Domesticali

Seven Days of Specialness

So, it's February. Phew, breathe a sigh of relief that we have made it through another January and are peeking out the far side. This is always the time of year when I feel the lure of a fortnight in Barbados (not that I've ever had one, but i imagine that if money/real life were no object, that I would make an annual booking for the end of Jan/beginning of Feb).

Well, in real life, it's not really an option, but way back in December, I thought a 7 Days of Specialness Swap might provide a similar uplifting effect. The idea was to prepare a little series of gifts to be opened over the course of a week during February. Tiny treats for the recipient, to cherish and uplift them.

My only error was not actually allocating myself a partner - I know. How crazy was I? But by the time I matched everyone up, there was an even number of folks, so it just didn't happen. But still, even if, like me, you aren't swapping, you might still be uplifted by the pictures that are appearing in the Flickr  7 Days of Specialness Project pool.

Here's a big old list of all the blogs of everyone participating - they ought to all be feeling special any time now. Unless of course, there's been a bit of a delay in the sending of parcels, in which case, please please do let your partner know.

Pennys Hen House

Getting the skinny on knitting

Contented

Rattling on

Woolie wanderings

Generally Gemma

Busywork

Daisie Days

Two Owls Design

Dottycookie

French Knots

Fan My Flame

Pink Cat, Custard and Cake

Being Frank

Pebbledash

Lucy Locket Recycled her Pocket

Vintage Pleasure

The Antidote

Make Do and Mend

Dragonfly

Moogsmum

Things [Handmade]

Amanda Makes

Badsparklythings

Love those cupcakes

Pins and Noodles

Just a smidge

Quilt while you're ahead

The Little Pink Room

Driftwood

Linaloo

Little Cotton Rabbits

Ma Mercerie

Soozs

Weedwacker knits

And Sew it is

The Scent of Water

Prosestitich

Kolo kolo mlynsky

SASS

Camelama

Lolo Craft

Crafty Maine Mom

The Moveable Alphabet

Bravexperiment

Little Elephants

Kleas

Do let me know if your link isn't working properly!

And the winner is..

Well, if truth be told, the winner is me really. It was amazing, thanks to the Lisa Leonard giveaway, to see so many old faces from the comment box joined by throngs of you that I haven't had the pleasure of meeting before.

Lurkers. It's not a terribly warm descriptor is it? I'm not much of a lurker myself - if I am going to take the time to read a blog, then I want to feel I have some kind of relationship with the person writing it, and that for me means a two way dialogue. I guess I'll lurk places like Apartment Therapy or Whip Up, which have more of a multi-author, magazine style feel to them. And I am probably guilty of commenting less in places that regularly get huge numbers of comments. But I wonder if I comment, because I blog and therefore appreciate the preciousness of comments as a form of reward for sitting in front of a screen pouring your thoughts out into the ether.

I had no idea how large a proportion of the folks who read here do not blog. And perhaps if you do not, then your feelings about leaving a comment once in a while are different. Comments are a blogger currency of sorts, after all. I comment on your blog, you comment on mine. Everyone is a winner. But how do you feel if you have no blog? It's all very fascinating - I'd love to hear your take on it.

But anyway, on to business. I got Johnny to draw the winner for me. Though Reggie the cat was keen to get in on the act.

And the lucky person is:

Gemma! I am so pleased for her -  she didn't have the greatest of years last year, so hopefully this will be just one of many signs that this year is looking up. I will pass your details on to Lisa, Gemma - now get thee to her website and start picking! 

Reggie thought he would do some picking (and chewing) of his own.

So Petit Filoux, though I sadly do not have another Lisa Leonard piece of gorgeousness for you, count yourself a winner of sorts, at least in the eyes of my cat.  If you will let me have your details, Reggie  would like to send something to you. He promises it will be better than a furball.

Choices and a giveaway

How swiftly is it possible to say 'yes' without appearing indecently keen? Such is the dilemma which confronted me when Lisa proposed a trade recently. Well, that and which one of her wonderful pieces of jewellery to select.

Falling in love with the open circle necklace happened pretty fast too. But then all speedy decision making ability left me. What did I want it to say?

The thought of being able to have something personalized and unique is wonderful, but the pressure to get the words right was weighing heavy. What was truly important and meaningful to me? But not too cheesy, or heavy, or mushy. Something joyful. Many options were discussed and discarded.

For a while, I thought it might say "the little things", as a reference to noticing and appreciating life's small pleasures. But hubby told me I shouldn't put myself down - it took a while to dawn on me what he was getting at.  Men.

So back to the drawing board. And eventually, after much thought, this is how it turned out. And it just makes me  smile.

I never thought, way back in 2006 when I began, that blogging was going to be something so important to me. It's a part of my life now and a space which I have come to value hugely. Although possibly less than my mother. She likes to call me up and harass me when I haven't posted regularly. I have suggested she just speak to me, but she says it's not the same.  So much so, that when I suggested I was a bit overstretched a while back and perhaps I should put domesticali on the back burner for a bit, she told me she would rather I gave up work and just blogged instead.

It's a funny world.  Thank you so much for stopping by here and sharing it with me. And by way of thanks, I have something to share with you too.

Would you like to have a $75 gift certificate to spend in Lisa's shop? Because that's what she is giving to one of you. Although please, please do not ask me to help you decide what to say if you choose something personalized.

Just leave me a comment to enter the draw, and then nip off over to Lisa Leonard Designs and start deciding which one you'd pick. Just a word of warning, it may take some time.... but like blogging, probably time well spent.

 

All set

Productive weekend? Ours has been. We did have plans, but they fell through, and goodness knows, there's been more than enough to fill the unexpected gap in the schedule.

Trees are up. Yes, that is trees plural. One real, one plastic-fantastic and one for the boys to do with as they please. Mostly, because I am too particular to let them loose on the other two.

Perhaps it's time to loosen up a little with the tree obsessiveness. Especially since I overheard this phone conversation between hubby and his friend (husband of my friend):

Hubby: Are you on for a beer tonight?

DT:  (says something on the other end of the phone)

Hubby: Oh you deserve it then. We've had ours already.

When he came off the phone, I asked what we'd had already. The fight about the Christmas Tree. Who knew? It's an annual ritual apparently. In more than one household.

If you signed up for the 7 Days of Specialness Project, you should have had an email from me with details of your  partner. If you haven't, get in touch with me quick.

Seven Days of Specialness Project

So it looks like quite a few of us fancy feeling a little bit special this February. So here are the full details of the Seven Days of Specialness Project - a swap to brighten up the dark days.

To sign up, you need to email me ([email protected]) and include the following:

• your name
• your blog url
• your location
• mark your email 7 Days signup

I will leave sign ups open until 6pm on Sunday 13th December.

The following week, I will email you with details of your swap partner. This will be a simple back and forth swap (so you will be sending to and receiving from the same person). Do email them, introduce yourself and exchange addresses. For me, one of the best elements of swapping has always been the  connection made with another blogger. Making a new friend just might be the most special gift of all.

Now, the swap package itself. The Seven Days of Specialness Project is inspired by all the wonderful Advent calendars that have been appearing in blogland of late. So your swap needs to be split into elements that can be opened over 7 consecutive days in February.  How you do this is only limited by your own creativity.

It is up to you to get to know your swap partner and to imagine what might make them feel special. Like all the best Advent Calendars, this is not supposed to break the bank, it is meant to be a tiny treat to raise the spirits.

Your package needs to be in the post by February 1st.

Sound simple enough? Let's hope so! I'm looking forward to feeling extra-special this February.