mizutamago

Treasure Trove

I recently received the most amazing package of treasures from Marieke in Amsterdam.
When we talked about doing a swap, we both agreed that we were slooow collectors,
and that we both liked to take time creating our packages, lucky me!

(click on pics for a closer look)

Marieke creates the most exquisite collages, Gocco Prints (as you can see above)
and beautiful illustrations, she's the quintessential European girl who travels frequently and
I was lucky enough to receive some gifts from her travels, in fact
Marieke is in Paris as I type this, she's taking advantage of her
time off before she heads off to Art School.

Now I know what other bloggers mean when they say that they're amazed at
how well their blog friends know them.Look at this gorgeous leather key chain,
it's the cutest thing I've ever seen...and it's from Italy !

This gorgeous cup from Amsterdam, will be perfect for organizing
my colored pencils and will brighten my work space :)

From Top Left:
An adorable hand made brooch can't wait to pin this on a simple blouse, a Versace-esque scarf (also from Italy)
beautiful handkerchief with my initial, a Gnome coin purse...I LOVE LOVE Gnomes,
Rose Scented Ink, candy, more apples! as in apple and heart plastic buttons,
the cutest paper, stickers and a few additional Gocco'd cards,
if those gloves don't motivate me to keep up with my gardening I don't know what will,
and finally yet another pretty cup from Amsterdam.

I can't wait to do a swap with Marieke again...
Thank you so much Marieke :)

curious

how lucky am I? The wonderfully talented Leya of Curious Bird agreed to do a Vintage Clothes and Art swap with me.

Leya's generous parcel included a fabulous vintage skirt, blouse, scarf and Owl Ashtray..which I am coveting.
She also sent me some of her beautiful hand made cards, a hand made ciggy pouch with the cutest polka dot lining, and hand made mirror (I love the silk screened flora) and even Kiehl's lip balm (Kiehl's is the best!) and moisturizer. It was so nice of her to agree to do a swap with me, even though she's in the middle of a big move (from N. Carolina to Philidelphia). I LOVE everything Leya, thank you so much!

here's a peak at the stuff I sent Leya.
The vintage scarf is hand made, the funky sunglasses are dead stock from the 80's, and I made the pouch and framed piece.

I tried to create my little downtown in a box.

magic

I came home to find the most magical package last night.
Sabine , I'm not exagerating when I say that I was acting as if it was Christmas morning (for two solid hours)

I mean, a plastic APPLE BUCKLE? You have to be kidding me...I can't think of anything more perfect.

I received so much goodness, I dont' even know where to begin..so much that I couldn't photograph everything, but this should give you an idea of Sabine's genius, and generosity. Treasures from Barcelona, a hand made card, the cutest hand made Apple Fabric Ring, a 70's Danish (?) fashion magazine, tons of her beautiful post cards, a boat load of antique Danish photographs, oodles and oodles of beads, gorgeous paper.

Mange Tak Sabine, everything in your package has inspired me to create!

spring fever

here's a little pouch I made for my pal Jen, for her 27th birthday....

Suzy sent me the most bitchn' package. Look at all these amazing goodies!
Tamagochi bandages, every single bandage has a different image on it.
I love the HanPanda key chain, it came with a little booklet and it seems that there's a series of HanPanda (Han, means half in Japanese) All of the different characters you could get are half Panda, mine happens to be Half Panda Half Mole...his claw is fierce.

I scored one of Suzy's hand made totes, the craftsmanship is stellar...yeah!
She also included a pretty little notebook that she Gocco'd, and I can't wait to try the latest Japanese
KitKat and Choco Flake flavors...Fruit Parfait and Macha Green Tea respectively.
Thank you so much for all of this goodness Suzy, I love everything!

Jeesh, I'm not sure what is going on with my camera, but these photos are awful.
I wanted to get my craft on this weekend, but my spring cleaning efforts turned into an all day affair.
I'm definitely feeling lighter, there's a spring to my step if you will...I got rid of three large garbage bags full of clothes and coats...off to good will they go.

Has anyone seen Julia in all her glory? I borrowed the first series from the Library and had it running all day yesterday, Keith said I looked like I was seeing God for the first time...I highly recommend it, I love her attitude towards cooking, and she takes time to explain the origins of recipes and how to treat your food correctly (like how to devein spinach, how to tell the sex of your lobster, what's the difference between a broiler/roaster/fryer/capon chicken...)

I once read that when asked what comfort food was for her she replied simply " steak and Gin!", I love this woman.