King of the Mountain

My friend Gary (a sometime crafter) checks in on my crafting blog occasionally and was intrigued by the recent crown/tiara swap. I told him that I would make him a crown of his own. Since he is the head of a mountaineering library, I made him a giant KING OF THE MOUNTAIN crown. It is hard to see but there is a grizzly bear, a cabin and a climber on the crown as well as a flag on the uppermost peak. It's nice to see one of these crowns in action! I wonder if Gary's wife lets him wear it around the house.

Thanks for being such a good sport, Gary!

(you can click on the photo for a closer look)

Art Doll Hat #1!

Okay, here is one of those no-makeup-bags-under-my-eyes-braces-on-my-teeth bad pictures but I thought I'd post it anyway. I just had to model my cowgirl hat from Beth. It is so wonderful and I love it! She put so many great little details into it.

Thank you, Beth!

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My blog is worth $9,032.64.
How much is your blog worth?

Vintage Kitchen Swap!

And I SWORE I was going to take a break from swapping! Well, maybe just one more...

Check out Garb-oodle's Vintage Kitchen Swap! I missed Jenny Holiday's Vintage Kitchen Swap so I just had to do this one!!! Signups are open until Sunday, July 29.

Oh Boy! (I mean..Oh Cowgirl!)

Look what I'm going to get from the wonderful Beth of Beth's Bagz!

Since I'm from Texas, she made me an adorable cowgirl hat! I can't wait to wear it! Thank you, Beth!!!

Two Art Doll Hats Done!

This is my art doll hat for Michelle/Hippie Dog. It is the Goddess of the Night. I used glow in the dark paint for the constellations which was messy but I hope it works. I also added quotations and sheet music (on back) about the night and the moon.



This one is for Tammie of My Art Soul Wings. It is a Garden Fairy with a glittery "T" for Tammie! She has little fairy children at her feet.




I am still working on my art doll hat for Beth. It is halfway done!

Fun with Stickers

Those of you who are of a certain age will remember the sticker-collecting craze in the 80's. I remember my friends and I would stop by the local sticker store and stock up for trading and hoarding. Wouldn't it have been nice to make my own stickers with my own images back then? Well, now you can.

Check out MOO where you can load your own images and get your very own book of stickers. How cool is that?

LINK

Now, I just have to choose some images.
Thanks to How About Orange for the tip!

Tussie Mussie Swap Partner

I got paired with the lovely Angelina of Retro Whimsy Greetings! I am so excited abou this swap. It has so many applications for the holidays! I envision my house covered in Halloween and Christmas cones once I get the hang of it! I just have to finish up my Art Doll Hats and then I'll be flipping the cone over for Angelina's tussie mussie!!

Swap Update (again!)

You know what I love about swaps? The fact that a group of people can take the same challenge and come up with truly extraordinary and different responses to it. I see that some of you have already posted to the Flickr group and I am really really impressed. In fact, I am going back to re-tool my two Art Doll Hats that I will be sending out. I thought they were finished but after looking at the Flickr group....well....they need more!

See what everyone is up to here.

If you have not heard from your partner yet, contact me today and you will be reassigned!

Art Doll Hat Swap UPDATE

*UPDATE* If you are willing to take an extra partner, please let me know! We may have one or two people with deliquent partners that may need to be reassigned!!!

By now, everyone should have contacted her partner. If you have not heard from your partner, let me know by tomorrow (Sunday). Since some people have had trouble getting in touch with their partners, we will extend the mailing date for the hats to AUGUST 6.

We DO have a Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/375470@N24/

Can't wait to see everyone's creativity!!!

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go and continue reading my new HARRY POTTER book!

Christmas in July with Hippie Dog!!!

I probably shouldn't even post about this because I'd like to keep it a secret but I just had to share the news.

The wonderfully talented Michelle of Hippie Dog will be having her Christmas in July sale in her Etsy shop beginning this Sunday night. Every item is one of a kind! Shop early, shop often! (But save some for me!!!)

LINK

Pattern Adaptation

I am a relatively new knitter. I knit at an advanced beginner/early intermediate level. I'm not sure if you have seen the new issue of Knit.1 (I just love their patterns!). Well, in the current issue, there is a pattern for a leopard-print pillow. A friend of my adores leopard-prints and I thought this would make a great Christmas gift. But, alas, after locating the pattern, I discovered that it is a crochet pattern. Does anyone know how I could adapt the pattern for knitting? Help!

Bring Out Your Inner Picasso

Head on over to Picassohead and make your very own portrait. It is just too fun!
My self-portrait is number 540499 in case you'd like to see it!

Find the site here.

Art Doll Update and an Idea

I am so excited that we are getting started with the Art Doll Hat Swap. If you haven't received your partner, please e-mail me and let me know. And be sure to contact your partner ASAP! IF YOU DO NOT CONTACT YOUR PARTNER BY SUNDAY, JULY 22, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE SWAP. We don't want anyone to be disappointed!!!

I am so excited to be partnered with the wonderfully talented Michelle of Hippie Dog Primitives and Tammie of My Art Soul Wings and Elizabeth of Beth's Bagz fame. This is going to be so fun!!!

I recently went back to Denver to visit my friends and stopped by a new scrapbook store. They had so many great things. One of the items that caught my eye was a blank board book. I picked up several of them because I thought it would be fun to make personalized Christmas stories as gifts for my friends' children this year. But I think they could have so many other applications as well. Here is a website were you can find a bunch of them:

Blank Board Books

I can't wait to try them out!

