in december i participated in the christmas city swap hosted by allie from be up + doing. it was like a city-themed secret santa! allie paired up bloggers from around the country + swapped our addresses. then, before christmas, everyone sent their recipient a package of local gifts + products that exemplified their home city.
i'm so happy i participated. it was great to spend a little bit of time during the busy holiday season to really think about the place i love so much + the best ways to share it with someone who's never been to northampton before. (i'm kind of really into supporting local businesses.) in fact, i almost kind of forgot that i was going to get a package too, from a city where i'd never been! so when a big envelope arrived at my snowy front door all the way from st. augustine, fl, i was even more excited. allison forshey of seahorse paper co. sent a package full of her beautiful hand-painted watercolor greeting cards + other treats. allison is so so talented + i was honored to get so much of her work. (i've already sent a few of the cards!) plus, check out her custom pet portraits. i'm definitely imagining samson in watercolor form already... take a look at the results of the christmas city swap.
allison, YOU are my absolute favorite. thank you so much for the package full of thoughtful gifts.
i sent off my northampton-themed package to the super-sweet cammie of polka-dotted peony in madison, wisconsin!
the postcard + bumper sticker are from pride + joy, a local lgbt-themed bookstore. the lip balm + soap are from the plum island soap company. the salve is made by olive natural beauty. the candle is made by kringle candle + the scent is "atkins farms apple cider donut" -- kind of a legendary product around here! i also included a bottle of local honey from the shelburne honey company, but that for some reason did not make it into this photo.
my favorite item?
i love my town.
read cammie's christmas city swap post!
here's hoping that allie will continue this tradition. i've already got my eye on a few products for next christmas. thank you so much, allie!
