My Secret Sister

Have you ever heard of Bead Swap-USA? Its a group formed by Nicole Weltch, and is known as the "Home of the Traveling Bead Box".  Its a place where people get together and swap beads, charms, findings and finished items. In addition to the themed travelling boxes there are also P2P (person to person) swaps and even RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness) packages. It all adds up to a whole lot of fun, great beads and new friendships!

ONE of the many swaps I signed up for is the Secret Sister Swap. Those who are participating are partnered up and then given three dates when secret gifts are to be sent out to the assigned partner,  aka Secret Sister.The guidelines state each gift should have a value of $15 to $30. But some people JUST don't follow the rules! MY SECRET SISTER is one of these people!

MY SECRET SISTER is crazy and sly, very SLY! She started out buying me a substantial gift certificate to LIMA BEADS. I was blown away when I got the e-mail telling me the news.  Since then she has sent me cards upon cards with cute poems and sayings which have really made me smile. They have been a real pick-me-up at a time when things have been a bit rocky - emotionally.

Although I knew there was a second mailing deadline I NEVER expected anything as I felt I have received more than my fair share. So when I went to the post office today to check my mail and there was a package from my SLY SECRET SISTER I was shocked. BUT that shock turned to UTTER shock when I opened the box. My grandson gets excited whenever I get a package so I always let him help open and unpack them. WELL it took us 30 minutes to go through the box. IT was PACKED. All kinds of little surprises packaged in seperate little bags with a note attached to each one.

There was a letter enclosed which let me know that my Secret Sister had thought a lot about me and packed each and every piece with me in mind. She "studied" me and found out what I love and tried to include it in the package - AND DID SHE EVER succeed. I love EVERYTHING!
Come look at all these goodies...

Note: I had to use collages because otherwise I'd have too many images and you would be overwhelmed and seriously jealous!

                                         

Clockwise: Artist Beads with a challenge to name the artists.

Inspired by nature, beach glass and more

Magic Mix with color-changing beads with a Valerie O'Neal focal

A gorgeous silk embroidered bag

FLY: Antiqued brass enameled butterfly focal and connectors

 

 

Copper filigree, connectors, charms, links, and gorgeous wirework

 

  

 Clockwise: Jasper, goldstone, fossil coral and odds & ends

Czech and Chinese Mix

Sea Creatures

 

 

 

AND LORDY...oh, LORDY!!

Copper Bezels

Brass goodies of every kind

Silver Bezels

and MORE metal findings in many shapes and sizes

 

 

 

 

Love this wire piece my Secret Sister created herself,

 

 

 

 

AND a favorite MACRO to discribe my LOVE of COPPER!

 

 

Isn't she something?!

(Please stop drooling all over my blog!)