okay, so technically it's an EMU egg, carved with a PEACOCK feather!!! 
this is an egg i carved for my partner in the peacock swap. it's an emptied, dried emu egg carved with a high-speed dental drill. i haven't been working with these as much as i'd like. i'm sure i'll be doing tons more in the future!



thanks for looking!

so i participated in the peacock swap, and my partner mentioned she'd like to have a hair fancy! an idea popped into my head, and i had to go with it!



step one: buy a standard silk flower hair clip (or the bits and bobs to make one) and disassemble. i numbered each layer on the back with a pen so i'd be sure to put them back in the right order. paint as you wish with regular old acrylic paint!


step two: (HOT GLUE GUN YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!) reassemble flower. get bead crazy!


step three: flip that bad boy over, (HOT GLUE GUN YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!) attach a few feathers or whatever you like to the back. re-mount your hair clip. (make sure you attach the hair clip so the feathers will face the way you want when it's in your hair!


and voila!!! hair clip heaven!


thanks for reading!!! 

i received yesterday from JillHogan! check out my haul!


a mod-podged photo frame!


sweet peacock-colored photo album!


peacock plate with decorated stand!


a peacock feather lampshade!

and there's a peacock feather barrette around here too, but it's wandered off somewhere.... here, barrette barrette barrette!!! hmmm..... you got any photos of it jill?

thank you so much, jillhogan!!!

so i had to work late tonight. my exchange student called to the shop, said - when you come home i have a surprise for you!!! i thought she baked cookies! (she likes to bake!) when i got home she says WHY do you have to work late TONIGHT?!?!??! i'm waiting for you!!! you have package from CANADA!!!!  she totally knew what was waiting in that package and had been climbing the walls all night for me to get home and open it! and i did! and it's AWESOME!!!!  i think ms retro_rose was eyeballing my photo posts over in the hoopla swap - and maybe saw i just set up a new craft area - and saw all the blank walls there!
or maybe she's just psychic....
check out my lovely little birdies sewing me a lovely crafty tattoo-themed banner to hang over my workspace!



in her note, retro_rose mentions that the banner fabric is tea-stained. i wonder if she knows that traditional americana tattoo flash sheets were stained with tea before they were painted in order to more closely match the appearance of flesh? all that quilting is free-hand with a machine! i can't sew a straight line with a machine!




all this embroidery is free-hand zig-zag stitch - no embroidery machine!!! did i mention i can't sew a straight line with a machine? and all the little sewing bits and bobs sewed on are soooo cute! these little guys zipping around taking care of business with all their sewing gear reminds me of that scene in disney's cinderella when the critters all get together to make her a dress for the ball. that was one of my favorite movies when i was a kid!


cutest. label. ever.


sweet little tag on the back!


action shot of my incredibly messy space. (after frenzied rush to stash evidence from other swaps in progress) it's just thumbtacked up there right now but i'll hang it up properly when i get a chance to run to the store for a dowel. i mean seriously. how perfectly does that look like it was made for that space?

thank you SO MUCH retro rose! i really do love it, it's perfect!!!
i'm sure you probably have some nicer photos than these - you should totally post them!

so at the suggestion of my lovely partner in the latest maq swap i'm getting off my keester and sharing some photos of the quilt i made for ms. retro_rose! Retro_rose is a photographer with a travel-bug. in her questionnaire she mentioned that she'd like a quilt theme inspired by japan or africa. i did a little stalking and found out she also had some deep sentimental ties to india. i couldn't decide which idea i wanted to run with more, so i did them all!

without further ado:


full view. i made the ribbon extra long and just pinned it, so that she can trim and stitch to the desired length when she decides where/how she'll hang it. the insets are all satin, with a complementary tone of satin heat-bonded on in varying-sized strips to give that sunsetty-look.


angled view. one of the hardest parts for me was getting all the rungs even on the film strip. it's still not even, but it was the best i could do after several attempts. my machine stitching skills need a lil work. and the fact that i'm a neurotic perfectionist when it comes to small details doesn't help!





this is india. all the quilting was done with invisible thread for the whole quilt.  to do the sky i ran a needle up and down thru just the surface fabric, then pulled it thru the whole thing at the top and bottom to create the rippled look. the waterline is embroidered, the water itself is translucent twinkle fabric heat-bonded over more satin.
the gal is layers of heat-bonded fabric, embellished with seed beads for the bangles and trim on the dress.


detail.





japan; mt fuji & cherry blossoms. echo quilting in radiating circles around each blossom, which are embroidered.
mountain, branches, and flower centers all beaded in glass tube beads, and more seed beads mixed in on the mountain and branches.


detail.


detail.





