Umbrella Designs

Thanks, Adelle!!!

2007-04-10T10:50:00.000-06:00

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my new friend over at Swap-Bot. This post is for you, Adelle! Thanks so much for pointing out my little spelling error on my swap-bot profile page. Thanks to Adelle, I now have a correctly spelled link to here. I haven't been posting lately because I got mad at my camera. You see, it wasn't doing what it was supposed to so I pouted and put the camera in the drawer. Today was the end of the camera's time-out. It sure is great to post again!

I wanted to tell you a little about my very first time being a swap coordinator. My swap is called "Trash to Mosaic Treasure" and the rules are to create a piece of mosaic wall art for your swap partner using items that would otherwise hit the landfill. This is just a way to view items in a totally new way. Trash can be beautiful! Take a look at my "trash bag" of goodies. I am limiting myself to using only the items in this bag for my piece of art (not including the background piece). I have a variety of goodies in by bag including bits from past projects, old toys, wire scraps, pieces of bark, used dryer sheets, etc., etc., etc. This is going to be great fun. More pics coming soon of various stages of this project. Come back and take a gander!!!

Australian Goodness!!

2007-02-21T10:45:00.000-06:00

Can I tell you how much I love, love, love this ornament! This was sent to me by Ani aka Whisperwings. I think everyone I've ever met has heard about this ornament. It was shipped to me all the way from Australia -- the first package I've ever received from somewhere outside the U.S. What a first! Thanks Ani!!

Found Pics!!!

2007-02-21T10:36:00.000-06:00

Yeah!! I found my other pics of ornament swap 1. Horray!!

Ornament Swap

2007-02-21T08:49:00.000-06:00

Here are the ornaments I created for the ornament swap on SwapBot. The first is a tree slathered with one of my favorite things -- glitter. Don't know why I haven't used it more, but get ready. Projects to come are going to shine!

The second ornament is a felt snow queen regally displayed on painted canvas, with real twig arms and paper crown. She is keeping warm with a felt scarf with hot pink sequin accents.

Ornament swap #2 coming soon!!!!!

Dear Friends

2007-02-21T08:05:00.000-06:00

What a wonderful week-end!!! One of my very dearest friends and her wonderful daughter came to visit us here in Tennessee. They used to live right next door, but they moved away to Minnesota (misty eyes, wiping a tear). Amy, the daughter, asked for a trip back to Tennessee for Christmas (wiping another tear). I'm so glad she did. We had a wonderful time and life picked up just like no time had passed at all. Sigh. I miss them already.

Above are pics from their going-away party. What a great night. All of the neighbors were here. Each set of neighbors created a scrapbook page of their family, their address, and pics of their kids. It turned out to be amazing. Jack says the scrapbook is very tattered from being looked through so much.

Bill, Jackie, Aimes, Matt, Peter, and Sammy Sam Sam, we love you and miss you.

"Come In, Sit, Relax, Enjoy"

2007-02-14T08:35:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!!! I am a little in-between swaps, so here is my non-enty into the recent contest on Etsy. The rules were to use only items that would normally head for the landfill to create your project. I love challenges like this, because you really have to get creative and see things in a totally new way.

My trash created a napkin holder! I used a torn firetruck book from my son's younger days (you know, the books with thick cardboard pages) for the sides of the holder. Magazine images and strips cover the pages. I also found a wonderful source for amazing patterns -- bills! Never throw away another envelope without looking inside, because you might find a great graphic pattern for projects to come. The "come in" side also uses something else from those envelopes -- the little plastic windows! The sides are held together with bits from a Christmas candle holder pick thingy that has been in the bottom of the storage tote for way too many years. The "feet" came from the bottom of our tool box. Don't know what they are, but can guarantee they would still be there 10 years from now if I hadn't rescued them. Trash has never been so fun.

2007-02-12T09:00:00.000-06:00

Here are a few more pics of my first swap, "From My Hand to Yours". The denim flower pins that I showed yesterday were sent in a handmade pillow box finished off with a denim bow to hint at the goody inside. I also sent a handwritten note to each swapper rolled scroll-like and tied with the same denim. As soon as my package arrives from Australia (my first package from overseas - how exciting!) I will post the goodies I got from this swap. Did I mention this is my first swap?!!!!!

Sigh! Just remembered I promised myself I'd clean my craft area. Sigh!

There's a first time for everything

2007-02-11T19:20:00.000-06:00

I thought I would start my blog off with a list of firsts:

1. First time blogging. Two months ago, I didn't quite know what a blog was! Yes, I had heard the term, but that was the extent of my knowledge of it. So you think my head has been buried in the sand, do you?! Well, it has. How in the world did it take me so long to find all of you amazing crafters?

2. First time having a Flickr page. Again, with the head in the sand. Didn't even know Flickr existed. Love it. Plan to actually post a pic there soon.

3. First time ever hearing of craft swaps. I'm still picking sand out of my ears. Swapping is so addictive. Swap Bot rocks.

4. First swap bot swap. Here is a pic of the item I sent. The swap was "From My Hand to Yours". Probably not a good first pick for a newbie because you could send anything that you make. Maybe a little too open-ended for a newbie, but I took on the challenge. This pin was inspired by a velvet flower that was in Home Companion magazine (one of my faves). Mine turned out way different and has a rawness to it that I love. Looks great on my brown cableknit purse from my good friend Pam! Thanks good friend Pam!! The denim is from my favorite jeans that I crafted in one to many times. Sigh. The denim is stitched into individual petals, then stitched into the flower, then stiffened. The center is individual plaster beads placed one by one.

5. First etsy account. Wow. I plan to actually post there, too.

Now the plan is to clean my craft area. There is absolutely no space to create anything else. Projects are beginning to happen in my lap, because every inch of space is covered on my desk. Anyone who knows me well knows this is no exaggeration. When I get brave enough, I will post a pic just to prove my inability to stay organized for any length of time. Oh, well. There is a first time for everything!