White Christmas Ornament Swap

Maybe I shouldn't tell you this . . . but my favorite swaps are always Dede Warren's. Her latest is simply every bit as wonderful as the others I have participated in! I don't understand how or why, but she simply attracts cool artists! You'll try to leave space for me in future swaps now that I've given up the good information, won't you?!

I was temporarily without a camera of my own when I made these and shipped them off, so I have no other photograph of my submission. These are 2" square.

The photo above is Dede Warren's work.
Yep. She's good at that, too. :)

I understand that our ornaments have been shipped! I'll show you all the wonderful handmade goodies once they arrive! Yay! Click on the links below for more photos from Dede's blog.

White Christmas Ornament Swap

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Sneak Peek

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Made my deadline!

I promised I would post about Tinsel and Treasures today. barely I squeaked in under the deadline! It was just the best fun! Here we are; Rhonda, Dede and me. {I should have kept that hair appointment . . . sigh.}

The incredibly talented Colleen Moodywas there. She graciously allowed me to photograph her with some of her beautiful, beautiful pieces. I really hope I get to take one of them home someday!

Charm by Anna Corba. Anna has such a warm and welcoming presence . . . You must check her website . . . she offers workshops in her studio . . . I know this because Rhonda has taken one. {jealous. jealous.} I wish I could take the one she's about to teach in France!

Reverse side of the my new charm. {The sweet little notebook that I've used in these backgrounds was purchased from Nancy Jamar of Gilding the Lily.}

My Treasure Necklace . . . I'm adding Anna's charm to this. Gonna be gorgeous!

Although I been involved in a couple of wonderful projects with Dede Warren, we had never met in person . . . we all know about that. Dede's thing was the Make & Takes. I chose her journal . . . my goal was to make sure that we could get in a little visit. I had just the best time.

The teeie tiny papier mache' box and nest nest was made by C M Geiger Designs {Charlene} {who, sadly, apparently, has no web presence . . .at least that I can find} Such a dear, lovely and talented woman, whose booth was very nearly sold out, by the way. . . . Can you tell how eensie it is?! She made the nest from antique bullion {the crinkled wire}. I picked it up, held it, didn't put it down . . . and didn't put it down . . . and didn't . . . then the goosebumps. I'm serious. That's when I knew.

My daughter, studying it, listed the qualifications that made it perfect for me . . . 1. it's tiny 2. it's a box 3. it has a nest on it 4. there is something antique in it 5. the color is perfect in my house. Done deal. :)

This darling little note book, has absolutely nothing to do with the Tinsel and Treasures event, but everything to do with my fondness for any of Michelle Palmer's art. It happened to arrive in the same day's post . . .

Tinsel and Treasures is a small, intimate event, showcasing truly amazing artists. So much talent in such a small space . . . you will definitely want to go to the website to check the artist's/vendor's links.

{Note: I tried to make the links that I have provided go directly to related posts. Once you're there, if you are interested in reading the rest of the blog, just click on the title banner.}

Tinsel and Treasures

THAT was wonderful! We had the best time at Tinsel and Treasures! I finally met Dede! I just love her to bits! Left to right, my girlfriend Rhonda, Dede Warren, and me! I am so tired! I have lots to share, but tonight, I really just need to get some rest! Burning the candle at both ends eventually catches up with you . . . I'm sorry! For more information on where we've been today, see yesterday's post. I plan to do this up properly tomorrow! I'll show you what I bought, and who we met! But for now . . . Goodnight Dear Ones! Good night!

Note: I'm sorry! I didn't follow through on my promise! Asthma kicked in and knocked me for a loop today. I'll try again tomorrow!

Ooohhh, Lookie!

I get to go! I've been waiting for it, imaging all of the wonderfulness and dreaming about it for months! And it's nearly here!

I was all set, had it on my schedule and everything, when they posted that Dede Warren and Nancy Jamar of Gilding the Lily were going to be there! Nancy, I've met, but Dede has allowed me to participate in two of her fat book projects . . . {if you're reading this Dede . . . I'm ready for another one! I'll do collage, I promise!} But Dede and I . . . we have never met! When you consider our history . . .




I think it's high time! {This was the project, in which Dede's is the cover photo, and mine didn't quite make the cut . . . sigh . . . but still!} {It was also Jenny Doh's last Somerset Studio before she left for other, presumably more challenging ventures.}



Anyway . . . Dede will be busy doing make and take projects . . . I'm assuming she'll be booked all day long . . . so I signed up for one. Not leaving anything to chance . . . I'm telling you!
{Look for the list of Dede's Make and Takes on Tinsel and Treasures' Blog}


Take a look at this list of participants, borrowed . . . er . . . maybe pilfered is a better word. . . from Tinsel and Treasures' blog!

2010 Show Participants
Anna Corba
Arbutus Hunter
CC's Whimsies ~ Christy Meyers
Charlene Geiger
Colleen Moody
Cottage Jewel
Dede Warren
ElementLux - Ceal Bialobrzeski
Gilding the Lily ~ Nancy Jamar
Gina Gabriell, ElevenMorning
Iva Wilcox, Iva's Creations
Judy Mackey
Katherine Webber
Lisa Super ~ Vintage Handmade
Lori Gutierrez
Sally Case
Sylvia Anderson
Tinsell and Whimsy, Sue Bartolucci

I can't wait to tell you all about it!

P.S. If you do check out Gilding the Lily's Classes, 1. know that they are located in Fullerton, California, and 2. be sure to see what Robin Dudley-Howes is offering! Robin, teaches at several Southern California locations, but I met her at Gilding the Lily. You'll love her art!

We made the Cover!

