Farm Chicks

Grace and I had another great time this year at the Farm Chicks Show in Spokane. It was bigger than ever with an additional room full of wonderful things to look at. Quinn treated us to early bird tickets so we got to look around for a full hour before the crowds came in. Here are just a few photos. If you ever get the chance to go this is one FUN show!

...it is time to move forward

Soul Restoration 2 starts today!!

Little Book Swap

For Lenna's latest Creative Swap we've been making little books. What type and how many, blank or filled it was up to us. For my books I used old cabinet cards for the covers and an assortment of vintage and new papers for the pages. I added a small glassine envelope to the back and tucked in some vintage red labels, a stamp and some Dresden foil scrap. I finished each of them with some hand dyed ribbon and a little trinket. I was recently given a Bind-it-all and decided this would be the perfect project to test it out. It was really easy to use and I like how the little books turned out. I had some left over muslin from my fabric paper project so I made each little book a muslin bag and tied them up with ribbon and paper flowers. This was such a fun swap project. You should go take a look at all the beautiful books that Lenna's been receiving. Maybe you'll be inspired to join the next swap!

The Language of Flowers ATC swap

Be sure to stop by Red Lead, say hello to Chris and Sharon and see all their new stamps and collage sheets, jewelry findings, art supplies and enough inspiration to keep you busy for days! And if you're looking for a fun group to swap with consider the Red Lead Yahoo Group...there's always a great swap going on. It's not too late to make a chotski pin...you know you want to!

My Stuff Your Stuff Swap

The Paper Traders group hosted a fun swap recently called My Stuff Your Stuff Swap. The idea was to trade an envelope of "stuff" with your partner then make and return an ATC created with what you received. I loved this idea because it's always so interesting to see what someone else likes to use in their art. I was partnered with Cathy of A Surcee Life who is one of the moderators at Paper Traders and a sweet, talented artist. Be sure to stop by her blog and say hello and take a look around. Cathy sent me an envelop brimming with stuff....lovely images and papers, alphabets and flowers...so much fun...just take a look! This is the card I made from just a small portion of what Cathy sent me.


Cathy was so generous and made me TWO cards in return. Aren't they wonderful...I just love them! Thank you Cathy!

Mail Art has arrived!

While I was away from the computer I received a beautiful mail art envelope from Joanna. Joanna lives in England and her envelope looks like an English garden to me. It's just beautiful! This was the last envelope from our first round of mail art with the "where I live" theme. Joanna filled her envelope with travel brochures, postcards and a note telling us a little more about her. It's been so much fun to learn a little about where each member of the group lives. Today, I received Sue's envelope which is the first one in our second round. The theme for this round is "birds, bees and butterflies" and Sue has covered her envelope with lovely images of each of these. Inside, was a gorgeous gift...a beautiful nature journal filled with more images and all done up in lace and ribbons. Thank you Sue...it's a treasure!

Lifesavers

No, not the round, hard candies with the hole in the middle. For the past two weeks my life savers have been these dee-lish, pale yellow frozen delights. Banana popsicles! Breakfast lunch and dinner...straight out of the box or blended six at a time into a cold, throat numbing slushy that's better than a dose of Percocet! Not only did they cool my throat but they kept me amused....on each popsicle stick there's printed one of those corny 3rd grade jokes I love. As you can see from the photo I've enjoyed quite a few of them! I'm practically good as new now and having a fine time putting back on the 10 pounds I lost. Thanks to everyone for the get well wishes. I have lots to catch up on and lots to share with you but before I do that...I think there's a couple more popsicles in the freezer...be right back!

One way to get some time off from work!

Well, they've been pesky for years...the culprits behind numerous sore throats, painful bouts of strept throat and lately a cyst the size of a lima bean. My doctor tells me they really should come out so it looks like Monday morning at 10:30 I'll be saying "good-bye tonsils!" I've had my pre-op instructions (from Nurse Jackie of all people!) and my refrigerator is full of banana popsicles. I think I'm ready...wish me luck!

Sandy's Easter Tag Swap

I participated in an Easter tag swap hosted by Sandy of 521 Lake Street. I was partnered with Michele who treated me to a wonderful Easter parcel filled with special treats. Isn't that the cutest cookie cutter...it's in the shape of a watering can! Thank you Michele and thank you Sandy for hosting such a fun swap!

Happy Easter

A sit down sister line-up from 1959. I guess there's always one who crosses the other way...Happy Easter!