Was a day late mailing 2 of the 3 but it wasn't for lack of tryin! The swap that I did mail in time was marilyn healey's vintage paper swap. I've seen a few pretty pictures posted around blogland...I didn't photograph mine all dolled up in ribbons and forget-me-nots but I did snap a shot of the pile before packaging
It was fun going through all my piles and files and drawers and boxes. Yowzers, was like a smorgasbord...a piece of this and a piece of that, before I knew it I'd actually put together TWO sizable packages!
One night a few weeks ago I was hopping around from blog to blog and somehow (can't for the life of me retrace my steps) came across the free people 'vintage travel' swap. My first freak-out came when I got my swap partner, an 18 year old girl not quite out of high school. But then she and I connected by email and I checked out her MySpace page and all I could say was "wow". You go check her out for yourself and see what I mean. Read her self description along the right hand side. It really made my heart grow 2 sizes bigger to see that there are still kids out there that care about being creative and smart and kind and capable. I don't get to see a lot of that up here. So glad I 'met' her. Quotes almost always serve as my springboard when trying to come up with an idea and this one by RWEmerson was a message I wanted to convey to Estella before she heads off into the world of adulthood.
That's rather a crappy picture now that I look at it! So yeah, I did mosaic work. The quote is actually a good clue as to what the piece is, but I'm not gonna show it til she receives it in person. I had a bunch of already broken china out in the garage from y2k (remember saying that 7 years ago?) so please don't give me too much grief for breaking up that fab aqua dots and pink roses plate. I know; WHAT was I thinking!? Argh. Things change. I know it was y2k because I had a postmarked envelope of 2" clear glass tiles out there. I used Lazertran to transfer the quote onto the glass tiles. I had fun doing it. (I promise the overall pic will look better!)
The third swap I joined was Little Melfie's jar fairy swap. That one had me stumped up until just yesterday, which was mail-out date so thank goodness I did come up with an idea. Little Melfie herself (sweet Melissa) chose me to be her swap partner so I really wanted to do a good job. Again, the quote was what finally gave me the nudge; Garden fairies come at dawn, Bless the flowers then they're gone. Last night when John was heading up to bed he peered over my shoulder and asked "watcha makin? A ship in a bottle?" lol. This was fun once I finally realized what I was doing.
I know, it's hard to tell what's what...again; after she gets it I'll share the full on shots and hopefully you'll like it :-) Hopefully Melissa will like it!
Just sent Caleb out the door to a birthday party with his mom. Twin boys whose father coaches our t-ball team. We went to their fifth BD last year. I never saw so many presents in my life. This year we were told even MORE people were invited so we didn't think they'd mind if we sent a smallish gift. I told Caleb to pick a movie at Target and, weird little man that he is, he picked The Corpse Bride. lol! I really dig it but hopefully the parents won't have an issue with it. So speaking of weird, if I were ever to answer one of those "7 weird things about me" I've been getting tagged with for the past 2 or 3 months, I'd have to come up with the words for this:
See how I just rolled the jiffy pop and the movie up in the nearest sheet of tissue paper, but then spent half an hour cutting MY FAVORITE discontinued Foof paper to mimic the corpse bride, and then glitter, etc. I think John's right; I really am a nut.
Oh my gosh Jen!!!! So much eye candy--love your paper packs and the peek into your travel swap--your partner looks so much more together at 18 than I felt until I was 30!!! Your sweet little corpse bride--love! And of course--the sneak peeks of the fabulous jar who is flying my way!!! Your teaser photos are great and I'm all worked up!!! Love the way she looks!!! I cannot wait until I get to hold her in my hands!! Thanks so much! xo-Mel
Posted by: Melissa Lobdell | June 06, 2007 at 04:56 AM
What TERRIFIC swaps!!! Can't wait to see the full sized projects! What a terrific selection of papers you have for the vintage paper swap. I think that must be one amazing swap to participate in!!! Looking forward to seeing what you get in return!
Posted by: Barbara | June 03, 2007 at 07:42 PM
Jennifer! You are amazing! Thanks for those kind words :) It really means A LOT! Wow that sneak preview of what you made!!! I love Ralph Waldo Emerson! My dad's a big fan and he's always quoting him at the dinner table =)How perfect!
Sincerely,
Estella
Posted by: Estella | June 03, 2007 at 07:02 AM