Live and Learn: Things I've been up to...

Making more of these little Easter Egg Chicks like I did last year. Of course, I want to make one for everybody, but I'm running out of time! This is a little Shabby Chic one...probably should have photographed that one on a darker background.

Getting some swaps out. This is from the Fat Quarter Swap for March. The first picture is the swap I sent out...all the way to Australia...she's way into Hello Kitty!

And this is what I received. I love these fabrics! And she knows I like cherries right now, so she made me a pair of cherry earrings and also sent some cherry ribbon!

This is from the Matchbox Swap-the theme was 'By the Sea'. Here's everything all wrapped up and ready to go. I don't have pictures of everything, but here are two of the items I included...

This is a magnet I made out of beads and a dolphin charm. I thought that actually was the cutest thing I made for this swap.

I also included this stretchy, slip on bracelet...if you can't tell, those big things hanging down are fish.

And, I also made this bracelet, that I call the "Cheater Bracelet". The whole bracelet was already made, and all I did to it was add on the charms. But...I'm going to start making more and they will be real. Well, sorta. I bought a blank chain to play with, and I also have some bead string-that waxed linen stuff-and some stretchy stuff. I got some closures, too, so we'll see how that goes. Once my studio gets finished and I can solder again, I can make my own charms.

Another first, for me...a cup cuff. Reuse these on your coffee cups from Starbucks or where ever to cut down on the paper waste from the cardboard insulators they use.

And last but not least...sometimes I just like to mindlessly sit around and embroider some of the main lines in the design of a fabric. I actually back it with batting and muslin, so it's almost like quilting it. It makes the design really stand out and gives it some texture. This is the one I'm playing with now...I think it will eventually be a pillow.