February's ATC Swap Returns

February's swap theme was

"Nature's Naturals."

Here is a group photo of the beautifully created ATCs

by our swappers.

top row: Julie, Sherry, Lori, Cathee

bottom row: JoAnne, Sue, Fonda, me

It would be wonderful if you ladies left a comment on this post.

That would make it easy for everyone reading this post

to find your blog/etc.

There is still time to sign up for March's swap.

hugs,

Kim

Nature Of Fabric ATC Swap - Post #9

Today's featured swapper is

Liz Waring of

http://lululizinlalaland.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

This is the wonderful ATC

Liz created for our swap:

 

And here is a peek at the

gorgeous fabric and lace journal,

Liz is creating to house

the swap returns:

 

Visit Liz's post HERE,

there are more pictures to ooh and ahh over.

 

Liz sells beautiful vintage finds in her etsy shop

La Croix Rosion

and she has a second blog,

http://lululizinvintageland.blogspot.co.uk/

where she shares her treasures found at

French brocantes and English bootfairs

 with her followers.

This beautiful example is from her shop:

 

German born, Liz

moved to England at 20.

She admits to rapidly approaching 60,

but in her mind, if not her body (her words),

she is still that young girl.

She is married for 32 years,

mother to 3 adult sons,

and Gram to 3 granddaughters.

 

Liz keeps 2 homes.

The first, in the UK,

is a classic Victorian home

in the very historic 1066 country.

The second,

is a 150 year old farm cottage in

Burgundy, France.

 

In France,

at times not spent truffling for treasures,

Liz can be found in her craft van,

listening to country music

as she creates her magic.

 

When asked to describe herself,

Liz says:

(I am) "eccentric, doolally, bonkers,

happy, smiley,

arty, crafty,

romantic, loving,

argumentative,

hoarder-y"

 

 

Thank you Liz,

for sharing yourself

and your art with us.

 

hugs, JOY, and a lovely weekend,

Blessings,

Kimberly

Fabric Of Nature ATC Swap - Post #8

Today's featured swapper is:

Carolyn Huber

Here is the lovely ATC

created by Carolyn for our swap:

And this is how

Carolyn is displaying her swap returns:

Carolyn's mom has been a huge influence

on her creative journey.

Her mom is an amazing artist,

who encouraged her to follow a different path.

Thus, while Carolyn remembers creating

since childhood,

she put it behind her

and moved into adulthood.

Six or so years ago,

Carolyn's muse burst back into her life,

demanded her attention,

and reminded her

"that life without art

is like not breathing."

Carolyn says,

"Now I am compulsively creating

to make up for lost time."

"And slowly I have been remembering

how to breath."

Carolyn does not,

(yet),

share her work on social media,

but is always a welcome swapper.

 Thank you Carolyn

for your beautiful ATCs!

hugs, JOY, and Blessings,

Kimberly

Fabric Of Nature ATC Swap - Post #7

Today's featured artist is

Marlene Plasencia of

Uniquely Ella

 

Marlene created this lovely ATC

for our swap:

 

Marlene displays her ATCs on a rack

which wraps her laundry room doorway.

I might almost enJOY doing laundry if I did THIS.

I tried, unsuccessfully,

get pictures from Marlene's blog,

but you must click the link above to see for yourself.

 

Marlene sells her handmade

and vintage wares in her etsy shop.

This is a sampling of what is currently available:

 

Marlene has been crafting as long as she can remember.

She attributes her love of creating

to her mom,

whom she credits as being

the most creative person she knows.

 

The creative process brings

an opportunity to

"disconnect and relax"

and Marlene says,

"I am all for that."

 

When asked to describe herself,

Marlene says,

"I'm a simple kind of gal,

I love anything shabby,

 white and pink.

I'm so enjoying this blogging journey."

 

Along with her blog and estsy shop,

Marlene also has a youtube channel,

you can check that out here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/4umarlene1

 

Marlene, thank you for being a

wonderful swapper,

your work is truly lovely

and you are always generous and kind.

