Lenna Andrews: By the Sea ATC swap!

 Hello! I decided to make 3 more ATCs myself for our swap, so now I have a total of 6 ATCs to trade. This time I pulled out some of my ocean themed rubber stamps and enjoyed creating with them. Here's what I made! 

The backs

There are just a few more days to get your ATCs to me... by this Saturday, the 24th! If you know you won't be able to get them in on time, no worries. Things happen & I do understand. If you can let me know if you've sent them or you won't be able to, that would be wonderful. Thanks! It's exciting to be wrapping this swap up and it's been great. I hope you enjoyed making your ATCs and watching all the awesome ATCs come in. Each set has been unique and I've really enjoyed it!

See you in the mail soon.... 

Announcing a new swap! 'By the Sea' ATCs

 Hello! I am happy to announce a new creative swap. You can find registration info on the Swap Registration page of this blog. When you are on the blog, you can always find that link at the top of the page. This is the 37th swap I've hosted on this blog!

I have made a set of 3 ATCs to swap and will include them below. They are an example of my take on the theme 'By the Sea'. As I explain in my registration info, the theme is a starting point. You are free to interpret it anyway that you are inspired to! Have fun and enjoy. 

The first ATC I created in fabric, both front & back. I sewed the top to some thin batting so the stitching showed on the front. Then I sewed the back to the front, only on the outside edges, so I could write my info on the back with a fabric marker. 

This ATC is an example of paper and fabric glued to a watercolor paper base. I used Fabri-Tac glue, but regular Tacky glue would also work. I used the Fabri-Tac glue to attach the small flat shells & a bit of sand! The Vintage images are from RubyandPearlxo Etsy Shop and the exact page is here (she has many image sheets!). All of her sheets are digital downloads & Heather includes instructions on how to do that. What's great about digital downloads is that you can print them out any size you want!

The 3rd ATC I made was created with inks srayed onto watercolor paper. There is a bit of handmade paper added to the left corner with matte medium. I sprayed my watercolor paper with water first as this helps ink to spread around. I sprayed 2 colors of Shimmer Ink by Dylusions (just a bit) and tipped the card to move the inks around. So fun, I love to do this! Here's a pic of me making the ATC:

I hope this gives you some ideas to start creating! Be assured you can take the theme and run with it. 

I have more ideas written down for you when you register.

Here's to a fun and delightful swap! 

creatively yours, lenna 

Lenna Andrews: All 3 Stitchies for the swap -done!

Well that's a good feeling. I finished my submission for the Stitchies Swap last night! 

All 3 of mine are on a blue-green - fish theme.

I used Fred Mullet rubber stamps that are made from actual fish prints. He has closed his shop after 25 years, but has info on nature printing and gyotaku here in a pdf.

I used a sparkly gel pen on this fish, and updated my other two stitchies as well. Below is what this fabric & fish looked like before sewing and adding pen marks . . . well, I see now it had a few marks, but not as many as when it was done! 

The back looks like this:

And ALL 3 of my stitchies for the swap are below . . . 

When I started working I was not positive of what I would be doing and did not know all 3 of my stitchies would be blue-green or feature a stamped fish! On the first one (bottom with sea weed) the fish was already on the fabric I chose. It was a leftover "test" for stamping a silk scarf. I liked the fabric & the stamp on it and that is what sent me down this path! If you have not started yet and want to be included (in my hands by Feb 1st) then dive in and start! Register here. Stitchies don't take long to do and you will find your way as you work. Plus, it feels good to make them! 

We have been joined by a couple more participants, so we are up to 20 in the swap. The last day to register is about a week away - Jan 27. Five days from that - I will swap whatever I have on hand. Thanks so much for stopping by creative swaps! Your comments are always appreciated.

Lenna Andrews: Stitchie for the swap!

I finished a second stitchie for our swap due Feb 1st, 2020! What?? 2020? YES! 

This stitchie was done in a blue-green color theme with a hint of pink. I used a similar but different Fred Mullet fish stamp, as I did for my first Stitchie. 

The first one I made (on the right) was done with a piece of leftover silk I had painted. The fish stamp was already on it as a test. For the 2nd one, I found a piece of leftover cotton that I had previously stamped the swirl and the starfish on with Lumiere paint. I added the stamped fish today!