You know that we made the cover of Somerset Studio with out collaborative project don't you?! The photos that I am sharing aren't the most wonderful, it is dark again. . . {that's when I seem to have the time to sit down, sigh . . .} It doesn't appear that the next few days will give me any more time for this than I've had, so I decided to just go for it, and replace the photos later. You don't mind terribly, do you? {I have posted each artist's name and web link, if she has one, beneath the photograph of her work.}

Judy Bidwell

My Artistic Side

Milli Wagoner

sashagirl

Sue McPherson

Ada Pringle

&

Dede Warren

Dream, Create, Share

. . . the champion of our project . . . the one who conceived the idea, bound the finished projects, submitted it to Somerset . . . and generally acted as the catalyst to bring us all together . . . and . . . And . . . that is her work gracing the cover!

I still can't get a good photo of my page . . . glass, you know. . . glares something awful, and I . . . shooting directly under a bright lamp. Just sad results, really. But aren't the others lovely? Aren't the ladies terribly talented?
Each one of us has her own original copy.

Isn't this just the bestest!?

I promise. I promise! I will write this up properly, just the minute that I get a little rest. I promise!

Big Ol' Surprise on the Magazine Rack at Barnes and Noble

Do I ever have something to tell you!? So . . . there I was . . . wandering around Barnes and Noble . . . minding my very late Christmas shopping, and you know how it is . . . you'll see something kind of familiar out of the corner of your eye . . . and then you're drawn to it . . . and it's takes a moment before you're really aware that you're seeing what you're seeing? Okay . . . are you there? Do you feel it? So now, you let your mind wander over to . . . where you've seen that image before, and when you come to . . . you realize that you're looking at the new Somerset Studio and you're in it!

Sort of, anyway. {My blog address is.} Last Summer, Dede Warren invited me . . . and a few other women to work on a collaborative art project, which she ultimately submitted to Somerset Studio, and they picked it up! However; my submission ended up on the cutting room floor . . . so to speak. ah, well . . . ah, well.

Oh, wait! I didn't mention . . . that's our project . . . ON THE COVER!

The other talented ladies, though, are represented pretty well . . . and I, in my never ending public service mode, will share with you, my photos of the entire project.

Unfortunately, I have a new computer . . . that's not the unfortunate part . . . that's actually the good part . . . but unfortunately, the photos that I have taken of our project are on my old one, the one with the cracked mother board . . . let this be a lesson to you to back up your photos. {grin} I'll have to take new ones, and share them with you tomorrow! I hope you can contain your excitement! {Just kidding, you know} There isn't enough light tonight to photograph without flash . . . largely because it's dark. {smile} {It is almost 1:00 AM}

In the meantime, the beautiful and talented ladies involved in this project are:

Dede Warren ~ Dream Create Share

Judy Bidwell ~ My Artistic Side

Milli Wagoner ~ Sashagirl on flikr

Sue McPherson

Ada Pringle {sorry, these last two ladies aren't bloggers}

Now that I can talk about it . . .I would like to publicly thank all of the ladies involved. I LOVE my book. I will cherish the memories of the process forever! Thank you Dede, for inviting me. I promise, if you ever invite me again . . . I'll do a collage. {Grin}

Collaborative Project

Months ago, a few of us began work on a collaborative art book project. This is the cover of my completed project. Dede Warren bound the books, added the photograph and white-ish trim, and facilitated the project. You'll have to check out her blog to see what else she's up to. I may be having too much fun over here!

Vintage Valentine Swap ~ Finis

It is here! The awaited book of fantastical Valentines! It is here! And don't you just love it?

Like an award recipient, I need to thank so many people! If the ladies who made these lovelies from all manner of ephemera happen to stop by, please, please, identify your artworks! I would love to know who made them! {and then thank you properly!} In the meantime, I will identify the ones that I am able! First, and foremost, Thank You, Dede!

{The aritst is identified immediately under the photo of her work.}

Milli W.
sashagirl on flickr

Marbi Burnette


Jennifer Jinete

A Charming Life

Pinky Denise

Pink Pomegranate

Jackie Cate
Wren's Nest Designs

Laurie Giberson


Linda
Kiss Noises
Lily Cottage

Karen Bensom
Recycled Rita

Maria
The Junk Drawer

Linda B.

Sue McPherson


Joleen
Love, Jolene


Melissa Merrill

Dede Warren
Dream, Create, Share
Another big thank you to Dede for identifying these pretties!

Stacey Brooks
Flotsam & Jetsam


My contributions are posted elsewhere. Clicking here
Vintage Valentine Swap, will take you there. The post that you are currently viewing will probably be the first one, so you'll need to scroll through all of this to see the older posts.

~finis~

Vintage Valentine Swap ~ part deux

All of the lovely, glittery, Valentine scraps can be whisked away. I am finished! The pages have been mailed to Dede Warren ~ Dream, Create, Share for inclusion in a book from like minded women who have also been plying their art into original, miniature artworks to share with one another.
Each of us will receive a one-of-a-kind book in return mail, after Dede and some of her dear friends have assembled and bound them.


Isn't this just too delightful to be true!? Wouldn't it be fun to be there with all of the combined loveliness spread out over the table? I expect it will be a gorgeous chaos.



Thank you Dede and company for your efforts! Thank you, all of you special ladies who have taken time to contribute! I can't wait to see what, together we have wrought! Can you?



{Other photos are listed in posts titled, Vintage Valentine Swap and I'm working, I'm working!}

Vintage Valentine Swap

With the exception of the butterflies, the vintage Valentine images are reproductions from Grandma Seastrand's postcard collection.

Am I a lucky girl, or what?


Do you think any one person should be allowed to have this much fun?

The next two have all sorts of lovely vintage elements donated by my sweet Mom.

There are more images posted on my blogs titled: I'm Working, I'm Working! and

Vintage Valentine Swap.