My Final Three Packages

So sorry I didn't post yesterday, but we are having horrible power outages here.  Even though we have a generator to run the house, the internet company does not have a generator at their plant so when the power goes out I have no internet.  I spent the day making jewelry and hanging out by the pool........aaahhhh so relaxing!

Here is another package I received in the mail on Friday......

This package came from Calamity Kim and it was for the placemat swap.  Kim and I decided to do two placemats for each other, and she also sent me some tea that is just divine, a bagel spreader with a hummingbird handle, and sweet little handmade card and a Mary Jane's Farm magazine.  I LOVE this magazine.  One of the articles in this magazine is one getting your first goat.....perfect!!!  I am still working on getting my chickens, but the goat is on the list also!

Here is a close-up of the placemats......

Bright and pretty batiks with a tropical applique.  They will be perfect for out in the cabana......

Thanks so much for the great package Kim!  Go and check out Kim's blog.  She does some awesome work and works in more mediums than I do....if you can believe that!

I also got in the mail a 3.5" block for one of the flickr groups I am in with the BBQ/Picnic theme, from Ruthiequilts.

How cool is this block?  And the detail with the embroidered mustard and ketchup!  Awesome Ruthie!  I sent out my sunshine blocks last week, and they should be getting to my partners this week.  This will be a fun collection of blocks when I get them all.

My final package was a African Flower crochet square.

This is a Raverly group I am in where I send out these blocks and receive them from others.  Only thing is this one came with no name on the envelope, so I need to do some searching to figure out who it came from to thank them!

Hope these posts have inspired some of you to join some swaps!

Have a great week!

and Christmas in June continues.......

Today I am here to show you two more of my swap presents.

This one came is this beautiful box.....

and inside of this box was this.......

Look at all that yummy goodness!!!!!  This package was from the Potholder Pass on Flickr, and my secret partner was Michele.  Check out her blog here.

Michele is from Canada and along with those beautiful potholders......

(above is the front and below is the back, or vice versa! - both sides are so amazing!)

I also got this bag with cute little crocheted flowers on it!

There were also 3 fat quarters very nicely labeled, a bundle of ric rac, and a handmade card.  She was right on track with the bright colors, and one of my favorite blocks is the snail's trail, which is on one side of the potholders.   AND...crocheted flowers......eeeekkkkk!!

Michele sure knows how to put a package together!!  Thanks so much!!!

Another swap package I received yesterday was from a different potholder swap (yes there is a little bit of an addiction here), and this one came from Gerry.  This potholder swap was also a flickr swap called 2010 Great Potholder Swap.  If you click on the links you can see lots of great work.  In this swap we knew our partners and could communicate and share likes/dislikes etc.....

Go and check out Gerry's blog as well, right here.

Here is the package from this swap......

Is it obvious that I like color - or what?!?!  This wonderful package had two potholders with houses and cats on BOTH sides, two very well made bags (who mentioned I have a bag fetish?), and funky card with parrots, and a notebook.   Take a look at both sides of these potholders.....

and then the other side is equally as cute and pretty.....

can you find the kitties on all four sides?  they are there on all sides.....adorable!!!!

Here is a close up of one of Gerry's bags.

Both were embroidered with her business name, and both have breathable mesh fabric.  I think these bags will be perfect for boating and beaching!  Thanks so much Gerry!

I am still in awe at how unbelievably lucky with swap partners I have been!  What I am wondering is .......what am I going to do with these potholders that are too beautiful to be used?......... because I am one messy cook!!  Anyone got any ideas on how I can display them in my kitchen?

The third and final post will be tomorrow with the last 3 packages.

Hope you are having a great Saturday!

Is It Christmas Today????

It sure felt like Christmas in June today!!! I received SEVEN swap packages in the mail!!!  I am not sure I get that many presents at Christmas anymore!

At first I thought I would do one looooonnngggg post with lots of pictures with all the packages, but then thought that each artist deserved more blog time than that.  So I sat down, wrote their names on paper and pulled to see who the first two would be.

The weather has been typical summer weather here with afternoon thunderstorms.......

This is what it was like when i got home.  I dropped my groceries on the kitchen counter, without putting away my soy milk and salad greens, and raced outside to get some photos so I could start blogging.

The first name I pulled was Amy from During Quiet Time Blog, and one of my very generous Flickr friends.  She won a giveaway on my blog, for my 50th post, and this is what she sent me as a "thank you"!!!!

