Im in Im in - *before I ruin / ransack / become stressed out with  , decide that a felting pad really isnt a good way to store sewing needles

Thought Id share with you wondrous people my latest swap stuff.
I was paired up with Spazgirl (much prefer her name Betsy) for the Beltane swap.
I had a really good think abotu what Beltane means for us as a family and also did a little snooping and came up with this little package.
Hope you enjoy

So firstly - Beltane for us is abotu what we are allowing to come to life - in essense what are we growing within.
I call this mixed fibre sculpt - "she birthed a landscape



Then, my sons favourite thing about Beltane is the Maypole !!!! Inspired by some gypsy art on my partners pinterest, I created this peg ribbons. I painted each one with a rainbow colour and then wrote words of inspiration down the sides. Attatching a ribbon to each one, you can watch the colours fly and weave the inspirational words into your life


Lastly I snooped Betsy;s profile and was inspired by her phrase "I can often write things I would never say out loud"
I found this "gorjuss" decoupage in a local craft shop and set it on one of my hand made papers (inspried by a tutorial in here I have made loads !) I accented it with a few junk watch parts and hey presto - a little bit of Betsy to hang
 

I recently took Part in the Beltane swap, and was delighted to get spazgirl1981 as my partner.

I wanted to create something that really represented Beltane as my family celebrates it.
Firstly - for those who dont know, Beltane is the spring festival and is almost opposite in its traditions and values to Samhain (halloween). Whereas Halloween tends to be very loud and "out there", Beltane is much more introspective, calm and about peace and beauty.
Beltane, being at spring is also much about fertility - in essence, as the trees and vegetables begin their growth we too explore what it is within us that is beginning to grow.
And so in our family, we think abotu just that - what have we allowed to pass during the winter in order that we can begin to grow something new.

As these thoughts took shape, so too did this goddess.
.....

"As she sat naked upon the earth - she birthed a landscape"

Enjoy x



The body has a pipe cleaner structure and I blended three shades of merino to create the flesh tones. Her hair is my own dyed and carded fleece which is wonderfully coarse and so needle felts beautifully.
The grass and turrets are knitted, and the flowers are cut felt and sewn.

I'm just so so so pleased it all arrived in one piece. Gosh did it take its time xxx I love that you hung those ribbons on a tree, and I'm Hugely touched thAt you welcomed my parcel with tears.
This has to be one of the best bits About craftster - that our labours are met with appreciation rather than the stifled grunt I often get from well meaning family !!!

Gotta be in this one - and have me something to match my pincushion

I would definitely be up for this

Oh betsy - I reckon that post man should be rattling your door today xxx

So finally I can step away from my copius amounts of paper work and share my bounteous gifts from Ms loverly Spazgirl. I feel truly honoured to have had someone step inside my being and create such wonderful things. Warning - much envy - - - and pic heavy

First off she made me this wonderful necklace, which I only just managed to take off to take the photo


Then she bought me this lovely plaque which already resides inside my studio !


Then she made me some prayer flags - which Im so excited by as Ive been wanting a set for ages and this makes a good start to my collection.
First off some blank ones for me to work on


Then this which are all double sided (so one pic per side)






And finally my most favourite one of all !!!!!


Thankyou beautiful woman, you did such a good job. They will be a major part of my renewal of vows next year

Will pop photos up of my lovely gifts this evening ..... Stay tuned lovely people.
It's interesting I think, that what scares us most at the beginning of our relationships is our difference - yet, I can tell you after 15 years of marriage - it's the differences that make us smile. X

Just got home from a celebratory 15th wedding anniversary weekend away to find a lovely package from spazgirl (I so prefer betsy) !!!! Will post photos as soon as I can xxxxxx
Thank you gorgeous girl