Summer Vintage Apron Swap

Just a short little post to let my readers know about a swap that my dearest friend Mica is hosting. Be sure to click the image to go to her post and see more about her Vintage Apron Swap!

Summer apron swap. And Vintage apron swap.

I wish I had a dressform or manniquin so I wouldn't have to model myself, but I do want to share my latest aprons so here they are.

Here is my apron creation that I sent off for my summer apron swap.



And here is the apron I received. I really love the pattern of this new apron a lot. Especially since it's reversible. It's like having two aprons in one!




I also was in a vintage apron swap. I didn't take a picture of the one I sent, but it was a sheer nylon pastel colored. It was pretty old too, I didn't want to wear it. When I was shopping for it I also found one for me. Here are my new vintage aprons, the one I received and the one I bought for myself, respectively.

Join my swap!

For any of you on swap-bot, or thinking of joining, I thought I'd post about my latest swap I"ve created. I loved making my amigurumi hedgehogs so much that I decided to host a handmade hedgehog swap. It's open to whatever your best craft is... If you make purses do that, felt critters, that's cool too. So check out the swap by clicking image below. I hope you'll join!

Felt matryoshka dolls

These dolls are headed to Australia! I hope my swap partner likes them. The dolls are part of a swap I participated on Swap-bot. They are made of felt, cotton and embroidery thread.

There is a pattern on Craftzine.com to make these. Or you can click here to download the PDF pattern.

Silly Siggy had to check them out while I was taking pictures. I guess he gave his stamp of approval!

Stars ATC for Wednesday Stamper & Swap-bot puzzle swap photos.

Here is an ATC I made for Wednesday stamper. I was already making these puzzle piece altered art pieces for a swap, so since I always make extra pieces I thought I'd make myself an ATC too.

Here is the image to the swap I participated in.



Here is one of the two pieces I received, I can't find the other. ;-(



And here is what I'm sending. I'm also wondering if I should make more of these ornaments for my Etsy shop, any interest? Please comment. I know I'll be making myself one eventually!

Swap-Bot Tag

Cotton Picker tagged her readers who also have swap-bot profiles to answer the following five questions about their experience with Swap-Bot, so here I goes:

What was your first swap?

Beelicious' Halloween Apron swap.




What has been your favorite swap so far and why?

There have been a few that have been favorites.
Some simple ATC swaps the senders have been very generous on sending me other things they'd know from my profile I'd like. Recent favorite is the Matryoshka Doll swap that I'm still working on. But what I got, I'm going to blog it soon... she made me such a sweet little doll, all celestial and everything. And back at Christmas was another great swap. I've also loved getting to know some people there and having 1 on 1 swaps... I think I like those the best.

What has been you're least favorite swap?

The ones I've been flaked on or the person sending didn't put much effort into it. It seems like I'm not getting my package from the crafty odds and ends swap, basically that one was one were you take a flat rate mailer box and stuff it full of craft stuff you haven't used but it's still good to use so maybe someone else can use it. I was looking forward to that swap. And there was a celestial swap I've been flaked on, that's a major bummer. But for swaps I've received that I haven't really been thrilled with, well there were a few sticker swaps I was in and I never got very nice stickers in return, most of them were too old to be useful, but too new to consider vintage, basically I got junk. Some of the stickers I just went and threw in the trash because they smelled so badly of cigarette smoke!

What have you tried for the first time as part of a swap?

Pretty much everything I've done on swap-bot has been things I've done otherwise. I made a pot-holder as a new sewer for a swap, but I had also made several for Christmas presents this year too. A few posts back I made a button fairy for a challenge blog, and with how well I liked how it turned out I guess I'll join some swaps for those too over time. But so far I haven't been that adventurous. I am signed up for some felt stuffies swaps in the summer, but I don't think that will be too much different from my sock critters. I tend to try new things for the challenge blogs...

What would be your fantasy swap?

I'm pretty easy. I love anything celestial. I've been in one swap for that so far, and it's been a bummer that I still don't have that package. But I've signed up for another celestial swap. Maybe in the summer I'll make my version of a celestial swap.

I don't know too many people outside of swap-bot so if you're reading this, are one of my readers and on swap-bot let me know in the comments here. And hey, let me know your swap-bot profile address. Mine is on my sidebar.

The other postage stamp ATCs I got.

This is a swap I participated in on Swap-bot...


I really love the necklace one! I think I'm going to try my hand at making some like that. I think it'd be really neat with a vintage image of Native American women... I'll post what's currently just in my head once I have it created.

