APR-JUN: Big Swap!

[RMDC]

GUYS, I THINK I JUST WON THE SWAP.

blackberrybear made me a) a very happy swappie, b) envious of her skill and acumen, and c) feel like I shortchanged my own swappie. ^^;

Here's a little bit of background: We've been dealing with the big fire on the mountain behind our house for almost a week now. Smoke everywhere, fear that it'll flare up and spread in the dry weather, tense worry because the local FDs can't do much in terms of containment. This morning we made arrangements to meet my wife's parents - they're driving down from the Saratoga, NY area tomorrow so that they can pick up our cats and take them to stay in NY for the duration of the fire (so if we evacuate, we won't have to wrangle cats into carriers and there'll be more room in our car).

I've been a wreck.

When we pulled into our driveway and I saw the mail carrier had left a package on our doorstep, I knew right away what it was. I opened the box and the past five days disappeared.

THE GOODS:

The first thing out of the box was HOLY CRAP IS THIS SERIOUS I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

Spoiler

That is a bamboo wind chime covered with bead sprites of fine make, all coated with outdoor Mod Podge for heavy-duty use, drawn from A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening. The top proudly bears the Triforce; beneath it dangle rupees, the lantern, Quake, the Book of Mudora, the boomerang, and the ocarina. The clapper weight displays Link. It's an absolutely perfect representation: I've always felt that sprite in particular showed Link as both determined and vulnerable, and the symbolism of a cloud of the tools of his journey hanging above him, all held in place by the Triforce he must work for but can't even see - it's heartrending.

That wasn't my usual hyperbole. I get worked up over this game.

This was the point where I told my wife that I had won the swap. I hadn't even gotten the rest of the way into the box yet. Next out:

Spoiler

A tote bag fairly littered with sprites on vinyl canvas, impeccably stitched, evoking more than a few of my favorite things - and like schnitzel with noodles, it made me want to sing like Julie Andrews. The side I have designated side 1 displays the owl from Link's Awakening, the giants from ALttP, the Star Trek comm badge that's been staring at me from my to-do pile for the past month (thank you for taking this duty off my hands! ), a Moogle (from Tactics Advance, methinks), Arachnus from Metroid Fusion, and the Doctor Who Tardis logo. Though I'm sure blackberrybear has potentially enough skill to stitch a cat into life, that kitty is my own little photobomber - though, ironically, he has stitches of his own due to a tail accident.

Side 2 features Marin (and a musical note) and a Stalfos from LA, a Star Trek TOS insignia (or should it be insignium? English fails its Latin lineage at times), Samus in her Fusion suit, the Tardis itself, and... here's where I need help. I can't identify the yellow beastie in the lower right corner, and I know I'm going to feel like a proper fool when it's explained to me.

And look at that stitching holding the pieces on. I burn with envy at her skill, burn.

But it didn't stop there.

Spoiler

A gorgeous 3.5x5" stitching of the under-the-bridge scene in ALttP, the back of which is equally as pretty as the front, which will shortly be framed and hanging on my show-off-to-guests wall...

Spoiler

An ingenious repurposing of a DVD case - you put needles with floss attached into the felt, and you use the sheets (held in place by color-coded corners) to record the number designations of each color. This is a blessing - I've been considering making a biscornu in order to keep needles, and not only is this more portable, but the idea of having them preloaded with floss is a smart way to do preparation for a project ahead of time and not have to fiddle with it later while stitching on the go. Plus, the outer lining is beach-travel themed, including a very awesome dimensional sticker with actual sand and shell.

And finally...

Spoiler

The card fits the local-color theme, and she attached it to cardstock. Her personal note is on the other side of the cardstock - the card itself is therefore left writing free.

I thought I was done hyperventilating over everything when that little magnet dropped out of the bag like a surprise left hook at the end of a glorious round of fisticuffs. Trek font, no less. :3


She didn't miss a single trick. Not only did she hit just about every one of the random things I'd tossed into my swap survey (that beach theme on the case! Woo!), she also filled needs I hadn't even mentioned. That bag is now my stitching tote, something I've been meaning to do for myself for months, and the thread case is brilliant. And it all came at the perfect, perfect moment.

blackberrybear, you are my Sprite Stitch hero.

[blackmageheart]

Christ on a bike! That's some freaking loot you have there!

Seriously, though, some epic work.

GUYS, I THINK I JUST WON THE SWAP.

That remains to be seen! XD

[Philpepe]

AWESOME GIFTS! Especially the Zelda Wind Chimes!

I do hope my swappie is ok with the gifts I'm sending being a slight bit late as I still have a little stitching left. As someone else said earlier though, that gives me some time to add a few more items as well. I aim to give a new meaning to the word spoiled...

[TheLanceman]

Ugh. So I didn't budget correctly. And I'm not going to be able to send out my package until July 5 or 6 (with the holiday on the 4th, I don't know if my check will be delayed or not). I hope my swapee isn't mad!! But keep in mind - this gives me more time to add items! XD

*sigh* same here! I'll be sending my gifts on Monday at the very latest when I get paid as I'm down to the very last of my cash at the moment and postage to my swapees' country is upwards of $50!

I am in the same boat here. Moving across the country brings with it so many unexpected expenses. I will have mine in the post next week for sure, but like other have said, this gives me a chance to add a few more goodies!

[La Ptite Bete]

WOW !!!

Blackberrybear you did awesome work, bravo !!!!

[blackmageheart]

To everyone worried about being late: totally fine. It always happens! And with June 30th being a Saturday that does make it a bit awkward. So don't panic, send it as soon as you can, but please do let me know! I'm doing my best to keep track of who's sent, received and who's late!

[starrley]

Oh man, blackberrybear's gifts are awesome!
And RMDC's description was as entertaining as ever! (I think his real name is Cade... pass it on!)

In me news, I sent my package today! You don't know who you are, but expect your package to arrive Thursday or Friday. (The 4th of July will slow things down a little.) I have the tracking number, so I'll be monitoring the package's progress. I really hope he/she loves their swap gifts! I went all out.

[blackmageheart]

I went all out.

Didn't expect any less!

[Ally]

....maybe RMDC DID win the swap, those gifts are incredible!

[RMDC]

Don't take it wrong - of course I don't actually mean it in a competitive sense, but instead in a "holy crap I'm floored" way. ^^;;; I would have been over the moon and ecstatic with anything that's been shown so far.