Mail Bag Beauties!

I've been mildly sick for almost a week now, but it's the kind of sick you can't really complain about, because you're mostly fine, but there's just enough queasiness and head drippiness to make you tired and whiny and watch too many 30 Rock repeats. (Liz Lemon just GETS me, you know?)

Anyway, it's weeks like these that I really really appreciate all the fun surprises you guys send me in the mail. I tend to get a few things a month, varying from smashed pennies (yessss, my precioussss) to sticker-covered letters to baggies of broken jewelry bits for my craft endeavors. Every single package makes me feel like it's my birthday, and I have a special soft spot for handwritten letters from young geeklings with mad Perler Bead skills:

I actually got this from Elsie K. several months ago (and shared it on FB, I believe) but it's too awesome not to share here on the blog, too. Look at her little drawing of Sir Squibner! (I later made the bead 'bot into a magnet, so I can see it every day.)

Speaking of drawings, last week Victoria G. sent me a gorgeous glossy print of her amazing Lady Vadore art:

 HOW COOL IS THIS??

My first Lady Vadore fan art! Woot! I can't wait to frame it.

Also last week, Kelli sent me her custom-made Epbot Vinylmation:

She even gave him a fun steampunk twist! I'm diggin' the "flower" gears & little chain on his pocket watch.

And here's another cutie 'bot that came in a few months back, by artist/sculptor Dyani:

Complete with mini-me & mini-John!

As you can see, I now have a whole collection of mini-Epbots:

 Three counts as a collection, right? :)

This glass arrived a few weeks ago without a card, so I'm not sure which of you lovelies made it for me, but it totally made my day:

ETCH-A-'BOT-SKETCH

And did I ever show you guys the shopping tote Pernilla in Sweden made me?

Sewn from scratch and embroidered!

(Can I just say how surreal it is to get things from around the globe? I got a postcard from Belgium this week. BELGIUM. And two days ago someone e-mailed me from Hungary using Google Translator. I'm not trying to brag; I'm just saying the Internet really has made it a small world, after all - and I freaking LOVE THAT.)

(And yes, I DO know I just stuck Small World in your head. MWUAH. HA. HAA.)

And finally, when John brought in Theresa B.'s crafty creation yesterday I thought she'd purchased it from some high-end boutique. Then I looked closer, and realized it's all handcrafted! Theresa started with a blank mini lunchbox purse, and turned it into this:

 SO PRETTY.

She covered it in those steamy papers, and then added gems, decals, gears, and even a raygun smashed penny! Inside it's fully lined with a thick felt.

Here's the back:

I think I need to add a long chain so I can use this a purse the next time I step out as a Steampunk!

Thanks for letting me geek out about my new goodies, guys, and extra squealy thanks and hugs to all of you who keep reminding me - with your comments, e-mails, and surprises - that I have the best "job" in the world. Even when I'm feeling whiny and queasy and snotty-in-a-literal-sense.

Btw, I always feel awkward mentioning gifts here on the blog, both because I never want to be an obnoxious braggart, and because I never want to look like I'm trolling for free stuff. (I also don't want sellers to think that just because they send me something I'm going to blog about it.) So, with all that said, and only because it's a FAQ: if you'd like my mailing address, just e-mail me and I'll send it to you.