Always time for cupcakes!

I was in a cupcake them swap and had difficulty finding cupcake items. The cupcake rage is not yet known here in The Netherlands. There is but a very few places that I can find anything cupcake. What a sadness because I'm a cupcake freak and the cupcake frenzy is common in America, South Africa and Australia. At least. So I made my own cupcake keyring/bag accesory from felt. I took a photo and posted the sweet cupcake parcel just to discover my camera didn't have a card in when I took the pick grrrrrr. I decided to make 5 cupcake keyrings because it was so much fun and took my photo making SURE I had the card inserted. The cupcake without the ribbon and keyring is 6cm x 6cm

crocheted coin purse

Yes, I'm updating my blog all at once, showing what I've been up to the past month. For the coin purse group at swap-bot I've crocheted a coin purse and added a lining and zipper. Quite a first for me but practise makes perfect. I realised I need a goal to try something otherwise it is such an effort to try something. With the swaps I have a swap partner I'm making something and it has a deadline! And in the meantime I'm using up stash!!

I've found this neat tutorial to add a liner and zipper, from sparklepetal, whom used the
-awesome- circle tutorial from Attic24 .

Mine came out a bit looking like a harvest moon but I'm very chuffed with the colour and the liner I've used. The crocheted flower I've added is one I dug up from my past. I have no idea which pattern I've used at that time.

Dishcloth with a kitty silhouette

I made this dishcloth with 100% cotton for a dishcloth swap at swap-bot. The idea was to crochet or knit one for your partner with 100% cotton. The one I got is working double time. I really love it. I've used my favourite pattern (crazy cloth) and looked for a kitty crochet pattern so to add something extra to the dishcloth. Between all these cat patterns I chose a kitty from the window cat family

Hello Kitty Poochie bag

For a swap at swap-bot.com I made a poochie bag. The theme was to make one for your swap partner using Happy Zombie's (great!) tutorial. I used stash for this project and used an iron on Helly Kitty that was just waiting for the right moment. My swap-partner is a HK fan so it was very appropriate to give her a poochie bag with a HK somewhere :)

Pincushion going dutch

For the April Swap at Crafty Mamas you'll remember I got this little cuty.

I thought as it is going to Australia I'll give it a Dutch flavour so made a flower/rosette of Dutch Folk fabrics. The clogs stayed at home. I took the photo's on the dyke with a yellow buttercup as a silent witness.

ahw isn't she cute!

April Swap at Crafty Mamas and I ended up with the most cutes Elephant South and North of the Saharah!

I was so fortunate to have Tas as my swap partner so please have a look at her blog Little Boozle. Here she blogged and posted photo's of the little one before the great voyage to Europe from Down Under :) and do visit her shop at Little Boozle at the Marketplace. Tax, thanx again for this little sweety!

ps. Note the little heart between her eyes, now aint that cute!

Earth toned Granny Squares

Man! I've finished it, 18 10' granny squares , that is 25,5cm squares.
Here they all are as prove

They're packaged and ready to be sent to the US

Mommy and baby Dotee swap

I've joined this swap as I'm so pregnant and I love the dotees:
"In honor of Mother's Day, in the month of May, let's do a Mommy and Baby dotee doll swap! You will send your partner one regular sized dotee doll and one mini baby dotee. Dolls don't have to match, and use your creativity! "
I had fun making mine, and I'll show them as soon as my partner received hers. I surely can tell that the partner sending to me had fun too!
On a grey and rainy day my day started colourfull when the first poppy opened!! I've been trying at our previous house to grow them as I just LOVE their exhuberant explosion of colour and flower. My effort didn't pay off as a combination of: drought, husband thinking they're weeds, going away on holiday, etc.
Now as we move to a new house I was wonderfully supprised to see the previous owner shared my love. I couldn't wait for these large buds to open.
Okay I'm trailing off here.
Back to the grey rainy day and after this red poppy supprise mr.Postman dropped a package for me from Germany. Guess what was on one of the stamps.....a poppy. Oooooh look at the contents of the package:

Included was not a mother and one baby but 2 babies!
and they have names:
mom Alice and the babies are Cindy and Amy ;-) ain't that cute! She sent me a piece of flowered fabric too, making the spoiling complete. It was her 2nd dotee swap. Thanx countrys!