 

hugs, JOY, and Blessings,

Kimberly

Fabric Of Nature ATC Swap - Post #6

Today's featured artist is:

Becky Swartzlander of

Rebecca Rose Designs

 

Becs created this ATC

for our swap:

 

and this awesome flag garland

with all the swap returns:

 

These are some examples of Becs'

handmade beauties for sale,

(these were from her etsy shop,

and have sold),

 

she also has a website shop,

https://www.etsy.com/shop/VintageRebeccaRose

 

Like so many of us,

Becs began her creative journey

at her mother's side.

The rigors of life as a police officer

left little time for her creative soul.

It was about 20 years ago,

while assigned to the swing-shift

and needing to unwind after hours,

that Becs returned to her art.

 

In 2001 Becs was diagnosed with Lupus,

she continued to work as a

Police Sergeant for as long as she was

physically able,

she retired in 2004.

Not one to let life get her down,

Becs spends her time traveling,

taking art classes,

and creating beautiful art.

She is a part-time college and Police Academy

instructor in the field of

Law Enforcement.

 

Becs describes herself as,

"Creative – Imaginative – Honest – Caring – Sarcastic

– Independent –Disorganized – Unwavering"

 

She sells her art online and locally,

but dreams of a opening

"a brick and mortar studio and tea house"

with her sister and friends,

"one day soon."

 

More social media contacts for Becs:

Flickr

Facebook

 

Becs, you are a JOY,

thanks bunches!

 

hugs, JOY, and Blessings,

Kimberly

Fabric Of Nature ATC Swap - Post #5

Today's Featured Artist is:

Karla Jackson

 

Karla's

Fabric Of Nature ATC:

 

Here is the lovely mantel display

that Karla created with her swap returns:

 

You can view more of Karla's work here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/augustavindelicorum/

and here:

http://sketchbookmailartclub.blogspot.com/

 

Karla is a self-confessed

paperholic,

who bravely accepted the

"no paper" challenge of this swap.

 

She is a self-taught artist,

with over 15 years of creating

under her belt.

Karla dabbles in a wide variety of creative endeavours,

including:

card-making,

sketchbooks,

ATCs,

jewelry,

mixed media,

and digital art.

 

When speaking of her love of digital art,

Karla says:

 (Digital Art) "relaxes me instantly

and I do not have to get my fingers inky or full of glue.

  But my heart is with paper and will always be. "

 

Karla shares her home with her husband

 and her kitties, Miss Hope and Hunny Bunny.

She is devoted to her fur babies,

and also to raising funds for cat charities.

These earrings are available for purchase.

You can contact Karla through her

kitty blog here.

 

"My motto in each day is,

do something for someone else,

do something for yourself,

do something creative and something productive

...and if something does not please you, just alter it!!"

-Karla Jackson

 

Thank you Karla for accepting the challenge,

beautifully!

 

hugs and JOY, my dear friends,

blessings,

Kimberly

Fabric Of Nature ATC Swap - Post #4

Today's featured artist is

Terri Heinz

of:

http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/

 

 

Terri created this lovely ATC for the swap:

 

The back of Terri's ATC

was very lovely too:

 

This is the nature themed display

Terri put together

with her swap returns:

 

Terri creates wonderfully creative tutorials,

some are free on her blog,

Artful Affirmations, 

and others are available for purchase at

Creative Workshops

(simply click the picture to be taken to the site):

 

 

Let me begin by saying

that Terri is a doll,

she joined this swap a few weeks in,

when one of our swappers had to leave the group

in order to attend to a family health crisis.

Thanks so much Terri!

 

Terri recalls playing with paper for hours

 as a little girl,

she has always loved making things.

 

Terri says:

"The creative process feeds my soul."

(It is) "Life, Breath, Appreciation."

