ATC Beauties Received...

 Do you enjoy ATCs?  I enjoy making them, giving them and receiving them.  Even better I love a little surprise Random Act of Kindness in my mail.  This lovely French themed card I recieved from the equally lovely and very talented Dorthe of Den Lille Lade.  The bits of lace and the wooden button really add such detail.  Thank you dear Dorthe.

These little gems came to me from Australia.  Judy of Judy's Fabrications is another lovely lady with lots of talents.  She created this adorable little fabric stocking ornament with beads sewn on.  I adore it and the card with the 3D candle and holly.  Thank you dear Judy.

 Look at this lovely pear.  This ATC is made with napkin applique and enhanced with some beautiful gold leafing which does not show up well in this photo.  Meet Daniella of Layers of Creativity.  I am certain we will be swapping ATCs on a regular basis as Daniella loves making these little works of art.

 This very Thanksgiving Autumn ATC is made by my friend Joy.  She does not have a blog...yet.  Joy is uber creative and has the most beautiful gardens surrounding her home.  I had sent her an ATC just because and that introduced her to this little bit of art and creativity.  Joy is now making beautiful ATCs and teaching her mother, Eva, to make them as well.  They are now looking to swap with others.  I am linking Joy to all the best people I know.  Under the little brown scalloped flap she has stamped swirls and written "Family and Friends" in the most fluid perfect cursive writing.  Thank you Joy...your little ATC brings me much "joy".

And here is Eva's (Joy's mother) gorgeous ATC that she also sent me last week.  I believe Eva fussy-cut the roses.  Remember years ago when we sat with tiny manicure scissors and fussy-cut tiny little scenes and then made framed 3 dimensional pictures?  I loved those.  That is when I learned to turn the paper not the scissors.  I am thrilled that our little creative world shares and allows us to spread all the happinesses that come from such wonderful talented artisans.  Thank you Eva for this little piece of art.  No link here as Eva has no blog, however she does want to swap ATCs with others.
I would be happy to pass along any swap info to Joy and Eva if you just let me know here in comments or via email. 
Blessings and peace as you enter this busy week of holiday preparations...Thanksgiving here in the US.
I am truly blessed and so grateful for the gift of blogging friends and gracious giving.

Giving and Receiving...

This blogging community continues to inspire me and overwhelm me with its incredible generosity.  The amount of inspiration that is shared on a daily basis is just so amazing. 
Do you love to read comments left on your blog posts?  I certianly love to read them.  I think they are the one thing that really speak to me about how I am doing as a blogger and as a crafter and as a person.
I do not always respond to every post however once in a while there are those comments that just call out to me. 

 I have said before I have not had any formal giveaways because I like to send surprises to my loyal blog commenters.  A few posts ago I showed a Wizard of Oz ATC.  One of my followers really liked the little ruby slippers and asked where I got them.  Long ago and no longer to be found and not even any manufacturers name is what I had to reply to her.  So instead I offered to send her one of mine. In return completely surprising me she made and sent this beautiful thank u card and beaded charm.  Her name is Ana of Scrappy Pink Corner .  She creates adorable mini albums and I am smitten with them. 

 Along with the beautiful card and charm she included this giant envelope chock full of the most fun elements that I can now use to create wonderful cards and albums and lots of great projects.  To say I was overwhelmed would be a gross understatement.  I gave her so little and yet she gives me so much.  Life is like that...you get what you give.  No, not literally but in the sense that if you are generous and giving then you shall also receive much good in your life and that is exactly what has happened here. 
Mr. C has always told me I am generous to a fault!  Now that I didn't understand...how could being generous with others be a fault?  He explained that I do not have money or wealth to share with others as I need what little I have to support me (this was when I was single and struggling).  I also over volunteer my time.  For me it is about the giving to others to help them or share my supplies or talents and that my friends FEEDS MY SOUL AND MAKES ME SO VERY HAPPY!  Money cannot buy that.  Having things cannot buy that. 

So THANK YOU Ana.  Your generosity is so very appreciated and this is what life is about...happiness!
Now for using these fabulous goodies you sent me and creating beautiful pieces of pleasure. 
P.S.  I always ask before I post something I have received so as not to put the giver in a possible uncomfortable position. 
Don't you agree that this blogging community is amazing and generous and kind and creative? 
Do each of you enjoy reading your comments? 
Do you check older posts to see if anyone has gone back and left a comment you may have missed? 
I do!  I really do find it to be wonderful feedback for me.
Now I am off to get crafting... 