Here is where the previous post is.


I'm hosting round two.

Angel - surprise thank you.

I 'angeled' a swap for a gal in Belgium who had been flaked on a couple of swaps by the same person who flaked on me for a swap. Basically angeling is the swap-bot term for taking it on yourself to fulfill a package for someone who didn't get anything.

I did it not expecting anything. She missed out on getting tea and a handmade ornament, that was both SUPER light to send so I did it, I always have that kind of stuff on hand so it barely cost me anything.

Well, she took it on herself to look at my profile and see what I like and she sent me a thank you package. So sweet! I really didn't expect or want anything in return, but it was so nice to get her gifts.

Hedgehog fever swap

I swap with Swap-bot!


Here is what I sent to FunkyFinds


And here is what I got from greenthumbgirl

A couple more swaps I've set up.

(OK, Kevin, before you freak I've made these for the summer, so I can plan way ahead for these.)

So I've set up a couple more swaps. Click the pictures to check them out.

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August Birthday's profile surprise swap.




Summertime apron swap.




Please feel free to join these swaps if you'd like!

Stamps received from a stamp swap on Swap-Bot.

I received a great little swap today from Japan. Here are a few pics of what I got. It just goes to show that with a little thought and effort even something as simple as a used postage stamp swap can be a great thing. The sender not only sent me the stamps for the swap (plus one extra), but she also made me an ATC and took time to decorate the envelope too!







* To mom and Grandma K.: I think the last photo, of the stickers, are Slovak, can you tell me what they say? If you can please post the answer as a comment here. I do get your comments, they just aren't immediately visible as I have to approve comments before they post.

Beta testing.

I swap with Swap-bot!

Kevin's enjoyed beta testing from time to time, and I've never really found something I've been into beta testing, but now I'm Beta testing the groups feature on swap-bot. This site is really growing, and it's really keeping me off of the streets! LOL! I LOVE SWAPPING WITH PEOPLE! After setting up my profile and swapping a few swaps I learned its not quite the same as the private swaps off of people's blogs. You hardly ever get the same person you send to, but there are some improvements. There is a rating system, so if someone is a bad swapper, all the others know it, you get rated kind of like the seller ratings on places like EBay, Etsy, and Amazon.

I've made some great friends on here, writing a lot, and have done a few private or 1 on 1 swaps, which have been totally worth-while. Since you're setting up a profile, people can see the types of things you like to give, get, etc. I've had people send me things wanting nothing in return (though I still send something.) sending to me simply because they know it's going to someone who can appreciate it.

Anyway, going back to Beta testing... I've been doing so much on the site that I've gotten into Beta testing, I'm now testing how posting a link to a group swap turns out on my blog, and it's ability to link correctly, etc. If you aren't in Swap-Bot and feel like helping out feel free to leave me a comment about anything that doesn't seem right or if you end up joining let me know your profile link.

Something I particularly love about swaps here is so many of them are just super small swaps, like for used postage stamps, or artist trading cards, etc, so it doesn't really cost anything more then a regular piece of mail. There is no way I could be up to 60+ swaps in the last few months if they were all big expense swaps. I hope someday I'll be able to join more of those shopping swaps though, they can be a lot of fun too.

Wow! Loads of swappy goodness!

TODAY THE MAILBOX WAS STUFFED FULL! I'm amazed she got it all in and didn't honk for me to come get the mail. I got several little packages today, it was like Christmas! So fun!
I love the apron patterns I got, and the crocheted things, and some of the smaller things are from a new swap friend in Israel! I just felt so spoiled!

My Vintage photos ATC, swap looks like it will be a hit!

I swap with Swap-bot!

Here is a screen-capture of the current top 10 swaps on swap-bot! I'm #10! Yay! I feel so digitally popular! Now I just hope everyone will be honest and send their swaps and be happy with what they get. Being an ATC swap that shouldn't be an issue, I hope.



There still is time to get set up on swap-bot and join. I set it a ways in advance. The sign up dead-line is February 15th and the send by date is March 15th. As I say in the swap description; "Since I am way over my head with swaps for December and January this one will be set for March, which gives everyone a good long time to visit thrift stores, antique stores, grandma's attic, etc, to find the perfect images to use! A GOOD LONG TIME TO MAKE SOMETHING YOU REALLY CAN BECOME PROUD TO SEND!"

I hope you'll join if ATC's are something you enjoy!

