books, jewelry and classes

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here is my book from Judy's class this past weekend. i didn't get any of the inside pages done. i just played with my cover. my thought was to make it look really old, but also as if it was falling apart and somone tried to repair it with some handmade stitching, etc. on the inside and the side panel, i used this wonderful old upholstery fabric picked up at the flea market. it has these beautiful birds on it. and it is quite fragile and frays easily, which was a plus for my book! i also used as a signature an old men's leather toiletry bag that i had deconstructed.

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and look at this yummy necklace! Barbe St. John and i did a necklace swap with each other when we met up for dinner in San Fran last week. i just love it. everyone is quite taken with it (strangers and friends alike!) thanks so much Barbe. i sure wish i could get that girl on a plane to visit me! (hint hint)

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In other news, i'm planning some classes for Nov. and early Dec. when i finally get a break in my schedule. you can read about it on my other blog, Jersey Jypsies.

necklace swap

my friends, Kim, Maija and i decided to do a necklace swap. Since Kim and i got to see each other at Valley Ridge, she gave me my necklace while i was there. i just love it! i've sent kim her necklace and will be sending Maija's out real soon. i'll post pictures of what i made after Maija gets hers. this is what kim gave me. i'm a lucky girl to have so many talented friends who create such beauty to share with moi.

day #7, hippity hop swap

tucker is home for spring break, so i've been a little busy with him! but everyone is in bed right now and i have a few minutes to myself -

day #7 was from my good friend, Kim B., in Ohio - she's been mentioned so many times here on my blog that i think i will add her name as a "label"! anyway, find her blog here - http://www.artdogslife.blogspot.com/. she took a sweet little vintage postcard and embellished it with glitter all over. she then tied an altered chandlier drop around the card. it says " believe in yourself everyday". i really like that saying. i decided to tie the drop around my new paper mache "Queen" that i blogged a few posts back. love the darling polka dot paper she wrapped our goodie in. Thanks, Kim and see you soon!

day #5 Hippity hop swap

today's gift is from Brenda Bliss. it's a darling fabric bird; although i'm not sure of the fabric - muslin quite possibly. the bird is cream colored with with some handpainted brown/gold tones thrown in. it was sewn and stuffed with poly fil. In a black cord wrapped around his tail is a lovely wire nest with some purple egg beads inside. i got an email from Brenda who wanted to make sure that i knew that the nest was also a necklace! how cool is that? i think i shall put him in one of my fiber nests that i've been making. thanks, Brenda!

day #4, hippity hop swap

today i got to open up this cute tag made by my friend, Sandra, http://www.7thststudio.blogspot.com/. Sandra's mother has been quite ill, so poor Sandra has been extremely busy getting her mom better, out of the hospital and now moved into Sandra's house. I'm happy to report that her mom is doing much better and things are beginning to slow down enough for poor Sandra to take a breath. i know she handpainted that gorgeous rose on the bag holding our tags. i will be cutting it out and collaging it onto something! i hung her darling tag on my easter egg tree.

day one, hippity hoppity swap

i opened this up today from Cheryl Connell,http://fromthepines.blogspot.com/. on the back she wrote "may you always continue to grow" - and on the front is a lovely silver frame in which she added the word "grow". it is already hanging up in my bedroom! Thanks, Cheryl!

here's what i sent to kim

this is the nest and birdie that i sent to kim for our nest swap. isn't she cute? i wonder what kim will call her? she's very protective of her baby egg.

nest swap

my nest arrived today from my partner and friend,kim, http://www.artdogslife.blogspot.com/. i just love the mini cloche. she also made the way cool PMC charm of the bird. isn't it awesome? the pictures don't do it justice, since it is so hard to photograph when glass is involved. i set it up near my faux Tiffany lamp. the light reflecting into the glass shows the inside well. she also threw a bunch of other goodies in the box, so i felt i was opening an Easter basket! little candle, nice smelling soaps, candy, etc.