Barbara Johnson: By the Sea ATC Swap

From Barbara Johnson in Illinois, 2 sets of ATCs (plus an extra one) came in on Saturday. Yay! Thanks so much Barbara. These ATCs are very intricate with lots of teeny dots that look like they were done with acrylic paint pens. I found them mesmerizing! This is Barbara's 11th creative art swap and it is lovely to have her participating again. She has made some wonderful things for our swaps. Click on photos for more detail.

Your ATCs are most appreciated, Barbara. ❤

Barbara Johnson: Stitchie Swap!

I have here some awesome stitchies from Barbara Johnson in IL. I love the fabrics she used and her stitches! Oh my goodness, this is Barbara's 10th Creative Swap!!!

I just love Barbara's fabrics and the small rainbow stitches! 

Barbara wrote and said she enjoyed the swap and hoped that I would be doing more in the future because she missed them!!!

So sweet.

I am definitely thinking about it. I missed doing them too!

Ocean/Sunset ATCs: Barbara Johnson

From Barbara Johnson in IL, we have six really detailed and expressive ATCs. I really love what Barbara did! Imaginative titles she gave her ATCs too . . . sorry for the crooked scan! 

Starry Night  / Blue Moon  / Under the Sea

Yellow Sky  /  Flight  /  Fire Dance

Thank you, Barbara! Can You believe this is your 9th Creative Swap?

View all of them here - the link will begin with this one and as you scroll down you will go back to when you started in 2010 :) 

🌟lenna 

Barbara Johnson - Inspiration Collage

Today I was greeted by TWO swap packages, how delightful. It is a lot of fun to see the variety of collages that come in. First we have three 5x5's from Barbara Johnson. This is Barbara's 8th Creative Swap, wow! Thanks ever so much Barbara. I am glad to hear how much you enjoy my creative swaps and know you'd like to do more. I am definitely thinking of continuing.

I love this first one, very random & free with ripped text & part of my old family calendar :)

That green & blue marbled paper is my favorite and the green & blue 

watercolor or dye pulls it all together - great job! 

 I am also so fond of this next one. The brown, black & mustard tones elicit such an earthy feeling.

 Again, I really enjoy seeing how you used the mustard swirl paper -your doodling is fantastic! 

And how magnificent is this! The colors and repeating circles make it for me.  

So appreciate you sending early, Barbara -and great collages! 

☀

I hope these entries are inspiring you if you have not started yet . . . looking forward to yours.

Barbara Johnson - Prayer Flag Swap!

From Barbara Johnson in Illinois, we have some wonderfully interesting and beautiful Rust-Dyed prayer flags. Barbara did this dying herself and it sounds quite exciting. Below is her letter to me explaining how -click on it if you need to see it bigger -then click again if you see a + sign. At the top of her note is some fabric she gifted me. : )

This is the back to show how she packaged them, each on an individual piece of lightweight card stock and strung through the opening sleeve of the prayer flag! 

I love these flags, Barbara! thanks so much for the description and the fabric for me!!!

Barbara Johnson: Haiku ATC swap

Yesterday, I received these really lovely ATCs from Barbara Johnson in Illinois. More than I expected, I have been enjoying receiving and especially reading everyone's haiku.

All haiku ATCs are due in my hands one week from today, October 8th. I will swap them out as soon as I am able and then I will be taking a small break from hosting swaps. My father was transported to the Hospice House last night and was settled in comfortably. He was having end-of-life symptoms that were difficult to manage at home and I know in my heart that now he is in the best place for everyone involved. He has been battling cancer for over 3 years. We, my entire family, have each other and we are holding up. I need to keep doing what I can as far as my art and the swap for my own well-being, but wanted you to understand if I am not here. Thank you. lenna

Barbara Johnson: postcard mail art swap!

Barbara has been very active in creative swaps recently. This is her fifth swap in a year's time; the fourth one since June!! View all her swap artwork here - the link will include this post, just scroll down for the rest. Wow! Below is what Barbara came up with for the summer postcard/ mail art swap. Click for details!

I have so enjoyed all your contributions, Barbara! 

thank you! 

Barbara Johnson - August ATCs: I am!

Barbara, from Illinois, sends us 2 sets of "I am" themed ATCs -wow!

the back of the ATC above, is below . . . 

I am American

I am a hoot!

I am an artist

I am coming undone

Very clever, barbara - love them!!! 

I appreciate your ATCs, a wonderful addition to our swap.

Barbara Johnson - July ATCs: colour my world!

Barbara, from Illinois registered for 2 sets of ATCs, so I have 6 to share with you. Personally I love that Barbara made all six ATCs based on different colors. She also sent them to me in a very interesting way, see below!

Barbara made two little bands to hold her ATCs and attached them to a piece of cardstock. This kept 3 ATCs in one band and 3 in another -no shifting during mailing and fairly flat. How ingenious! 

Below are ALL of Barbara's ATCs:

Barbara would like to color her world --Maroon, yellow, white, blue, brown and red, plus she has great titles for her ATCs too! 

Below are the backs -click for details:

Thanks so much, Barbara. When I see your name I always think of the "striped pants make me dance" book you made for the little book swap we had. I smile even when I just hear the title!!!! 

Very happy to have you involved in another creative swap!

#46 Barbara Johnson - Little Book swap!

From Barbara in Illinois, we have 3 wonderful books that I just love. 

A great bit of Mail Art too!

I should have realized Barbara's drawing on the envelope was a sign of things to come.

Look at the cutest little book she enclosed, below.

All hand drawn and colored . . . 

Whee! Striped pants make me dance!

I just love this!

A Blue tag book . . . 

click for details 

And a flag book - or crisscross book, wow. One of my favorite books! 

The cover is kind of deceiving as to what's inside . . . 

Thank you Barbara! You've sent in 3 wonderful additions to the swap  ; ^ ) lenna