yarn selection!


and yesterday my package was waiting for me...and the girl i sent goodies to was my swap buddy!  i didn't know if that's how it would match up, but i was tickled.

here's what she sent me:

a hank of cascade yarns chunky baby alpaca, a ball of bright pink lace weight yarn from brazil (i think that's where it's from, my swap buddy is originally from brazil so i am assuming it's from there),  lip balm, buckeye candy (she lives in ohio) and chocolate, some hot beverage samples, recipes for buckeye candy and brazilian fudge, a yarn tote bag, a little drawstring bag, and most touching, socks for the kiddos.  

i am especially touched by the baby socks becos my swap buddy, until recently, had a hard time going to baby stores or being around babies or pregnant women.  she is grieving the loss of her little boy late in pregnancy last fall.  i totally remember that feeling, the feeling of sadness at a baby bump, the panic of going into the baby section of a store, the stab of envy as someone celebrates a new baby.  those feelings suck.  but i am so proud of C's bravery for including the socks.  and i pray that every day gets a little easier for her too.  

and this morning i just got another written thank you from my swap buddy - apparently my package made her day, as she had a bad day and finding the package and goodies within really uplifted her.  i am so glad she is happy for her gifties.  i hope she knows how much love i put into that package.  that's why i love these swaps.  sending love where it's needed most.

thank you thank you thank you dear swap buddy C.  thank you for your kindness.  i only hope my goodies cheered you as you have cheered me.