I organised a give-away from my Organikal newsletter last summer. The moment when I packaged up the book to send to the winner over in Hollywood was one of my highlights of the year. It felt so wonderful to gift something to someone I’d never met in real life. Just because.
Writing here about receiving the Kelly Barton prints reminded me how great it was to be on the receiving end as well. Ripples spreading…
Ripples Spreading + Gift Giving
It’s been over a year since I set up this space. It really was just a place for me at the start. I loved that very much, especially the freedom that I felt unable to achieve over at Organikal and the VegBoxMenu site.This site was the ‘real’ me.
Now I’d love to open it up to even more lovely folks. This space and my new Facebook page. In celebration of me feeling confident enough to say this is me – this is what i’m really about.
So here’s what I’ve done. I’ve gathered together a prize bundle of fabulous goodies that I would personally love to own. Because I’d love to own them (and I do actually own a version of everything I’ve included) I hope you will, too.
How You Can Win
For a chance to win them, you need to leave a comment at the bottom of this post and tell me what is the favourite gift you have received in the last year?
Quadruple Your Chances!
- subscribe to this site’s blog posts by email
- subscribe to my (very occasional) newsletters
- Like my new Facebook page
Each time you do one of the above, Â leave a separate comment for each action to let me know you’ve done it, and that will count as a whole separate entry. (The lovely Jenn did this over at Roots of She ages ago, and I won a place on Darrah Parker’s Slice of Life photography course – Cool hey?)
The giveaway is open until February 13th and I’ll choose the winner randomly and announce it here on Valentine’s Day, the 14th February.
What can you win?
I’m so excited by my new Smash! books (Liz  should get a huge commission for all the extra sales she generated from this post) that I ordered another one, especially for you (all the way from the US – they’re not widely available in the UK just yet)!
Amy Palko recommended The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World
Sacred circles intrigue me so very much. So I got a hold of this fantastic book last year, The Mandala Workbook: A Creative Guide for Self-Exploration, Balance, and Well-Being
I’d heard about Wreck This Journal before, but it was only when I came across a physical copy of This Is Not A Book
What I love about all of these books is that they’re not for ‘artists’. Anyone ::YOU:: can make use of them without any training at all. Anyone ::YOU:: can dive straight in and unleash (and understand more about) their ::YOUR:: creative spirit.
They’re not precious  – they’re fun. And they could be yours! (I’ll send them anywhere in the world.)  Just leave me a comment. Oh, and tell your friends. Ripples spreading…
I subscribed to your e-letter
Liked ya on FB
signed up to your rss feed by email
My favourite gift this year was a new uke very pink and girly (which is rather unlike me!) but I love it to bits 🙂
I hope one day we can see/hear you play this dream instrument, Vera! Thanks for sharing here. There’s a surprise email on its way to you ♥ *ripples spreading*
::::::: flings sparkly glitter ::::::
You are such an inspiration, Braveheart! I am thrilled for you and I am blessed to dance in the directions of our dreams together! ♥
And what a dance! The music of secret messages and sparkly dares – woman, you speak my language! Your glitter is reaching far and wide! *ripples spreading*
I feel, in some ways, like I shouldn’t join in, but I am actually so excited about this giveaway I cannot resist! Also, this was an excellent reminder to sign up for your newsletter and blog posts, which I’d been meaning to do for some time! So, I’ve done all four, but leaving all those comments seems excessive.
My favorite gift this past year is a hard one, as there have been so many. Perhaps one of the best has been your friendship, the connection and honesty and real truth. Though we’ve never physically hugged, there are times I feel your embrace when I most need a shoulder. That, more than anything, is a gift I will forever cherish.
And now I’m inspired to do a giveaway of my own!!!
You are a special friend to have made across the miles, dear Sara. I’m glad to know you’re there, sharing your stories and helping others share theirs. *ripples spreading*
What a lovely collection of love you are spreading. My favorite gift I received this last year was a set of handmade rings gifted to me by my lovely friend. Sent just because. I wear them constantly.
Such a beautiful gift – I think this may be on a dream wishlist of mine. Thanks for sharing the love here Celina! *ripples spreading*
I’m not actually wishing to take part because I have a feeling these ripples are meant to be going elsewhere, but I would like to say that one of my most beautiful gifts in the last few months was a book about birds, from a woman who has bird song in her heart.
xxx
You stop me in my tracks almost every time, dear friend *ripples spreading* x
One of the most delightful gifts I received was from @Joanna Paterson when I arrived at our hotel in Glasgow on our first big overseas trip last year. Joanna, knowing of our schedule, left me a copy of her book about walking tours on the isle of Skye in Scotland. Some absolute gems. A gift that kept on giving!!
I’d clean forgotten that! Thanks for reminding me, and making me cry!
Any time you’d like me to make you cry Joanna just give a hoy! LOL! I heard P telling someone about it the other day. So it was definitely a special gift that he hasn’t forgotten either!
Joanna surely has a knack of *ripples spreading*, Chris. Thanks for visiting here and sharing these connections 🙂
Oh and btw I have also done the like on FB! That’s often the best way for me to get info I want!
Seeing you open this up and out is a very special gift indeed, it makes my heart sing every time you post here 🙂 Last year I received in ways which blew me away, from smiles, gestures, love and friendship, to surprise gifts and trips, it really was a truly magical year.
