Summer swaps

I always love a good swap, but there is always a chance that one will end up with a flaky partner who either is very late completing the swap or never comes thru at all. But for me, it is all about the thrill of stepping up to the challenge and creating something wonderful for my partner.

This summer I joined a private facebook group of less than 30 lovely artists and crafters. Our leader, who calls herself "Shabby Jen" presented us with a challenge of decorating a baby shoe. There was 10 of us who participated in this swap.  It was amazing what everyone came up with.
I was lucky to have Shirley Hubbs as a partner. Below is the shoe she created for me. This is the most itsy bitsy shoe I have ever seen, it must be a newborn or even a preemie shoe! So very delicate with the most beautiful tiny details.

 

Below is the shoe i decorated. I had some little baby black patents. I asked Shirley to choose from 4 words. She choose "Bliss".

I lined the soles with vintage sheet music and decorated with vintage crochet, a handmade rose, ribbons, beads and lace. I included a little gift tag and a fragrant rose sachet that used my dried rose petals from my cottage garden.

Below I am including some of the other shoe creations that were included in this swap--so much fun!

I will be back next week to share another swap we just completed, I am waiting on one more piece. It was a pennant swap!

Bunny inspiration

 Interesting how finding an inspiration piece can be the start of something creative.

I never have been particularly a person who does an Easter display. If we were hosting a dinner or festivities on this holiday, I would put together a spring centerpiece and that was about it.
I saw this bunny at a garage sale last summer. I just thought he was so cute and at 50 cents, he was going to go home with me. Maybe next Easter I would actually do a display with this lone bunny. In my travels the last few months I did find 3 more cuties, thinking at least I would have some bunnies and eggs to set out for my granddaughters to enjoy.
Then came a wonderful gift from an Easter swap I was part of this spring. Shelly sent me the most precious handmade house and a basket full of goodies. With much excitement, I created this beautiful corner vignette.

And my granddaughters could not keep their hands off the house, especially with the little surprise inside, it was so fun to peek thru the windows! And each egg has a little surprise inside. (not all candy!)

as you can see, Shelly sent me a lot more treasures in the box!

An English tea cup and tea, roses hand lotion, sweet pea seeds and chocolates....

Happy Easter to all my blogger land friends. 

Let us not forget the true meaning of Easter. Christ died on the cross for us that we may be saved from our sins. We are truly saved by his grace

Serious Chocolate indeed

We just completed a fun fine chocolate swap over at  

Etsy Cottage Style ning.

We had to send our partner fine quality chocolate, preferably something locally made.

My partner was Anita from Somers, Montana. 

She sent me local 4 handmade chocolate Truffles and chocolate heart. Some creamy Lindor truffles too. I have to tell you that I snapped these pics quick, because as I am writing this post I have already eaten two of them~and I must say they were EXQUISITE.

want to know what I sent to Anita???

I was so excited to be able to share something 

made in Oregon

Moonstruck Chocolates~

If any of you remember Oprah named these as one of her favorites too

what a fun swap!

Summer Roses Swap

oh, look at the wonderful treasures Char from Someplace in Thyme sent me for the Etsy Cottage Style Summer Roses Swap!

Chocolate Cake~but not to eat!, a gorgeous bird house tassel, vintage buttons, and a bag of very fragrant french lavender buds~on my, what lovely treasures!!

I am going to display the cake with my collection
of Vintage German porcelain!

The tassel is hung on my floor lamp at the
entrance to my studio~
the first thing you see when you enter

This was an awesome swap! Thanks Char for all the lovelies!

Valentine swaps!

I was involved in a couple of very fun swaps this year and I am going to share them with my blogging friends!

The first one is a swap that was organized by Dolly of 

From my Cherry Heart

this is what I sent her

 

a heart shape mixing bowl loaded with goodies

and a handmade tussie mussie!

this is what she sent me

  

a pretty handmade card, salt dough hearts, a heart ornament candy and assorted vintage buttons and gems

NEXT...the other swap...at Etsy Cottage Style Ning This was a Secret Valentine Friend swap where it is a secret who you are getting your gift from

. 

My secret friend was Sherri Pruitt and this is what she sent me!

Hand made felt items, chocolate truffles (yum),cookie and cupcake mixes, coffee mug with coffee, candle even a little heart picture frame!

My secret friend I sent to was Carmen Mays

and this is what I sent her!

Carmen likes pink Victorian things so I made her a soft lacy tussie mussie filled with chocolates and her favorite candy is peanut butter fudge.I couldn't find it anywhere to buy, so I made some for her at 

home and decorated a pretty little box. Also a gift box of gardenia bath products, and few other fun things.

This year was fun fun fun. I love swaps! Now on to Easter.....