Oh boy! Another Giveaway!

I just found a fun and girly giveaway over at Say it with Letters.

Hop on over there and sign up. You could win some great stuff!

(I'm not sure which I like more....swaps or giveaways!)

My Sweet Goodness Bucket Swap Package!

Look at all of the wonderful things that my partner Sarah sent me!

She put everything into an adorable hand-sewn bag!



I got a plate tent to protect my food at outdoor picnics! Handmade cards for me to personalize! Three vintage children's books! A cup of orange and yellow sweets! A tiny purse with coins for the ice cream man! And a glass of summer crafting treats!

Here is what was in the cups:



Thank you so much, Sarah! I love everything!!!

Art Doll Hat Swap Partners are out!!!

Check your e-mailboxes! Your swap partner should be waiting there for you!

We have 37 amazing and talented swappers signed up for this one!!!

Sallie & Cheryl

Suesue & Carol

Justiss & Barbara

Natasha B. & Ele

Rachael & Jerusalem

Jennifer & Karla

Jullie & Amy H.

Michelle & Angelina

Cathy G. & Trish

Cheryl & Tracey

Amy M. & Tammie

Amy M. & Michelle

Jennifer M. & Angela

Natasha M. & Leah

Bethany & Sharolyn

Cathy P. & Karen Y.

Maria & Dollie

Debra & Kimberly

Heidi & Tonia

Amy M. and Elizabeth

Tussie Mussie Goodie Swap!

Yes, it's true! I can't stop swapping!

Since this one is so similar to my Art Doll Hat Swap, I thought I'd give it a try. Make your own cone-shaped tussie mussie, fill it with goodies and send it to your partner.

Find this swap at The Junk Drawer.

*CLOSED* Art Doll Hat Swap SIGNUPS!

SIGNUPS ARE NOW CLOSED. PARTNERS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.



Wow! I'm happy about the response! Okay, let's do it! Here are the details:

The above dollie is by Jennifer Bohrer over at Art Chix Studio.See her tutorial on art doll hats here.

So what is an Art Doll Hat? I think that they are wearable dolls. Typically in a party hat shape. (in fact, many of them use a party hat as a base!) The examples I have seen often use the hat shape as a skirt for the doll. The doll itself is an embellished photograph or other image. Not a 3D doll. You can get as creative as you want but they seem pretty easy in their construction.

Most of the materials are available at Art Chix Studio but feel free to get creative!!!

SIGNUPS: You can sign up now through Monday, July 16. That will give us all time to finish up the current Sweet Goodness Swap! Just send me an
e-mail at bibanon1[at]gmail.com Please include your real name and address and blog if you have one. Also, let me know if you would be willing to mail internationally. After I send out the matches, you can discuss ideas, likes/dislikes, etc with your partner. I will try to send out matches on Tuesday, July 17.

DATE TO SEND OUT HATS: Please try to mail out your hats no later than Tuesday, July 31!

Feel free to grab the button above and post it on your blog. The more people we have, the merrier!!!

ART*PLAY

I am always so jealous when I read about cool events like Silver Bella. I'd love to go but I just can't afford the registration fee AND airfare. Well, finally there will be an artsy weekend in my own neighborhood. If you live in Northern California or you'd just like to visit, check out the upcoming Art*Play weekend. I think it's going to be a good time!

LINK

The weekend takes place September 14-16, 2007.

Depression Glass

For my birthday, a family friend gave me some Depression glass that had been in his family since his grandparents got it during the Depression. Evidently, it was one of those deals where you get a piece every time you went to a movie. There is a pitcher and seven goblets. I did a little research and discovered that the pattern is called "Iris and Herringbone" and was produced by the Jeannette Glass Company.

Here is the pitcher:




The goblets look like this:




What a special gift! I just love it!

Foof for Me!

A lot of people have been buzzing about the new Foof-a-Life book by Autumn Leaves. I tried to win one over at MY MINUTIA but there were just too many entries! So, I ended up buying one and I can't wait to get it. If you have been looking for one, I found mine online here.

July 3, 2006

Patriotic Bookmark Swap!

Wow! Natalea really really spoiled me! First of all, I'm embarrassed about what I sent her. I think the fact that we were making flat bookmarks stunted my creativity a little bit. (that and the fact that I decided to put them in protective plastic sleeves...I'm such a librarian!) I went with a Stars and Stripes theme. Here is my contribution:



But NATALEA is an artist and she made these BEAUTIFUL bookmarks for me. And then, she made an extra one in honor of my anniversary tomorrow. How sweet is that? Thank you so much!!!

A Swapper Hops on by!

Look at this lovely promo that Debra made over at Hop Hop Jingle Boo! I'm telling you guys...we have some amazingly creative people signed up for this swap! I can't wait to see the wonderful party hats that are sure to be created.

Hop on by to Debra's blog and see some of her wonderful creations!

WIPs

I sat down to work on my Bucket Swap goodies and then got inspired to make another crown. I'm keeping my lips sealed on the details because I want the person to be surprised. But it was very relaxing and fun to work on!

I'm really excited by the response to the Art Doll Hat Swap so far. We have 12 really quality people signed up and there is always room for more!!! It is so fun going over to these new blogs and meeting new creative people.

I also managed to get Natalea's patriotic bookmarks in the mail on Saturday. I hope she likes them!!!