Why I ♥ Swaps!!!

Some people would say I was a little coo coo for doing 2 swaps in the same week I have to prepare for the farmer's market. At first I was thinking the same thing. There is just something about a good swap and meeting new crafty people that is so appealing. Also the added bonus of meeting new blogging buddies.

If I had to sign up again I would do it in a heartbeat. Happy mail is what arrived today and yesterday. The kind of mail that took away all the stress of finding a tent, preparing bags, tags, and supplies. First package I got felt like it was my birthday, and rightfully so since it was the birthday treasury swap from Susan.

The shadowbox got an "OOOOOO!" from Odyn and Ms. Aries wanted to keep it in her room. Damien said it was nice - which is the very best compliment you can get from an 8 year old boy. All the little details like the watering can, vintage needle holder, and cute cake all made me smile. It's perfect! I know the very special spot in the studio where it will go. Plus Susan was so thoughtful including bunny wrapped chocolates, spools of thread for the feet, needles that came in the needle case, and that wonderful cottage style paper. Thank you again Susan - your work is amazing!

The next little package I got in the mail came from the pampered swap that I sign up for on April Maybe's blog. Oh how lucky was I that April herself was the person to pamper me! The box had pretty pink Eiffel Towers all over it. Her package came at just the perfect time, for today I do feel like I need to be pampered a little.

April was little psychic too. The night before the package arrive I entered my Hubby and I into a giveaway for a trip for 2 to Paris. So upon opening my pampered gift I felt like I already won that giveaway. My inner Amelie squealed to see that I got a very cool Paris mug (perfect for tea), yummy French chocolate wafers, jasmine lime soap that I can wait to try, amazing jade green nail polish, a much needed eye mask, silky cotton linen body milk, an Eiffel Tower key chain, and a pedicure kit that I am sure once Aries sees, a girls night will be announced.
My absolute favorite part though was the mixed CD that April made for me. Once girls night is underway, Aries and I will be dancing with painted toes all night long to it. Thank you April for hosting such a wonderful swap and for pampering me with such wonderful gifts.

Birthday Treasury Swap

I just finished a birthday treasury swap that Inspire Co. hosted. This is something out of my normal sewing crochet realm.

What a fun little challenge this was! My swap partner was Susan from Texas and her birthday tradition is going to Red Lobster Restaurant for her birthday. How yummy is that tradition? So with fun ideas in mind I got to work.

Susan mentioned that she was turning her home into a cottage and this was my main theme. A cute vintage cottage - which we all know I love. So I layered, paint upon paint upon paint, to create beautiful cottage chic feel. Using nail polish remover (because sandpaper was rubbing too much off) and q-tips I rubbed the white paint off to reveal pinks, greens, and yellows. The first cube has a party hat made from vintage paper and tissue paper with a bakers twine string. The second was a cute little vintage playing card from an Old Maid set. The card was Susanna but the bird quickly turned it into Susan :).

The third cube in that row is by far my favorite. It features a cute little peter rabbit from a vintage 1914 Easter card, with which it took all my might to deconstruct (the cards words were stained and watermarked). Adding the fluffy pom pom for his tail made him even more adorable. Susan loves bunnies so I hope this cube will also be her favorite.

The second row had to include her birthday cupcake with candle. Using a cupcake wrapper that was made from recycled paper, I wrapped fabric covered pom poms that were dipped in glue and sprinkles. The candle is marker covered tin foil and paper. A birthday wouldn't be complete without a flowery bouquet. Vintage millinery flowers in a peachy pink tied with a polka dot ribbon finish off cube 2 in the second row.

Now this cube was my hardest and largest! Lovely turquoise wrapping paper with a sweet memories sticker were the first things added. Where to go from there had me at a loss. Red Lobster was the tradition and I knew this cube had to include it. At first I thought of making the restaurants sign out of clay but it just didn't go with the cottage theme. Then it hit me. Getting my paper and markers I drew a lobster crate like they use to catch the buggers and printed out a little lobster in a shade of pink. I didn't tell him that they usually eat his kind at the restaurant.