I cannot believe her generosity and kindness!!! And to top it all off...i LOVE this quilt!!  Amy cuts her own printing blocks, so the center square with the sunflower is one of her originals!!  Check out her etsy shop here, and look at her beautiful note cards made from her hand carved blocks.

This little beauty even has a handmade felt bee with embroidery and iridescent wings, and embroidery around the center of the flower.  Thanks so much for the "thank you" Amy.....even though you did not have to!

The quilt was even doggie approved!! I cant do much without their "help", but don't worry this quilt is now safe and sound in my studio where only the cats are allowed if I am there.  There is a secret password to get in!!!

The second name I drew was Mandy.  She and I were Black and White plus one color, not square mini quilt partners!!  Say that 5 times, really quickly!  This is the beauty that I got from Mandy....

I cannot get over the hand quilting and beading that is on this gem!

And as if that was not enough......she sent many goodies along with that quilt!

A little bag, scissor bling (i love that), black and white fabrics, pink ric rac, and heart eraser and an Australian magnet!  Mandy is from Australia!

This just made me giggle......

The tag on the bag says "kimmidoll"......how appropriate is that, since I collect Blythes!!

Well, for any of you that have not tried a swap yet, I hope this post and the posts over the next few days will inspire you to start swapping.  I have met some very kind and generous people thru my flickr swaps, and it has proven to me that what you put out, you get back!.....remember that :)

See you tomorrow to show you more swap packages!

You could win a class & help me look for some patterns!

A fellow blogger and artist is having a giveaway on her blog for an online class, so I thought I would let you know about it!  It is Melanie Testa, the author of "Inspired to Quilt".

She is having an online class over at Joggles.com in less than 2 weeks, and if you go to her blog and leave a comment then you may be a lucky winner!

The class is called "Let's Exchange Some Art", and will dive into techniques on decorating papers for ATC's, decorating envelopes and lots of other techniques.  Go to Joggles.com and check out the class description and all the other online classes they offer.
Here are some pictures so you can see what to expect.....

Cool tags.......

ATC's........

Today I am madly rushing around, packing up envelopes to be shipped out, and trying to finish more work to send off to waiting swappers and customers.  Below are blocks for a 3.5 inch block swap I am in on flickr.  There are 15 of us in the group and each of us had to make a 3.5 inch block (for each person in the group) with a BBQ or Picnic theme.
What is a picnic without sunshine?

Glad I have these little sunny faces to look at today, because the sun is struggling to come out here.  Some of the other members have done cool  blocks like a hot dog, lemonade, and even a dog catching a Frisbee over a checkered picnic blanket.  Don't worry when I receive my blocks you will see them here!
So while I was wondering what I would do with these blocks, one morning at 5am, I remembered some block patterns I had purchased in 1999!
They are Piece O Cake patterns called Pin Pals.  Unfortunately this is all I bought.....

Does anyone have any of these?  Maybe you know where I could find more?  HELP!
Let me know please......
Back to packing envelopes and sewing! Have a great day!

Summertime Creations

Summertime is a favorite season for so many people.  It is when beaching and boating are most popular, and everyone works on their summer tans.

This month at Artbeads.com their theme is "Summertime".  I am now a design partner with Artbeads.com so I was able to choose some items from the Charms, Glass Beads or Pendants categories to work with, review and blog about.

Being a lamp worker I was very happy to pick from the glass beads category.  I picked the 14mm Crystal Fish Bead in the Silver Shade; some Czech Glass Nautical Shells; a Picasso Square Bead Strand in cobalt, white and purple; and TOHO Round Seed Beads 8/0 in Lined Aqua Opal, Lined Dark Aqua and Lined Cobalt.  Glass has the right amount of sparkle and shine,  I was not disappointed in any of these products, and would like to order more for my *stash*!!

For a pendant I chose a Plated Pewter Elongated Heart Picture Pendant.

Then finally, I chose a few Sterling Silver Mermaid Charms to complete my summer pieces.

Here is the first piece I made.....

I filled the heart pendant with sea glass and shells, then sealed it all in with resin.  I also hung one of the mermaid charms in the front of this pendant.

I used 3 strands of the TOHO seed beads and mixed the Crystal Fish Beads with them.  I then continued the necklace with the Picasso Square Beads and the Glass Nautilus Shells beads.

On the other side I did some sterling silver wire work along with some of my lamp worked beads and a glass disc and sterling silver hook for a clasp.

I absolutely loved the nautilus shell beads and the square glass beads and will be ordering more of these.  The heart bezel pendant will also be in my next order.  I was making these myself from sterling silver, but these are so easy to work with and can keep my costs down.

