Easter Basket...

Here is the basket that I'm going to use to hold all the "stuff" I'm going to be sending to my swap partner for the Vintage Easter swap. I need to get some lovely ribbon to wrap around the handle... I love the shape of this basket. I've got a vintage basket (that I'm keeping for myself I'm no dummy!) that is shaped just like this one. Here is the before photo of the basket~ I also picked up some chicks & rabbits from the dollar store. I especially love the chicks... the little chicks hop :-) I added some embellishments and taaaaaa daaaaa instant cauuuute!! Some are going to my swapping partner and some are going on my hutch! I may have to go buy some more of those chicks...they are so darn cute!! Don't they look happier now? There is still time if anyone is interested in signing up for this vintage Easter swap, you've got until March 8th.... go on over to Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly and sign up! Hurry!

Very Vintage Easter basket swap...

Heidi over at Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly is hosting a "Very Vintage Easter Basket Swap~
You've got until Sunday, March the 8th to sign up. What are you waiting for? You know you want to!! Come join in on the fun~

Valentine swap~

Here are two things I've made for the Valentine swap I joined. My partner and I have extended our mail out date for this upcoming Wednesday :-)

Here is a two sided swag. One side says "I love you"and the other side has the last name of my swapping partner "Roberts"I used the Martha Stewart antique silver glitter. The glitter is super fine like powder-- I'm not so sure I like it. The upside, the glitter doesn't stick to your skin. The downside... it floats around and covers everything! I will probably add more to this swag tomorrow as it looks like it could use some more doo-dads :-)

I am also sending along a captured cupid in a jar. This is my last cupid, I've got to make more!I've got bunches of other things as well to work on and box up, but this is just what I've completed this evening :-)

Altered Tins~

Well....here is my altered tin all finished for my swap partner Marilyn whose blog is called "Unshelved Words". The second tin I made is similar to this one-- I think I'll hold onto that one for the upcoming One world/one heart event on January the 19th.It is a winter wonderland swap. Here is a close up of the inside. I have never made an altered tin before.... it was fun and I like how it turned out~

Valentine swap~

Well, I've signed up for 3 swaps--- 1.) Altered tin swap 2.) Mitten swap 3.) Very Vintage Valentine swap..... now you would think thats enough swappin'-- but nooooooooo I'm thinking of entering "Birds of Change" Sounds fun, you make 5 birds and send them along with return postage to the host and she sends you back 5 birds... still thinking on that one. I think the sign up date ends on January the 9th if anyone out there is interested~
My little love bug grandson has been staying with us since Sunday night-- he is sick and I didn't want his Mommy (with child) & Daddy getting sick. Well, that didn't work out to well, both Mommy & Daddy ended up getting SICK! I'm not getting anything done like I had planned to do... but I tell ya, helping those you love is so much more important :-) Even though my grandson is sick, I'm enjoying every second of it!

Newest Swap~

Well I joined another swap~ This one is called "I love Paris in the Spring"

Here is a little tid-bit about the swap I've joined....

Description: You will send your partner a swap package including one handmade item, one thrifted item, one sweet treat and one craft supply. Feel free to send more but not less! Anything goes as long as it sticks to the following rules:Colors: Pale blue/teal/aqua, white and black

Theme: Must include at least one item that is French-inspired. Examples, something must say France or Paris, or include an Eiffel tower or the fleur de lis. Be creative!

Sounds like fun~

Well I've been busy working on a large pirate ship in my backyard :-) It is slow going... I really like to be able to complete things in a day lol. I've also been working on flags, table cloths and the like....all for my grandson's first birthday. We have decided that the BIG party will be held in June. This way Grandma (me) doesn't lose her marbles trying to get everything done in time... a couple of more months should work out nicely if I get my butt off the computer and back to work lol

Spring has sprung...

and has held me hostage outside! Here are some flowers that have sprung up from last years flower seeds....