Now finishing off the shadowbox I used a pretty blue butterfly sticker, vintage wallpaper, and some more of the vintage Easter card. If I take something old and deconstruct it I have one rule - I must use as much as possible of that item in the new purpose. The second cube was Susan's present from me to her - but if she unwraps the polka dot fabric I'm afraid she will just find a wooden block. The last cube, to finish everything off, was the word BEAUTIFUL. This is something we should remind ourselves at any age. We are always beautiful. The little bunting was made with bakers twine, vintage paper, and tissue paper.

My hope is that when Susan sees this lovely shadowbox it fills her heart with joy. I would love to know what are your birthday traditions? What would you like your birthday treasury shadowbox to be filled with?

Unplanned Slumber Party

Last night as severe thunderstorms rolled in I got unexpected slumber party guests in my bed. There was a flash of light large boom and a scream from a shaking little girl. Faster than I could say "It's okay I'm right here", she was down the stairs by our bedroom door. Her hair was standing straight up in a wild mess.

Before hugs could be given the oldest came down the stairs in a dazed stare. "Are you okay?" I asked. The answer was "NO!" He was just as scared. Another bright flash an even louder boom sent them shaking into a huddle. Advising to wait right there, I went up stairs to check on the youngest. In the boys room I found him sucking his thumb. He looked at me and then pulled his blanket up an over his eyes. Knowing that once I got the other two to calmed down Odyn would hear the thunder storm, so down he came into the huddle with the other two.

Needless to say my pillows were taken, blankets for mom were nonexistent, and a sliver of bed was on order. The shaking, tossing, and turning in the bed I imagined to be a new kind of massage. Hubby came home in the morning to a tired wife and three children all sprawled in different positions. It's been really hot here today - 100 degrees Fahrenheit hot! More huddles, hugs, and comforting may be needed tonight as more storms roll in from the heat.

Luckily all this heat has made the peonies in my mom's garden bloom. A welcoming treat for a person who is a little hot and grumpy today. I put them in a lovely sparkling vase next to the reading chair. Trying to fill the house with some cheer and to take the mind off the heat that surrounds. Bright colors to welcome the summer that is upon are filling the house.

Is it summer where you are? How are you decorating for this hot hot season?

Still Have Time

I just thought I would pop in here while I take a break from making bags, dishtowels, and other lovely things for the farmer's market to let you know that you still have time to enter my giveaway.

Once I start building this quilt and making more blocks your going to kick yourself for not entering the giveaway - anyone can enter... So what are you waiting for?

No Words but Thankful

This week tornadoes hit Springfield, Massachusetts. Never in a million years would I ever think I would be typing that sentence. I moved to Springfield when I was a junior in high school. My husband grew up in Springfield. We went to the same high school in Springfield. All of our children were born in Springfield (even when I was pregnant with Odyn, living in CT, we traveled the hour). Most importantly my in-laws live in Springfield.

To see in the news places that you once had pizza dinner dates with your future husband at, without a roof, or old buildings demolished, is a little more than heart wrenching. Thankfully everyone is okay. Damien was and still is very worried. The TV is scattered with photos and stories with which I am trying to keep off of our screen. Our little worrier sees the leaves on the trees move and he ducks for cover.  His eyes fill with tears at the thought of a tornado.

So our hearts and prayers go out to all our Massachusetts family and friends who witness this and who may still be a bit shaken. We are here for you.

Whatcha Working on Wednesday

Would you really be shocked if I said more bags? No?! I didn't think so. That really has been what I have been working on for handmade items. Ideas for the second of the Doodle Embroidery Quilt Blocks is floating around there too. I'll be sewing away and then need to stop, write down my idea, and then continue sewing. 

Sometimes though the thoughts inside my head at not always positive. Self doubt often creeps in and this very annoying little voice says "Why are you wasting your time, do you think anyone is really going to buy any of this?" You know that horrible hater that lives inside all of us. The one that makes you stop before you start, the one that makes you think of the what if's in life,  and the one that tells you that you really don't look as good as you think you do. I hate her.