Hedgehog Madness!

I'm in a hedgehog madness swap on swap bot! Too fun! This is just a laundry list of places I've found cool crafty hedgy things on-line.

Awesome buttons I must own!



http://superbuzzy.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=181

Hedgie fabric

http://www.hotdiggitydog.com/H/Hedgehog.htm

http://moonstitches.typepad.com/moonstitches/2006/11/the_good_aunt.html

http://www.exclusivelyhedgehogs.com/kitchen_helpers.htm

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7796521

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6900829

http://www.etsy.com/profile.php?user_id=64850

And because I have hedgies on my brain, here are some Hedgie-doodles I've made, I'm planning to sketch some note cards and buttons for my partner. The one on the right is based on sketching directions for Hedgie from Jan Bret's website.

Postage stamp ATC's.

This is a swap I participated in on Swap-bot...

One of my favorite type of artist trading cards is the ones made with postage stamps. I've made a few independent of any swap or challenge, but recently I participated in a swap too. Here are some of the cards I've made and some of what I've received.

Here are one's I've received so far...



Here is what I'm sending out.






And here is what I've made for myself. I made these a couple months ago.

I must be INSANE!

I must be insane! There are only 27 days 'till Christmas and I just wrote up another swap I'm hosting. At least these new ones are set for after the new year.

Click the angel image to see about the swap.

Vintage photos ATC swap

I've set up another swap. Boy, swap bot is sure addictive!

I set it to happen in spring so there is plenty of time for the list of participants to grow and so everyone has plenty of time to make quality work to share.

For more about the swap, click the swap icon below.

More apron madness.

(re-written & photos added 11/16/07)
I really like the Dorothy Apron in Aqua.

What one do you like?






Also, here is the apron I sent for the Thanksgiving apron swap.


Here is Kevin in the turkey apron I got for the Thanksgiving apron swap, isn't it fun!?

Coupon swap

Just a simple swap. Check it out. I'm hosting it.


I swap with Swap-bot!

Nativity ATC Swap

I've started a swap and thought I'd post it here too so all can join.




This is my first swap that I'm coordinating. I love ATC's and anything with nativity's so I thought I'd start a swap with both since I couldn't find one.

Make a nativity scene ATC for one person.

Swap is international and open to Newbies with complete profiles. Rating of 4.5 + otherwise. If you're not on swap-bot and want to sign up leave a comment here and e-mail me.
Make it an ATC triptych to aim for hearts.

Any medium is fine so long as the size is ATC and the theme is baby Jesus.

Apron Swap!

Here are a few pictures from when Mica and her kids visited to help me make my apron to give. Miss Bri loved playing with Siggy. It was so cute!





I got my apron from the halloween apron swap today! It's so neat. My partner made it reversible so I feel like I got two aprons for the price of one! She also gave me a few fun crafty things. Here are some pictures from my package.

Oh my swappy goodness!

Oh what joy! The mail was so much fun today! No bills, no ads, just gifts from swap partners! YAY!


These first two photos are of all the wonderful things my swap partner Laura sent me from the black cat pumpkin swap! I love everything she sent! The little kitties in the cone are just adorable, and I love the knit cupcake! You can see what I sent her on her blog.








And then the other things I received were three of my envelopes from swap partners on . I got lots of neat paper, stickers (I love the stickers!) some ribbon, and there were some nice notes, and all the gals used neat stamps on the envelopes, which I love those and will save even those!

Top 10 websites swap

This is a swap I'm going to participate in. I've already written it all out so I thought I'd post it for all my blog readers. It's not the top 10 most visited/favored sites by me, but it is a list of sites I was delighted to find.

Here is my top ten list (in no particular order). I know it’s pretty random, but I hope you find them as useful and enjoyable as I have.

1. Penny Collector
I just came across this one recently when I joined swap-bot. One of the swaps I’m participating in posted it and I found it very useful, as I love my elongated penny collection.

2. TV shows on DVD
I don’t know about you, but I love buying my favorite shows on DVD when they come out. I’ve practically purchased every show I love when it’s come out, and anxiously await my other favorite shows that are not out on DVD. This site is useful because it catalogs everything that has been released, everything the members would like to see on DVD, and news about upcoming releases.

3. Karen’s Whimsy
I came across Karen’s site while I was searching for royalty/copyright free images to use in my mixed media/altered art. I think I found it using Google, I don’t quite remember, but ever since I’ve found her site I’ve used it on numerous projects. It’s a great resource for any crafter, and it’s fun for kids too because of the free coloring pages as well.

