wow!
From Dawn Sellers in Oregon, a lovely, creative bag! Thank you, Dawn -- I am getting more and more ideas for making my own bag to swap as the swap bags come in. They are all due in my hands February 23rd!
This is a close-up scan of one of Carol Murphy's valentine ornaments for our swap ~ wowser! So beautiful! Carol hails from California and is a mixed-media friend of mine & fellow instructor at joggles.com! Carol used beautiful images from her own Altered by Design sheets - you can find these at joggles too. She also used UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) for the coated/crackly look. So wonderful, thank you Carol.
Here are some more pictures, you can click on them for more detail. Thanks so much, Sara!
Michele Witchell in WI has sent in a set of 3 lovely & romantic paper and button valentine ornaments - look right and click on the image for a close-up view!And below, you can see all of Michelle's ornaments. I turned them to fit my scanner bed! Thank you Michelle for participating. I love the old ledger sheets that you incorporated. : )
Victoria has created the most beautiful little valentine ornaments!
This is a close up of the back of the one I chose for myself. The front you can see below; it's the one with the man & woman together - I just couldn't resist! Thank you so much, Victoria! The remaining 6 will be traded away after the mail comes on Saturday. I am only waiting for about 9 packages now & for about half of them I have heard that they are on their way!!
From Norma Bullen, 1/2 way across the world in Australia . . . WOW! Norma has sent 5 beautiful Shades of White quilties - 4 for the swap, and 1 more for me; thank you so much Norma. I know this is not an easy thing to do - to make an extra quiltie! I appreciate it very much. Now I have to decide which one - oh dear!
Norma wrote and said she was a little worried there might be too much colour in these; but she hoped that the pale shades she used would be fine. They are and I love them. This is a "shades of white" theme. You can do whites in varying shades, or you can do white with other pale shades,colors that have been "whited out" . . . whatever looks like "shades of white" to you. Have fun with it and let the challange of the theme stretch you.
Norma writes, "I bought a bundle of Handkercheifs from an opportunity (OP) shop for $3.00 Australian. That is OP = Thrift shop, I think that is what you call them? (yes!) I attached them to hide the backs (of the quilties) but they can be removed and used again if anyone wants to do so."
Isn't this just so imanginative? Sara from W. Virginia has made 3 valentine ornaments you can wear!! I also love the little "moo" cards Sara added to each knitted pin. I know you can get these made through flickr (free photo sharing account) but I have also started to see swaps of hand-made moo cards. They are a fun alternative to a business card & great for including your info on your swap pieces.
From Pamela Chasen in Montreal, Canada . . . .
It never ceases to amaze me -- all of the ideas people come up with when I leave some room for interpretation and creativity in my swaps. This is one of the best rewards for me personally, in hosting. I am sure you get a lot out of seeing all of the pieces too!
Anyway, above is a close-up of the felt & doll face ornaments that Nicole came up with. I did get an email from Nicole - she was concerned and wondering, hoping that her ornaments were up to snuff?? I assured her they were! I know it can be intimidating to see all the creative work that is produced for these swaps, and it might make you nervous. It is understandable, because I am happy to say as we have some very wonderful and talented participants here. But I can tell you from my own experience, that if you put a little effort in to your work and do your best, think about what you are doing a bit, you are going to be just fine!!! No worries . . . and now, enough lecturing - you can view ALL of Nicole's valentine ornaments below.
Thank you, Nicole!
I had a big smile on my face when I pulled Kitty Mitchell's ornaments out of their envelope . . . she made wooden door hangers as ornaments for our swap - I just love it! Click on the photo for more detail. Thank you so much for participating, Kitty!
From Cynthia Weed in Wyoming we have 2 sets of 3 - wonderfuly whimsical, yet very pretty and almost old fashioned ornaments. I love the kite-like tail she has added to each one.
Three very cool valentine ornaments arrived today from Donna Eck in San Jose, California. Donna created sachets for our swap by recycling old materials, including old prom dresses and recycled bride's maid dresses. I love this idea!! Way-to-go Donna. These heart sachets are so creative!
WOW, these ornaments Gunvor made are so interesting and beautiful. Click on the scan for more detail. There is an extra one for me, and 3 for the swap! The red heart is on one side and a cherub with collage papers and some clear embossing on top of this perhaps? Note: Gunvor wrote and told me it was actually crackle accents from Ranger, and that she loved that stuff! Gunvor has her own blog - "May the ink be with you" : ) - but be forewarned you will need a translator unless you speak Swedish. I used this one and Gunvor said I understood pretty well!
Gunvor, many thanks for participating & sending all the way from Sweden to CT, USA!
From Peggy Gato in Alamo, CA - we have a cool and creative bag for our swap due here February 23rd. Thanks for sending this early!
It's great! Thanks again, Peggy : ))
From Sharon Schutt in Indiana we have 3 beautiful woven & beaded valentine heart ornaments, complete with a little pocket on the back for love notes or treats! (click on the picture for more detail) - Sharon enclosed a wonderful note and with it a real chocolate Valentine Heart from DeBrand, a local chocolatier to her. Thank you!! I hate to admit it, but I already ate it (delicious)! I am sure many of you feel like Sharon, who wrote; "I'm having so much fun creating the Valentine's for the swap. And then I realized that receiving three Valentines from the other artists will be the second half of the fun~ And even better that the first half of the swap as surprises will soon be on their way."
From Gayle in New Jersey, first we have two soft and beautiful fabric heart shaped ornaments - see the scans to the right and below - click on them for more detail. Both sides of these cloth ornaments are beautiful!
The other heart ornament (pink with white lace, bottom right) was a hostess gift made especially for me - thank you so much Gayle!
For her third ornament (this swap is in sets of 3) Gale made a lightweight square ornament - see below!
This swap is really shaping up - there is about one week until all the pieces are due here (Feb. 2nd). Please send your ornaments off if you have not already!
From my friend Marla in Colorado, we have a set of 3 lovely fabric, trim & button heart ornaments --plus an extra heart ornament just for me. Thanks ever so much, Marla!