Fabric Chunky Book Pages and Christmas Matchbox Ornament Swap

Here are my little matchbox swap ornaments, I made eight in all, four to keep for my first tree in my new home, I will also get three more from this swap with Danielle. You really can't see the inside of the box that well, but I hand stiched little ice sequins and beads around a red cardinal on a wooden branch with hand sewn flowers on the bottom - very pretty and seasonal. My oldest son of course said I should have made the birds different, and maybe he was right, but as usual Mummy ran out of time!
The little gold and red bird is from Target 2006 Christmas ornament collection - they have such lovely things this season, I just adore their purple flocked wrapping paper. Nowadays I just don't go for the red and greens!! You can also see my vintage silk thread collection in the photo - crazy what we collect isn't it, but they are such beautiful colors for saying how old they are. I also have vintage cotton thread collection!







Finished at last my seven fabric Chunky Pages. Six are ready to send to Terrie - it's a little sad as these will be the last pages for this wonderful exchange, hard to believe I started this swap before Joshua was born! Like my shell button collection! Yes another little collection of mine - no wonder David is dreading moving my studio stuff.......

On the subject of moving, this should be happening very soon, maybe in the next four weeks - I CANNOT WAIT, it has been too long.....

Fabric Shrine Exchange

I made a similar one to this last month for a friend in Germany; it was part of an exchange. I decided to make myself one as I loved hers so much. It was also a great way for me to utilize all my antique buttons, textiles, trims, lace and fabric. Now I have the perfect excuse to pop out at lunchtime and replenish my supplies! I am going to visit an antique store called the Black Dog; I have heard good reports on it.

This weekend I should be able to finish the last of my artist pages for a fabric chunky book swap hosted by my friend Terrie. The pages I have received over this year have been outstanding – all originals. I worked out that as I have spent nearly three hours on each page so far, just with the ribbon and bead work, and I am making seven pages! I love doing them, being small and self contained, I can work on them during my lunch hour. I am not sure if I am going to make a book or a wall hanging from them.

I am also working on some Christmas matchbox ornaments; I think this will be the last swap for this year. I will keep busy with the journal round robin until the New Year.

Vintage Bird Swap - My Goodies Have Arrived From Coleen!!

My lovely gifts from Coleen arrived on Monday evening, but I could not get outside to photograph them until today as we have had lots of rain here in CT.

Aren't my little vintage bird goodies lovely? The first is a table runner with hand embroidery, the next is a pair of postcards, and the last (my fav) is a little box of gummed bird stickers, which I can't wait to play with.

Thanks you so much Coleen, I love all of them and simply adore your little bird nest tag :-) Stay in touch.

My New House ATC's and Halloween in Connecticut

These are my latest ATC's for an exchange hosted by a wonderful Yahoo group. There is so much talent in this group, I can't wait to see what I receive. I am a bit late in sending them, life has been a little crazy recently, the house build is moving far too slow - Oh well.
Thought you whould also like to see my boys in their Halloween costumes, they had so much fun. My oldest look very cool in his skeleton costume, and as it was so warm here in Connecticut for a change, I changed my youngest into a bee costume. This is the first year I didn't make costumes, I just couldn't see where I would find the space or the time!

I am so in love with vintage pansies at the moment - I just keep looking for them and seem to be using them in my artwork too - see the ATC above.


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