Partners assiged!

Just a quick note....all swan swappers have been assigned! If you do NOT have an email in your mailbox, please touch base with me asap.

As always, shipping date is the LAST day of the month.

She Was a Swan by Jennifer Morris

Sensational swan ideas....

Okay ladies...here are some links and photos for inspiration......but first, feast your eyes on this gorgeous creation I found on flickr. The artist is Tamara111...she is one seriously talented lady.

and now for a few ideas to get you started....

From the fabled needle blog

and the dream factory

again at the fabled needle



or what about paper mache? Katie Runnels has this one on flickr

and if you click on this link it will take you to a google page I found...full of swans

Braidwood Heritage crafts has this crocheted one



I hope these give you a bit of inspiration!

Angels . . .

Thank you Little Messy Missy!  My seed package is awesome ----ANGEL TRUMPETS.
You could not have chosen a better seed for me. My cousin has 2 beautiful angel trumpet bushes that are always beautiful. I never thought of getting seeds from her. I have my own seeds now..

And such a pretty beaded braclet, tags, mini punch, and paint, and sorry but the Utah chocolate was melted (we still have 90 something degree weather). And she hand painted a card with angel trumpet blooms.

My ornament is a replica seed pod of a trumpet with hand painted blooms on it.

Thank you Missy, you are an angel.

Seed Pod Goodness from Kerry

Thank you Kerry!!!!!!! You are always a awesome swapper.. this month is no different.. She made some of the cutest ornaments ever.. take a look:

This is the whole package I got:



These are my super duper cute ornaments:



And would you just LOOK at these handmade buttons in one of my fav color combos.. it's going to take me a while to build the courage to use them.. so for now I will take the out, pet them, and safely pack them away.. I just ADORE them:


Thank you so much kerry for another wonderful swap :)

October's theme!

From ugly ducklings to princesses, swans are in many fairy tales...and rightfully so. They are such lovely creatures, it is easy to see how they are inspiring to writers.

October's ornament: swan
October's challenge: make 2 ornaments.... 1 white swan, 1 black swan
October's activity: read a swan story with someone...or just by yourself.

Here are just a few to choose from:
The Wild Swans
The Ugly Duckling
Trumpet of the Swan
Swan Princess
The 7 Swans
Swan Lake
The Black Swan
The 6 Swans
Swan Maidens
The Red Swan

“I will play the swan, And die in music.”
William Shakespeare

I'm one lucky frog

My froggy swap gift came today from Sherry W. and I must honestly say that I belief I may have received the best swap gift ever...oh, what wonderfully creative and unique items. Gizzy helped me unpack the box:

This is very exciting! I'm so smitten with this crocheting frog who has beads attached to the yarn saying "rip-it"... how clever is that? She's going to be my constant crochet partner with her big, toothy smile - reminding me that if at first you don't succeed, just rip-it and try again :-)

I can't get over the detail and workmanship Sherry put into making those two decorated match boxes. They're simply adorable and they even have little surprises inside. Here's the frog prince and his loot:

and this is the adorable froggy witch:

I just love those three little draw string pouches with the lovely froggy material and the pretty blue inside. They are very well made and so cheerful looking:

(this photo is of the two smaller ones, but I got a bigger one too)

I also got four gift tags with various "froggy" inscriptions:

It's hard to read them on the photo, the different froggy sayings are: "Toad-ally happy for you" - "You make my heart leap!" - Sorry I frog-ot" and "You're un-frog-gettable" - isn't that clever?

I'm blown away with these wonderful gifts. I'm pretty sure I don't deserve them all, but I'm accepting them anyway with thanks, admiration (for your talent, Sherry) and appreciation. It's Christmas in September! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sherry - you outdid yourself!

milkweed ornie

I have been down and out with bronchitis for the last 8 days.

Today I FINALLY felt better and decided to do some quick crafting. Here is my "seedpod" ornament. I was inspired by Green mama's but added a little acorn fairy

the 'seeds' are actually stems cut of some whole cloves...the ornie is cute AND smells good!