Sharon Walworth: postcard mail art - 8 of 8 posts!

From Rhode Island, we have 3 large, sunny postcards from Sharon Walworth.

plus, mail art too! 

Thank you, Sharon!!! 

That is it for tonight - 8 new posts for the postcard mail art swap. If I have counted correctly there are a possible 8 more swap packages to come in by the deadline Saturday. I also have 2 packages just arrived here for the haiku ATC swap due in October, one from my friend Frieda and one from Laurie Morris. But I will probably wait on uploading those ATCs until after I get through the postcards -thanks!!! lenna

Sharon Walworth - July ATCs color my world

Sharon Walworth is from Rhode Island and we have had the pleasure of meeting in person. She was a student in an ATC book class I taught in 2007 at  ARTFest4theSoul -in CT. Sharon and I have kept in touch via my creative swaps and email since then, and she consistently comes up with very creative responses to my swap calls. I think she really takes cake with what she has done for this swap, take a look and see what you think!

Sharon combined her ATC on top of a tag for presentation.

 She wants to color her world, "Red Thread". Click for details.

Sharon registered for 2 sets of 3 ATCs . . .

I have never seen anything like this!

Sharon's take on the theme is most unusual and welcome. 

Sharon used a small red clip to hold together the ATC and tag.

The tag holds the quote she wanted to send along with the ATC.

Her package to me --

Then, Sharon includes a decorated rolodex card (and blanks) as she knows I am not that familiar with them and she would love to entice me to host a swap on them! I'll definitely try decorating one Sharon, and take it from there. Seeing Sharon's altered rolodex card is a big incentive!

I absolutely love this quote! 

Thanks so much, Sharon . . . 

I believe this is Sharon's 14th creative swap!!!!!!!!!!

#22.Sharon Walworth - Little Book Swap!

I am amazed by the package I received from Sharon Walworth, who sends to us from Rhode Island, USA. Sharon always sends me gorgeous artwork, but this time it was her packaging combined with the skill of her bookmaking and the idea she had behind it that truly blew me away. Sharon said this was one of her most favorite swaps -- and its at least her 12th creative swap! It was also her first experience with bookbinding, if you can imagine; and she reports that she is hooked! Sharon sent 5 identical packets and told me to open one for myself which would allow me to share it with you through my photographs. Look at how the package arrived -I love that tape!!

Inside, all of the books are wrapped up together-just like they are individually!

 each book is wrapped individually. If you receive one, you will want to 

untie the twine and unroll the paper for the notes inside . . .

 Sharon created her books with papers that contain wildflower seeds! 

Her entire book can be taken apart and put directly in your garden

or snipped into sections and be planted in pots!!!

Sharon gives complete instructions with each book. 

: ^     )

p.s. I know about the strict customs rules for Australia -no seeds- so I am sorry, I won't be sending you one of these books if you live there . . .

Wow!!!

Thank you, Sharon for your wonderful contribution.

Thanks to ALL participants for doing such a fine job with your little books.

I am all caught up with photos for now. Remember to check the sidebar 

of the blog - http://creativeswaps.blogspot.com/

to see if your package has made it to Florida. 

It can take me a few days to actually get it uploaded.

Thanks for your patience.

I have already started the swapping process to avoid being overwhelmed 

at the end of the swap with so many packages. 

I've got my swap chart made up - I am making notes and some swaps! 

See you again soon I'm sure, with more creativity!

Sharon Walworth: Vintage note card swap!

The other day I received a stunning package from Sharon Walworth in Rhode Island . . .

wow! I love mail like this : ^ )

Inside were some really beautiful, detailed vintage cards. Sharon wrote me and said she thought she would use some antique silk log cabin squares she had to make little crazy quilt pieces, embroider them with machine stitches and add a vintage yo yo on each. "OH NO! After my initial stitching, the old silk shredded, rendering the squares impossible for this project. It took awhile, but I came up with a solution which I think you will like." (I do!) She set out to develop a new approach. The note cards are centered around VINTAGE ATCs she started creating for another swap. She had planned to make them for all of the participants, but over thirty cards was way too daunting. After ten or twelve cards she told me she began calling them, "the girls" and they were shelved. (a good thing for us!) Now those cards are mounted on very old, brownish paper doilies which she found in her stash, then backed with vintage looking paper. Sharon says, "I am delighted to find a home for 'the girls', and still have a few for another project." ; ^ ) we are delighted too!

so beautiful . . . 

each card has a stamped envelope that goes inside a glassine one.

They are petite, only 3-1/2 x 5"

Sharon has quite a touch!

stunning!!

Thank you Sharon for the extra note card for me, the mail art, and for the antique silk log cabin squares to play with! So generous. Exceptional cards! Three more days for delivery, I'll be back when more arrive!

Sharon Walworth: Alpha Stamps garden variety swap!

Wow! I do love Sharon Walworth's fabric ART. Take a look and be amazed:

click on any postcard or ATC for yummy details

Thank YOU, Sharon!!

I have received 5 or 6 more packages today -please check the sidebar to see if  yours has been received! I have some uploading to do to the Alpha Stamps Gallery, yes! You can View ALL of the entries for the swap there too, in this album: Lenna Andrews' garden variety swap. I should be able to get the new packages I received today opened, scanned & uploaded by tomorrow. I believe there are only 3-4 package left to come in after that, wow! Fantastic follow-through on your part and your returns will be well-worth your efforts. Thanks again, I love successful art swaps! lenna 

Tag Book Swap: Sharon Walworth, Rhode Island

your tags are just so beautiful, sharon!! click for detail.

