The Package Project - Love from South Africa

Hello my sweet friends, I am running a fever today but I want to post something for Valentine's day, and so in this post I will be sharing what I received from my Package Project 2011 partner. Last year I took part in the yearly Package Project hosted by CupcakeCouture

I was partnered with a lovely lady from Capetown, South Africa -- Carin Bevan, last December I received this wonderful package from her, filled with lots of items old, sweet and handmade.

There was a handwritten letter from her in the package sharing the background of the items and she include them in the package, I love handwritten notes and letters, so this one will be kept in my letter box...

Carin, has filled the package with different set of items, something for letter writing, filled with handmade stamps and stationeries:

There are vintage items in the package, that she handpicked herself, i love the old kodak films and most especially the embroidered centerpiece, I have been using it to grace our small dining table, it's perfect with a vase of flowers:

I love the South African items too, the small notebook, the card which I am going to frame and display on my craft table:

And the most favorite item in the package was this cute little handmade diana camera brooch Carin made just for me! My mom and Mr. Mister loves this too, I love the colour which is my favorite, reminds me of the sky and the water (my sign)...

I had so much fun opening each and every pack of items, holding my breath as I unfold, carefully revealing the handpicked gifts from Carin.

I know she also loved the items I sent her, even though I sent it really late...
she featured all the items in her blogsite: hand in her pocket

Well my sweet friends, do you have a mini project that encourages you to be creative and send handwritten notes? Send handmade love and just simply reach out to someone and get to know them despite the miles? If you do, continue doing that, for it releases a kind of joy that feeds the spirit with positivity and if you dont have yet, why not start sending hand notes to the nearest person or that special friend, or maybe join this year's Package Project?

Happy Exchange of Love this Valentine's day!

♥xo♥

Darelam

Reflections: Heed The Call

Everyone has a calling.

whether to be a mother, an artist, a preacher, a healer, a fine gardener, a designer, a writer, a photographer, a messenger, a servant, a leader or simply a friend or a lover... whatever your calling is, how different it may be from what you do now, find the time to heed that call... whether now or later for it releases true joy to the spirit and enables peace to settle in the heart and in the mind.

as the words of St. Paul to the Ephesians -- "May you live a life worthy of your calling"

and may God bless your calling whatever it maybe.

♥xo♥

{photo: trying to find the source...}

Wickedly Inlove

Nobody mourns the Wicked!

Or so we thought… until we get to know the story of the witches of Oz!

Hello my sweet readers, I have been containing this excitement for days now, and I have been contemplating how to best share with you the joy and "goosey bumpsy" feeling after watching a musical after so many years.

Just a day before the Lunar New Year, Mr. Mister and I had the privilege of watching the award winning and much talked about musical of the year – Wicked! Thanks to the amazing people who pushed for a flat rate for partner offers and we were able to book seats just 4 rows from the stage and orchestra. I was able to see up close the brilliant performers and the magnificent set of the show at the Marina Bay Sands – Grand Theater.

It’s been years since I last stepped into a theater… all those dormant years of longing to see performers, touch garments of awesome costumes and hear the footsteps of the production crew busy preparing at the backstage before a show begins, or visit a green room where performers rest and await their turns at the stage.

You might wonder why I long to do such things? A little personal history, I would like to share with you is that I used to dance ballet at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), with the Ballet Philippines group… yeap, you are reading it right! Haha, I used to dance and perform… though I was a bit of a shy girl; I did enjoy all those ballet years. I feel I am one with the spirit of the arts when I am performing, it's such an amazing joy. The last dance I performed with talented dancers was the Nutcracker at the Tanghalan (Nicanor Abelardo), Christmas of ’94.

I remembered, after each ballet class, we used to sneak at the backstage of each of the halls and watch play rehearsals, with costumes and make up being tried and lines being sung or spoken, my heart and soul was being enriched as I watch and long to be part of those plays, even if only as a seamstress or assistant painter or carpenter... that would be swell! Maybe I will try and visit the CCP when I am back in Manila some time this year, and watch a local play.

The night of the performance of Wicked, my heart was racing with anticipation… I took slow steps towards the hall of our seats, savoring my reunion with the theater. After a few minutes of waiting, I held on to Mr. Mister’s hand, the light dims, drum rolls slowly as that of waves coming back to shore, the conductor raises his hand and with his baton commands to struck the first note.

Nobody mourns the wicked! They sang and I watched without blinking, after so many years of longing, holding my breath...

As the 1st act begins.

♥xo♥
Darelam