Chinese Stars?

My husband asked last night when he found these on his desk if the baby and I are starting a street gang armed with Chinese Throwing Stars.

No. My infant son and I are not starting a street gang armed with Chinese Throwing Stars.

But good guess, Babe.

It's all part of a swap project I hope will turn out. I'll post the result (for good or ill) when I'm done!

Button Swap

I haven't had a chance to blog about the swaps I've been involved in until now but I'm gonna try to do double time to catch up and make up for not posting in almost a month!

These are the buttons I made to send to Christy of Visualized by Christy. She hosted a button swap, but I turned out to be the only one to sign up. It's a shame too because it was a really simple, stress free and super-fun swap! I also sent these coasters that I made out of the same great thrifted fabric:As well as these charm squares:

And here is what I received from Christy:
These fabulous animal themed charm squares; I love the peppermint pink
and those bunnies with the giant eyes are adorable...


And Christie made magnets using these same fabrics as well as 4 buttons using the blue bunnies. Isn't her packaging is really nice too?

I can't wait to use all of these! Thanks for hosting and for being a great swap partner, Christie!

Spring Swap

Last Saturday I posted part of a painting I'd been working on. It had barely taken form then, but I've since finished it and put it in the mail, as it was an item for a swap. Here's the (completed) 8x10 piece I sent my partner as part of the Spring Swap hosted by the 6 o'clock stitch:
I hope Corinna will enjoy the little bit of Spring sunshine I made for her!

Green & White Swap

Well, I finally got my package put together, wrapped and mailed out yesterday for the Crisp & Clean White & Green Swap jointly hosted by Foxgloves, Fabric &Folly and Mommy Holly. I sure hope Sherri enjoys her package!

Spring Swap

Yet another fun swap, hosted by the 6 o'clock stitch: everyone is swapping an 8x10 inch art piece in the medium of their choice. The only parameters are the size and that it must be spring themed and include the colors red & yellow somewhere in it. I love the openness of this one: follow 3 little rules and let your creativity run wild. I'm looking forward to seeing the diverse ideas everyone will bring to life!

Patriotic Swap

Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly is hosting another great swap and I can't help myself - the idea is too good! Her "Very Vintage Fourth Of July Swap" sounds like such a good time! And it puts me in the mood for summer americana and lemonade and cherry pie...Oooh I'm getting tingly. I just love long summer days and I think this will be a really fun way to get in the spirit ahead of time. The swap is set to close on May 15th and then the mailing date is set for June 15th, so everyone will get their packages in time to enjoy them before Independence Day. Make sure you sign up soon to get in on the fun!

Speaking of all the things of summer that I long for during the bleak months of winter, I made a cherry pie yesterday. I am very "frugal" so, when cherries (which I love and can't get enough of when they're fresh) are in season and are at their lowest price for the season at my local farmer's market, I purchase scads of them and spends hours pitting them to freeze for the winter.

(DH constantly asks, "Is this really worth it?" To which I respond, "Pooh...merely a trifle", as I wipe the gathering beads of sweat from my brow when he's not looking. I know he's probably right...but still!)

In theory these frozen goods will be used for delectable pies and mouth-watering cobblers throughout the year, but in practice I inevitably end up making loads of baked goods just in time for the sweet red things to come in season again. Oh well. Whenever we end up eating them, they still taste good, so who's really keeping track? (DH, that's who.) Anyway, here's the pie I made:


It was good but not great. I used suggestions from The Joy of Cooking (ed. circa 1970), which usually hits it out of the park, but I think on pies, they're off. Those little white flecks on the fruit peaking through the vents- that's not sugar. It's undissolved instant tapioca. And, hey, maybe you like your pies gummy and solid like they just came out of the display case at the diner. Some people do. I'm just not one of them.

I like the juice from the fruit to remain juice, just a little thicker. I think next time, instead of tapioca, I'll just stir 1 T sugar (not with fresh fruit - only frozen), 3 T flour, and 2 T lemon juice into the fruit before I put it into the pie shell. And there will definitely be a next time: I still have 8 cups of cherries left in the freezer!!

Pink and Green Swap

I didn't get time to write about it yesterday, but I received my Pink & Green Swap package from my wonderful swap-partner, Kimberly, over at Serendipit-Us. Sarah at Blue Castle hosted this nifty swap in conjunction with Melody at Three Boys and a Dog. When I was sent my info I was so pleased to find Kimberly was my partner for my first swap; it was really fun exploring her blog and exchanging emails. And boy did she get my style down to a pat!

Here's what I sent Kimberly:

These earrings were from a great little art-jewelry shop in
Burlington, VT. I wish I could remember the name of that place!

I hope she enjoyed her package as much as I did mine because when I opened mine, I was like a kid in a candy store. Look how cute the packaging is! The little pearly white flowers were such a nice touch and she sent a sweet note too:


Kimberly sent me these lovely shabby-chic stationary items: note cards, sweet tiny gift tags, pretty pens, a pretty clipboard and covered note pad and, my favourite, flowered file folders.
I also received these really cool oink and green "takeout boxes" and lots of scrapbook embellishments. Kimberly is sooooo thoughtful; see the embellishments on the left? They're baby stickers for me to use when my little one comes this week (I hope)!


Last, but certainly not least, she made this art piece for me:

I can't believe how chock-full of goodies my box was and the care my partner put into choosing them. Thank you, Kimberly! My first swap was definitely a great experience!

Update: If yo want to check out all the other great swap packages, check them out here.

What happened to my day?!

I didn't mail out my swap package yesterday!! I was supposed to mail my package for the Pink and Green Swap yesterday and then my whole schedule for the day went out the window! I'm going to the post office now with my tail between my legs! I hope Kimberly likes the things I've put together for her when she gets them...late!

On the other hand, I don't mind having my schedule thrown off too much; the teachers in my husband's department at school threw him a little surprise shower! It was so unexpected and they were so thoughtful and generous too! Someone made a cake for him that's amazing! DH said, "I feel like we're on Ace of Cakes!" I'll have to try to figure out how to get the picture of the un-cut cake off my phone and onto this post! DH texted me with a photo of it and asked, "Do you think this would get home from work safe on the back of my motorcycle?" Silly man.

In other news it's a trillion degrees again today here in Jersey and a girlfriend just texted me this morning to say she'd finally had her baby (does this mean maybe the 90 degree weather will encourage this heater in my belly to make an appearance soon? I sure hope so!) Congratulations Rachel!!