Vintage Kitchen Swap Jackpot!!!

I have said it before and I will say it again...crafters are just about the sweetest and most generous people I know! I just got my Vintage Kitchen Swap package today from Miss Vickie and I am completely blown away! I am so spoiled!

First of all, I told her that I love painted trays and she sent me that gorgeous tin tray you see in the background. I also told her that I love vintage VERA table linens and she tracked down some honest-to-goodness VERA napkins for me! As if that isn't enough, there is a beautiful blue pottery bowl. (I love that color blue, Vickie!!!) And a vintage glass bowl that I will use as a candy dish. It reminds me of Depression glass. Wonderful! And not one but TWO tablecloths. One of them even has grapes since I live in Sonoma County!!!! And she included some sweet homemade cards that I bet she made! And just look at the detail on that painted ceramic box! I'll have to find something special to put in it. Maybe an assortment of tea! Oh, thank you so much Vickie! Thank you for being my swap partner!

*UPDATE* I dug through the packaging to make sure I didn't miss anything and found a little ladybug and a beautiful gold leaf brooch which I can't wait to wear for Fall!!! Wow!!!

How About Keychains?

I find WAY too many creative project ideas over at HOW ABOUT ORANGE! Her latest is a tutorial about how to make keychains out of shrinky plastic. Can't wait to try this!!!!

LINK

THE NAME GAME

Found this over at the wonderful Calamity Kim's blog and just had to try it!!!!

The Name Game
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet,current car) Buttercup Forester
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie), Peanut Butta Chocolate Chip (I took a few liberties with "butter")
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name), A Mal
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal), Black Cat
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born), Louise El Paso
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first), Mal-Am
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink), The Red Sparkling Water (!)
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers), Eugene Lawrence
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy), Vera Wang Reese's
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ), Mae Lawrence
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter), Riddell Raleigh
12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower). Fall Rose
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Apple Jeansie
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree), Starbucks Pecan
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”), The Knitting Wind Tour

Getting My Craft On!

Hello artsy craftsy friends!

Thanks for all your advice on getting me out of my creative rut. I think sometimes we just need a break to get inspired again! I think Miss Vickie had the right idea. I went downtown today to walk around and saw lots of store windows filled with Halloween stuff. My favorite store was filled with it! And I got completely inspired! One of my favorite things was one of those wood boxes you can get at Michael's that was painted and when you opened it there was a little Halloween tableau inside. What a great idea! They were charging $58 for each one. I may not be able to do one as great as the ones I saw but I'm gonna try. In the meantime, I grabbed one of my small canvases and made this little witch decoration.

This is what the sides look like:


It's not quite finished and it's not quite perfect but I think it's pretty good for a first effort!

Frank and Malady

My creative juices are a little dry right now so I thought I'd share some of my friend's art with you. She is a gifted artist/cartoonist and writes the wonderful blog The Reign of Ellen. I call her "Frank" and she calls me "Malady." I had a reputation for being a bit dramatic in college so Ellen made this little cartoon...

I'm a Sucker

I caved and signed up for the Vintage Children's Book and Bookmark swap over at the Polka Dot Pixie. It sounds pretty easy and definitely right up my alley. Find it here.

What I Am Working On

I am almost finished with my belated Vintage Kitchen Swap package. Luckily, my partner Vicki is running late too. It is so annoying when life gets in the way of my swaps and crafting. If I could just get rid of this pesky full-time job!

I really wanted to make Vicki an apron for the swap but I am still lacking a sewing machine. I'm putting it on my wish list for Santa this year.

As you already know, I signed up for the Black Cat/Pumpkin swap and I've started to think about ideas. I really really really want to sign up for Artsy Mama's Sweet and Sinister swap but I think I'm going to have to skip it this time. After all, my own TRICK OR TREAT Swap is coming right around the corner and I have to concentrate on that!!!! I anticipate opening up signups either the last week of September or the first week of October so stay tuned!!!

I am absolutely thrilled that I managed to get one of Teresa's new kits! I have never gotten one before and her tea-themed one looks like fun!!!

I have decided what I will be making friends and co-workers for Christmas. (Gary----spoiler alert!!!!)

I have decided to do some CD-Case calendars. It seems like a fun, easy and inexpensive gift for people. See the tutorial in my sidebar. I also have to knit up three more bunnies to give as baby gifts. It seems like everyone is pregnant these days. Maybe there's something in the water. I hope so! (wink)

Black Cat/Pumpkin Swap!

I just signed up for the Black Cat Pumpkin Swap over at Hop Hop Jingle Boo! She has sign-ups open until September 1. I just can't resist a Halloween-themed swap! Still finishing up my Vintage Kitchen Swap package. I ordered an item that I am waiting on. Swaps are just too much fun!!!!

Off to Texas

Hello friends!

I am going home to Texas for the weekend and I can't wait! I'll post again when I get back next week.

Until then, I hope you all have a Texas-sized Weekend Full of Fun!!!!



"I dearly love the state of Texas, but I consider that a harmless perversion on my part, and discuss it only with consenting adults."

--Molly Ivins

More Shopping!

I have been wanting one of Jen Conway's crows for the longest time but I keep missing them when she posts them on Etsy. Well, I think it was because fate knew that I needed a HALLOWEEN crow! I am so excited that I scored one of Jen's witch crows. Woo hoo! She just posted some lovely royal birdies. Go check it out!



Heather's much-anticipated opening of her Present Past Collection store happened this past weekend. I had to snatch up a lovely Martha apron. I love bright colors! Especially when they have a Mexican feel. See Heather's store here.

I'm borrowing these pictures from the owners so you can see what wonderful goods they have and go buy some for yourself! So many creative people, so little money to buy their stuff!!!