africa. wine-colored sheer sparkle heat-bonded over satin to make the clouds. the tree and giraffes are common quilters fabric, also heat-bonded. the sun, also-heat-bonded, is some kind of weird metallic gold stretchy fabric i have no memory of buying but which was perfect for the task when i discovered it in my stash. (yay for giant random stashes! you never know what you're gonna find!) i'm lucky it didn't melt to the bottom of my iron when i bonded it. i still have no idea what that stuff is. 


detail. yes, seed beads. hours and hours and hours of seed beads. my fingers weren't the same for weeks.





the back. with backing i picked out just for ms retro_rose.  pocket sewn along top edge and smaller ones at filmstrip tops to accommodate a fabric-wrapped dowel.


detail. i attached small fishing weights in a row along the bottom so that the quilt will hang smooth and straight once it's up on the wall.


the label. i really wanted to embroider the label, but i ran out of time. i named the quilt "around the world in 35 days" because it was kind of the concept of the quilt that this was a film strip retro_rose was having developed after taking a trip around the world, and the 35 days part is because it took me 35 days from the day i got the idea to the day i attached the label and called it done!


gratuitous plea for sympathy! my fat fingers don't fit in those metal thimbles and the dog kept eating my leather ones. most of the skin is back to normal on my fingers now!



much thanks to retro_rose for being an awesome and inspiring partner, and for encouraging me to post this, and for allowing me to use her awesome photographs! (except that last nasty one of my fingers. that's all me!) and thanks also to maremare for organizing an outstanding swap! i'll definitely be keeping an eye out for round 5!

[PARTICIPANTS]

GALLERY!!! http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=380603.0

If you love Mexican folk art in general and Dia de los Muertos more specifically, then this is the
swap for you! do you find that no skull or skeleton is complete without swirlies and flowers? That
any type of home decor can use a few more candles? that any empty surface in your home seems a
tempting place to build a shrine? do you catch yourself drawing skeletons on your dollies?? are you
currently wearing a flower bigger than your head in your hair?!?!?!?!? then this is the place for you!!!
JOIN US!!!!




a little about day of the dead:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dia_de_los_muertos
 http://www.diylife.com/2007/11/02/day-of-the-dead-el-dia-de-los-muertos-traditions-and-projects/


Swap name:Dia de los Muertos / Mexican folk art swap
Craftster member who is organizing this swap:erica_tattoos
co-organizer:nmcakemom07
Sign-up date range:4/15-4/30
Date to send item by:5/30

Limited to a certain number of people? (optional): no

Restricted to people who all live in the same country? YES/NO no


Swap Organizer himself/herself meets these conditions:
- Has fully read the Swap Info Guide: YES/NO yes
- Has successfully completed two swaps as a participant: YES/NO yes
- Is not organizing more than three swaps right now: YES/NO no
- Will recruit a co-organizer or give all details to a Swap Moderator if this swap has more than 25 participants: YES/NO yes
- Is at least 18 years old: YES/NO yes

Swap Organizer will check each participant to make sure they meet these conditions:
- Has been a member for at least one month: YES/NO
- Has posted at least 15 times: YES/NO
- Has completed one swap successfully before signing up for multiple swaps at a time: YES/NO
- Is not currently signed up for more than five swaps: YES/NO
- Does not have any negative feedback: YES/NO
- Participant has agreed that he/she is at least 16 years old: YES/NO
- If within the US, understands that Delivery Confirmation number is required for this swap: YES/NO
- If outside the US, understands that a mailing receipt copy is required for this swap: YES/NO

Details of swap:

This swap is to make some awesome day of the dead themed awesomeness for your partner!
This will be a 4 point swap. Feel free to use any combination, so long as it adds up to
four points or more. You can feel free to spoil your partner, but it isn't required. You
may want to discuss it with your partner however if you want to do more than a 4 point swap,
unless you just plan on spoiling them.

By Point
-Large = 3 points
-Medium = 2 points
-Small = 1 point

By Time
-Large = 3 or more hours
-Medium = 2 or more hours
-Small = 2 or less hours

By Size
-Large = A shawl, a shirt, a skirt, a set of jewelry with four to five items, a purse
-Medium = one single necklace or bracelet, a scarf
-Small = Earrings, stickers, wallets, pouches, bookmarks

By Price
-Large = $30 or more
-Medium = $10-$30 dollars
-Small = $10 or less


Use whatever methods you want to make some dia de los muertos fabulousness for your partner!


Since this is a longer swap I want everyone to know that they need to keep in contact both with
the organizer, co-organizer, and their partner. try to post to the thread at least once a
week and please don’t leave your partner or myself hanging if we pm you!  

Please make sure you post in this thread for updates as soon as you sign-up/think about signing up.  