[Like Joanna, I’m not entering the prize draw]
Jackie – you truly are a gift in yourself. I love you. Thank you for being here *ripples spreading*
the favorite gift I received was a gift of freindship. A friendship I refused the year before because I felt I’m not worth it. But it was waiting for me and didn’t give up until I accepted it. 🙂
Perhaps one of the greatest gifts of all – thanks so much for sharing here, Gabriela *ripples spreading*
and I subscribed to your blog posts!
and “Liked” your FB page
I subscribed to yr newsletter..altho I am not sure it went thru
I subd to yr blog posts..looking forward
I liked yr facebook page….and liked yr posts
Thanks for connecting here Anita *ripples spreading*
Hi
I’ve just joined Amy Palko’s Goddess Group and she sent me this way with a posting on FB. I love her stuff and to be honest know that if she recommends to have a look at something its always well worth it. I’m not enetering the prize draw but am so happy to get recommendations for books – I just love books. Bought a Kindle for convenience but still have to buy a book I can touch, hold and connect with almost like a good friend. Sorry to ramble on. Look forward to your newsletters and a chance to connect : ) Best wishes.
I love how we can find each other through shared connections, Jayne. Thanks so much for opening this new one. *ripples spreading*
Hey Julie… what a great idea! I’m so curious about these books that even if I don’t win one I’ll be adding them to my reading list. The greatest gift I’ve received in the past year is from The Boyfriend, who has set aside each and every Monday to spend alone with me since I got back from India at the beginning of December. These Mondays are so precious and we’re thriving with each one. I think I’m already subscribed to your mailings lists and – of course – am a big fan of your Flickr. Lots of love from the Alpes, where it’s a good -10 C in resort today. Brrrrr…. xxx
Such a gift to find you here 🙂 And what a gift to share – what a clever boyf you have 😉 We are having a dull winter here in Scotland – I’m loving your snowy pics in the Alpes *ripples spreading*
My favorite gift over the past year sounds so dramatic when I think about writing it, but it was such a small personal moment. I was given the gift of a painting from an artist in an IDP camp I worked in in Haiti. She was thanking me for bringing people by to see and buy her work. That painting represented so much of her own time, not to mention how beautiful and personal it was. It is a reminder to me of how connected and hopeful the people in the camps of Haiti remain.
Connecting the threads … such a wonderful gift, Kimberley – thanks for sharing here *ripples spreading*
newsletter…check
updates…check
Facebook like…check.
Found you from A Forest of Stories post and am enjoying flipping through your prior posts.
How did I miss finding this blog of yours ? Anyway, happy to discover it now and see the new directions you are taking ! A very nice mix of books here – I hadn’t heard of the Smash notebooks ( and having a bit of a notebook problem, had to go and investigate – lovely ! )
Will certainly send a few more ripples out for you into the twitter /bloggy worlds 🙂
( Oh and thanks for the nudge to join Instagram – it has been so much fun ! )
So thrilled to see you here beautiful lady. Those Smash books are quite addictive – altho maybe not as much as Instagram – could there be a social medium more perfect you? Much love to you : *ripples spreading*
Always open to some spiritual & intellectual wisdom.
Thank you for visiting us here, Andrew. Much wisdom can be gained from the *ripples spreading*
Dear Julie, I’ve had this page bookmarked for about a week pondering on my favourite gift of the last year and it got me realising that everything has been a gift. Gifts of kindness and love and support from friends, gifts of inspiration and creativity from within, real physical gifts from people who know exactly what I love. If I had to choose one favourite gift it would be watercolour pencils received at Christmas. The colours, the tactile pleasure of blending them with a damp brush; infinite joy and exploration. So glad to see you here on this blog spreading colour and creativity, I’m always delighted to see you in my Twitter timeline. I joined your mailing list, followed blog and posted on FB. LOVE the Smash journal, so gorgeous it makes me slightly dizzy! xx
Beautiful Jackie – I can feel how big the gifts are from here – thank you for sharing them with us. Watercolour pencils were the first tool I picked up when I started art journaling again, so I share a little love with you there. *ripples spreading*
like this on FB
newsletter info done.
Subscribed to your blog too!
Think we could all do with these books- they all look great. Will put them on my wish list if am unlucky! Thanks for this.
Much love to you Lis, and thanks for sharing here … *ripples spreading*
My favourtie gift of this year… hmmmm….
Has to be the freedom not to take part in Valentine’s Day with my lovely partner Jonni. He asked what my expectations were and I said, none really, can we just ignore it please? Excellent, he said. So we will.
Love is an everyday thing. See it every day and the one day is no longer needed.
I love your truth, Ochre – thank you so much for sharing it with us. *ripples spreading*
Hi Julie, my best gift this year has been Martin’s time. One might say that I pay him so it is not a gift. But I would disagree. He never makes it feel that way, he always give so much and that little extra. He talks sense in a language that I understand. In this PC world it is a gift. He taught me many things, people aren’t broken don’t try fixing them.
But more importantly he told mne that if you have the gift of life, don’t waste it. Don’t waste it doing things that are not you. Make it count, do something that define you.
Thanks for visiting, Nico and sharing your gift. I loved so much that you shared this story. I love that you get what Martin is about. Don’t stop sharing. *ripples spreading*
I received “The Help” – I loved that book!!
I haven’t read this book, or seen the film yet – but I’d like to. Thanks for visiting and sharing your gift. *ripples spreading*
Reading these replies has been a precious gift! Thank you to everyone who has shared, and of course to Julie for inviting us. I think we need more of these kind of conversations in the world.
It takes someone very special to appreciate these stories, Joanna – thanks so much for visiting again. And believing. I love you x