This was my try:

Happy Ending

Once upon a time.....

Last year in November I've joined the swap bot an participated for the first time. I'm such a swap addict. Anyway, it works like this. I searched out a cute swap where I as a newby without any past swap history at swap bot, could join. I've found a lovely sheep swap: I heart sheep.
I joined a made an adorable package for my swap partner with sheep stuff. I threw it on the post and couldn't wait for mine. My swap partner received my package and gave me a nice rating for it. Thanx partner. Well and I waited for my package from Sugarsunshine. And waited and waited. I made excuses for it being late: international post, Christmas, new year, etc. Well, no package and then as I went to have another look at my partner's profile (a different person sends to me than the one a sent to) it seemed she had a good rating, then joined a couple of swaps and then turned rotten. She had a lot of open swaps, moi included. Ahhhhh I kept my hopes up high but to no avail. Well, of all my succeeded swaps this was the first turned bad. Always a first time....I guess. Then beginning of this year fluffywelshsheep(her blog), the coordinator of the swap, contacted me with a message:
"hiya monart, if you get flaked on again (which i hope you don't) at all try to contact the person in charge and they get back to you quicker :). I would have got back to you soon if i had had email via swap bot or a comment on my profile etc :)"
well I guess I was too hopeful and next time will mail very soon ;-)
anyway dear fluffywelsheep found me a swap angel. someone who is such a angel as to send the swap package someone (like me) missed because of a bad swapper.
I got a message from an angel Caam(her blog):
"Hi Monart! I will be "angeling" for you for this swap! I will be sending out by the end of the weekend. I am so sorry you were flaked on for this, your very first swap". This sweet hearted angel was so bubbly and yesterday received an over abundantly package which really made this swap worthwhile and unforgettable. Woweeee I was spoiled:

She sent this package with a very nice letter telling me about the contents. The sheep stuff comes from Maryland Sheep and Wool.

• One cute t-shirt for me
• one cute t-shirt for baby (I told her I was preggies in my excitement)
• a sheep and wool mug
• a sheep and wool key chain
• a cute woolly black sheep (handcrafted in Vietnam )with the words attached to it: There is one in every family
  

Then Added was this (I was stunned by the generosity):

This dear angel was a photo organising consultant and sent me some VERY helpfull ideas and tools!

• 
  2 black/white photo pencils for writing on the back of photo's without damaging them
• 4 concertina files to make organising easier (the dark blue "booklets")
• 2 corner cutters!
• 2 photo polishing cloths
• Notes + lots of tags and stuff for christmas memories for scrapbooking
• notes + lots of tags and stuff with fruit theme for scrapbooking
• Lot of notes named "croptalk" with great ideas for organising photo's

so much even without the photo organising stuff I would've been overly glad or even if I just got the photo stuff I would've been quite spoiled.

Thank you for making this swap something special!

I'll send you postcards from South AFrica and The NL ;-)

big hug to Caam!

And all live happily ever After

The end

Easter Swap at Craftymamas

I had such a welcome supprise on this grey, cold, rainy and windy Monday!

I've received my Easter Swap at CraftyMamas from 2spunkymonkeys (see her blog here).

Oh how cute:

1. one adorable soft and green fabric with little chicks
2. blue ric rac
3. blue ribbon
4. pink pom-pom fringe
5. blue pom-pom fringe
6. a cute booklet with 1000 Easter stickers
7. a chocolate/plaster of Paris mold with bunnies
8. 9 purple heart buttons
9. multicolored daisy trim
10. one very soft and lovely baby vest with 3 little ducklings
    

Oh how lovely,
thank you very much Spunky!

(I hope she receives my package in time for this year's Easter)

Pecca-doo-a

I've created this bird after a drawing of my 7 year old. I had some fun creating tags with ribbons and using all kinds of fabric and embelishments. His other side is completely different. I've also used safty eyes.