Here is one of my peach trees blooming~

One of the neighborhood squirrels eating a moldy old orange. I guess they taste better than the ripe ones because he went to an awful lot of trouble to pick this one up and haul it up to the top of the fence lol. My grandson with a flower for his Mommy~ (he fell asleep in the car~)

Another one of my grandson playing with one of his cars on my sectional couch...lol. I am hopeful that I've gotten enough fresh air & sunshine because I've joined a new swap :-) and also, I'm wanting to work on an assembledged piece for next Monday's Mixed media Monday with the theme of "using the word "believe" one of my FaVoRiTe words~ Ohhhhhhh and I bought a new product that creates the look of sepia tones on papers etc. So I'm really jazzed about playing around with that as well. I guess I'll go poke around in my studio now :-)

Teddy bear doll~

Here is a little teddy-bear doll that I've made for a doll swap I joined. It is made out of vintage fabric. She can stand all on her own because I fit pieces of illustration board in her feet...smart huh~ She looks cute without her fancy skirt & wings...I just didn't want her to arrive naked! She stands just shy of 9 inches~The fabric was once a little girls top-- before I got ahold of it :-) I am going to make myself a little bear as well seeing how I have half of the shirt left lol... I think it turned out kinda cute. I am also sending my swapping partner Lucy a vintage red-gingham-chicken-scratch apron. Its a cute one!

1 World 1 Heart Winner

I had 160 people enter my giveaway for the 1 World 1 Heart 2nd annual blogwide giveaway and the winner is: Michele from Calico Daisy Here is a photo of what it is I'm sending to her~This is Pete....sitting and waiting for you to "pay him no mind" so he can sprinkle that handful of weed seeds he is holding all around your garden, the little stinker~

Vintage Heart Swap~

I managed to get my things wrapped and sent off (today) to my swap partner Angela in Dolly's Vintage Heart Swap.

I made then embroidered an apron....

I made this pink heart shaped container. It folds completely in on itself to form one heart....

Here is a little cupid thats been caught and stuffed into a jar~Bunch of odds & ends.....

1 World/1 Heart~

New swap~ I found this swap on Cheryl of "Zanymayd's" website. Here is the link for this swap One World-One Heart Event. Anywho, here is something that I copied/pasted from that blog to better explain:
It is a blog-wide giveaway event. The original idea behind this was to bring bloggers together from around the world who may never ordinarily meet. It closes the gap of the blog community and enables us to interact, discover new and wonderful people, and in the process possibly win a prize or many prizes along the way. Last years event had nearly 100 participants and many connections were made because of it......friendships that are still going strong.

There is instructions on this blog that you must follow.... thats my problem, I skim-kinda read it....lol....bad me! Sooooooo I come to find out you have to show what your giving away, then join in the fun... duh. Always needing to go back and READ the instructions lol.
Anywho~ for my giveaway.... I offer up this little cherub. Here he sits in all his mischievous glory. He sits upon a tree limb ever so patiently waiting for just the right moment to fly about your garden and sprinkle those "weed-seeds" he has in his little hand....the little stinker. Please leave a comment to participate in this give-away. :-)

WIP

Ok, here is my first attempt at making a doll. Not to shabby..... the basic shape is one that I can live with :-) so much so....
That I've made the very same doll but in a larger form.
I gave her a little nose. I want to give her some ears as well...but I think ears would be hard. Maybe the next doll :-P
Now, I'm off to make fingers and toes :-)

Moving right along~

I finished the red gingham apron that I'm making for part of my valentine swap... here is a little peek at it while it was a WIP. I did some "chicken scratch" embroidery on the apron and also added some white ric-rac to complete it. It looks very vintage~
I've started on the cloth body of the doll that I'm creating for the doll swap I've joined. I had visions of granduar and now I'm nervous it won't turn out cute. Ohhhhhhh the pressure I needlessly put on myself! I'm going to make the hands/feet and head out of clay... I have no idea of where I'm heading with this doll. I have no "vision". I've never made a doll before....... The initial pattern I made I've had to revise so as the NEXT doll will be better lol

Another swap~

Well, I've joined another swap... Vivian is hosting a "Beat the winter blues doll swap" I have been wanting to try my hand at making a doll. Here is the perfect "match" to light that fire under my rear end :-) Click on Viv's name above to check it out/join~

