New Swap - Paper & Fabric Beads!

Announcing Creative Swaps Paper and Fabric Bead Swap!

• Create 15-20 paper and/or fabric beads - in exchange for the same amount of beads in return. It is up to you how many beads you create but at least 15 and no more than 20. 
• All swap packages must be delivered to me no later than March 24, 2011: Late entries will be returned.  
• What Size? Any size beads. They are generally  ½” - 2” long and various widths.
• What Materials? Make your beads out of fabric or paper of any type. You could use Tyvek paper, wrapping paper, leftover scraps of paper, patterned or printed paper, plain paper. Add color with markers or paint. Use newspaper or magazines. I even tried a long curl of a wood shaving from my husband’s workshop! Try cutting fabric, ripping fabric and adding threads or fibers. More ideas and lots of instructions are included in the accompanying lesson. 
• The $12 fee to register for this swap includes a 14 page lesson on making paper & fabric beads plus the return postage for your swap beads to anywhere in the world. 

How to register: Go to the Registration page on creative swaps: http://creativeswaps.blogspot.com/p/registration.html -This is where you will see the swap registration. Click on the Add to Cart button, (registration is closed) which will take you to a PayPal page. You do not need a PayPal account to use this online banking service that accepts all major credit and debit cards, eChecks and bank transfers. If you are unfamilar with payPal, find out more it here.

The swap registration is handled by e-junkie so you will receive your materials as soon as your payment has cleared, at any time of the day, or in any time-zone, whether I'm at my computer or not! You will receive an email from e-junkie titled "Bead Swap + Lesson Purchase" sent to your PayPal associated email address. This email will include a link for you to download 2 pdf files: RULES+MAILING-beadSwap.03.24.12 and Making your own beads out of fabric and paper. Just download the 2 files with the link you are sent and save them somewhere on your computer where you will remember! Or print them out.

There will be a second part to this swap! After all the beads have been swapped and sent, I will encourage all of the participants to create something from the swap beads they received. You may use extra beads of your own, but I'll request that at least some of the beads used in the piece you make were ones received in the swap. I'll set up a "Linky" tool and participants can visit creative swaps and leave a link that will take us to see your bead swap creation! This means you will take a photo or scan, upload it to your blog, website or photo site ~ somewhere where you can link to that photo and share it on the swaps blog so we can view it.

So looking forward to this!

Bead Swap re-cap:
15-20 paper/fabric beads delivered to me by March 24, 2012
$12 to register for the swap includes a lesson and return postage
Registration via PayPal/Credit Card only - on the registration page (swap is now closed)
I reserve the right to close registration for this swap at anytime . . . lets say at 40 to 50 participants, or whenever I deem it full. Thanks!

Some of my beads for the lesson below : ^ )  lenna 

almost ready . . .

I'm almost ready to announce the paper bead swap -hip hip hooray! Below is a glimpse at some of what I have been working on.

I am almost done with my lesson which will go over different ways to create various kinds of paper and fabric beads, photograph examples of them, step-by-step instructions, plus links to more information and videos to inspire you in making beads. It should be a lot of fun and you will have plenty of time; due at the end of march. After all the beads are swapped out I will host part 2, where you can share what you create with your swap beads! All details and sign-ups to follow soon. I have been slowly working on this project and thank you for your patience. Next time you hear from me here I will be announcing that registration is open. : ) yours creatively, lenna 

new swap coming ...

You'll have to be patient a wee bit longer while the details are ironed out and I practice, write out rules and prepare things, but I do have an idea for a creative swap that I think would be great. I would love our next swap to be a swap of paper OR fabric beads you create yourself! You could even make fabric-paper beads or a little of both. Mix them up any way you like! I have found quite a bit of information online that I will share with you when you register. The swap is not ready yet-but soon!