I also wanted to let you know if you have not been to the creative swaps blog recently: https://creativeswaps.blogspot.com/ it will look a bit different. I changed templates to a more modern template that will display properly on a mobile device. I did not include ALL of the old swap info and probably will not publish it onto the new blog template, keeping it a bit cleaner. You can still check out any of the older swaps we have done or any of the swap pieces you done in the past with the drop-down collections in the side bar: "Swaps we have done" or "Participant Art". Please leave me any feedback if you like about the new template!

If you are receiving this as a feed item, remember you can click on the title of the post to go to the swaps blog directly and leave any comments or check out more posts.

Thanks so much for joining me! 

Lenna 

One of my 3 stitchies for the swap . . .

I could not help myself, I wanted to get started . . . Yes! I will be participating too :o)
I find it very wonderful that we have 14 participants already signed up. Thank YOU!

I found a piece of silk I had used to practice painting and stamping on, what a find!

I thought a green-blue theme would go nicely. 

I hope this first entry to our Stitchie swap is helpful and  inspiring!

Here I am in Florida . . . . brrrr! (It's 60 degrees & humid - ha!)

my latest "Stitchie" -plus a swap update

I love putting together and sewing these little fabric squares. It was truly my pleasure in making them, that drew me to the idea of hosting a swap again. :o) Here is one I made today . . . I will make some different ones for my own 3 swap pieces!

The back is left plain, no backing & you can see the stitchwork.

11/14/19 -Announcing a new Creative Swap-Stitchies!

This is a 3 for 3 swap due IN MY HANDS on February 1st, 2020. All info, registration (closed 1/27/2020) and PayPal for the swap ($5. USA /$7. International) can be found on the Swap Registration Page of this Blog: https://creativeswaps.blogspot.com/p/swap-registration-click-here.html

The basic requirements are: Create 3 stitch pieces for 3 in return, based on the small stitch meditation pieces you may have seen me doing lately (part of my 365 project). For more, go to Liz Kettle’s website to learn more about Stitch meditation pieces: https://www.textileevolution.com -- Liz has a wonderful video to help you get started (she developed this practice).

Your fabric squares (stitchies) need to be sized 4” x 4” and can be made using any fabric (or combination of fabrics) on top of a backing, using hand stitching, trims & ribbon if you like, even paper. Any kind of sewing thread, embroidery, or ribbon embroidery thread is fine . . . beads, or anything that works for you! I do not cover the back of the stitchies per Liz's Stitch meditation pieces and so, the handwork can be seen - that's OK! Your backing can be flannel, felt, or cotton/linen. Quilt batting is too fat & puffy! Using regular fabric is a better choice. Aim to create your stitchies using a color theme for more beauty & fun exchanging. This is not required, it's a suggestion! You CAN make up your own color wave. Suggestions when you register. Go with what feels right.

* You must register for the swap via the PayPal buttons on the Swap Registration page in order to participate - closed 1/27/20. All of the details are there. It's hard to believe it's been over 3 years since I've hosted a swap, whew!

I'm looking forward to hosting once again and very glad to have a dozen people registered already! The swap participant list is here: https://creativeswaps.blogspot.com/p/swap-participant-list_7.html -This list helps you to keep track of your swaps arrival, and also lets you know how many are participating!

yours creatively, lenna

Lenna Andrews - Inspiration Collage Swap!

 ❤ YES! I decided I would make 3 collages for the swap! I often play in my own swaps as it's a fun thing to do. Thanks very much to all of you who either sent an extra collage or some collage goodies with your swaps -or both. I appreciate all of these things. This is not a swap requirement, so do not worry if you did not do this . . . it's simply helpful to me and enjoyed.

Earlier today I was waiting on 2 possible outstanding packages & neither one has arrived. One was definitely mailed from overseas earlier this week and the other one, I'm not sure if it was sent or not. But today is the deadline for all swaps to be here. I will start swapping what I have in my hands. For the one package that is still coming, I will use any extra collages or collage bits that were sent and I will swap these extras for the late swaps so something is received by the participant... but anything late cannot be part of our regular swap that I will do today. I need to run my swaps this way, with no one waiting for packages because I have been through that before (yuck) and learned the hard way!!

Anyways . . . here is what I came up with myself. And I want to let you know I am organizing a new swap idea! Plus, I will announce here when all is swapped and sent. Thank YOU! 

