I made this for my partner in the July Birthday swap:

It's Tim Gunn from Project Runway reminding her to "Make it Work"
 Here are some better detail shots:



He's done in back stitch, split stitch and chain stitch, and was my first try at portrait style embroidery.

Here is what I sent MommyTheMaid:


A embroidered picture of Tim Gunn from Project Runway - reminding her to "Make it Work"
Some detail shots:




I had such fun with this swap - happy birthday everyone!

Ok I received from my AWESOME swap angel jezebel_1982, and boy oh boy did she spoil me.  Lots of goodies in my box - get those wisting and pinning fingers ready! (This post is going to be pretty image heavy)

I have to start out saying that I am so freaking jealous of Canadian dollar stores, clearly they are amazing!

Here's all the loot all together:


First is a play sewing kit for my toddler Malachi (Chi for short) - he always wants to "help" when I sew or embroider or bead jewelry, so now he can have his own 'projects' to work on:


Here is a closeup of the top (love those awesome car stickers!):


And inside - it was like Mary Poppins's bag - with all the yarn, fabric, trim, a beading game, and large mesh on a hoop for sewing, stickers, & buttons:


She made an adorable pillowcase dress for my daughter.  I love that it ties on, so it will fit her for a long time - even with leggings in a year or so:


And an action shot (this was the best shot I got of her in it, she is so fast most of the shots were just a blur of pink!):


This ruffly scarf is light weight for summer - and it has a metallic thread running throughout:


Check out these awesome goddess-style sandals!  They are a bunch of ways to tie them (they are the infinity dress of sandals) and they are SO comfy! (please ignore my lily-white legs and need for a pedicure)



An awesome art canvas and sunburst mirror (I might have a little bit of an addiction to sunburst mirrors):


This cute cup a saucer functions as a pin holder (there are super strong magnets glued on the inside):



She even included this awesome accordion folder - great for organizing crafty projects.


I was SO spoiled!  I love everything and it was well worth the wait.  Thanks SO MUCH jezebel_1982 for being my swap angel and for just being so awesome in general.

I got my birthday package from burgz on Saturday - I hope you all are ready for awesomeness:
Here's everything I all together - a sock monkey coffee cozy, an orange knotted headband, 2 freezer pop holders, a necklace and a bracelet.  She really went all out!


And some action shots!
Here's the coffee cozy ready for action - I am completely in love with this:


The knotted orange headband:


The awesome necklace based on one from anthro:


The bracelet - I love how it's a grown up friendship bracelet - perfect for summer:


And the freezer pop holders.  They are double sized with funny faces on both sides. My son loves "Mr Monster" and "Mustache Man" as he named them.



And of course, we had to try the freezer pop holders out immediately:


They were a big hit.
Thanks so much for my wonderful B-Day package burgz!

Ok, so my partner is MIA. But here is the awesome package I sent her.  Zombies and Day of the Dead were two of her favorite themes, so that is what everything is based on.

First a Zombie Defense Station - made from a picture frame, 2 wooden trays and a FBI/detective kit.


Here is the survival guide in better detail - I am forever indebted to Bunny in a Bear and his sweet Zombie Defense Station here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=202668.0 for the survival guide and inspiration:


I even included a warning label on the back that says "WARNING: This Zombie Defense Station is for entertainment purposes only, in the event of the actual zombie apocalypse, RUN!"

Next is a set of Day of the Dead themed fascinator style head bands, made from these Victorian-style cameos I found at my dollar store. I drew in some dark eyes and stitches on the mouth with an ultra fine sharpie to make them more day of the dead/zombie like.  The feathers came from a dream catcher at my dollar store.  I made the decorations detachable, that way she could put them on a clip or move them to a different headband.


I made her some Day of the Dead tea towels.  One towel has a tattoo style bird banner on one side that says "Eat, Drink and Be Merry", and on the opposite side, it has a Day of the Dead skull and says "For Tomorrow We DIE". 
Front:

Back:


The second towel just has a skull.