Brynwood Needleworks Giveaway...

This is an announcement for Brynwood Needleworks who is having a giveaway to celebrate her 400th Follower. Now that is quite the accomplishment. 400 is like an entire graduating class for all of 2010.
However if you are familiar with Donna and her blog then you will understand completely how she has come to be so followed. Her talents are endless.
I have been in awe of her amazing seamstress talents. Her work is detailed and incredible.
Therefore it isn't easy for me to share this giveaway information with all of you however I do not wish to be greedy. We should all have an opportunity at winning.
I am hoping my title has her link to her blog. I am so trying to learn how to do links in Blogger.
Best of Luck everyone.
Happy creating...

Thank you Millie...

Thank you Millie for being so supportive and encouraging of my blog and endeavors. We share a love of creating jewelry and blogging and our tag line of "happy creating". Please check out http://ammjewelry.blogspot.com and see what Millie is up to. Millie has given me my first award and now I am sharing it with others.

Here are the rules for this award: (I think it is to merely have fun and get to know others)
1. Post the award on my blog
2. Thank the person who gave me this award
3. Link the person who gave me this award (I did in the title I hope)
4. Share 7 things that you might not know about me
5. Choose 7 great bloggers to share this award with
6. Share a link to their blogs ( I am not good with links but I shall try)
7. Leave a comment on their blog (and hope they don't hate you :o) for doing this)

So now I continue...

Seven things you might not know about me:
1. I am so fortunate that I have the love of creating handmade items and the teachings of my grandmother and mother who were super creative.
2. I am a little girl at heart and I love to pretend I am still the princess.
3. I am always volunteering to help others and share my knowledge and skills with them. Mr. C says I am generous to a fault and I find that to be a compliment. :o)
4. I adore colors of the rainbow and more, however, blues are my hearthrob.
5. I believe our health is more important with every year that we are living. I am trying to eat better and be more physically active even though I really despise outdoor adventure and bugs.
6. My favorite saying is, "That is my favorite!"
7. I am truly blessed with a wonderful husband (we are do-overs), daughter, two granddaughters, one fur-child kitty, numerous friends and family members whom I love and cherish.

Okay here are the seven (7) bloggers I wish to share this award with: (in alphabetical order)
1. Carmelina @ http://creativecarmelina.blogspot.com
2. Darlene @ http://darlenepringle.blogspot.com
3. Dogwood @ http://pinkdogwoodblossom.blogspot.com
4. elle @ http://ellendacoop.blogspot.com
5. Jan @ http://papercraftpleasures.blogspot.com
6. Kat&Suz @ http://katsuijewelry.blogspot.com
7. Lori @ http://elviestudio.blogspot.com
Once you visit each of these blogs you will see that I have selected quite an eclectic array as that is how I like things...eclectic and interesting.

Please understand I know this takes time and I truly appreciate each of you and your creativity. My sincere gratitude for this wonderful world of friends and wealth of creative ideas I have found here in blogland.

I look forward to reading each of your little known 7 things.
Thank you thank you.

Whew...

Well, yesterday I finally commented on the very first blog I ever read or followed:

http://kerriposson-artist.blogspot.com/

I don't know why my hesitation has been so great to merely read and follow from the shadows. I feel like I know this woman after reading her blog for over a year now. I suppose I feel like I am so not capable as she is and many other bloggers are. Well, that is just nonsense and the grown up in me knows that but the little voice on my shoulder tells me to wait and get more blogging experience. Maybe I will get good just from time passing by. More than likely I shall get good at blogging from reading, writing and opening myself up to others comments and sites. What a concept. Sharing and learning. Isn't that what we do from the time we are wee little ones? I am actually very good at sharing...but maybe not so good at opening myself up for criticism.

I discovered blogging from buying Artful Blogging from my favorite Somerset Studios publication way back in Spring of 2007. I still find it incredibly interesting to read and follow others blogs. I actually got excited when I opened my own createology blog one day and found a comment posted. Wow, someone read my blog. How did they find me? Did they like what they read? I have tried lots of different content however I find the most comfortable is to just sit at the computer and begin typing without a script or really knowing what topic I might cover.

I do hope blogging continues for a very long time. It is fascinating to find so many diverse blogs and the people who write them. I am thankful for this venue.