** I have a few more packages to scan & post, I will be back in the morning to finish up! **

4x4 collage swap -Roads+Paths: Sharon Walworth, Rhode Island

I received TWO packages today, how lovely for me! Gosh, I will ride my bike to the post office anytime for that treat!
The first set here is from Sharon Walworth who has participated in many of my swaps. I just looked and realized it's her 10th creative swap!! Sharon created beautiful fabric 4x4's, accented with buttons & trims. Below are all four of them -

Here is a close up of one style house -click for more details . . .

The back of sharon's 4x4's

Another style house - I love the mix of paper & fabric!

An ATC for me in the same style!
Thank  you so much Sharon! I am very happy to have your art as part if this swap.
Two more days to receive the rest and my fingers are crossed!

ATC Swap: Love gone wild set #20: Sharon Walworth, Rhode Island

Set #20 has arrived, from Sharon Walworth in Rhode Island!

Sharon wrote to me and I quote,
"I had fun working out of my stash......the denim background is actually from a pair of worn size 10 shorts (I'll never see that size again!)  and the backing is fabric that has been with me since I started quilting in late 80's.  The image is Luna girl digital, and the saying.....well, remember the wonderful movie of that title? It was about a blind girl who jumped horses from tall diving platforms. Perfect for this image: don't you love it when everything comes together?" (yes!!! )

Thank you Sharon, I always love your contributions to my swaps!

12x12 Fabric technique swap #17: Sharon Walworth. Rhode Island

From Sharon Walworth in Rhode Island, we have this beautifully stitched 12x12 quilt she calls Bonsai Square. Sharon refers to this piece as 'randomly constructed' on her label (click on above photo) but it looks very beautiful and structured to me! Sharon sent me an email to explain more how she created this lovely piece:

"I am hoping to embark on a series of journal quilts based around a theme of Mandalas, produced largely with batiks and hand dyes. This one was a sort of prototype, or first attempt, and I did learn a lot from it. My "safety net" was my reliance on machine embroidery. (I love Sharon's stitching!) I did take a few chances with fabric selections, and enjoyed playing with lumiere paints on a little lace scrap in the center of the piece.

In constructing my "leftovers" piece (see below), I included the rectangular scrap on which I experimented with stitch width, length, color, etc. (I think the leftover piece shows a little more freedom in my approach, eh?). Thanks for another great swap."

You are most welcome, Sharon! So glad to have you involved!

Here is the "leftover" piece Sharon made into a beautiful fabric postcard for me. Thank you!

WINNERS for most creative ATCs . . .

Well, as you can imagine, it was a most difficult task for me to decide on "the most creative" ATCs for our Alpha Stamps sponsored, Alice in Wonderland Artist Trading Card swap. Fortunately, Leslie Elledge, the owner and woman extraordinaire behind Alpha Stamps, sent me 2 Wonderland Tarot Decks! This has made it easier for me to choose. I am awarding TWO first prizes for the 'most creative' and each winner will receive a Wonderland Tarot deck, thanks to Leslie. Here's a peek at what the decks look like:

(drum roll . . ) First prize #1 goes to Sharon Walworth from Rhode Island! See her work below.

Sharon created her own background for her ATCs out of pretty recycled shopping bags and silk flower petals, then copied it all onto card stock for a smooth look as her ATC base. I love the way Sharon stitched on paper to make it look like fabric. Her composition is very appealing, the layering she did is wonderful, and she made very creative use of embellishments, like ribbons, trims, fibers, beads & buttons and even a round paper clip. Fantastic! Congratulations, Sharon! Your Wonderland Deck will be included with your swapped cards : ))

First Prize #2 goes to Shannon Sawyer from Arizona!! See her work below.

Shannon's work always amazes me! It is hard to know where to begin to point out all the creativeness in Sharon's ATCs . . . The way Shannon puts together images is really amazing. On the top right, she combines Alice from the I wonder sheet with a tea cup from the Teaspoons clear stamp set by having Alice link her arm through the handle of the cup! Top left, Sharon puts Alice standing on a brass tea cup. The Alice image is cut out and placed on the ATC with foam tape for even more dimension. Below that, bottom left, is my favorite of Shannon's ATCs. She has used rubber stamps from the Teaspoons clear stamp set and placed both a rabbit and Alice balancing on one of the teaspoons! The legs sticking out of the pitcher is Shannon's creativity showing up again; you will find it is a plain pitcher on the Teaspoons clear rubber stamp set! Congratulations, Shannon! Your Wonderland Deck will be included with your swapped cards : ))

. . . And I have a runner-up prize that I would like to announce too, and it goes to Kate North in New Malden, UK!

I thought the way Kate combined her fabrics, fibers and mesh to create her ATCs, then embellished with beads, buttons and charms was top-notch! I had to give her a mention. Kate will receive an assortment of fabrics & images from my stash with her swapped ATCs, to supply her for her next project : ))

Thank you ALL! Now it is my turn to get busy on swapping the ATCs as my office looks like this:

We had 22 participants complete the swap, all of whom will receive a gift collage sheet from Alpha Stamps. To everyone who is IN the swap, I will email you when the packages are sent -sometime this week. Thank you.