aaaaugh...it's time to call in the troops...computer bugs to Sweet Joy of Amity&Allure to Springtime Swap to Mail LOVES...

auuuuughh!

sorry i've been away...

couldn't have been helped.

my computer has been off it's rocker lately.

it's been like this for a couple of weeks now...

this is how i've been feeling lately with my lil' ol' computer...

(image courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Red_Cross )

found this Australian Red Cross image here and wishing they'd
just come to my rescue...
but saavy b-i-l came to the rescue...thank gosh! thanks so much, Steve!
what would we do without our trusty lil' machines?!
now...FINALLY...i'm back on-line...i'm keepin' my fingers-crossed for some smooth sailing!
how was your weekend?!
for those who celebrate this special time of the year,
i'm hoping everyone enjoyed their Easter Holiday...
so many blessings, family time, egg-hunts, surprises, delicious treats...
lil' muchkins started spring break and we had a very special Easter.
will try to post pics soon...

i've so much to show+tell...
received lots of MAIL LOVE esp. from sweet Joy of Amity & Allure
for the lovely Dionne's Springtime Swap , a lil' random act of kindness,
and a certain lil' something that i just couldn't resist getting from this truly amazing artist, Alice Wingerden, over here...

now to my MAIL LOVES:
1) a special notice from the postoffice was in my mailbox. said that a special package from Canada was waiting for me. yesssss, it's my package from sweet Joy of Amity & Allure (please visit her world and become mesmerized by her posts and photos)...before i post pics of her amazing gift to me here's what i sent to Joy (she also received her pack from me...she wrote me and said that she loves everything-YAY!!!):

lil' flower stationary i created for sweet Joy...

another lil' stationary i created + personalized with her newborn son's Grayson's name...

don't you just love his name?!

french soaps + yellow mini cake platter

'you're the best mom' book

lil' cupcake from Jasmine Kummer of Tart Heart

made some spring fever crunch trail mix that i put in some mason jars with sweet ribbons+labels

Easter cookies + mmm...chocolate sunflower seeds...

i truly had such a wonderful time finding treasures for Joy and her lil' family!!!

so happy that she loved it...

Now, here is what sweet Joy sent to me:

a pretty 'made with love' recipe card holder box and sweet lotion...

l.o.v.e. the lovely 'love' phrase...(how many times can i say the word 'love?' hee-hee! )

such a gorgeous recipe holder...cute sayings and cheerful colours!

what adorable sayings!

oh, thank you so much sweet Joy...i LOVEEEEEEEE everything!!! the recipe box

holder is so cute...how did you know i LOVEEEEEEEEE to cook/bake AND that i've been trying to organize all our favourite meals in one logical place?!

how thoughtful and sweet are you?!!!

2) ms. postwoman came and put another surprise in my mailbox: a very SWEET Calculated Acts of Kindess pack of very beautiful words/quotes/sayings to live by, gorgeous French postcards, eiffel tower cards, adorable cupid playing cards and a very sweet itty bitty 'LOVE' card... all from the sweetheart of a gal, Raesha!!! (and her adorable shoppe ) (will take pics and post in the near future!) please visit her world + cute shoppe...she just makes you have the warmest fuzzies! thank you so very much, sweet Raesha, for sending some 'love' my way...i surely + definitely do appreciate everything!!!

AND

3) came across this absolutely beautiful site, Painted White , owned by Alice Wingerden. oh how i love Alice's blog, shoppe, creations + finds...i adore her photos too!!! please try to stop by and see all the beauty Alice is sharing with all of us...you'll simply fall in love-i surely did!!! (btw...Alice was so kind enough to make my pack even more special...she sent some of her sweet ephemera to me...merci beaucoup, sweet Alice, for sharing such sweetness with me!)

(image courtesy of http://www.paintedwhite.com/item_432/Hand-Dyed-Aqua-Paper-Posy.htm )

again, thank you so very much for all the sweethearts that have sent their love my way...i truly am one of the luckiest gals in town right now...thank you from the bottom of my heart...well, i think i've caught up a bit...time to let this lil' guy rest abit...

oh, computer, please, please work again tomorrow!

bonne nuit!

jo xoxo

Tokens of Appreciation...Follow Your Bliss Ning Network...

i adore illustrators...

