Is it because I am getting older that time seems to fly by so much quicker, is it the much more relaxed French lifestyle which keeps me away from the computer and blogging? How can it possibly be over a month again since I put up a blog post?
I should have posted the following photos ages ago, sigh. I received the swap ATCs from Kimberly's Springtime In Paris swap, and they left me speechless. All three of them are stunning, and the bookmark which Kimberly sent along as a gift from her is simply gorgeous ( and already in use in a 1859 French Magasin Pittoresque :-).
In no particular order, the first ATC is from Kimberly (ArtJoyStuff) herself -
The second one was made by Sylvia -
The third ATC is from Sherry -
I was blown away, not just by the ATCs themselves, but also the gorgeous packaging -
Kimberly really is a most thoughtful swap hostess and always sends along a beautiful, thoughful, theme related gift. This altered paper clip bookmark is so lovely! -
Thank you ladies, for making this swap such a joy to take part in!
Toodlepip xxx
Kimberly from ArtJoyStuff is hosting another swap, yay! The theme is Springtime in Paris. I am enjoying Springtime in France right now, but not in Paris, lol, we are back at the cottage, and one of the first things I did was organise my craftavan again so that I could finish the ATCs I had started before we left the UK on Saturday night. And here they are, photographed amongst the gorgeous little wild violets which grow everywhere round here at this time of the year -
Wishing you all a lovely warm and beautiful Spring, toodlepip xxx
Shipping from the States was really quick this time, wasn't expecting it today at all, so it was a really lovely surprise when the postman handed the envelope to me.
And as always, opening it and taking out the swap ATCs was such a pleasure! Everybody in the swap really did their best work, all the ATCs ( shown on Kim's ArtJoyStuff blog ) were awesome, and I would have been delighted with any one of them. As it happens, I received an ATC from Kimberly herself, from Lynn Stevens (trash to treasure art ) and from Terri Wilkerson ( junqueseeker ) -
From Kimberly -
love the wonderful details and layering
From Lynn -
a blingy heart, what could be better
From Terri -
the back is as pretty as the gorgeous front
Kimberly is a fabulous swap hostess, and always includes a sweet little gift. Love the lace on the peg she sent this time! Thank you, Kim, for yet again hosting a wonderful swap, you're the best!
Toodlepip xxx
I am so grateful to Kimberly, ArtJoyStuff, for hosting another one of her fabulous ATC swaps. They get me creating even when I think my creativity has deserted me. And because I know how unreliable the postal services are, I always try and get the ATCs done straight away.
This is it -
and if you would like to take part as well, click on the thumbnail on the right, it will take you straight to the sign up post.
Last night I started gathering a few things for this Valentine's Pretty & Pink swap and this morning I started selecting bits - 2 different doilies in pretty shades of pink, a pink floral background paper, pastel lace flowers, a darling little cupid, fabulous pink German glass glitter and of course some bling. Have to have bling, lol. This is what I turned those bits into -
While I have gluey fingers and bits of paper all over the place, I think I will make a couple of bookmarks to go into an animal charity auction ( as well as a bunch of other stuff as well, of course ).
Toodlepip xxx
For the first time in months, I am really excited about crafting again. And I have Kimberly from ArtJoyStuff to thank for that. I used to love her ATC swaps and was so sad when she stopped, but......... the wonderful woman has just announced a new swap!YAY!
I do hope that lots of my blog friends will take part in this swap. You can find all the details here.
In my mind, I am already making a list of all the possible bits and pieces I could use on the ATCs, it will be so much fun to rummage through all my supplies again :-).Toodlepip xxx
Marion, from the fabulous bockel24 blog recently announced her 10th Annual ATC swap and the theme is ALL THINGS ALICE. I love taking part in her swaps, there is always such an enormous variety of styles and such fabulous inspiration.
Here are my three All Things Alice ATCs -
Had great fun making these! Thanks, Marion, for hosting another fabulous ATC swap.
THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME LEFT TO JOIN THE SWAP, GO ON, SHARE IN THE FUN!
Toodlepip xxx
We had a massive thunderstorm last night, and it is still raining today on and off. The water butts are full, the veggies are drinking up the rain, and the yellow courgettes are being checked morning and evening now to make sure we don't get any more monsters :-).
I love being in the craftavan when its raining, it is cosy and somehow more inspiring and productive. I made this week's Tag Tuesday tag, Blues and Browns, and also the Linen and Lace ATCs for Kimberly's September swap ( see sidebar ).
Please do tell me, which background do you prefer for the Blues and Browns theme this week? I really can't decide -
Blue, brown or white-ish?
Linen and Lace is a wonderful theme of course, and I had such a good time making these ATCs. I finally got to use some of the lovely images and words my friends Dorthe and Rhonda had made a long time ago, and I used some beautiful antique laces on the cards as well. Can't use my sewing machine at the moment, so everything had to be glued ( fingers crossed that it all stays glued, lol ) -
I am going to the kitchen now to wrestle one of yesterday's monsters into the soup pot! Toodlepip xxx
I recently did an ATC swap with Alice from the Yellow House Studio blog. She picked SPELL as the theme, but not as in witch's or wizard's spells, but as in abc, script, alphabet soup, fonts, learning to write, books, letters, documents. Loved it! As Alice has received mine, and I have received hers, I can post the photos of them now :-) -
Alice's SPELL ATCs -
She also sent me some Finnish ephemera, which is a lovely addition to my stash! -
And these are the ATCs I sent to Alice -
I really enjoyed this swap, hopefully it was just the first of many.
And on to day 4 of our wonderful family holiday. On Tuesday morning, before girls arrived at our cottage, I put up the 'fairy castle' I had prepared for them. Filled with a pretty pink blanket ( over a thick old duvet for comfort ) and lots of plump feather filled cushions, it looked very tempting, I may have tried it out for a minute or two :-) -
My beautiful boy Hector had to watch everything I did, of course from the comfort of his very own lounger -
Nick was getting ready to take photos with his brand new camera -
and then Stefan and family arrived and the girls made a beeline for the fairy castle -
Breakfast, more ball and frisby games in the garden, and the morning was soon gone. Time to settle down for lunch under the trees. Again :-). I thought I might get some photos of the family without them noticing it if I took them from an upstairs window, but........
dang, they saw me!
The boys had requested potato salad, pasta salad, and of course we had green bean salad and tomatoes from the garden as well with the cold meats -
A little rest after lunch,
for grown up princesses as well,
and then it was back to more silly games and another swimming session in the river. Another beautiful day with my beautiful family.
The girls were determined to stay until it was well dark enough for the fairy lights to come on -
Thank you for your wonderful comments on my family, they meant a lot to me. Toodlepip xxx
PS - I have no idea why some text is on a white background and some isn't. Weird. Anybody got any ideas?