I got my tip-in page last week from Alteredmommy.  I tried a couple of times to photograph it, but it really needed to be snapped in natural light -- and even then, the photos don't capture the intensity of the purple.  (AM, the colors you create are amazing!)  She said the page is inspired by Nick Bantock -- I love Nick Bantock! 






I love this page!  It's so pretty and fun -- and the gorgeous blue postcard is amazing!  Thanks AM

Ok, here's the picture of my yard stick fiber display:



I tied the coral ribbons around each end, secured those to the yard stick with glue dots, then used thumb tacks to attach the yard stick to the wall.  Then I just looped the fibers over the yardstick.

This really only works for short random lengths -- I have small balls (10 yards or so) in a box, and all my knitting/crochet yarns in clear rubbermaid containers in a closet.  But this is mostly my "altered art" fiber collection.  I have more though -- I have to buy another yard stick to put next to this one.

Here's the great page I got from Heini -- B is for Butterfly! 




I love butterflies, and the colors in this page are so restful.  The butterfly on the back has different names of butterflies written in it.  Thank you Heini! 

Check out this awesome page I got from gingerquilts!




I love it!  Some of you know that I am crazy about scrap quilts -- I'm working on one with about 600 different fabrics, all cut into 2,880 1-inch squares!  This is perfect for me GQ, thank you so much!

Heini received my page and asked me to post photos.

Here are two new chunky pages I've made.

This one is called "something".


This is the back of "something" -- I am so in love with those doll legs.



With this one, I was trying to copy the way Alteredmommy uses gesso.  I started with a collage paper base, then covered it with distress embossing powder.  Then I loaded up my paint brush with gesso and patted the side of the brush all over to create texture.  I did about 3 layers of gesso, letting it dry in between.  Then I added paint and ink to create shadows, and some copper paint to emphasize the demon a bit more.  It's called "Tether your demon."



The back (which I don't have a picture of) says "tether your demon and create."  This page is for me. 

[Katxena's Shop]

Katxena's Shop

CLOSED until I craft more things!
All items are from my smoke free home in the USA.  I have two cats who get into everything.  Please feel free to PM me with any questions you have. 

___________________ __

Handcrafted Items

Denim & Crochet Brooches


These look great on a coat or a purse, or for hanging on a bulletin board or dresser or anywhere else you need the sunny cheer of a flower. Features a crocheted wool flower, button accent, and denim backing with hand embroidered blanket stitch.  The back is nicely finished with felt and a pin back closure. Size approximately 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.

(please include brooch # in your claim!!!)

Pale Yellow (brooch #3).  1/2 point. Pale yellow flower with purple button accent and red stitching.




Just red (brooch #4).  1/2 point. Dark red flower with a shell button and denim blue stitching. 



Supplies



Housekeeping

Items claimed from me
Katxena to Phizzychick - Blue/Green Bundle – (.5) (Mail by April 13) - rec'd
Katxena to Phizzychick - Earthy Bundle – (.5) (Mail by April 13) - rec'd


Items claimed by me
mimiw to katxena -- small portfolio A (1 point) (rec'd)
rubytuesday to katxena -- parrot scissor fob (1 point) - mail by April 18 (rec'd)
aliciasjoy to katxena -- a handful of findings (1 point) - mail by April 29

Points
Starting Points: 5
Current Points:3
Pending Points: 0
Total Points: 5

I made this shrine for Babbetto for the Snowflake Shuffle swap.  She said she likes the distressed look, earthy colors, nooks, drawers, vintage and this tip-in page I made.

The shrine is made out of foam core board, using directions from Crafting Personal Shrines, by Carol Owen, a book Rackycoo turned me on to.  It's a great resource, although her measurements are sometimes a bit imprecise (Owen's, not Rackycoo's.  I'm sure Racky always measures perfectly!)

Here's the shrine in all its glory.  The door is hinged and opens -- the "doorknob" is a Mexican peso that Alteredmommy sent me in a swap.  I bought  the skeleton key that's in the nook at the top in an antique store in Gettysburg, PA.  I left the two nooks at the bottom mostly empty so that Babbetto could add her own things:


When I first put the shrine together, it was top heavy -- it fell over every time I walked past the table it was sitting on.  I took it apart and added some heavy bolts to the bottom piece where  the two nooks are.  They are hidden with a false back.  This gives the bottom more weight and helps the shrine stay upright.

I covered the roof in paper bingo cards that Original Youth sent me.  I like the way all the numbers line up.


Most of the shrine is covered in a Farsi newspaper.  I particularly liked the way this part of the stoop turned out, with the pretty Farsi words showing through:


My photos of the interior didn't turn out all that well.  I was a week late mailing for this swap, and I took all these photos at 11pm at night!     You can see more Farsi on the inside of the door.  The color behind the bird is a rich orange, and the color in the nook below is a dark red called "cranberry vine."


The big challenge of the inside was designing an assemblage that would look good both with the door closed and with the door open.  I fiddled around a lot with the assemblage until I was satisfied.

The final bird assemblage is mounted on a vintage bingo card.  The music behind the bird is German.  The tatting you see in front of the bird was done by Sewknitter (I got it from her in shop the swap 11).  The scrolls are just bits of paper rolled up and glued so that they will hold their shape, and then tied together.  The little teddy bear is hiding in the corner and isn't visible when the door is closed.  I left more space on the right side and down near the tile for Babbetto to add her own things.

This shrine was so much fun to make.  I didn't want to give it up -- except that I knew how much Babbetto would love it! 

I received my page from Babbetto!  It's such a different style -- Babbetto, your skills are marvelously diverse.




The bits on the front that look white are really gold leaf.  The page is really textured and fun.  Thank you so much Babbetto!

I just opened my shop and added two new items -- crocheted flower bracelets.  Here's a peek at one:



I will be leaving the swap after this Month.  I've really enjoyed it, but I don't have the time to devote to it properly.  If there's anything you'd like from me, grab it this month!