 

Terri also hosts a fun linky party

every Tuesday,

I'll be linking up today at:

 

So, grab yourself a cuppa,

and pop over to say "hi"

to Terri,

be sure to send her a great big

Thank You

from me.

 

hugs, JOY, and a Happy Tuesday,

enJOY Your Blessings,

Kimberly

Fabric Of Nature ATC Swap - Post #3

Allow me to introduce you to

Maggie Raguse of

http://www.themagrag.com/

and you can view her paintings here:

http://pinterest.com/magrag/my-angel-paintings-and-prints/

Maggie's ATC for our swap:

 

And the beautiful display piece

she created to showcase

her swap returns:

You can find Maggie's post about her display here.

 

 

This is one of the lovely soldered pieces

Maggie sells in her etsy shop,

https://www.etsy.com/shop/magrag:

 

 

Maggie makes her home in

Portland, Oregon,

where she lives with her husband,

college-aged daughter,

and four-legged, scruffy little studio companion.

 

I began this post with an introduction,

 but many of you may already be familiar

 with today's featured artist's work.

Maggie has been in the textile industry for over 30 years,

working as an illustrator, art director, and designer

for Daisy Kingdom and Simplicity,

among others

.

While her day job pays the bills,

Maggie's true passions are

crafting soldered jewelry,

painting angels,

teaching crafting classes,

and treasure hunting at estate sales and thrift stores.

 

When asked to describe herself,

Maggie says:

(I am) "creative, crafty, curious:

Never saw an artsy-crafty project I didn't HAVE to try!"

 

Thank you to Maggie,

for sharing your story and talent with us.

 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend,

full of Blessings,

enJOY,

Kimberly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Fabric Of Nature ATC Swap - Post #2

Today's post features

Amy Bauer.

 

Amy's ATC for the swap:

 

This is the beautiful display

Amy created using all of

her swap returns:

 

Amy does not have a blog,

but she is fabulously creative,

and you can visit more of her work here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7866304@N08

 

 

Amy is a working mom and wife who admits to over volunteering.

She is a midnight crafter,

who steals away to her attic studio,

once the family is soundly asleep.

Due to her hectic schedule,

Amy enJOYs crafting small projects,

and loves to make them in batches to give as gifts

for family and friends.

Along with challenging herself in new mediums,

she loves to read, camp, and garden.

She also decorates her 1932 home

with seasonal and holiday vignettes.

 

When questioned about her creative beginnings,

Amy says:

"I have been creating since I was a wee tot,

and I can't help collecting shells and acorns

and rocks and pine cones.

I would have been most useful

when women were the "gatherers"

in "hunter-gatherer" societies."

 

Thank you Amy,

for sharing your art and your time with us.

 

hugs, JOY,

and Blessings To You,

Kimberly

Fabric Of Nature ATC Swap - Post #1

Today's post features:

Marsha of

http://www.tatteredchick.net/

 

 

Marsha's ATC for the swap:

 

Here is what Marsha created using

the swap returns,

more detailed photos of this amazing apron

can be found on her blog post

HERE.

 

The gorgeous necklace shown worn by

Marsha's vintage dress form,

is one she has created and available for purchase from her

HERE.

Marsha lives in the Sacramento area with her husband

and Sophie, their very spoiled boxer!

In addition to creating, she loves to treasure hunt,

dabbles in photography

and enJOYs Sunday drives with her hubby and Sophie.

 

Marsha says:

"I have been creating for as long as I can remember.

What I create is constantly changing

but the my most recent passion is creating

with vintage fabric/lace and rusty elements/hardware

that I find in my junking adventures! 

Creating truly feeds my soul. I'd be lost without it! "

 

When asked to describe herself,

Marsh replies:

(I am an) "Eclectic Old Soul"

 

Thank you Marsha for sharing your

beautiful talent with us,

and your apron project is inspiration to us all.

 

Tomorrow will be another featured artist,

so please join me then.

 

hugs, JOY,

and Blessings To You All,

Kimberly