Valentine's Swap (continued...)

My parcel made it all the way to the Netherlands and she loved it! Phew! Here's what I made and my recipient's blog entry (Click here). Thank you Lisa  for organizing such a great swap...when's the next one?:)

P.S. I was inspired by Donna Downey and used her products to make this - she is my she-ro! (Donna's site)

NoodleBubble's Valentines Swap!

Craft swaps are so great:). I feel like I've been so absorbed in day-to-day stuff lately that I just haven't managed to sit down and make anything for ages. So, NoodleBubble's Valentine's "heart" swap (details here) came just in time to force me back into my zone :).

My gift was made by the very talented Very Berry Handmade, (completely coincidentally from my place of birth, North Staffordshire in England!) arrived a week earlier than expected and is just adorable. I've stolen pictures of my treasures from her blog (here) since her photography skills are also far superior to mine :)...

And the goodies were just to die for...

Thank you so very much - I love my new gifts!!

For my part I really struggled to get creative and I think I spent more time on this project than anything I've ever made before. I just couldn't figure out what to make, which colors to choose, fabrics, anything really. I spent more than a couple of nights sitting on the floor just lost in a sea of buttons and ribbons. Am I the only person this happens to? Anyway, in the end I came up with an idea and I am actually thrilled with the result! I hope my recipient (Kitty Ballistic) loves it half as much as I hated to part with it! I think it may be the prettiest thing I've ever created with my own two hands...

So, now it's done, packed with some goodies, wrapped and in the mail to the Netherlands. I'll show you what I made when I know it has safely arrived and Kitty has seen it. More to come!

The birds have landed!

You may remember that I signed up to participate in a swap to handmake a bird-themed item?? Noodle's Bird Swap was my first one and I had a totally amazing experience!

For my gift, I decided to make a funky folk art-style birdhouse to celebrate the spirit of the people of New Orleans (who made me feel so welcome on my first trip there earlier this year) and as a tribute to the birds that have been suffering so dreadfully from the oil spill on the Louisiana shoreline. Some of the beads I used were actually from Bourbon Street! I was totally thrilled to get an email while I was away that my 'folk art' birdhouse had landed safely in Kent, England and my swap partner,  Jen loved it! It was so fun to see my creation appear on her blog over 3,000 miles away! (Jen's blog entry)

I just knew that a treat would be waiting for me when I got back and sure enough I was totally blown away with my handmade birdy mini-quilt! It is absolutely beautiful - even the wrapping was exquisite (Ricardo in the mail room at work did mine and I'm pretty sure mine wasn't as elaborate - I've seen his work before)...

And the box was jam-packed full of goodies - gorgeous paper, stamps, tissues, a candle and genuine English chocolate!!!

And look at my new treasure! Made from the heart and especially crafted for me! I absolutely love it!

Here's Jen's blog entry about how she made it and where she got her inspiration (Jen's blog entry). How amazing that I have such an adorable, intimate and personal gift from someone I've never met and who lives half-way across the world :). And even better that that I have a new BCFFL (Best Craftsy Friend For Life:))! Thank you Jen!