It's beginning to look a lot like....

......Christmas in July!!!!! Just look at the wonderful goodies that came in the mail today from Arlee! I am so very lucky to have met cyber-friends like her.

The first two pictures (which I managed to post backwards..duh) are of the page she made for me to include in my 'Coffee or Tea' beverages cloth/paper book. The first picture is the back of the page and there's a little packet of coffee on the left...which smells wonderful! And one of Arlee's poems too. This is the front cover and (as we love to tease her about) this lady looks just like Arlee! It seems that pretty much every person Arlee creates in her art ends up looking very much like Arlee herself - hence the teasing. I don't know if you can tell in the picture, but her hair is highlighted with coffee grounds.

Several months ago we did an exchange for the Art-In-A-Carton challenge ( http://art-in-a-carton.blogspot.com ) and the next two pictures are of the carton Arlee made and of the goodies that were included inside. No recycled milk cartons for this girl - this is all created by Arlee! Be sure to enlarge these pictures so you can see the details. See the bird and the Dottee doll?

More of the goodies that were stuffed in the carton (and another side of the carton for you to see).

And...to make it even more fun...just look what else was included in the box!! At the top of the picture (flash made it glare too much) is a sparkly piece of copper tissue paper (yum). There's a piece of painted & distressed tissue; some of her painted/dyed fabrics; a wee little box; some flower-y fabric and some lace; AND an aluminum water bottle!!!

All of this wonderfulness was for moi...who's feeling pretty darned blessed right now.

Thank you Arlee!