Our Curious Christmas Project Has Arrived!

The clocks have gone back, nights are drawing in and the heating's gone on. Already the shops are decked out in their Christmas finest and the more organized of us are already planning our family festivities. Turkey, beef or nut roast?

Given the enormous success of our debut project, we decided to roll out another in time for Christmas and we've made it even easier for you to take part. Following our reader survey we made some tweaks to how the project is run and all the information you could possibly need is here on our brand spanking new site. So what's new...

❒ You must now enter via our website and complete all the fields.

❒  You told us you'd like to know a little something about your secret recipient so you can better tailor it to their tastes. We've added a "tell us all about you" box on our entry form. Because we're nice like that.

❒ You'll no longer do a straight forward switch of gifts with your secret sender-this time whoever you send your gift to won't be the person you receive yours from.

❒ Consumables and cosmetics are now allowed although please check what's allowed through customs if you're sending abroad and make sure whatever you send is well wrapped and not likely to perish on its travels.

❒ We've reduced our entry period to just one week, meaning it closes on Nov 7th.

❒ The deadline for posting ALL boxes is Dec 14th so please leave yourself plenty of time to do it.

❒ Please send in your photos as soon as you receive your box-your secret sender will be eager to know their gift has arrived safely.

❒ The project closes on Jan 10th 2012, so any boxes received and emailed beyond this point won't be blogged.

Ok, I'm In-What Do I Need To Do?


If you're new, welcome! Do check out all the information on the site before we get started, especially the rules, they're rather important and will help you on your way.


Just as before, you have a budget of £20 and you need to fill a box with one or more items that represent what Christmas means to you. It's secret santa with heart.

Ready to go?! Enter here!

Keep Calm & Stay Curious

Hello You Curious Lot!

So what do you think of the new site? We're rather pleased with it and hope you love it as much as we do. Welcome to our wonderful sponsors who have some gorgeous gifts that are worthy of only the finest of Curiosity Boxes. Show them some love!

Just a message for everyone participating in our current project to say that following redirection from our old blog we will still post new entries up here up to Nov 10th.

If you're looking for previous box posts, we're working on importing those over to archive for your viewing pleasure, so hang on in there!

Much Love,

Miss Curiosity

❤

xx

Share The Love: The Last Box #122

So here it is, our last box of our first project sent in from Jaiq. There's no description with this, but we love how the sender has colour coordinated the gifts inside...

Thank you everyone who has taken this into their hearts and given their all to put a smile on a stranger's face. There will be more of you receiving your boxes over the weekend or indeed the next week or so. Whilst we'll no longer be posting any of those boxes, we'd be happy to put you in touch with your senders and recipients so that you can thank them or indeed chase them if you're yet to receive anything.

At the same time, if you didn't receive a box, we hope it doesn't put you off entering again in the new year and for those taking part in the Curious Christmas project we wish you a fantastic time and hope you all receive something lovely in the post.

Keep an eye out for your address which will arrive on Monday.

Miss Curiosity

xx

Share The Love: Box #121

Lots of lovely, whimsical curiosities in this one...

“I was really pleased when my box turned up, I was worried the postman had run away with it!

It was well worth the wait, the box had been put together with so much attention to detail and each thing was a delight to open!

It was so lovely to have so many ‘handmade with love’ items with little handwritten tags, there were so many really lovely touches. I wore my felt poppy today and will be enjoying my mulled wine with my socks on very soon!

Thank you curious sender!

Maria x"

Gorgeous felted pieces. Want.

xx

Share The Love: Box #120

Oooooo a box PACKED to bursting with goodies. And how cool is the box?! 

"So today I got back after a day out and when my neighbour knocked on with a parcel I was OVER the moon!

Remembering to take pictures I went through bit by bit..

The box is fantastic, the pictures on the front are so fab & it will be now used to keep a few of my craft bits, im a total collector of random things so its really perfect for me

Inside there was a note to me about the contents..some blank cards & envelopes with card toppers for xmas, cant wait to use these!!

A recipe for chocolate mint cookies on lovely paper, heart cookie cutters, paper cases, a lovely rose necklace in a gorgeous organza bag, folding fan, lots of love pictures, some sea shells, pretty gems to stick on cards & a fab beetles badge! 

Thank you so much to my sender, today has been a fab day & you just made it even better!!

Thanks to you too Tiff, for a fab project & I dont envy you the time its taken to keep it all together but its appreciated!

Colette Masters"

You're welcome-we do it for the love of it.

xx

Share The Love: Box #119

This box made its merry way over to Chicago and greeted recipient Jessica after a gloomy day at work...

"After an extra-long day at work, which seemed even longer due to the early dusk and a chilly November drizzle that had found its way to Chicago, I came home to a brown paper package par avion from London. There’s nothing quite like it to lift your spirits!

The sender asked whether I’ve visited London, and indeed I have. Each thoughtful gift inside set my heart racing with memories of my trip and a longing to return. How wonderful to know that some lovely person across the globe had been thinking of me, for each item was so wonderful it seemed hand-picked for me.