*I will leave accurate feedback regarding sending on time, meeting swap requirements, and having
good communication with organizer and partner. My definition of good communication is sending pm's
to both organizer, co-organizer, and partner when BOTH sending AND receiving, answering pm's from
organizer, co-organizer, and partner in a timely manner (within 2 days), and letting organizer and
partner know if you will be out of town or if you know you will be unable to communicate for a set
amount of time.
...

To keep this easy for me, since this is my first organized swap, please send PMs to me as followed.
DDM Swap - Questionnaire
DDM Swap - Question
DDM Swap - Sent
DDM Swap - Received

You get the idea in case I missed anything...

If you want to participate, information to send to organizer:

QUESTIONNAIRE TO ANSWER:
Name of swap: DDM swap
Craftster username
Email address
Your real name
Mailing address including the country
Would you be willing to ship to an address outside your own country?
Confirm that are at least 16 years old or, if not, that you have moderator approval(YES/NO)

Do you live in the United States: YES/NO
   - If yes, do you understand that Delivery Confirmation number is required for this swap: YES/NO
   - If no, do you understand that a mailing receipt copy is required for this swap: YES/NO



Would you describe your crafting skills as beginner, intermediate, or advanced?
(there's no wrong answer here, i'm just trying to ensure that swappers are paired with partners
of approximately the same skill level)

Please list crafts that you particularly do like to do / do well  or particularly don't like to do / don't know how to do?

What are your favorite colors:

What colors do you dislike:

What patterns/shapes/objects do you like:

What patterns/shapes/objects do you dislike:

Please list at least 5 themes/ideas to help your partner know the kinds of things you might like.
these can be types of things (i.e. a shrine, jewelry, embroidery, wall art, a stuffy, a purse, etc)
or favorite themes you might like mixed in (i.e. star wars, frida kahlo, steampunk, pinups, etc)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Are you someone that really wants to have one of these themes crafted for you, or are you ok if your
partner does a little stalking to come up with other themes you might like?

Are you someone that is really helped by having a set list to craft from, or do you prefer to be a
little freer and do some research/stalking?


Do you have any allergies severe enough to prevent you from being partnered with someone?
(ie, if you are only a tiny bit allergic to cats like me, don’t put it down, but if someone
sending something from a house with a cat will make you sick, please list it)

Do you have allergens like pets (list specific animal please) or smoking in your house?

If we end up with an odd number of swappers, would you be willing to participate in a
round robin?

do you have a wists or some other weblist?

is there anything else you'd like your partner to know?


IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR INFO TO ME erica_tattoos  AND BCC IT TO nmcakemom07 VIA PRIVATE MESSAGE AND NOT TO REPLY WITH IT HERE.

Also, remember to read the Swap Info Guide
to find other rules about participating in a swap.

PARTICIPANTS
1.  erica_tattoos
2.  humboldtcherry
3.  sheriffkarli
4.  RetroGypsy welcome first time swapper!
5.  ZombriNation
6.  kyerinn
7.  missmlissa
8.  DeeDee5555 welcome first time swapper!
9.  H00lie
10. wax51
11. ChristieAnn
12. fabricfriend
13. KatFish welcome first time swapper!
14. smushisweetbaboo
15. nmcakemom07
16. mamaedgar
17. fairygoodthings welcome first time swapper!
18. deathrocker15
19. mezcraft
20. honeyd
21. kristl welcome first time swapper!
22. cassettetape
23. Missing_Muse
24. VegasZombie
25. noooitaremybirthday
26. NessaMcTastic
27. Whitterp
28. aisy
29. lanikins
30. Miss Barbara
31. Pixiefirefly
32. Jpea
33. Kiwi-Chickie
34. hgddm
35. Anya Kase
36. ivoryh1632
37. HootHootHope
38. Yarn Nymph
39. FoxyMama

i thought this would be a good opportunity to show off my smokin hot thigh.



who shot first?

 

hi, my name is erica, and i am an addict. i wanted to take this opportunity to share my foot with you. 



for me, not joining this swap would be inconthievable!!! 

i hate metal thimbles. hate them. have made myself 2 leather thimbles since this swap began, and the moment i set one down and walk away, my dog eats them. i am literally wearing the skin right off my fingertips on this quilt. so to make myself feel better, i will taunt you all by posting a teaser. so there. 

finally got the camera up and running again! wanted to share a few more pics! first is a gratuitous craft space shot a)cause i wanna show off my new crafts space and b) cause i wanna show you my very first hoops in their place of honor on my art wall! and then some detail shots of my totally awesome darth/dia de los muertos hoops cause i know in my lil camera phone pics you can't appreciate the awesomeness that is prettyrustyrobot's "beginner" totally tidy pretty stitches!