Sunday, October 31, 2010

A Happy Halloween from a Girl Named Sweet Pete

I write a bunch about swapping.

The trials and tribulations of my poor time management, the drive to be creative and grow, the endless acquisition of supplies. Now I don't want to get all deep and profound on you all, but one of the best things to come out of my crafty endeavors has been the people that I have been able to "meet" through the message boards and blogs.

As a little background, I am a bit anti-social. For the most part, I prefer to be alone. I am quite happy to go days and days without any extended human interaction. I find it hard to make a lot of friends and keep up with acquaintances, not because I don't care about people, I do. Deeply. It is just that it is not something that comes easy to me. On those four corner tests, I am SO far in the introverted column, they often need to send out a search party to find me and trust me, when they show up, I'm not all that welcoming......

Part of the reason I started swapping was to get more connected ~ to find people with like interests. I thought going the message board route would be a good start. You can connect and keep your distance all at the same time. Interestingly enough, I still found it hard to completely jump in and stuck more to crafting than to posting.

Then I met Pete.


It was the strangest thing. We had never really interacted much, in fact, I don't think we had even swapped with each other before we got paired on a Christmas partner swap. Then it just was, I don't know, Kismet? Eerie? Lucky? Fate? All of the above?

As part of the swap, you had to fill out this long questionnaire so your pal could get to know you and find out your likes, dislikes, things to make and buy. As soon as I opened hers up, it was almost like reading my own questionnaire. So many similarities. Almost like spooky similar. I kid you not.

We both have partners that love to garden while we both prefer to stay inside covered in glitter and glue. We both have 1 boy, close enough in age, and they are both named after cities! We love the same supplies, collected the same things. We both love Rock-a-Billy, 80's Rap and Patsy Cline. We liked the same movies. It went on and on!!

Since that time, we have spent hours and hours chatting. Jon and I planned our last vacation out her way so that I could meet up with her. We spent a lovely day talking non-stop as we wandered through craft stores and antique malls. We spent the evening listening to a great band while sharing food and drinks.

I feel like I have known her forever. She understands when I go MIA, get stressed out over stupid crafting issues and cheers me up when I am down. She has a wicked sense of humor and we share a snark that really makes me LOL. As if that weren't enough, she sends me happy mail!

I recently got a package from her and in going through it, I was reminded how lucky I am to have a few really good friends. Jon, who is there for me every day, no matter what. Lori, who shares all my silly dreams, knows my youthful indiscretions and still rocks out with me even though I am old and gray. And Pete, my glitter loving pal who understands my need for ribbon and rhinestones; sarcasm and snark; and why some days you need to just "Glue, Bitch, Glue!!"


Oh. My. Holy. Hell.

This was supposed to be a quick and easy "looky what I got" post and has embarrassingly morphed in to an "I love you, man........." post and I haven't even been drinking.

Much.


On to the good stuff!!!!


What girl doesn't love being showered in gold?


I bought some of these for a swap and really, really wanted to keep them for myself. Since my estate sale addiction had drained my discretionary income, I was hoping to find some left after the holidays at 50% off. How did she know I needed these?? She actually mails her holiday cards, too! Which really makes her a bit of a show-off, come to think of it. I'm still working on last year's Christmas cards and I don't know that I appreciate her tossing this up in my face.......


Glitter AND Glue.
Together.
Does it get any better than that?


I love this plaque. It now has a permanent place on my bookshelf. And the skull.....like minds and all......I got her the same skull in white. I was holding out for a crown for hers to wear, but UNLIKE Pete, I turned out to be more of a thinker, not a do-er.

Maybe next Halloween it will make it her way.



I love fonts and glitter and vintage, so of course, she knew I would just love this sign. And I do!


Happy Halloween all! I hope it was filled with your favorite treats. If you have read this far, I would like to state that thankfully, I seem to have completely drained away my limited ability to be sappy and nice.

The tequila bottle will soon be empty as well.

Our next post will be back to the regularly scheduled angsty, whiny crafting and mindless shopping. Stay tuned!

3 comments:

This is me: Sweet Pete said...

Awwwww!!!! I heart you too! Now pass the tequila!!! <3

aimee said...

She is the best isn't she!?! I very much relate to your love of "Sweet Pete". :)

This is me: Sweet Pete said...

AWWWWW! I just adore the two of you! I can't help but spoil you both rotten!