Handmade Gift Exchange

I love making things. I love knowing how things are made even if I can't make them myself. I love seeing all the cuteness people bring into being. So, this year I decided to sign up for the Craftaholics Anonymous gift exchange!

I was really nervous about having time to finish what I started, especially since I just started working in a new group, I no longer have any telecommuting days, and my bedtime has moved to 9PM (no, I never make it to bed on time, but at least I'm trying). So, what should I show first? The gift I made, or the fabulous gift I received? We'll see which pictures I find on my camera first...

Ok, here's what I made (following a pattern from the amazing Ana Paula Rimoli's latest book).

I started with some supplies:


I made lots of pieces, large and small:


And then (starting at 11PM on June 29th and finishing at 1:30AM because things always take longer than I expect), I stitched the pieces all together, stuffing as needed!


And here's a closeup of that cute little face. I was very proud of myself because this is the first amigurumi I've ever finished (I have half an elephant started that I interrupted in order to make this):


I mailed it off on June 30th, hoping my exchange partner would like it. Then I started obsessively checking the mail every day, including Sunday and the 4th of July. I was really excited to see what would show up for me! And when the package arrived, it was even cooler than I had anticipated!

The first thing that slid out of the package looked like a long, thin card. I looked closer and saw something peeking out of it:


Then I read what was printed on the (oh my GOSH! how cute is that! she totally made that by hand too!) card and pulled out the most gorgeous bookmark, in my favorite colors!!!


Added bonus - I have never tried tatting, but this is so gorgeous that now there's a new craft I want to attempt to learn! Look at all those little, tiny knots:


After some minutes of admiration, I turned my attention back to the package and took out a beautiful card, with a saying that my exchange partner had no way of knowing is really close to my favorite life motto (which is "Stand in Joy"):


And, again in my favorite colors, a little purse just the right size for keeping gift cards, or for carrying those minimum essentials when you don't want to carry a big bag:


I love everything about it - from the colors to the quilting to the lavender zipper! Thank you Karen!

Nine

We decided on the spur of the moment to celebrate our anniversary in Stehekin. Which is at the far end of Lake Chelan, accessible only by boat or seaplane. So, we made a reservation at a little Bed & Breakfast in Chelan, drove up after work, woke up bright an early the next day to catch the ferry and enjoyed the peaceful trip up the length of Lake Chelan. (Which is Shell-ann to me and Shell-ahn to Dan)

The views were gorgeous. The ferries were okay, although some sort of boat-dwelling flying insect was in season. The ferry schedules were offset in a way that we could maximize our time in Stehekin by taking the fast ferry uplake and the slow ferry downlake. It worked. Three hours in Stehekin was great - we rented bikes, rode up to Rainbow Falls, ate lunch at the bakery, toured the old and new schoolhouses, and still had 15 minutes to visit the locally made craft cabin (The House that Jack Built) and the ranger visitor station (we could've used a bit longer there).

So, talking over, ready for some pictures?

Our ferry (parked at the Stehekin dock):


Views from the ferry, heading uplake:


Us, on the ferry:


Once we got past Fields Point, it was all mountains:


Dan studied up on Lake Chelan and the history of the ferries:


The ferry backed right up to this waterfall so we could take pictures (can you see the rainbow starting in the lower right corner of the first picture?):


Rainbow Falls - the upper falls were so wet that I had to hide the camera away after taking one picture of the soaking wet post - it literally felt like it was raining for the last 50 yards. I kept trying to find rainbows all the way up the path, but I couldn't find any. Then, when I finally gave up and headed back down the trail, it was full of rainbows! But I couldn't take any pictures without soaking my camera. Here's the view from the lower viewpoint:


Next stop, Stehekin School. I recited from a textbook, while Dan studied geography. He made sure I got a picture of the graduation quilts poster because he knew my mom would enjoy it. Here we are:


Then we stopped at the new Stehekin School. I think it looks a lot like the old one, except it's newer and bigger (but not that much bigger):


I took a picture of the sign at the bakery where we had lunch, partly because it reminded me of another awesome trip we once took:


I didn't take any pictures of the food, but my pesto calzone and Dan's 5.0 sandwich disappeared pretty quickly.

The one thing I wish was that we'd had more time for Dan to explore the park's visitor center:


But it was time for us to get back on the ferry (the slow one this time):


And to enjoy another trip full of beautiful scenery:


Well, some of use stayed awake to enjoy it:


Then ... yes, you thought this was the end of it, right? No way! Then we still had to drive all the way back home! We took a nice break in Leavenworth, eating dinner in a bar since all the restaurants were closed. We also walked around the town, peering in the shop windows and enjoying some gelato. Dan made some new friends too:



Then we went home. Here's the picture that sums up the whole trip (well, actually, here's the picture we accidentally had zoomed in when we tried to take our picture at Rainbow Falls - but it works):

I wonder what we'll do for ten?