4. Bible Gateway
When I was in college I was a Theology major, this site was so useful in my studies. It’s a great tool for looking scripture up by keyword or topics. I was so glad I came across this site so many years ago; I don’t know how I would have gotten a lot of my research done without it!

5. eShakti Women’s custom clothes
As a plus size petite I have a very hard time finding clothes. I’ve made countless web searches looking for the best clothes available online. I really love this site because everything is made quickly, with quality and care, and to my exact measurements, so I know I get something stylish, trendy, and that will fit right. And at reasonable prices too!

6. Barracuda Bazaar
I came across this site as a newlywed trying to find kitschy decorations for our home. Sadly they stopped selling on-line, but I still love to see what the store has. If you’re fortunate enough to be in Colorado Springs, CO it would probably be worth checking out the store. They post such neat things on the site; I hope to be able to visit the store someday.

7. Tammy Yee’s Origami Page
I don’t remember at all how I came across this site, but I just love it. You can print out sheets, cut them out, follow the instructions for folding and have cute little paper treats in no time. So much fun if you are lucky enough to have crafty kids, or if you are just a kid at heart.

8. American Volkspsort Association
I grew up in a family that frequently went for hikes. My dad was a part of this association for a while and if you enjoy nature walks this is a fun group to join. Events are planned all around the world all year long and are both fun and rewarding. I was glad to see that the ASA has a website because then I could find all the different locations events are happening. It makes for a great outing!

9. Personality test based on Jung/Myers-Briggs typology
OK, so unless you are a student of psychology that seems like a mouthful, but basically this is just an on-line personality sorter. It’s a pretty accurate one too. Very insightful information, lots to learn about yourself just from spending a few minutes answering some questions. No data is saved or collected too so it’s strictly educational and not trying to make you buy something.

10. Think Exist quotes finder
I was searching one day for a good way to look up quotes because so often I can only remember parts of the verse or don’t know who said it. This is a great tool for figuring it all out, or finding out what your favorite famous people have said. I love using this site for getting one-liner quotes to use in my art sometimes too.

Apron swap sneak peek.

This is the print for the apron I'm going to make for my swap partner. I just fell in love with it so much I bought enough for two aprons! Is it greedy for me to make one to keep too? (In truth this is my first real sewing project so I'm going to make two to give her the best one.)

Halloween Apron swap

Anyone take pity on my lack of sewing skills and want to help me participate in an apron swap? I'd love to pick out the fabric and pattern and learn.

My swap partner from the Black Cat and Pumpkin swap is hosting an Apron swap. I think it sounds really neat!

You can find out more by clicking the button for her swap.

Maybe I can get a simple black apron from the craft store and embellish it. I know I can do that much. Sign ups end on September 30th, so I guess I better figure out if I'll participate soon.

Scraptastical!

So I've been in a really big time scrap-book mood. I've done tons. Here is some of my recent work.


This first one is in memory of my cat Tony.



This is what I worked on for the Pumpkin and black cat swap. I'm working on a couple other things, and have a few other things finished already, but I don't want to completely let the cat out of the bag yet! ;-)


These are some artist trading cards I've made. They're my first and I used stock photos from the craft store, so all I can take claim to is the layout. I'm giving the one on the left to Mica, the one in the middle to Laura, and the one on the right I'm keeping for me.

So not too long ago a pen-pal from myspace lost her kitty too, a few weeks after my Tony passed away. Anyway, I sent her some cat scrapbook stuff and it sparked my craftiness to work on collages for our cats. I had done Tony's first. But with working on the Halloween collage for the swap I wanted to make Maddie one too, I mean she was the star of the swap collage and my inspiration to participate! So I had to make her one too. I plan on making one for Siggy as well, but I want to wait until I have a better variety of photos of him. He's just so darn cute I probably have enough to make something, but I also have to focus on finishing my other swap stuff. Plus make some catnip pillows for the gal who lost her cat, she's still fostering 19 other cats! Great gal. She really could use help from people in the VA area. She needs to find homes for these cats and needs to get more supplies.

Black cat and pumpkin swap.

I've joined a craft swap for Halloween. It seems like fun, especially since it's anything goes. So far I've posterized a picture of my black cat in her witches costume and a few other things. I'm working on a collage.

Anyway, if you're crafty and joining this swap sounds like fun you can find out more by clicking the button for the swap.