the early bird

Sweet Teresa's blog was the first place that I saw this particular handmade giveaway twist, and since I was one of her first five commenters, I'm 'paying it forward'. (I haven't decided yet if that's one of those phrases I detest, but I think it might be. Too catchy.)

The rules are (and I'm copying the text from Teresa, with some edits):

The first 5 people who respond to this post will get something made by me: it will be my choice, but will, hopefully, be something you can use or enjoy for its aesthetic merits. (The picture of my sewing machine does not mean that it will be used in the handmade wonderfulness which is this swap, although I just had a brilliant idea...) This offer does have some restrictions & limitations...

*I make no guarantees that you will like it...but I hope you do!
*You will receive this item before the end of the year (December 31, 2009) or sooner.
*You will have no idea what the item will be, or when you will receive it.
*To participate, you must re-post this meme on your blog and put together something to be sent out as 5 surprises of your own. These surprises can be anything....a piece of art, a photo, a poem...whatever you choose.

Now I'll just wait for the comments to come rolling in! If you're one of the first five commenters, please e-mail me your mailing address (grahamsherrie AT yahoo DOT ca), and those will go in the mail sometime in the next 9 months! Happy Handmade Friday! (Yes, I just made that up.)

you say it's your birthday

I received the most beautiful and thoughtful and handmade gifts for my birthday. A donation to Doctors Without Borders and this birch bark ring from Elizabeth Scott's Etsy shop, socks and mittens made by the hands of my knitty friends (the mittens are from Ingrid - she's working on the other one), and the coolest scarf known to man. Oh yeah, it's a pencil. A pencil scarf. And those are Phillip's grubby handprints on the mirror. I'm one lucky duck!
Earth Hour was lovely here at home with a few good friends and some candles. And some very rich cake from Thibault's Bakery. Doesn't this photo look medieval? I love how it turned out.

I've been slowly reading bits and pieces of A Handmade Life. And you know, I think that's the way it's meant to be read. Very enjoyable and inspiring, if a tad bit on the scattered-and-kind-of-erratically-written side (and I would never write like that, now would I?) I like the book so much, and Mr Coperthwaite seems like such a lovely person, that I sent him a couple of bars of soap in the mail today with a note. I hope he enjoys them.