Yummy day~

I started working on a little something for my "valentine swap"... ok, I can't keep a secret, I'm making a red gingham apron :-) very vintage inspired~ okokok, I'm making myself one too! Geeze, make me spill the beans....lolWith the weather being overcast and threatening rain that puts me in the mood to bake. Today after shopping *insert smile here* I made a double batch of bananna muffins. AbSoLuTeLy fabulous muffins~ To top it off, I am lucky enough to be having a sleep over/paijama party with my grandson. Am I a lucky girl or what?
This photo shows the FABULOUS muffins..... topped with a brown sugar glaze. I like to use this 3 tiered dessert server as my cooling rack. I bought it for myself for Christmas. Doesn't my tile counter look good? I tiled my kitchen myself :-)

Latest Swap~

I joined a Valentine swap which is hosted by Dolly. She has a lovely blog which everyone should check out. The swap is now closed due to an overwhelming response. It seems there are one hundred ladies signed up to participate. My partner is Angela. It sounds like a very fun swap :-) There are rules to this one: everything must be either red, white or pink also things must be heart shaped or have hearts on it. Seeeeee told ya its a fun one. I've already started buying things! Any excuse to shop!!

:-)

I finished up the swag I was making for my swap partner Amy. I found out she is going to be having a baby at the end of May....so I'm thinking I want to make her a "baby" swag as well :-) I am so happy for her! I also worked up some "pirate" swags for my grandson's first birthday. I have yet to string them together as I'm unsure if I want keep it all solid black or add another color.... still thinking on that.
Well here is my little house that I'm making for the cute cottage swap. So far so good. I used 60 grit sand paper for the roofs shingles. I am unsure about the steps, I may go a whole different look.
I am making it so that the roof can come off so you can see inside. I've lined the inside of the house, and I made a brick floor as well. I have in mind to have one of my baby fairies take up residence in this little cottage. I am anxious to complete it so I can add the glitter and snow and see it in all its glory :-)
Here is little Harry sitting and contemplating life~and this little cherub is Margaret~

Newest swap~

Been creating a little. This is Pete, here he sits with a handful of "weed" seeds waiting for just the right time to flutter over your garden when your not looking to cast them amongst your flowers. He is such a stinker!
This is Lulu, she loves her pearls. She collects pearls from broken strands and ever so carefully adds them to her ever growing stash~Been busy....doing nothing of tremendous importance, just busy. I did join a new swap hosted by Rosalyn-Sue it is called "Charming Cottage Swap." Sounds delightful. My partner is Laura, it seems we have similar tastes...so that should make it easy. *fingers crossed :-P*

In the past I've made a lot of models for the theatre to be used as examples of how I wanted a stage set..... this is along those lines, but I'm not going to the trouble of exacting measurements lol....those days are long gone! Here is a little mock up I made, doesn't look like much now, but when all the "goop" gets added to it, I suspect it will look pretty darn cute....or else, I'll start again! Maybe this will get me working on my miniature tree house I've been procrastinating with!

Here is my latest purchase. The very tall shelf unit that was only $15 buckeroos. It is missing the glass shelves, but it has about a 2 inch lip around each shelf and that holds things for now. It has a light at the top that shines down....pretty neat. I also got some vintage party hats for 10 cents. They are so darn cute, I got 4! My past fabulous finds: the lamp *free* the yellow drawers $1 buck, the antique mirror @2 bucks, chair *free* cat *free* lol....ok, almost a hundred to spay her!

Tussie-mussie swap~

I finished the tussie-mussie for my swap partner Cheryl. It is a metal cone that I covered inside and out with vintage sheet music. I used vintage ribbon as the hanger. Love-love-love old ribbons!I made a little lid that is hinged on the inside with a piece of ribbon. I glued a flower on top and sitting in the middle is one of my fairy babies. I grabbed a bunch of stuff out of my little bins and filled a little white bucket and placed it inside the cone. I also sent along some cat toys and an embroidered pledge of allegiance that I think she will just LoVe~ The container sitting behind it is the tube I used to ship it all in. It was tight... but I squeezed it all in!

Party hat art doll~

I received my party hat doll from my swap parnter Sallie Barnes. She took a photo of my daughter off of my blog and used her face & hands for the dolls features. How cute is that? When I first saw this I just glanced the face quickly and took a double take when I noticed it was my very own kiddo looking back at me.... made me laugh! What a cute idea, thanks Sallie!
(I am using Sallie's photo that she took of the art piece she made as I'm feeling to LaZy to get out my camera)