Oh I've received this Crafty Mamas vintage swap from the dear Cinnemum (visit her blog). I didn't take a photo right away of the contents of the swap and now a search party is looking for the missing items near Mount 5 year old. She ran of with a vintage bracelet the hat and the vintage belt ;-)

I got

• a lovely little golden book: Raggedy Ann and the cookie snatcher (about telling the truth)
• a ladies vintage garden hat (made by Cinn)
• a vintage embroidery on a doily (made by Cinn)
• a book with and inscription written in 1956 "what Katy did"
• vintage cake decorating book
• and a vintage pattern: style 3944
• groovy hip belt
• glorious purple and gold bracelet
• 2 vintage pillows

Clay day

This past Monday I was asked at a Primary school to do some claying with the kids ages 4-6. I've never done it before but was quite excited to give it a try. I first tried out some ideas on my own kids (5 and 7 years) and made some examples. There were 29 kids and they were divided in 5 groups. We made a large rose, a dinosaur, a little square man and a snail with wired antennae. On the photo you see a small version of the rose which I've painted and used with daffodil bulbs as a gift. Each child made one creation with a mega large heap of clay. I was really impressed with the way the roses turned out. Maybe I'll make a tutorial about that one because it is so easy and impressive for kids to make. I really had a fun morning and got a yellow bouquet as a thanx!

This morning came the January Fat Quarter swap, I was really spoiled with cute fabrics and ribbons in a very neat package ;-) aaaalll the way from New Zealand

Supppprrrise!

This beautifully crisp sunny morning I got a *B*E*A*U*T*I*F*U*L* swap in the post.
I'll share the medium version of this package:


What is so amazing is that it was a swap that was to be sent by Nov 4th. Two weeks later still no sign of it. I assumed it was maybe sent by slow shipping. Four weeks later I still haven't received it and after an e-mail to my swap partner she replied ending her mail with saying that she was ill at the time and asked dh to mail it not telling him how important the sent date was and she really felt terrible that it took so long. So I thought as it was Christmas time I'll just have to be patient. Well, this morning it came and I can understand why it took it's time lol somebody at TNT (our national postal service) took his or her time to decode the address and did a splendid job. I've place bubbles for my own privacy but I can assure you that what is underneath the bubbles is also smudged! This envelope was drenched good and solid, even the sender's address was smudged.

I've been totally spoiled by my swapper: this photo will give you only an idea as it is impossible to show everything! My girls were totally swooning; the one laid hand on the scissors and buttons and made a little booklet for grandma and the other one was playing princess with a pink glittery FatQuater. Wow.. so many scrapbook paper, embellishments, vintage photo's, stickers and buttons. It makes my hands tingle to make something.

So thank you to Fairlight and Michelle for the Miscelanny swap and keeping track of sent and received swaps.

Thank you for Kim for your abundant package

and thank you for post person who manage to solve the address enigma

Holiday Ornaments 2007

I'm a bit behind on posting so I'll try and catch up:


This cute embroidery I've received from Crystal, TN :
This arty ornament came from Lauren, Florida (I just love the combinations and textures):

and then just before the end of 2007, this gorgeously cute skates made with paperclips and felt came aaaaalll the way from Meg in Mexico:
That was it then; aaaaah "only" 9 ornaments. One get so greedy for more ;-) Well, looking forward to the ornaments of 2008!

Opening my gifts

Before Christmas because I CAN'T WAIT!

This utterly cute and original Christmas dress is from Shin (here's her blog), isn't this cute? This is how my day started.

Then the doorbell rang and I got a package from The Green Swap. This went fast, I didn't expect it already, especially with the Christmas craziness in Post land. This is my prize I've shopped for on ETsy. I wanted now for a long time to buy pure wool to crochet a bag and then felt it.(trying something like this) The colours are beautiful! Thank you Farhanna. Included was beautiful stich markers, from the same shop, i wanted to photograph but then my photo ran out of batteries.

this too came in the post: a felt Christmas ornament from Tannis in Canada. You can visit her here .

