Vintage treasure swapping

So somehow, after years and years of going without, I've suddenly found myself flush with the riches of craft swappin':)

It all started a couple of weeks ago, when I left a comment on one of the blogs I really admire, life is beautiful. Nicole then had a proposition I couldn't pass by: a swap. We settled on a theme of vintage supplies, and a 10x13 envelope so we had some parameters:)

I had a fun time riffling through my stashes and stuffed the envelope. Since she's received hers, I won't be ruining the surprise by sharing some photos here of what I sent to her:





(Notice Butterfly helping out?)

I can't wait for my goodies to arrive:)

About 30 seconds after Nicole's suggestion, I happened to also stumble upon a Memory Makers blog call for a vintage kitschy swap. What the heck, I thought, and went for it:) Since that one's still in process, I'll save it for another post.

THEN, shortly after that, I was out and about someplace in my neighborhood and noticed a flier for a supply swap:) This one was co-hosted by a cool shop that features the work of local artists. It's called Happy Delusions. Basically, we were to bring down stuff we weren't going to use -- from papercrafting items to fabric to anything that another creative person would re-repurpose. Anything left after the swap ended was headed to a local thrift shop.

So I tossed in some of the inspiration kits I have for sale on etsy, plus a bunch more stuff, and had fun riffling through the baskets and tables to find new treasures of my own. It was fantastic, too, to watch the stuff I'd brought be claimed almost immediately!

Here are a few pix from that event:




While the madness ensued, Elephant wandered into the store to find things to beg me to buy for him. Butterfly hung out with us ...


She even scored her own treasure: Someone brought along a Play-Doh kit that's now a prized possession.

What fun.

Happy autumn!

So many photos, so many supplies, so little progress.

One of the drawers in my studio desk has half-finished class projects from past Creating Keepsakes conventions. Today, I went through and finished a few off. I'll get there. Eventually.

I hope.





Oh, and before I forget, my yard is **overrun** with these little guys. Well, this guy's body is about the length of a 50-cent piece. No lie. Freaks my sister out, and I have to admit the daily walk-through-the-cobwebs routine is starting to get old. C'mon spiders. Maybe a less busy walkway would be more family-friendly?

Etsy Treasury listing, Harvest Moon

Look what I did today:



Please go and visit it here to see the original, which is much prettier than this thumbnail shot.

Today I am ...

I stole this idea point-blank from this sweet, beautiful, incredibly honest blog I stumbled upon.

listening: all day to the jokes of my coworkers, all of whom are in a particularly funny mood today. Working in a newsroom is like being with family sometimes -- a bunch of really warped, genuinely decent human beings.

eating: not so much. Elephant came home sick a couple of weeks back and expectedly passed the virus along to Butterfly. Butterfly, in turn, clung to me like a wee little spider monkey these past few days ... and expectedly passed the virus along to me.

drinking: water, coffee, Pibb.

wearing: actually, surprisingly, not jeans today. I know. I can't believe it either.

feeling: sick. Missing my children very, very much. Especially worried about my little Butterfly's nighttime fevers at the moment and wishing wishing wishing them away, as I whispered several times to her that I would breathe in the nasty germs to make them my own if only they would leave her body completely.

weather: waiting for true fall days to arrive, not this why-are-we-pretending-it's-still-summer charade.

wanting: my kids. To swallow without pain.

needing: love. Tylenol. To pay the mortgage.

thinking: I keep forgetting to make phone calls during the non-work parts of the days. And that I want my shift to be over so I can go home and go to sleep.

enjoying: work. I know. It's a conundrum.

wondering: when I'll get back to my studio to finish all of those projects. When I'll ever list all of the finished things for sale on etsy.

A few projects

At Elephant's school's welcome back night.

A mobile I made to be sold in my etsy shop, soon as I take some decent photos.

A layout of photos from last summer. See? I'm not so far behind.

Grr. Another Canon camera sideways shot. Well ... what can I say? Enjoy! This one's also last summer (I think). Butterfly enjoying some roses.