Both together:


Last, I planned on making her a chandelier out of pink flamingos, like this one from her pininsterst: http://pinterest.com/pin/3533080/, but I couldn't figure out how to get it together on just dollar store materials.  So I sent her the flamingos and battery powered tea lights as a 'kit'


So that's my dollar store swap package. I really liked how everything turned out, and I hope my package is being enjoyed.

[haroldlovesmaude]

I received on Monday, but it took me a little while to post photos.  This post is gonna be image obese because my partner is just too awesome:

Here is all the lovely stuff I got all together:


She made me a wallet and a coin purse:




For my son's room - some unusual animal alphabet cards in the color of my son's nursery (I love the N is for Narwhal) and a multi-color starburst mirror (I might have a slight addiction to starburst mirrors)



A lovely bird box my partner painted and decoupaged:


And inside that box was dark chocolate covered sea salt caramels she HANDMADE from SCRATCH
They are phenomenal!  I wish I could give you all a taste.

A button ring:


AND she made me a floor poof!  She even put in a zipper so that I can wash it (which is important with the kiddos)


AND threw in some extras including head bands and an Elvis postcard (which will go smashingly in my Elvis themed bathroom).

Why who on earth could put together such a box of crafty-goodness?  Why haroldlovesmaude of course.  Thank you so much I LOVE everything!

So if you need me I'll be doing this:


And eating these:

I received from darkangelwingz today!
I love this pearl cuff she made me - must have taken forever!


And I love the funky vintage feel of this bracelet:


And this necklace (based on the akela necklace anthro had a few seasons back):


And as a bonus she sent me this fabulous hair clip!


Thanks darkangelwingz - I can't wait to wear my new jewelry!

Since I was 8.5 months pregnant at Halloween, i decided to dress as "late in life" Elvis.


The basis for my "jump suit" were some black yoga pants and a black maternity shirt.  I split the pants and added gold bell-bottom inserts and made the cape and collar and attached them to the shirt. With the help of some glittery puffy paint and rhinestones I was well on my way to being Elvis complete with an eagle on the back of my cape.


The wig was knitted by my good friend and fellow craftster LikeADiamond, using this pattern http://www.theshed.co.uk/elviswig.html#pattern


I made my belt buckle out of a cereal box, nylon rope, gold spray paint and broken jewelry.


I made the "taking care of business" necklace out of broken chains and old money clip.


It was a lot of fun, and SO comfortable - like wearing PJ's.
Thank you, thank you very much.

[THANK YOU SO MUCH YARDENXANTHE!]

I received an AMAZING package today from yardenxanthe!  This post will be image HEAVY since she sent me so much great stuff...

She made me fascinator style headbands with removable/exchangeable adornments - the feathers came from a dreamcatcher!  ($2)


She made me these awesome face plates for just $4 - maybe it will get my son to eat veggies if they are on a cool plate   I think the robots are my favorite.


This is a floor cushion "pouf" she made me out of small area rugs - once I stuff it I will be the perfect place to rest my swollen feet at the end of the day!  And it only cost her $3 - she is a dollar store genius!!!


And now for the "extras"

This is a banner and mobile she made for my son Malachi in the colors of his nursery (green, black and yellow) - the mobile ring came from the round part of a dream catcher.



She made me a glittery portrait of Elvis - for my Elvis themed bathroom - so cool!  This has been on my list of wants for YEARS!


And here is the whole kit-n-kaboodle (minus the moble)


I cannot express how much I love all of the great crafty-ness you sent me yardenxanthe! I LOVE everything.  You are a dollar store goddess and I bow to your creativity and skills
THANK YOU SO MUCH YARDENXANTHE!

I received from april again today - she made me a fabulous tattoo themed charm bracelet, plus a bonus necklace.  I love it so much - THANKS APRIL!