more presents ...

Thank you so much to everyone for the wonderful comments and sweet emails about Scottie.  It has helped so much just knowing that you all are out there and care.  I can not tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness.  

I could not ignore the timing of losing Scottie and starting the 'Present and Accounted For' project since one of the main concepts is about appreciating the many gifts of our lives then passing along those gifts we've received.  So it has been difficult for me to think about my next post.  But the flood of requests for presents and the many pictures that have been steadily coming in, are nudging me back.

Before Thanksgiving, I received more request for presents than I had, so I went straight to work making the small army of presents you see above!  

Then boxed for shipping.

Of course no ordinary shipping label or box would do .... 

You can imagine the scenario at the post office with the line of people behind me and my stunned reaction that the postal stickers have to go on top of my carefully handcrafted "bow" labels and "ribbon" tape! :)  

Scene:

Karen enters post office with fifteen separate packages to ship.  Suddenly all at once, many people get in line behind her.

Postal worker:  How may I help you?

Karen: I have fifteen packages to ship, each going to a different address.

(groans and sighs from the line can clearly be heard as the postal worker prepares the shipping)

Postal worker: This package is going to Canada, you will need to fill out the customs form.  

Karen:  I have five going to Canada

Postal worker:  Then each one will need a separate customs form.

(more sighs and groans)

Karen: I'm not sure what to list under "contents" for the form.

Postal worker:  What is inside?

Karen: Well... it... it's sort of a present.

Postal worker:  If it is a gift, check the box that says "gift" and list what the gift is

Karen: No, it's not actually a gift.... it is... well... it's an art project

Postal worker:  A what?  

Karen:  Well it's a symbolic gift, it really isn't anything..

(people start leaving the line, those that stay put hands on hips and make other visual clues of dissatisfaction)

Postal worker: Well you have to claim how much the contents are worth

Karen: But it only has symbolic value... 

Postal worker: You will have to put a value of some sort...

Karen:  Well that really depends on how well this project does :)

Thanks again to everyone participating!  I have updated Present and Accounted For with new photos, and I have many many many more to post.  I will continue to make and ship presents to anyone interested.  Thank you to everyone, thank you for spreading the word about the project, thanks for the Facebook links!

I have new paintings to post about soon, but until then, my most sincere hope that you do not find yourself behind someone like me in the post office! :)