Well she got put in her place last night. There are enough haters, doubters, and saboteurs out there already I sure don't want to listen to the one inside my head. Instead I made my pleating bags and a list of must do's:

• Make a tangible banner for shop
• Make a free bag pattern for all those lovely followers of mine
• Take more pictures of vintage treasures for shop
• Weed the garden - it's over due
• Plan a day at the beach

So that is my list. I have to say it is far better sounding than the evil nonbeliever. Don't let your inner dream crusher get you down - Whatcha working on this Wednesday?

Bags - Some Finished

Here is a sample of my bags that will be at the farmer's market!! This weekend I was able to get more done than I expected to and hopefully even more will get done during the week. 

The other day I watched the movie Nanny McPhee Returns with the kids. I must tell you that I wanted all of Mrs. Green's (Maggie Gyllenhall's character) clothes.

 Pretty country cottage floral skirts, embroidered peasant tops, and a kelly green jacket with satin ballerina pink lining were just some of the pretty things I saw. In fact I think Mrs. Green would appreciate these bags. 

The movie also has the coziest little cottage. So while the kids were fascinated by plot I was plotting decorating ideas. Are there movies that do this to you? 

Nanny McPhee Returns was just added to my list that already included Practical Magic, Amelie, and Because I Said So. All movies that I could watch for decorating and style ideas. 

So I think I may stop making bags for a bit - not long, just enough to decorate my house into a cozy summer cottage.

Handmade Crafts Blog Tour: The Empty Nest

I thought I would end the week with another Handmade Crafts Blog Tour!!! Don't you just love visiting new blogs and meeting new people?

So this week I thought I would feature the lovely Janet from The Empty Nest. She is a pure sweetheart. It's funny how sometimes you can remember exactly how you found a blog and I do remember when I came across hers. It was during a Barn Chick Blog Party  and while I was looking at everyone's posts I came across the most sweetest comments written by Janet. Her wonderful way of looking at things always puts a smile on my face.

Always so inspiring are her posts about how she slipcovers chairs. It will make you want to run to your local thrift store, find that ugly chair, and make it beautiful! In fact she has inspired me to try it ... just need to find that perfect chair. Don't worry dear hubby I won't be lugging in said chair in the house anytime soon.

If that isn't reason enough to visit her blog, Janet also makes amazing aprons, really truly amazing aprons. Best part is how eco-chic she is with her creations. Using old thrift store clothes she gives them a new beautiful life. One of my favorites, because I can't just pick one, is the Dorothy's Couture Apron. Oh, how that sweet embroidery speaks to my heart.

So make sure you stop by The Empty Nest, say hello, an enter her tote giveaway that is happening right now. Plus if you want to do a little shopping she shares her handmade goodness in her Etsy shop, How lucky are we?
(all pictures are courtesy of The Empty Nest - and like all pictures used in this tour ~ please ask the owner of the photos for permission to use them. Thanks)

Making Bags

First day of the farmer's market is coming up FAST! Getting out some of my best vintage sheets, pillowcases, and linens ... cutting, sewing, stitching, and designing is going on in this house.

The agenda is to make several different types of bags - market totes, hobo bags, ruffle purses, embroidered slings, and quilted pocket books. Finding time to sew is difficult lately. The outcome will be worth it!!

Working Weekend

Usually the weekends are reserved around here for family time. Often I don't get to see my hubby during the week since he is at work when I am asleep. This weekend was different though. Dear hubby took the kids to his parents and I spent the day working on items for the farmer's market.

The sun did decide to come out for a little bit and I took advantage of that. It's been raining here for 6 days straight. My flower garden can't decide if this is a good thing or not. Taking a small walk I noticed flowers stretching out as if they were basking in the sun light .

Collecting some buttercups, bleeding hearts, daffodils, and some yellow flax I had a nice small bouquet by the end of my yard walk. Putting them in a turquoise mason jar brightened up our kitchen and I went back to work. I do hope Mr. Sunshine visits again this weekend.