Spring Swaps ~ Refreshed and Renewed...

Easter Egg Carton Swap

A few weeks ago I participated in an Easter Egg Carton Swap that Cassie VanCuren, An Artful Adventure hosted.  We had to embellish and decorate a half dozen paper mache type egg carton and fill it with vintage goodies.  I did not know that Central California does not use these half dozen cartons.  I could not find one anywhere!!!   Then Cassie gave us a site to find them and of course they were all GONE!...This swap was turning out to be a difficult one.  Fortunately, Cassie was able to get some and mail them to me.  Thanks girl!

My partners were Heidi Meyer and Judy Stafford (sorry, but Judy does not have a blog).  I did one carton a pale green and the other a pale aqua mixed with gesso and tulle on the inside.  I added vintage Easter graphics and glittered them up. I filled the inside with ribbons, lace, vintage buttons, vintage jewlery pieces, pearls and crystals, German Glass glitter, and egg shaped soap, flowers, birds, vintage pages from Jane Austen and vintage flocked wall paper.  I also tucked a small Frozen Charlotte inside too.  I hope the girls enjoy their goodies!  Thanks Cassie for this wonderful swap!

My Market Tote From Diane Lanford

As promised, This amazing market tote is what Diane, Cottage Wishes made for me.  I just adore it.  We have very similar tastes.  She used burlap (a feed sack I think) and vintage lace and rhinestone.  This cute bag is also lined with a small vintage looking print.  It is a perfect size with two handles and easy opening.  I am gonna try it out this weekend!  Woo Hoo!!!  Thanks Diane.  ALso if you want to see more amazing totes pop on over to Tatterd Chick and read the comments for links of others that participated. 

Roses and Rust, HERE WE COME!!!

I am so excited!  I am leaving in a couple of days to go visit my friend Marsha, at Tattered Chick.  We are going to go to Roses and Rust Market in Redding, Ca.  Marsha is such a sweetie to invite me for the whole weekend and she has amazing adventures for us planned. 
I also want to share the tote I made for Marsha's Market tote Swap.  My partner is Diane Lanford, at Cottage Wishes.  This is the tote I made for her.  Here is an indoor photo.  I used a Vintage French Linen Hemp, vintage crocheted table linens, and a French printed cotton fabric strip. 

 The strap is is long so it can be worn as a cross shoulder tote.  The straps are made with the same fabric.  

 I made the rose using vintage hand dyed gauze and a rhinestone button.  And there are three pockets on the inside for tucking small items into for carrying. 

 And OMG you should see the one she made and sent me!  I will post on it tomorrow.  It just arrived today and I need to take photos first.  I adore it.  It is made with burlap feed sack material.  Just wait!
If you want to see all the totes from this swap, pop on over to Marsha's blog, I think she will have links for those who have participated. 

Tattered Chick Valentine Heart Swap Linky Party!

Today is the Day! The day for Love. The day for Romance. And most importantly...the day for Friendship! Friendship made through blogland! It was a year ago that I officially met Sassy Marsha of Tattered Chick (formerly Sassy Minidolls) and I am so excited to have been involved in her Valentine Heart Swap last month. And today is the day we are sharing our swaps. Thanks Marsha for hosting such a wonderful swap and for being such an awesome friend. I can't wait for our adventures for this year!

First of all my Secret Heart Friend was Kathy P. at Creative Home Expressions. When I went to her blog and read her profile I was so intimidated to find out that she is an interior decorator and has and education in art and design. OMG! BUt after reading I found that she and I have similar likes so it was fun to create a heart for her. BUT...it wasn't pink or it wasn't red...It was Brown and Cream! However, it turned out very frilly and over the top and I am glad she loved it! Here it is.

 I used a brown and cream cotton damask and layered it onto muslin with tattered pieces of old lace and pillowcase trim.  The back is also muslin.  I made tattered roses out of lace and the damask and hand sewed them on.  they are centered with rhinestone buttons.  I added some vintage buttons that I recently found at an antique shop and topped it off with lots of seam binding and lace trim.  It is stuffed to the gild and lined with batting.  Enjoy Kathy!

And this is what I got in the mail from my valentine heart friend Kim at The Fairy Cottage.  She spoiled me with candy, ephmera and some cute valentine hearts.  My favorite is the pink heart doning the cupid...She also made a cute paper banner for the occassion.  Here are some pics...some of the candy is missing...lol!

