pretties from the swap

I really, really think I got the better package and now I'm thinking of what else I can send the lovely Meghan. I mean the awesome crocheted garland all on it's own has me over the moon! But then she had to go and add all sorts of other happy bits....swoon!

Thank you, Meghan! The garland will be making an appearance in the november bed! I really need to take photos...

just like old times

 Seven years ago I decided i wanted to send packages out to people. Not just any package, an awesome color coordinated package full of handmade goodness. so, I created a swap-group called coloriffic swap-o-rama and all you had to do was send an awesome package within the color theme and it had to include at least one handmade item. Anyone could join. I had a lot of people join who felt they weren't crafty at all. I encouraged them to try their hand at making something, anything. They could make marble magnets or stationery and if they couldn't craft, they could purchase a handmade item to include in their package. It was a fantastic success! I received lovelier than lovely letters from women who had never made a thing before and who now run their own craft businesses. People knit, sewed, crocheted, sculpted and drew all sorts of swoon-worthy bits. We sent packages in solid colored themes, rainbow themes and kooky combos thanks to the ever fabulousness of paint swatches. Each month I would announce the next color combo and folks would sign up in a frenzy. At one point there were over one thousand members in the group! The largest swap we did had almost 500 people in it. Zoinks! It was fun and we had a blast and my mailbox was quite content. The last swap was in 2008 as school took over my life and pocketbook. It was then end of a craft swap era and I miss it.

 Since I have moved into the tiny casa, I think I have received all of two pieces of fun mail and one of those was solicited. My mailbox was sad and empty. I began to pine for the good old mail days of happy packages and so when I spied the Craft Social Mug Rug swap, I signed up! It would be good to make a little something I've never made before and to wrap up a happy little package just because.

 Never one for sending the minimum, I searched through my fabric stash for some happy fabrics and stitched up a happy mug rug with a wee nod to The Doctor. I scored an awesome handmade mug at the bins and turned the little pocket into a temporary pin cushion.

 

 This being a mug rug swap, I added some tea and chocolate and then whipped up this happy tea garland. I had been sitting on these wrappers for years and have been wanting to make this garland for just as long, yay!

 

 All the goodies got wrapped and stuffed into the mug which I then wrapped and sent off to my partner. I hope she enjoyed it!

Pics of what I received to come shortly. I need to eat up some breakfast and wrestle with these allergies of mine. It's been a bad week for breathing. Oh and if yer up for a swap of sorts, lemme know...my mailbox could still use a little love.

It's all in the packaging

I'm pretty sure I like swaps mostly because I like making things pretty and then taking pictures. My newest addiction is the Lucky Parcels Swap over at Fabric Addicts Anonymous. I think it is because all that creativity makes it more challenging. I want my packages to be up to par and of course I already have soooo many baubles and bits, why not share them? Up above are the packages I put together for the black and white swap. My blue packages were not so pretty but then I saw Barbara's and Denise's and well...I swooned. I keep thinking if only I can prettify my shop packages more people would buy but maybe that is just wishful thinking. I really like what I make but it seems perhaps I'm just ahead of what people are liking? It always seems that way. After I feel totally defeated, I stop making whatever it is/was like my monkee faces and my jekbots and then WHAM! There are monkeys and robots everywhere. My newest items will be posted soon. I hope...I guess I should make at least one of each so that I have pretty pictures to woo those Felt Clubby peoples so that they will certainly need my style of goodies for the big to do in November...hint hint.

Time for me to make more playdough..we're making sculptures today.

why I'm addicted....

to swapping.

I have created another evil monster. A pretty fantastic and creative monster but evil none the less. This pretty assortment is from the first five things swap from the flickr group I started. I love to swap but seem to get a bit burned when I try swap-bot (unless of course it is for coloriffic swap-o-rama). I rarely get something made with effort and then rarely get any notice of receipt from the people I send to and I'm sorry, I am a child of divorce and I need a pat on the back for all my hard work. Okee doke? The idea behind the five things swap was a carry over from my Nervousness.org days. (I know I owe people projects from there but I can't seem to straighten out what and to whom. If you stumble across this and I [lobster-girl] owe you something, shout it out and I will create! I will!) I love making thngs and I love receiving handmade things so why not create a group swap, small scale and themed so that like minded crafty people will want to play. The pink swap turned up some super nifty pretties! I made kooky kitschy collages with lots of polkdots. I received a knitted pouch, patchworked tissue cozie, felt flower pin, marble magnets and an adorable egg carton sewing kit from Ana of Pink Sugar. If you find a need to craft and swap, hop on over to five things and join us! My next projects will be for the birds. A birdie and a chicken swap. What am I going to make? I have no idea...sigh.

Last night was spent with some amazingly crafty and creative ladies for Susan's almost last day before she moves back to Portland. I'm gonna miss you chickie! We ate a lotta mac and cheese, consumed a fair amount of wine and dove into an amazing chocolate raspberry cake at The Alcove. After that I headed home and the ladies continued on to The Bigfoot Lodge where I am hoping mass amounts of Jenny's famous S'mores cupcakes were consumed. Hope y'all had a good time, I'll see ya Friday.

Well folks, it is back to my paper, THE paper which isn't exactly what the assignment called for but I'm pretty happy with it. Wish me luck and have a great Wednesday!

the week in review: january 15-21

Last week was both productive and lazy. I had my phantom cold for a day and then I crafted away. There was tea drinking and sweets baking, etsy selling and package mailing, movie watching and housecleaning. Phew!

Mr.A-Go-Go & I hit the road on Saturday and did a literal road trip. We drove over 400 miles in one day and managed to even come home. We explored parts of Southern California we had never seen and drove through many a tiny town. We snacked on homemade goodies in Borrego Springs. Drove through Anza State Park and look forward to returning when the park is in bloom. We discovered that Idyllwild isn't too friendly, pretty but not a day trip kind of town, you would need to rent a cabin or something for weekend to enjoy it. We hit all kinds of climates. Icy cold, windy, snow patchy and sunny. Not one of us napped and I even managed some photos. Check out my flickr page to see the amazing tiny houses we disvcovered on the side of the road!



Each house was about a foot tall and some had small animals and vintage items arranged around them. I woudl have gotten more pictures but I wasn't prepared for the windchill! it was ICY ICY COLD! My disk ran out of space and the car was far enough away that the cold chased me to it. IT was so very bright and sunny nd the houses were on almost level ground and it was difficult to get good shots unless I lie on my belly but since it was off a highway literally on the side of the road, I wasn't willing to risk it...here's a peak at one of those houses...soooo nifty!

This week is more of the same without the crazy road trip. Dashboard dollies should be up in the shop later today and then I need to craft away and finish oodles of goodies for coloriffic swap-o-rama. i also have to finish up my goodies for the Valentine's Day 5 things and a special handmade item for my partner in the Hearts Swap. I kind of overdid it on the swap fun for this month...yikes!

Happy belated Squirrel Apppreciation Day!