Tea dyed paper, a familiar looking ticket (for this swap)

Two photos of me, watercolor crayons

recycled cardboard from box wine & a bit of an old map

The scan did not do this justice, so a photo

Old music paper some of you received 

Paper from Mary Green's class, collage square from ARTchix Studio

Tea bag tag and Colorshine Gold spray ink from Heidi Swapp

Fabric & paper plus watercolor crayons

The fabric is a leftover unfinished ATC from Color Groupies in 2009! 

I sewed it to the 5x5 card as it was rough with batting on the back

I enjoyed sewing on paper.

I hope you enjoyed, I will be back with a note when the swaps are sent.

lenna young andrews -prayer flag swap!!

Did you know I participated in this swap too?
I made 3 flags for the swap and 3 extras to be hung in Florida with my swapped flags - I can't wait! Most of the flags were made while I was visiting Wolfe Island, Ontario -so I either sewed by hand or used glue, as I did not have my sewing machine with me . . . Below you can see 4 of the 6 flags on the table in the cottage that looks over the St Lawrence River!

The flag below was photographed at home in Florida, but created on Wolfe Island . . . with a prayer for a happy home.

The textile beads that hang from this flag are some real beauties by

Carolyn Saxby. I just love her beads!!

Another prayer flag I made in Canada with a wish for peace . . .

The stitching is drawn with a marker -this one was put together only with glue! 

The prayer flag below was hand-stitched and beaded. It uses a linen cocktail napkin (with the little fish) that was my Nonie's. The wish for 'energy' was clumsily hand embroidered by me, but I still like it!

You may recognize the 1st prayer flag I made below, used in my lesson for you. While I was in Canada I outlined the white stamping ink I used with a black sharpie for more definition. Balance.

'Tranquility' was made with vintage linen. After writing my prayer with a permanent marker, color was added with watercolor crayons and I sprayed water to release the color. When that was dry, I used an aerosol artwork sealer to provide some protection from the elements. 

Freedom!  I made this with a piece of fabric that I hand painted on the banks of the St Lawrence River in 2009. I brought it back with me in 2012 in case I wanted to work with it. I cut it to size but did not actually make this flag until i returned to Florida. I was so happy to have my sewing machine available that the first thing I did was add a decorative stitch across the top to make the sleeve. I noticed there was a slight sheen of gold in the fabric from a light wash of Lumiere paint and that caused me to add strips of gold fabric which I hope will sway in the breeze . . . . 

I left threads hanging on purpose and wrote my wish by hand with a gold marker.

That certainly was fun, they are addictive (so quick & easy) . . .

And I'd love to make more! Do you have a favorite of mine?

Swap note: I have gotten caught up with the incoming prayer flags, at least for now! All flags  received are uploaded on the swaps blog. If you sent from overseas I am keeping my fingers crossed because I know a couple of you are waiting to hear of swap package arrival. There are 9 mailing days left for packages to reach me. They due in my hands September 15th, so I hope to see them all. If you cannot make the deadline, please let me know.

The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure.
  ~ Mikhail Baryshnikov

Lenna Young Andrews: bead swap : ^ )

yup. I also participated in this swap! I know most of you have probably already seen some of my rolled beads that I originally made for the call for this swap, but a few days ago I made some more. For one thing, I'm fascinated about playing with Tyvek paper. It can be manipulated with a heat gun for interesting effects. Some of my favorite beads are made from Tyvek & fibers by Carolyn Saxby (keep scrolling, her beads are near the end of the post). The other day I received an envelope made out of Tyvek which reminded me I wanted to experiment some more. I also wanted to make sure I had enough beads (15-20) to participate in this swap, plus enough beads to giveaway 10 of my handmade beads in a drawing. This drawing is for anyone who included some instructions with their beads and I will be drawing for this tomorrow! Of course I wanted a bunch of extras for myself, so off I went! Here is my process/results:

Tyvek envelope cut in strips and painted

This was the underneath paper I painted the Tyvek on -scrap paper.
I could not let it go to waste and stamped on top too.

Scrap paper all rolled up! Click for a detailed view.

Tyvek before heating . . .

After heating with a Heat Gun.

Before . . .

After! 

Before . . . 

After . . .

new beads mixed with the ones I previously made

WOW!!

This swap is CLOSED! All of the entries that have made it here are IN the swap. I will do the drawing for the extra beads tomorrow and will have all beads swapped and sent to the participants by 3/31/12. At that time I will write a post explaining how you can share a link to WHAT you might create with the beads you recieve plus any extras you may have made. Fun, fun FuN!
Thanks for your participation : ^ D   ~ lenna