Please stop by Tattered Chick Blog and click on all the links in the party and see some amazing work!

"Tattered Heart" Giveaway!

Isn't this the cutest? If you like it and want to win it go on over to my friend Marsha's blog, Tattered Chick and enter to win! You gotta do it soon though because the drawing will be held on February 1st, 2012!

While you are there, check out all the other amazing things that Marsha creates. I dont think she ever sleeps! I have some of her wonderful creations and I encourage you to check out her designs. She has an Etsy shop too!

And.....HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! Becs

Bloggerette Sorority Sister Swap and a wonderful surprise from my sweet and sassy friend, Marsha

Bloggerette Sorority Sisters Christmas Ornament Swap. My wonderful sister swapper was Ginger of Glitter and Roses. Ginger has the most beautiful pictures of her home and I think I wanna live there. Her Christmas decos are pinks, whites and silvers in the main room and then each room seems to have a theme. I thought I was the only one like that around! LOL Sad to say there aren't many decos up here this year since we are in the middle of a remodel. But I do have all my awesome ornies out and will be putting them on my lil pink tree tomorrow...YAY!

This fall I had the opportunity to take a paperclay doll making class with the famous Colleen Moody, the wonderful Doll Atelier! Colleen makes the most amazing dolls. I now have three in my collection. Anyway, thanks to Colleen's class I was able to learn this awesome new craft. The snowflake girl is a snowgirl head adorned with a romantic and whimsical hat made of french script muslin and roses and ribbon. She has been painted, stained and glittered and attached to a glittery tin snowflake. She has a ruffled collar made of muslin and vintage lace and cute rosy cheeks.


The other ornie is also paper clay. She is the pink jeweled snow queen. She is made of paperclay and includes shoulders with a ruffly chiffon wrap, a ribbon and rhinestone choker and a paper crown adorned with a pink vintage rhinestone jewel piece.




YES!!! These are the beautiful ornaments GInger made and sent me...I love them both. I was drooling over the bulb when she was posting about making them.

The bulb is frosted, glittered and then has bridal type lace around it and roses and ribbons!

And this snowflake backed paper star, vintage and glitter ornament is so lovely and 3D, It's just beautiful!

Thanks so Much Ginger!



Look at this adorable spoon! Marsha is so talented and so giving and so amazing! Such a good friend...I was very surprised the other day after having a horrible day to come home and find this lovely in my mail waiting for me. I love it! The spoon is adorned with an image of a frozen charlotte, glittered and it says vintage girl. The spoon is held by pretty crystals and beads in pale pinks and ivories. It was packaged in a clear cello with the yummy pink shred and the cutest pink and ivory buttons! I love it! This will not go in a box after Christmas. It is perfect for my room! Thanks sweet Marsha! If you want to see all the amazing things Marsha does with old and vintage stuff...pop on over to her blog Tattered Chick (aka Sassy Mini Dolls)

If you want to pop on over to the bloggerette Sorority Site, there is a Linky Party starting up with the swap participants. Click on the icons in the linky party under the post and it will take you to their blogs to see all the beautiful goodies. Also, there is info on the blog about how to become a sororoity sister. Thanks Debi at Marionberry Cottage for hosting this wonderful swap!

Button Floozies Christmas Ornie Swap

I know I am late. So sorry. But I did want to share the awesome ornies I received. Laurie hosted this button ornament swap a few weeks ago. My partners were Marsha, Donna and Deb. Here is a pic of the ornies sent to me by my partners Deb from Debs Vintage Soul Blog, Donna from Brynwood Needleworks and Marsha from the Oklahoma Button Society.

Deb made this wonderful round disc covered in ivory and cream buttons centered by a beautiful cameo.


Donna made the cutest little pillow ornie with a hand stitched tin solder adorned with buttons. The pillow has an old vintage lace piece also adorned with buttons.


And Marsha made a cute lil angel pixie made with an old spool painted pink, pipe cleaners, crepe paper and buttons. The hanger is also made with buttons. It's all pink and white. Marsha must have done her homework! Thanks ladies for the special ornies!


I made felted ornies that I hand drew and cut with felt and muslin. Then I used fabrics and old laces, glitter and of course buttons to adorn them. I made a Christmas Tree, a stocking and an owl.