3 years ago, i fell in love with Emily Martin's Inside a Black Apple blog + shoppe, you name it...

one day, i hopped over to her shoppe and was swooning with delight...

my lil' fingers did all the talking and well...

i soon found myself with a collection of Black Apple prints, buttons, cards...

you name it!

emily is a sweetheart and because i was such a great customer, she sent a few extra goodies for me...

i just love her button felt pin she sent to me...i wear it a lot!
i created this collage of the above picture to peek just a bit into my Black Apple world...

you see, my sis, Mary Ann, 's ning group called Follow Your Bliss Network...

was created as a forum for creative bloggers who love to swap, create + learn new + exciting things...we have a new group called Membership Appreciation and my sis + i are hosting a Membership Giveaway...(she's also doing a 'Promo-Special in flickr...if your one of the 6 people that made a comment on her flickr-you'll be able to see what i'm talking about and join the Network for 3 months free!) this all started when my sis found another Rachell Ashwell's book called The Gift of Giving...and GAVE me one too!!!!! (she bought about 3 just incase...she's also donating one of her newest artblock creations) it's a very special book and i love reading about what inspires great designers (kindred spirits) and how random acts of kindness can be quite contagious!

this is my very 1st giveaway and i'm donating a few items to show our deepest + heartfelt appreciation to our lovely members!

the first item i'm donating is ONE print from my Emily Martin collection. i think the print is called 'Luna' for a fairy...thought it would be perfect to giveaway during our 1st week into Spring...i am also including a Birdcage Girl button and a postcard sampler of Emily Martin's sweet illustrations...i thought the cards were simply adorable and also perfect to WELCOME SPRING!

this is my second donation: a Pink Easter Bird Card Holder...isn't it adorable?! you could put cards, papers, pencils, lil' flags, lollipops, lil' bags of treats...oh the wonders of this cute

lil' Easter bird holder...but that's not all...

this is part of my 2nd donation: a Lily Waters' purse, Green Cosmetic Bag, bunches of lotions, sprays, soaps, clock + tray...PLUS...

a purplish sign: that says "Meet me in the Garden"...
that purse is made out of oilcloth material for easy cleanups...
i love the colours, dark blue, splashes of colours, and the robin's egg blue polka-dotted purse straps...it's quite roomy inside and i added the Green Cosmetic Bag to help keep the inside of this gorgeous purse somewhat organized, right?!

coconut + lime verbena soap, lotion, rainkissed leaves sprays/splashes, cool citrus basil lotion and the vintagey-inspired clock + tray are all for the lucky #4 receipiant...
sunday night's the deadline: midnight 03.29.09...so far we've about 11 interested kindred spirits
that want to join in the fun...after a day or two, we'll be picking out (via random.org) the lucky 4 winners in our Follow Your Bliss Ning Network...
so exciting...i've never given anything away via the internet...and hope someone in our group will like them...
looking forward to finding out who the lucky hearts are!
bonne chance...
thank you for visiting and stopping by my part of the world...

hmmm. what's up next?
my sweet+new kindred spirit, Dionne, wrote a wonderful question and answer post a couple of days ago...hopefully in a couple of days, i'll be able to post it here...would love to find out more about all of you...
bonne nuit
xoxo jo ;)

Springtime Swap...City of Dionne

(image from City of Dionne )

isn't the above illustration just lovely?! my sis, Mary Ann, just discovered this beautiful blog because of this very image...we both adore illustrators and pretty drawings just like this! it just so happens that a very talented and creative artist, Dionne, created this birdcage illustration for her very 1st time swap. it's all about spring and what perfect timing...we all truly want spring to come and joining in on this swap would totally banish the wintery blues, right?! please visit Dionne's beautiful blog City of Dionne. she has unique photo layouts, fantastic illustrations, wonderful posts and an array of creative+kindred spirits on her blogroll...i'm truly enjoying Dionne's adorable world and finding more creative soules to connect with. Dionne is also opening up a shop soon...can't wait to see the beauty she'll be creating and sharing with all of us...

so, if you'd like to join in on the springtime love...read more about her springtime swap here . The deadline for swap sign-ups is Monday, March 16. On Tuesday the 17th, Dionne will announce the partners. They will be randomly selected through random.org.

let's break the wintery blues up and welcome Spring Fever with open arms...

bonne nuit
xoxo jo ;)