There were delightful London cake toppers, a Polaroid magnet containing a rooftop view, some gorgeous Liberty notecards, and a creative envelope-making kit. A writing journal and travel tags had me wondering whether the sender knows I am a writer, and that I run a travel blog! 

The secret family recipe included was a fantastic personal touch. I can’t wait to try it out for my own family this holiday season. Many thanks to my curious friend across the pond!"

xx

Share The Love: Box #118

We think the sender of this box is a big kid at heart ;-)

"I received my box yesterday, and it was very exciting to open the contents. Everything was inside a box decoupaged with magazine images of Christmas and winter, it's so cool! I'm going to keep some Christmas ornaments in it from now on. 

Inside was lots of bits and pieces, most of them wrapped in pink tissue paper. It's a bright, fun collection of things which suits me perfectly. There's candles, buttons, a handmade notebook with some inspiring quotes inside, and a bracelet and brooch needle felted by the sender. These, and all the other bits included, will be treasured by me, because it's so nice to have these gifts sent with care by someone I've never met. 

Thanks for the great project, it's wonderful knowing that a little love is being spread throughout the world, a curious box at a time!

Jennifer"

xx

Share The Love: Box #117

We've got our beady eyes on this bad boy, which made its way over to Tracy in Cyprus...

 "Contained within was all manner of beaded wonders - thank-you kind sender.  I love bags and I have loved to have a special bag for that black tie occasion that will be coming soon so it was a lovely surprise to receive embroidered one enclosed... I spent a long time thinking about sending scent in my Curiosity box ( see fresh herbs in post  #103) so to receive lily of the valley and roses for scenting clothes was lovely too because they are favourite plants of my mother so a constant reminder because she is far away...  a silver ring; everyone who has known me for long time knows my love for these...little boxes - I have a collection in my bedroom too... hair clips well they are definitely for my helper in the project Emma - she is mentioned in the little book I sent in my curiosity box ( I hope to post on my website soon).... Badges another thing I love to buy - one has kimono fabric - anything Japanese has been a constant subtle influence in my artwork  and "admit two" badge seems to reflect the story of my life - I always want to share any great experiences I have with others...a beaded phone cover with keyring - do you know me sender :-) I am constantly mislaying my phone and keys :-)

So thank you so much for the lovely gift and thank you Tiffany for the chance to share great experiences people who will no longer be strangers - The Curiosity Project rocks :-) xx"

xx

Share The Love: Box #116

This box is brilliant. Talk about a box with personality. Oh and lots of kitsch...

"I hot footed it to the post office depot this morning to pick up my much anticipated Curiosity Project parcel!

The gifts were beautiful wrapped in sparkly paper and the parcel also contained a thoughtful note too.

The rubix cube will keep me out of mischief on my commute into London and the crucifix light bulb is the perfect fit for our 16th century slightly spooky cottage! All of the gifts, including the super cute apple clock necklace, retro apron and London Underground tea towel have been chosen with love & thought.

Thank you my curious friend! xx

Jenna"

Where did that amazing light bulb come from?!!

xx

Share The Love: Box #115

We have another vintage inspired box up next, this time from the lovely Abbey...

"I received my box really late because someone else in the studio complex had signed for it and not told me (sorry sender!).

but it was definitely worth my wait. 

It was a treasure trove (well box!) of beautiful vintage items, all wrapped up in old dressmaking sheets.

each item was carefully selected and will all be put to use in my new home.

My favourite was the little floral china cup.

Love. Love. Love."

This is so, so beautiful! We're loving the embroidered pieces.

xx

Share The Love: Box #114

Clemmie received a print themed box. Loving those stamps! 

"Of all the achievements of human kind,
the birth of the alphabet is the most momentous"

"My box was all based around the theme of print and contained a screen printed bag, some fabulous printed Christmas cards and some letterpress letters.  It was so thoughtful of the sender to include these handmade things as well as a lovely note explaining it all.  This project has been great fun and thank you so much to the sender for putting so much time and effort into my lovely gift!  I love it!"

Tell us secret sender-do you work in print?

xx

Share The Love: Box #113

Ohhhhhhh we're in vintage heaven right now. Just loooooook!

"I was very excited to receive my curious package that was carefully wrapped in brown paper, I couldn't resist ripping it open like a excited child at christmas. 

Inside the box I found a treasure chest of delights hidden and protected by beautiful music sheets (what an excellent idea!!!). A very pretty vintage china tea cup cleverly made into a candle that sits proudly in my kitchen as I write this. Only in the few days it has been on show guests have commented on how lovely it is. 

A cute little wish bracelet with the tag line "follow your dreams" an statement that should never be ignored. 

A heart shaped cushion with the delicious aroma of lavender wafting from the gorgeous antique fabric. I am admittedly a lavender fiend and always dropping lavender essential oils around my room and bedding at night so this gift was absolutely perfect!!! 

As a keen grower of things (I can't quite stretch it to say gardener) the herb markers will really give my sad little pots in the back yard a touch of class! 

And a 1920's wedding photograph. Very curious indeed. What a lovely box of treats the majority of them hand made and all absolutely fabulous! Thank you curious giver you are a lady of great taste and talent and my home feels a little brighter and warmer now from the sweetness of your generous gifts!

Katie."

xx