I will also make my own beads -some paper, some fabric and share both my results and how I made them with you in a lesson that will be part of your registration. I found the photo below on paperbeadgems flickr account but was directed there from paperbeads.org. I figured you may want to check into making fabric beads or paper beads online prior to the formal announcement of the swap to get some ideas.

Big Round Paper Beads, originally uploaded by paperbeadgems.

I would like to thank magicmoon musings for first suggesting fabric beads when I asked for ideas last month and also my friend Frieda Oxenham for sending me a bracelet with beautiful paper beads on it! That really had me inspired! My plan would be to make this a 2 part swap. First the making of the beads and second, making something from the beads you receive in the swap and sharing it here via links. For the making, the addition of more of your own beads if you wish, would be wonderful! 

Suggestions and comments are welcome. I will be back when I am ready to present the swap! yours creatively, lenna

update!

I did some housecleaning today and updated the creative swaps blog. The information pages are now easily view-able as side tabs, top right on the blog. I think it looks good, but I hope you'll take a look and let me know what you think. I am pondering about what would be fun for us to do as a creative swap in the new year . . . . and you know I am always open to suggestions. Leave me a comment or email me, thanks!! lenna

Haiku ATC swap sent and a break

I swapped the haiku ATCs over the long weekend and mailed them all out today, 10/11. You should have them in your hands very soon. Thanks to all of my participants in the swap. I enjoyed all of your ATCs and most especially your haiku. What a lovely swap! Scroll down to view the next few posts and see what came in, if you have not visited in a while. A big thank you to my husband too . . . I forgot to say earlier, it was Steven who came up with 'haiku' when I was brainstorming themes for this swap. : )

For the first time in a long while, probably since I moved to Florida in 2009, I am taking a break from hosting swaps. I will be returning, but I'm not sure when. My best guess would be at the end of this year to announce something for 2012. If you'd like to be notified of any new creative swaps, sign up for the swap participants email by clicking here. You'll only receive occasional emails from me about new creative swaps soon after they're announced on the blog. This mailing is run by feedblitz and it is called "The Swap Participants News Flash". You'll receive two announcement emails at the start of a new swap and no blog posts ever. I hope you stay in touch! It is my pleasure to work with you and orchestrate these exchanges. Please let me know when you have received your swaps. Leave a comment here or email me. Thanks, lenna

Janet Fystrom: Haiku ATC swap

From Janet in MN . . . . . she kindly sent 4, so I have chosen one as a gift.

Thank you so much, Janet. 

Rena Matus: haiku ATC swap

Sent from my old home state of CT, Rena Matus has sent us 3 ATCs for the swap, plus she gifted an extra one for me, thank you.

Rena's ATCs are hand painted on fabric and were inspired by her first close up encounter with a hummingbird. I had the same experience myself about 10 years ago in CT. It is really quite something to see one up close. 

Thanks so much, Rena.

Sabrina Hoeke: haiku ATC swap

From Sabrina in California, we have 3 autumn wind haiku ATCs.....

You'll find Sabrina's blog here. 

Thank you, Sabrina.

Tiffiny Jackson: Haiku ATC swap

From California, Tiffiny has sent us 3 hand drawn/collage ATCs with 'urban' haiku.

Thanks so much - Tiffiny's blog is here!

Jo-Ann Reichert: Haiku ATCs

From Pennsylvania, Jo-Ann sends 3 hand painted ATCs that she added beeswax to.

her haiku reads:

Moon sheds light on us

Shimmering beauty ocean

Summer's days to end

she also so sweetly, made a card for me on the same idea . . .

Thank you Jo-Ann.

Visit her PictureTrail here.

All ATCs are due Saturday, October 8th.

I am expecting a few more.

a personal note

My dad passed away yesterday after a long illness and I have posted his obituary on my personal blog. I wanted you to know, just in case you had not heard. It is sad and it is life changing but it is also a relief after his long illness. Thank you in advance for your care and understanding if I am delayed in any aspect. Lenna

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