Hello...my name is Michelle (hello Michelle) and I'm a charm swap-aholic
As you may know, I recently have become addicted to charm swaps. It's actually a fairly harmless addiction. It makes me so very happy and no one gets hurt. Well, not if you don't count the numerous dinners that I don't cook because I'm in my craft room "working!" :-) But I just cain't help it! I just love 'em! I love how colorful they are, I love how jingly they are, I love how original each and every charm is, and most importantly, I love having a collection of mini works of art from so many amazingly talented and inspiring artists!
I'll be leaving for ArtFest next Wednesday and in the hopes of coming home with a "Forest Walk" inspired charm bracelet, I made charms for my trades.
Look at 'em all! Aren't they cute cute cute!? I'm really not usually a cutsey pie, googley eye critter kind of girl, but for some reason, I just fell in love with these!
In other charming news, I recently participated in a Spring Charm Swap that the sweet Michelle hosted. Today I got my package of charms from Michelle!!! Oh how I Iove seeing a package on my porch!! Swoon! I don't have a bracelet for the charms yet but here's a picture of them.
So lovely!!! Thank you so much Michelle for hosting this fun swap!!!
And if you can stand one more charm-related item, I finished up some charms I made for a "By the Sea" Charm Swap. Art and Soul's theme this year is By the Sea and my beloved Charmsters group did a swap. I think this was technically a Hampton Art and Soul swap but it was through the mail, so dangit! I joined in! I absolutely could NOT pass this up this theme! So what do you think of these...
I found that collage, one of my most favorite shops in all of Portland, carries the tiny glass vials. This was good because I kinda needed a break from soldering. :-)
As I was formulating what I wanted to do for my charms, I saw that one of the other Charmsters had made a similar charm -- filling a glass vial with sand and seashells. Hmmm...that's what I was gonna do!! Well, having just come down from my Mermaid and Seaside Inspired high, I was inspired to do something mermaidy and came on the idea to fill the little vials full of shiny bits that a mermaid herself might possibly collect for her charms. I was pretty happy with how these turned out. The whole "By the Sea" theme is just making me so happy. I even ordered some Moo cards using one of the pictures I took of the goodies that Michele sent me in my Mermaid and Seaside Inspired Swap package! I can use these Moo's for this swap and then for the Portland Art and Soul in October. Cool beans!
Okay...it's tea time...and I'd better get to bed too. It's gonna be a fun (and busy!) weekend! The biggest item on this weekend's itinerary is tomorrow night the family G are going to see X at the Crystal Ballroom. So so so SO excited for that! And an added bonus -- I get to hang out with Andrea too because she and her hubbers are goin'! Oh and speaking of Andrea, over the weekend I hope to show you the LOs I just finished from the Andrea's Circle Journal.
And RIGHT when I get back from ArtFest, first thing I'm gonna do is started on some projects from ScrapScene's fabulous new Scrappin' Spring e-book! SOOOO many fun fun clever projects!!! I CAN'T wait!!!
Hey Swapaholic, you've got it bad! Or maybe Good :) I can see how each bracelet will be so unique, and with the participants' soul in them.
Have fun with X!
Posted by: Lilli | March 29, 2008 at 06:02 AM
You have a wonderful blog & I love your trades for ArtFest. I hope I can find you!
Posted by: Diane Silveria | March 29, 2008 at 09:15 AM
all the charms are looking good! so when do you have time to attend CA meetings? (charmed anonymous.....)see you so soon!
kecia
Posted by: kecia | March 29, 2008 at 09:41 AM
woohoo! So cool! Save me one! And I get a by the sea charm too! YAY!
Cheryl
Posted by: fromthepines | March 29, 2008 at 11:22 AM
holy moly girlfriend! you've been busy! lovin' your trades!!
ok...must confess, i've never done charms myself, but after seeing all those lovelies, it could be the start of a new obsession.(shhhhh! don't tell the hubs...he's still in shock over my scrapbooking phase)
Posted by: Stephanie T. | March 29, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Michelle,
love,love your charms...how do you do those owls? also love the mermaid bottles! Will have to make a stop at Collage in Portland on my great Northwest tour after Artfest!
See you soon!
Posted by: Heather | March 29, 2008 at 03:38 PM
p.s. just love your photo of you as a little girl...cute, cute!
Posted by: Heather | March 29, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Your charms are fabulous, Michelle!!!
Have so much fun at ArtFest!!
Posted by: Maija Lepore | March 29, 2008 at 05:10 PM
And RIGHT when I get back from ArtFest, first thing I'm gonna do is started on some projects...
Ummm, I hope that's the second thing your gonna do...
Posted by: Glen the Husband | March 29, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Ooh! Are you in my Hampton charm swap? I didn't think you were....hope you got my long reply of the other day...who knows with my email. I didn't mail you anything for A&S-that will give me an excuse to try to go next year. I spoke to Miss Vicky on the phone today who has been and who knows Teesha well and has taken a class with the O'Briens. Did I mention I am sooo jealous of you lady? Have a great time!! I will be on vacay April 4-14, but I will have my trusty laptop surgically attached to my hand when I go.
xoxoox
Posted by: Gina | March 29, 2008 at 11:57 PM