Mail Call

I LOVE mail days like this!
When there is this much good news, I don't mind the bills so much. :-)
Look at all the goodies just waiting for me to unwrap.

Bookmarks

I am trying my hand at making bookmarks and am having a lot of fun. I was inspired by a bookmark swap at Swap-Bot. Now I need to make some for me!







How do you like these bookmarks?
Do you make bookmarks as gifts or for yourself?


I usually use the subscription inserts in magazines for bookmarks. I pull these nuisances out before I read my magazine as I hate the way they make the page flip and bend. They have come in handy for page markers though. :-)

Chilca, Peru

One of my favorite adventures on my recent trip to Peru was the mud bath in Chilca. The black mud is beneficial for the body and the white mud for the face. I am not a believer in miracle cures (apart from God's healing power), but I will tell you my skin was so soft and smooth! And my face looked healthy and deep down clean. The lakes are mineral lakes, deep green in color and so full of salts and other minerals that you float in the water.
The water was warm as a soothing bath and because I just floated right on top it was tranquilizing, peaceful and refreshing.
I could float here ALL day!
I wish someone could make a bed that makes you feel this weightless and comfortable.

Tea Swaps

Tea swaps are definitely a favorite! The turn-around is fast, the swappers all seem to follow-through and I get a great variety of teas to try.

Pick 3 Swap

I had a mother/daughter duo for this swap, so instead of mailing them something to share, I mailed them each a little package. It was fun! Having 4 daughters of my own I know how much girls love packages! Even grown up girls like me love packages.

Handmade Bag Swap

I knitted and felted this gorgeous bag. It has long been one of the favorite bags I have made.
This bag has been sent to Britta in Denmark and she loves it!
Included were a few little goodies based on her Swap-Bot profile.
This was for the SEW KNIT CROCHET FELT QUILT EMBELLISH TOTE Swap on Swap-Bot.

Anything You Can Do Swap

This was my gift from the Anything You Can Do swap at Swap-Bot. It is a lovely package filled with several bars of homemade soap.

Knitted Bags I am Working On

These are bags/purses/totes I am currently working on.
The first bag is knitted and will be felted. It will be a clutch style as it has built in handles. I love the touch of novelty yarn in the center.
The next two are felted, I need to add a handle and maybe a lining with a pocket.
Adding lining to these bags is such a drag! I can't just sew through all the layers with a machine, I have to hand sew the top and hand tack the bottom. And it takes a lot of measuring, sewing, cutting, and re-sewing to get the lining to lay right.
I didn't knit handles for any of these bags as I thought I would add something unique like beaded handles or bamboo, but nothing looks right.
This orange bag is ADORABLE! It is already felted PLUS I added dry needle felting with the cute circle/dots. It also needs a handle and lining. I ordered some handles for it, but when they arrived they were way too big. I can envision what I want, but finding the supplies is a whole 'nother matter.
The colors on the sixth bag are gorgeous with deep blue and shades of brown.
The last bag is a purse with a ruffled top edge. I think the ruffle will look cute once felted. I'm curious to see how the two colors together in the body of the bag will look.

Flat Goodies Swap

Look at all this wonderful stuff I got in the mail. She just stuffed this envelope full of wonderful things like tissue paper, an address book, stickers, a magnet unique pictures, a coaster, some ribbon, scrapbooking embellishments and even tea.
I just adore packages like this.
THANK YOU!!!