Recently, Marfa, Kristina, Sevvi and I did a mini-book swap – we each made four books about our favorite things, and mailed them to each other. Here’s my prototype* (which like all haphazard charming prototypes of mine) ended up being tweaked a bit before mailing out. Firstly, I reformatted my quotes so they didn’t stick out so much. Then, I actually cut the coil binding correctly on the ones I mailed out so I didn’t have one hole without binding.
I chose five favorites: Books, Coffee, Baseball, Orthodoxy, and Blueberries. For each favorite, I found a quote from a book that fit the theme – I had quotes from Cannery Row by John Steinbeck , The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (that is the quote I used), The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bettie Bao Lord, Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, and fittingly for today’s Feast of St. Vladimir , the famous quote by his emissaries when he sent them to explore the religions of his neighbors and which one he should choose: “We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for on earth there is no such splendor or beauty, and we are at a loss to describe it. We only know that God dwells there among humans, and their worship is fairer than the ceremonies of other nations.”


I’ll let the other participants post their work, but each one was a true treat (Marfa’s is still traveling on the way to me, but I know that it will be as well) – and I learned that I am the only coffee drinker in the bunch. I am thinking of running an ATC swap in August – let me know if you are interested.

And, on another mail note, when I got the mail over the weekend, I was surprised to have a package from the lovely Deb. When I picked it up to open it, the fragrance of homemade soap wafted up, it was an unexpected surprise and is quite lovely! I can’t wait to use them! Thank you again, my sweet friend.

*Supplies - Daisy D paper, Stampin Up notebook punch and stamps, Bind-It-All, and Prima Flowers, CTMH "bling"