I completed this for a craft swap (eastern religions) and was really happy without it all turned out.

I started with two shadow boxes and painted them with a medium red, then drew on the Bodhi tree and Ohm symbol - then painted them with gold and bronze paints. The Bodhi tree is based on part of a Thai tapestry. The dots were made with q-tip in gold paint.

The mala is made from simple polished stone beads, the focus and guru beads a larger size... the Buddha was purchased in Chinatown.

(the flash made this more orangy then it is....)

Thanks for the comments.. I really was in love with the goodies I sent out. I was glad to have the catalyst for finally making something I have had in my head a long time.

Now, onto my awesomeness from JmisSister!!

So I opened this box to find three gorgeous trays, the two (sadly broken) necklaces, a tiny portable meditation box with a Buddha charm in it. I absolutely love the colors and the artwork.


here is a closeup of one of the trays. It has these wonderful little buttons on it.


Here is the larger box with my cool necklace suffering from the aftereffects of the post office


Thank you for my wonderful package and for being such a great partner, JmisSister!!

So I had no idea where to post this, but it is a project I made that carried things and held things on my recent European trip, so I am putting it in this area...

I made this bad boy to help keep me entertained and have all my "ohmigawd this is a long freakin flight and I am getting BORED" items in one place. I did a bit of googling and saw something like this on a travel site, but the one that I was keen on was not available yet.. and the one they did have in stock was just overkill.

They were also boring black.

I like black, but I am so tired of all travel items being either black, red or beige *yawn*

After analyzing what I like and disliked about what was out there, I decided to make up my own in-flight entertainment center based on what I like to bring with me on long flights....So here we go:

Here is it folded up.. it is a little bigger then a notebook (hold magazines easily)


Next we open it up....oooh! things to DO!!


There is a slot for my iPhone to watch movies at eye level, pocket for a paperback or other goodies, another little pocket for whatevah


Look! I can watch a movie at eye level.. and not have to hold it


Here it is hanging on the back of the chair (pretend we are on a plane, I forgot to take pics of it in action on the flight. )


then open hanging on the chair in front of me.


there is a velcro loop to hang the headphones on. the bottom flap holds magazines and then folds up and secures out of the way so you can lower a tray table for dinner. There is another pocket behind the iPhone pocket that holds more magazines, etc. I also have another small pocket for the ipod.

I lined it with stiff interfacing to give it some body and extra stability, but not so much that this things can't be folded into a suitcase or carry on pocket. It is cotton and totally washable. I made it to originally attach to the tray table when it is upright, but that was too low, so I placed it on the back of the seat in front of me instead. I was in coach on an older plane and there was not one of those screens on the back of the seat in front of me, so this did not cover any of the airline provided entertainment.

It totally made the 9+hour fight more comfy and entertaining.

ok seriously, be prepared to be in awe! I received my doll yesterday from ayanared!!!

She read that I liked a day of the dead doll from the previous swap, so she decided to make one for me... in crochet! Talk about the mad skills!


Look at her skirt!!! It is not only poofy and FUN but removable! As is her halter top and her cute little shoes! squeeee!!


then Ayanared made me one of her FABULOUS hats!! I saw them on her Etsy store and loved them.

AND I got earrings to match the earrings on my doll.


Thanks SO MUCH, ayanared... this is so awesome. I looove her

Yay!!! I got my fa-bu-lous can from Shirmung today!! Check this bad boy out.

The can was SPARKLY

Inside was a treasure trove of prizes... there was an adorable martini glass with my craftster user name on it. A watermelon tote, crocheted coasters, citronella candles (I sooo was going to buy some this week!) a cool necklace and something I go through like a madwoman in summer... sunscreen!



the necklace


look how freakin awesome these coasters are!!!


and the cutest watermelon tote



thank you so much, Shirmung!!!

Emong is back safe and sound. He had such fun and has been bragging about his adventures all day. He is so excited that everyone wrote in his travel journal and took such great care of him.

here is a group shot.. I have had a mega long day, so I will try to take some other close-up photos later - but wanted to share the images with everyone ASAP.



and his little cactus souvenir from Arizona has been swiped by Jack the Cat and its whereabouts are unknown (I am thinking under the couch) little bugger. So it is not in the photo.

glad you like them all.

I just received my package from jinxme!

check out this fabulous loot...


We have this fabulous print she did (photo hosting refuses to recognize my image rotation.. sorry)


then we have an assortment of magnets with a timer!! I so needed a new timer!!


Ice cream cone wine glass charms.. look how cute the cones are!!


the most adorable little cupcake clips.. and alphabet soup clip.


then a page from the cookbook..

I love how there are clips from the phone book with each recipes.

thank you so much, jinxme.

Isabelle helped me purchase props for a shoot.. She was very helpful and is so well behaved while I am at work.

It was a fabulous mail day!!! I received TWO dotees.... absolutely lovely creations from hipmama1970 and violette28.

First from hipmama1970, a lovely sparkly girl with the cutest expression and fun, sparkly beads! Even a necklace!!!


Next is a wonderful fall creation from violette28.. How can you not fall in love with the sunflowery goodness???


then a group shot of my new dotee friends..


thank you!!

Isabelle has arrived safe and sound. She had a big day her first day in Los Angeles... she got to help on a shoot we were doing.

First, she helped organize props.


Then Andrea welcomed her and then showed her a nice place to sit amongst the wheat grass.



After relaxing a bit and getting comfy, we put her on set for her own photo shoot. She was great in front of the camera.

We are going to see what adventures we can have this week. I am introducing her to my cat and my fish now.