I love that cross stitch!  It looks so domestic and docile and then you look closer and it's awesome and feministy.  It's really well done, too!

I hope millik likes my package!  It should be there soon

Editing to add photos of the package I just got from millik!!

First, a fucking bad ass apron.  I love to bake, but with an apron that's embroidered with Betty Dodson's face, I doubt I'll get people telling me I'm being domestic!  She even has little bead "earrings" sewn on!  I love it!


Second, an equally awesome pillow.  Not only is it in my favorite colors, not only does it have a uterus on it, but the uterus has a moustache.  Superb!


Third, a happy/sad uterus pin set.  So everyone knows what my uterus is feeling like.  Soon to make many appearances on my purse/jacket.


Fourth, and god I love this one, it's so clever--A little package of stickers.  The case, perfect size for sticking in my purse to have at the ready for whenever I need them:


And what's inside?


Lastly, she also included a zine that she and her friend made for a menstrual workshop--I love menstrual activism and alternative menstruation, so it's awesome that we have that in common and this zine is lookin' sweet to boot!


Thank you so much for everything, millik.  It's all so beautiful, creative, and well-made!  Also, millik noticed that I like to use recycled and repurposed materials, so she made all the items without buying any materials besides what she already had, which I love.  How thoughtful!  What a great swap!

I'm interested in swapping with other craftsters for items that are made from repurposed "waste" and rescued materials.  The items themselves wouldn't necessarily have to be green-themed (but they could!) but I think it would be neat to have a swap where the materials are limited to be mostly second-hand/reused/found materials.  This means that materials could be trash/recyclables from around the crafter's house, purchased from a thrift store (i.e. rescuing some beautiful fabric from a hideous dress and using it for something else), any items found in nature, or if you happen to dumpster dive, any craft supplies that have been rescued from dumpsters could be used as well.  The main rule would be that you can't purchase any (or at least, very little) new supplies in order to complete the crafts.

Basically in the swap we would make crafts, but we would also get to tell the story of where the materials came from.

Would anyone else be interested in this swap?

So I bought a new camera!  It takes the loveliest photos, too!

So, finally, here's photos of the things that I received from RamenQueen.

A painted and decorated photo frame--one of the buttons fell off in shipping, I just haven't gotten around to gluing it back on yet.


Some blank notecards that she decorated.


Some painted/collaged wall art.


And this was the card she sent.


She also sent some chocolates and some Valentinesy paper die cuts for crafting.  So thanks again, Tawna!



Anyway, I didn't take photos of everything I sent to her, but I did take photos of the thing I'm the most proud of so I guess I'll just post those!  I made her a little notebook made completely out of repurposed paper waste.  The cover is a piece of chipboard that I rescued from the trash at my office, and it's covered on the outside with some vintage 1964 sheet music for the organ, and on the inside with the bag that my lunch had come in that day (with her name hand stamped on it).  The pages were all collected from various half-used and discarded notebooks.  I cut them all to size and then hand-bound them into the journal.  I also included a (non-crafted, but awesome) pencil made entirely out of recycled newspapers!  Anyway, some photos of the journal!

Front cover


Back cover


Inside cover


Some of the pages


Second, she said she liked white chocolate and fruit, so I improvised and changed around some recipes I had to make a dry white hot chocolate mix and some homemade pink raspberry heart-shaped mini marshmallows (or as I called them on the packaging, "heartshmallows!").  I didn't take any photos of that, though.

The third item was an origami heart folded out of a dollar bill.  I also took photos and wrote instructions to make a personal tutorial for her so she could make her own.  And actually, I made that available for her online here if anyone else wants to look at it.

The card I made was just a cute little pinup and some more stamping.  I didn't take any photos of that, either.

Anyway, yay!  This was a really fun swap to craft for, and I hope to do more swaps in the future.

I'm sorry I haven't posted photos yet.  My camera recently broke (after I signed up for the swap but before I got my package) so I can't, as I don't know when I'll be getting a new one.  My partner said she had photos of the package she sent me that she can post.  She hasn't posted the stuff that I sent her either, though, so I don't know when she'll be posting.  I didn't take photos of my stuff before I sent.  Sorry!!

I can't wait until this swap gets all started up!

RamenQueen, it looks like my camera has finally bit the dust (I've had this problem before but it usually goes away... not this time.)  You said you have photos of your stuff that you sent, right?  If you want to post your photos when you post the photos of the stuff I sent you, that'd be awesome.  I'm not sure when I'll be able to get a new camera.

I received mine today.  Unfortunately my camera is a little on the fritz at the moment, but I'll be taking and posting photos as soon as I get a chance.

Wee!  I've finished my medium item.  Now just to do the two smalls...

Thank you all for your nice comments!

Actually I think that's part of Deviant Art's settings.  You can't view "mature content" stuff without logging in, which is problematic for those of us without accounts.