Here is a close-up of the pendant.....

And another picture of the entire necklace.....

I also think the Crystal Fish Beads work so well with the seed beads and add just the right amount of sparkle.  Who doesn't like *sparkle*!?

Of course no necklace is complete without a matching pair of earrings, so here is what I made using the seed beads and Sterling Silver Mermaid Charms. These mermaid charms are the perfect size for earrings.

From another angle.....

Still having beads left over from Artbeads.com and ideas popping into my head I came up with this abstract, art quilt which I am calling "Bahama Bubbles".

After piecing and quilting this art quilt, I hand stitched the seed beads on to look like bubbles and then stitched on the Nautilus Shell Glass Beads, as if they were on the ocean floor.  Both the lined seed beads and the glass shell beads add just the right amount of quirky-ness to this piece which measures about 7" x 11".  Here is another picture of the quilt before I added the blue nautilus shell beads, and when the sun was out.......

So even if you are a quilter, or mixed media artist, remember to try out other objects on your artwork.  Even items that are normally considered for jewelry artists!  Think outside the box!
I hope these items inspire you to make something summery and get ready for the summer season!

The Artbeads.com products in this post were provided as a promotional gift by Artbeads.com, as part of their Design Partner & Blogging program.  I have been asked to review these products and give my honest opinion - good or bad.  My comments and opinions about these products are my honest, personal opinion and I have not been paid for any endorsement.

My Abaco Treasures

There are some days that island life can be so frustrating!  I told you in my last post about the power outages, that are unfortunately still continuing. (Thank goodness my husband sells Honda generators!)

Then there is the slow, local mail service, lack of selection on groceries....I could go on and on....but thankfully I focus on the positive.....our beautiful surroundings......and who cares if i can't get fresh salad greens if I have this to look at.....

Days spent island hopping with friends are priceless!  I even got to meet and spend some time with a lady I met briefly a year ago.  I could have sat and chatted with her and her husband all afternoon!  We have been Facebook friends for the last year and today got to sit down, chit chat and have some laughs.  They live in Savannah, Georgia (one of my favorite places on earth!) and were generous enough to give me some hand milled grits and rice, made at their home!  I cannot wait to try them!

On that journey yesterday I was also fortunate enough to find a vintage quilt.  I think the fabrics are probably from the 50's or 60's.

A small bucket full of antique pottery pieces from way back when!

This photo above is just a sampling of it.

There are unusual colors in there like green, purple and brown also!

I want to find out more about some of these pieces.......their history and the story behind them, but my ultimate goal is to make them into jewelry components.  There are some larger pieces with crests and writing on them.  It is difficult for me to read, but I am sure if seen by someone who knows what they are doing, it will be easily identifiable.

So I thought I would share some of the treasures I found from the place I call home.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Swaps Gifts and E-Courses!!!

We know summer has started here in Abaco when we start having multiple power outages everyday!!!

UGH!!!!

It has made me get VERY behind on work, blogging and swapping.

When I have had time to surf the internet, I have been taking an e-course by Kelly Rae Roberts, called "Flying Lessons"  It is about making your creative business soar.  It just started on Sunday and I am enjoying every moment so far.

Today she talked about doing other e-courses and blogging.  So I went searching for more e-courses I could take.

I found a photography course called "Picture Summer", by Tracey Clark, and thought this would be good for me since I have a very nice Canon Rebel, don't really know how to use it and I am never pleased with the pictures I take of my artwork or for my blog.  It is only a 30 day course and hopefully it will push me to play with my camera and try some new things.

While the power was out earlier I was playing with my muse, Sunshine, and the camera.....

Then I ran out after lunch to pick up my mail and more swap envelopes were awaiting me!!!!!

From Jennie at www.cloverandviolet.com I received my embroidery quilt.

This is so pretty and summery!!!! Thanks so much Jennie!  It is the perfect little embroidery quilt!

I also received my Anything Goes Mini Quilt from Sara of SaraSQuilts on Flickr.

I cannot believe how small she made those flying geese!!! And I love all the colorful fabrics with the solid gray!! Thank you Sara...I LOVE IT!!!

Also awaiting me was another African Flower crochet block from the Raverly Swap....from Val in the UK!

Along with two little coasters, some candy and a pair of stitch markers.  Thanks so much Val!!

So this was my whole bundle here.....

I'll be back soon to show you some new jewelry pieces.

Time to run off and do some agility with my dog and her doggie friends at class!