Swap- bot swap

I stopped joining swap-bot swaps last year after a few disappointing swaps. I decided to jump in again and I'm glad I did. I'm not yet finished with my partners puppy but I already received my goodies in the mail!

Two needle felted duckies. Sue did a really great job on Scooter and Fern, even Fern's head poof! I had to give them a place of honor, right under my favorite painting and next to my favorite teddy.

Please visit this fabulous artist blog. Her art dolls are awesome! She said my duckies are her first time needle felting...wow!

Swap Ornament

Ornament I made for a swap here.

Tutorial Tuesday -Dia de los Muertos Shrine

I have another tutrial on the WIST blog here!
And this is a shrine I made for a swapbot swap that is ready to be customized.

Tutorial Tuesday -Swaps

Check out the post I made on the WIST blog this week
and let me know if you want to join in on the swap!

Swap

I just sent this out yesterday for a Recycled/No Spend Dotee doll swap. She is made from fused plastic bag "fabric". This nice blue is from a Best Buy and a Festival Foods bag. The lighter colored face is a white bag layered over a blue bag. She turned out larger than I planned but I like her.

The plastic "fabric" sews fine on the machine but it is difficult to hand sew. So, I did have some trouble hand stitching the face to the body. I used netting left from our wedding almost 17 yrs ago. The yarn pieces are from an old wool sweater I unravled and dyed with Kool Aid. The rest is just bits and pieces I had around.

Snail Mail Goodness

Meet Berri, my new springtime dotee from Suzi. Isn't she sweet!

Just look at all this stuff! I can't wait to use the fabric! And a chicken timer *grins*

The wonderful yellow plush bird was my Pay It Forward goodie from Jenny here. She sent yummy chocolates (gone) and bird note paper (I already used a lot of it). See how nice her bird looks on my shelf! I never got any comments on this PIF post, but I'm trying again. Go to this post and comment if you want to join. I'll make you something!!!!!

Pay It Forward

I made this last Thursday, but didn't post it because the photo isn't very good.
I just remember that is says "forward" Perfect!

I saw this on Dabbled, but was too late to get on her list. I popped into another blog to join. Yeah!
So here are the details borrowed from Phantom Moon blog (isn't that a great name!)

The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something strange.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you. (Be sure to leave a working email!)

IMPORTANT: The fun part of this is keeping the it going, so don't forget to post this text on your blog if you want to play. This text was used from http://dianaevans.blogspot.com/ and
http://www.dabbled.org

and http://thephantommoon.typepad.com/

Sound like fun? Leave me a comment and click "Email Me" on the side and
send me your address.

Anti-Valentine's Day swap

Isn't this the coolest? I got this from my swap partner and I love love love it!

Below is what I sent to my swap partner...I was so happy to find out she loved her's too! I guess the only thing I don't like about Swap-Bot is what I send out goes to someone different than who sends to me.

Swap Stuff

First of all...everyone is healthy...yay! Can you believe in the end we found out Ethan had scarlet fever and a virus! Just his luck.

V is for Vivian

for a Gashlycrumb Tinies inspired swap

I guess for an actual couplet it would have to be ----

U is for Ursula in a dishwasher was mangled

V is for Vivian in Kudzu was strangled

This is for a Vintage Dotee In a Jar swap

DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY

So says NOAA

No school today. Not a snow day but a cold day! It was actually announced yesterday. Good thing too, we got to sleep in. Even so, when I got up at 8:30 this morning, it was -16 degrees!!! The news said the wind chills were -30 to -40.
Right now it is a balmy -3. Almost summer *grins*




Since it is sunny, we have spent a cozy day basking in the sun of our livingroom. Cold days also mean crafty days.....I signed up for an owl softie swap on Swap-bot. I've never made an owl before so this is my "test" owl. Emma decided to make one too. I think I like hers better :-D

Now I have to get started on my swap owl. I also have an anti-Valentines dotee to make.

****edit****
No school Friday either!

Winter Chunky book

I've decided to do some more swaps...I think they help keep the creative juices flowing. Plus it is fun to get mail that is not a bill!
For this swap-bot swap, I needed to make a Winter themed chunky book. I played with a few ideas, including using photos I took in our yard. I came across an old photo of a chubby baby all bundled, so I ran with it. The book is kind-of cutsie, really shabby chic style. I included this Robert Louis Stevenson poem on the facing pages


Picture-Books in Winter

Summer fading, winter comes--
Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs,
Window robins, winter rooks,
And the picture story-books.

Water now is turned to stone
Nurse and I can walk upon;
Still we find the flowing brooks
In the picture story-books.

All the pretty things put by,
Wait upon the children's eye,
Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks,
In the picture story-books.

We may see how all things are
Seas and cities, near and far,
And the flying fairies' looks,
In the picture story-books.

How am I to sing your praise,
Happy chimney-corner days,
Sitting safe in nursery nooks,
Reading picture story-books?
--------
I love how the fabric and cardboard combo turned out. Torn uneven edges...smeared with gesso, papers sanded raw, and fun embellishments. I hope my swap partner likes it. I hate giving it up. I think from now on I have to make two of everything so I can keep one!

A Midsummer Nights Dream ATC swap

I've only finished a few swaps so far on Swap-bot and so far so good. Fun idea. I haven't read any Shakespeare since college.  I dug out my copy and got about half way thru before life intervened. I'll have to get back to it. It was fun to have the challenge, to work on something different than the artwork I sell. I've had a few other related ideas.....maybe this will lead off into something new hmmmmm maybe ;-)

Whaddaya think?

Xmas Ornaments

This is what I made for my swapmate for the WIST ornament swap. It started as a vintage candle clip. I made a nest from shredded money and added a little red painted bird. The bird originally held a birthday candle, now it holds a sign.

I made for our tree a couple of these little elves. The head/hat is an old red xmas bulb. The body is bumpy chenille. The candy cane is from strand of old plastic candy garland. Kitschy fun!

Goodies in the mail

I bought this penguin ACEO from etsy.
It was sent in this great printed card and stickers.
Check out With Remote on Etsy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got an ornament, pendant, magnet,
and collage goodies from Andrea aka Zenith Jade.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I received these houses from Megan at That's Swell
as part of the WIST Ornament Swap--very cool!!!

Aren't they cute?