100 Days of Sacred Art – Entry #11
(Mail Art and ATC Swaps)
Last spring, I stumbled on several bloggers who were talking about “swapping.” Basically, they would offer articles of clothing, spare appliances, books… to anyone who had an item of equal value that the blogger might need or want in trade. I also ran across a few bloggers swapping things I might consider a little more fun – like postcards, ATCs, or other hand-crafted treasures. Ever-the-google-queen, I took the idea and ferreted out Swap-Bot.
Swap-Bot is an online community that connects people who like to share a variety of treasures – from postcards, to matchboxes, to Dotee Dolls (one of my favorites), and much more! At any given time, there are more than 400 swaps to choose from, dozens of groups to participate in, and even individuals who like to do their thing on a smaller scale (individual swaps). Swap-Bot encourages members to post photos of their swaps on Flickr and I’ve even arranged a few swaps with folks who just saw my photos there and wanted to trade.
I adore gift-giving! I love selecting the perfect gift, packaging it for wow-factor, and seeing the look on the recipients face when they receive it. I most especially adore the idea of a faraway stranger, maybe someone having a not-so-shiny day, opening her mailbox to find one of these (or something equally fun and colorful)…
I imagine her squeal of delight when she sees the envelope; how she carefully makes a cup of her favorite tea; then goes to her room and locks the door so nobody will interrupt her while she opens her package slowly, delighting in every moment of the discovery. Okay – that could be pushing it just a little, but it’s what I do when I receive a package!
Today, I finished some ATCs for a Swap-Bot swap, whipped up a little something extra, wrote my little note, and decorated the envelope – all the while thinking about the delight on the other end and, well, it’s just sacred to me – that’s all there is to it. I can’t share the whole package here – just in case the recipients are looking in, but I will at least share the ATCs I’m sending (Dream and Listen)…
If you’d like to try your hand at making ATCs, here are some great instructions. I love this format because it’s small, so there’s less pressure to do something really elaborate (tho you still can if you want to) and just about anything goes – paint, felting, tiny quilts, you-name-it as long as it’s only 2.5 x 3.5 in size.
Putting these care packages in the mail just makes my day and I tend to be as anxious for my rating to come in (recipients rate your package on a scale of 1 to 5 – plus a heart if the package is extra special) as I am for the packages themselves. I soooo want to know my power to delight hasn’t failed me!
Have you delighted anybody lately?
Blessings,
Kelley
“The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another’s, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.” ~Leo F. Buscaglia
