Wow, Lars, you sure did a great package!

OMG! That is a wonderful package! Lars you really done good! It's very special that you put a little of your talents in the box for Diane. I do love the material you chose for the placemats.

Diane, Now all you can do is enjoy!!

My jaw is on the floor. Lars, I'm speechless. What a clever, and beautiful package. Diane - ENJOY :)

What a thoughtful amazing package.:)
I'm not surprised..I'm new here and still..I'm not surprised.
Bravo!

Lars -- only you could come up with such a a clever theme. That apron is darling and I can just imagine our crafty rn wearing it. She'll have to get out her pearls and high heels, to complete the outfit.

And the special Lars mixtures -- what could possibly be more special??

I think I better work a bit harder on my box before it goes. You have raised the standard!

Amazing stuff...Lars is so creative!

Lars, you have raised the standard. That is an excellent, and very creative swap box. It's all wonderful, but I am an apron freak, so that , of course, is my favorite. But that red wooden spoon is pretty cool too.

Oh Lars,
You really are something special! Even if you can't count. Five, phfffft!
I love your ingenuity is legend. You have indeed shown all of us what a talented and generous person you all.

PS. That 5 star chocolate company is really wonderful. I'm addicted to the cherry flavor; they sell it at Dean & Deluca

Diane, Enjoy this very thoughtful package.

Wow, Diane, I use that Korean BBQ sauce to marinate my beef. Its great stuff. Lars I too love the labels! And that assortment of sporks and spoons! Hand mixed seasonings - what a touch. Nice job.

Wow, Diane, what a great package. Lars sent me some of that Cajun seasoning before, I loved it and I think you will too. And Meyer lemons? I'll bet those are right off Lars' own tree.

The apron is very cool, and so are the wood utensils. Plus chocolate?

Very nice package indeed.

Annie

What a great and creative package, Lars. I love the packing card you made. Very talented. Enjoy your trip, Diane.

Brenda

How fabulously creative! Then again, what else would I expect from Lars? Diane, you lucky girl, enjoy!!!

Wonderful selection Lars! Diane, dried shiitake mushrooms are one of DHs favorites - so tasty. Enjoy this special package of goodies!

What a great variety, you will be enjoying all those goodies for many different meals! Great job Lars, really neat stuff.

janet

Lars, what an amazing assortment! Very, very creative! I love that you included you own special blends of spices. What a treasure! The apron, homemade placemats...the bambooo...all of it is terrific! Wonderful job!

Diane, you must be exhausted now after this trip around the world!! Enjoy your special goodies!

Fantastic! You have raised the bar on creative swap boxes, Lars!

Enjoy your goodies, Diane! I don't want to see Doc in that apron around a grill or campfire! LOL!

Teresa

Lars, That is one really creative package. Love the labels on the seasonings. As a matter of fact I love everything.

Diane, Enjoy that package!

Tracey

I'm not participating in the swap this time, but had to comment on the theme.

Love It!

Lars, that is a fabulous package, *very* creative and interesting ~ you are one talented man! Those utensils are very awesome, the sporks (adorable) would work well for tossing pasta-no?

Diane, enjoy all that wonderful bounty, swap partner! lol @ Dedtired's apron, pearls & high heels (run that by Mr. Craftyrn, perhaps?)

Diane, what a fun, wonderful package. Yes, Lars, you done good!

Jayne

I love the personal touches - the special spice blends and the handmade placemats - those are beautiful! Lars, your packages are always so special.

Diane, enjoy all these wonderful goodies - lucky you!

Stacy

Lars I love your theme. You really put together a wonderful swap box for Diane. I especially love the vintage apron. Even more so after reading "The Apron" that Diane posted on the Conversation side. How timely.

Diane, I know that you will be putting everything Lars sent you to good use. I'll look for many of these items to show up in your What's For Dinner posts.

Ann

Just plain WOW!!!!! Fantastic!!!! I love the sporks :) and the packing slip is so cool. What a unique package. Great job, Lars. Enjoy, Diane.

Wow what wonderful fun you will have bbqing around the world:)

Stacie

What an incredibly cool package! Chock full of goodies. Great theme! Excellent Lars!

I guess you can tell that I took Gina's advice and "had fun" with this package - it gave me a chance to be very whimsical. I've never tried the chocolate (it has milk in it), but I thought it was a good way to end the tour, since it is from an area very close to Diane, and I know for sure that she likes chocolate. The apron was my favorite item, and I hope it fits - it was too small for me! BTW, the straps cross in the back before they go into the loops, and they were too short for me, but if you are shorter waisted than me, they should be okay.

I don't know if the sporks are actually practical - they're too small for pasta - I just thought they were cute.

Too bad I couldn't send fresh strawberries for the balsamic - they're still in season here. The two lemons are definitely from my Meyer tree, and the small orange is from my Valencia orange tree - I use the oranges mostly for juice, but I eat them sometimes too.

Thanks for posting such great pictures - you made it look like more than it really is!

Lars

Really clever and wonderful. The mini aspect is no longer applicable to this swap. And my theme is inadequate to this group. I need to go hide in shame.

Love the theme, Lars! Such a creative package of "worldly" goods! I love those bamboo plates, too cool. And the handmade placemats, and the spices, and the apron and..and...and...
Enjoy, Diane!

Linda

Wow, that is around the world. How's your jet lag, Diane? Hope you enjoy everything in it. Very nice package, Larss!

Diane, I wanted to tell you that the placements are a cotton/rayon blend (I did a burn test on a scrap), and I Scotchguarded them lightly before I sent them. I prewashed the fabric so that it will be launderable, but perhaps the Scotchguard will help keep dirt off. Those were the last scraps of that fabric I had - I tend to horde fabric scraps, and these scraps were just the right size. I felt you would appreciate my being frugal with this.

BTW, I use those small spoons for serving freshly grated Parmesan cheese when I make pasta.

Lars

Lars, what a great and unique package and theme! I have no doubt that Diane will be enjoying all of it for some time!! MQ sent me some homemade spice blends a few years back and I loved them. I love the card that you can plant for wild flowers. Very cool!!

David

GREAT job! I think the sporks are adorable!!! The theme was smart.

Lars, that was so very clever!

Diane, you presented the voyage so nicely.

10+++ for presentation, Lars! I love the apron and placemats, and the special blends.

Lars what a clever, clever thing to do. I just love your theme it is so much fun. I saw on the WFD thread that Diane had already put things to good use.

Not only is this a fun package but it's obvious you put real thought into it. Great job!

Lars always seems to come up with the most interesting ideas. How fun! I'm sure you will be enjoying your worldwide trip!

Susan

A terrific package Lars. Especially loved the apron, and the large wooden spoon, oh, and the lemons Well, it was all wonderful.
Linda

Diane, that ia a fantastic package from Lars. I can highly recommend the recipe that Lars shared for Algerian chicken. I know San made it, and then I made it. I enjoyed the flavor very much.

Enjoy your goodies. Nice job Lars.

Geez, I guess I AM behind. Lars, you are so creative. Love those salad forks. Enjoy, Diane!

Just fabulous Lars!
Diane you are a lucky lady!!

Tikanas