Thank you ladies and thanks Laurie for hosting this swap which was totally out of my comfort zone working wih buttons. Be sure and stop by the Linky Party at Button Floozies and see all the amazing ornies everyone made. Merry Christmas! Becs

My Snow girl from Colleen Moody's Doll Class

As many of you know, Colleen Moody is an EXCEPTIONAL Doll artist who resides in Northern California near San Francisco. At the beginning of September I had the amazing opportunity to take one of her doll sculpting classes. It was held over a weekend at her home. Her studio is to die for! I am so amazed at her talent and so overjoyed to have been able to attend. I met some wonderful women that weekend and learned how to sculpt these dolls. It was actually not as difficult as I anticipated, although I have a LOOONNGGG way to go! LOL



The class consisted of making two dolls in shadow boxes. We made the shadow boxes from old frames, then sculpted our dolls. One was a winter snow girl and the other was a Halloween Pumpkin. My Pumpkin is almost ready for reveal, not yet....But my snowgirl is making her debut!



My frame was brown stained with gold leafing, but it didn't look good with my girl, so I took some of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint, her newest color, French Linen and painted my frame. I antiqued it with the dark stain. I liked the color, but it just didn't pop. So I took the Antique white chalk paint and dry brushed it on over the French Linen! It was exactly what it needed. I love it!

Colleen sells her wonderful creations on her blog The Doll Atelier, she posts in advance when she puts them up, so if you are interested you gotta be really quick cause they go fast!

Colleen is an anazing artist and if you ever get the chance to take one of her classes, they are totally worth it! On Sunday, she took several of us to the Alameda Antique Mart. It was Huge! It was Amazing! It was Wonderful! Thanks so much Colleen, for sharing a bit of your time with us! Becs

Vintage Dragon Fly's Halloween Match Box Swap

Last month I participated in a Halloween Matchbox swap hosted by Vintage DragonFly. We also had to make four items to go with the swap. My partner Peace, said she loved dark ghoulish and gothic halloween themed things. So I tried to keep with the theme she liked. The match box I made for Peace:


A Lizzie Borden Paper Doll:


A SPo0ky Tag:


A necklace and a couple of Charms:

And as you can see the matchbox is filled with other spooky goodies too!

Although I am not a Huge fan of Halloween, I do like the vintage and Steampunk Halloween themes. And this fabulous matchbox below is what Peace sent me. I love it!



And my cute "BOO" Banner and Spooky Pin:


A mini matchbox with 13 days of inchies inside, and an altered domino:


And a Vintage witch hanging collage:


Peace did such an amazing job! Thanks so much! VIntage Dragonfly hosts themed matchbox swaps every month, so if you are interested in joining, just click on the link here and it goes to the Vintage Dragonfly Flickr group and gives all the info.

Fall In Love With Buttons Swap Linky Party! And Vintage Connections Creative Button Swap reveal

A few weeks ago I joined in the Button Floozies "Fall in Love with Buttons" Tin and button swap. My partner was DeeDee Johnson. I altered this Altoid tin and filled it with vintage, old and new buttons in fall colors and themes. The image on the tin is an altered one by me. I also used some script paper for the bottom of the tin. I painted the sides with chalk paint and embellished with buttons and flowers. I found some really nice old buttons for DeeDee.



This is the beautiful tin DeeDee made for me and all the wonderful buttons she included in it. She also made me a needle keep. It is lovely. I have never had one of these before and am so thankful she shared one with me. Thanks DeeDee!


I am learning about old buttons since I stumbled onto this group. Laurie, Tami and many other amazing women share tons of info and pictures on collecting and preserving old buttons. They also share some unique ways to display them as well. In fact, Laurie is doing a Linky party for this button swap at Button Floozies, so please drop on over and check out all the other blogs and the awesome tins that were swapped!



I also joined in Tami Hacker's Creative Button Swap. We were supposed to send a few buttons that our partner enjoyed and display them in a creative or unique way. My partner was Joni Reinhardt. Joni sent me this adorable pumpkin adorned with lace and buttons and a whimsical crow on top! I love it! The buttons were all so unusual and were placed on the pumpkin with pins so they are completely removable. What a clever idea. Thanks Joni!



Joni collects Picture buttons and China Stencil buttons. I was able to find a few of these and added a few of my favorites as well. I made a pocket pillow out of old linens and lace, then tacked the buttons onto the pillow. I also added some other goodies in the pocket pillow for Joni.