So if it is cold

why don't we have snow! I want snow! I deserve snow!
Of course I want it...for the kids ;-)

I did get a neat little package from San Fransisco today;I wasn't at home and the postman was so kind as to leave me a note saying he left it in our outside storage (what's it called).So when I came home I ran back into the cold and found this cute little box and after making myself a hot cup of espresso I opened it.Oh how thank you Arran for felting a Christmas ornament for me ;-)

When I got home later in the day after Picking up the girls from school I found the most amazing tree trunk in my post ;-)Oh how original, the 2 little leaves, the print on the felt...it is so trunky Thank you very much Emily!

Christmas time

What a nice supprise, I got a box today in the post and when I opened it this card was laying on top. And in a soft nest of paper strips I've found this amazing hand made paper ornament from Jessica,Texas:

Christmas Swaps

I've joined the Holiday Ornament swap 2007. I've made 9 ornaments and sent them and then I'll receive in return from 9 different people. My first received one was from Knitalatte from Canada. She wrapped this cutey in the most beautiful wrapping. Here you can see more ornaments on the Flickr site.

Then I've also joined the Crafty Mama secret Christmas swap. I've been abundantly spoiled by my secret swap mama:

In the photo above you can see some of the 12 felt Christmas trees she made me and 9 of the 10 candy ornaments. Unfortunately for the candy#10, who snapped in the post, I had to eat him lol. Below you can see an apron(I'm definitely and apron girl), pan holder, beautiful knitted arm bracelet/band, a beautiful Christmas sock (the little bear has stitched details), 3 Christmas fabrics and 1 fold out Christmas Card. The care taken to make these things and to put my package together is so valued. Thank you Secret Crafty Mama!

Now for the other 8 ornaments woo-hoo!

The Green swap:Woo-hoo!

I've joined the green swap and these were the

"Details of swap: Send your swap partner a beautiful tote so she can throw away all her plastic bags! You can either make the tote, or buy one (so even those that can't sew are encouraged to join) and add some 'life' to it!
Minimum of one tote to be sent.
You are more than welcome to send extra goodies. (They are always appreciated)
The 'best' tote (voted by the participants and viewers) will receive a little gift.
Please use the 'green swap' button at the top on your blog/site (if you have one) so others can join in".

Before sending out the bag it was possible to enter the bag in a competition.
I've sent my swap partner a bag I've sewn with a bag pattern from morsbags. Really really good tutorial for beginner sewers like me. (Morsbags by the way also promote cottons bags and not using plastics as it is terrible for the environment) I've painted the bag and the zebra with textile paint and used the dots I wanted too. I think I'm in a zebra craziness ;-)

Today I got a mail congratulating me that I'm the winner!
In my absolute stupidity I added the green swap link to my favourites but didn't refresh it when I visited so I never saw the part you can vote for a winner! Aaaaah I love voting and Never would've seen who won. I assumed all is done by mailing or will be added later on....

Well so now it says on Farhanna's blog:

"Congratulations! You did an amazing job!And of course, every winner needs a prize. You get to enjoy a $20 web shopping spree. There is a few limits though, it must be a handmade item (or items) or/and any 'green' item(s)."

wow, wow and I have to throw in a 3rd wow!
Thank you Farhanna, and all the voters and all the ladies making their lovely bags in the swap.
Go green and don't use plastic bags but support crafts by buying yourself unique and green bags ;-)

Felted Fun

Yesterday I've completed this filly with his two sides as part of the November Theme Challenge at Crafty Mamas: felty goodness

19x19cm felted fun!
I've added to his cute butt and to make him sparkle:

• embroidery


• buttons


• studs


• jewels


• satin ribbon,


• safety eyes and


• blanket stitched it around with Cherise crochet yarn


• crocheted his mane with fake fur (bought here)

Then I can share with you a swap I've had from Eccles. Do yourself a favour and visit her blog as she make the most gorgeous creations and is raising baby lovebirds. The theme of the swap was: "we don't have that here". After she forgot it in the back of her car and didn't send it for almost 2 months ;-) I got it and in my 2 seasons too late or 2 seasons too early Spring Clean, I mislaid it as I've totally reorganised my hobby room....

Ok, I've found it too take a photo and here it is:

• 3 awesome Australian mags
• 2 cuts of fabric
• a sweet back pack
• a koala label, a metal wombat, roo's clasping dolls, and a dolphin on a piece of shell