Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The May Basket Swap



Well, Suz is swapping again. I joined Kari Ramstrom's May Basket Swap and had an absolutely wonderful partner. Her name is Renee and she has a business (Vintage Recreations) in which she repurposes jewelry (like Kat and me) ...and she lives in the Minneapolis area! How strange is that! She is actually going to be selling at the Junk Bonanza...this is the real thing, sisters!  I will take you through this beautiful basket step by step and then I want you to go to her blog to see the basket as it was presented. As would be expected, it was beautiful. As usual, I didn't think about taking a picture before I dove in! 

This is the beautiful basket in which the many treats were presented. I believe she said she made the liner. It is so soft and pretty and will be put to good use, probably right next to my bed. 



Throughout the box, there were TONS of flowers, vintage plastic, silk, feather, you name it. They made a bed for all of the beautiful little treats.


My home is decorated in mostly soft pastels...soft pink, soft blue and soft grey. Renee sent some wonderful treats that will be so much fun to use. There are soft pink flower candles, the kind that float in water (I love those!). Next to the candles is the most lovely blue ceramic bird...so charming. Then we have flower seeds...we love flowers in Minnesota...even though our growing season is about one month! Under that is a soft pink feather bird and some pink fuzzy chicks!!! I love fuzzy chicks! And then we have a wonderful package of Prima flowers. I will find a lot to do with these!


Next are the millinery flowers...can you believe it? They are so rare around here. She had just been to an antique fair near me and bought them for me. I was thrilled. As scarce as hen's teeth, as they say in the Midwest (not really). Aren't they gorgeous? There were also two of those little vintage plastic baskets that people used to have at weddings. So sweet.


Wow, isn't this something? This is the biggest haul of vintage jewelry I have laid my eyes on! Kat and I were both just dazzled. There were enamel pins and plastic flowers and rhinestone pins and beaded necklaces and seed bead chains and pearls and pop bead spacers...just everything I could ever want. There was also a darling little container of rhinestones...really cool ones. It truly was a dream basket full of jewelry goodies, which are the things that I love the most.


There were also dog treats that drove Sophie and Harvey, The Rescue Dog, just nuts. I need to find out from her what they were as they are long gone. I didn't think to look closely as I threw away the wrapper. And there was the most adorable ceramic flower vintage clock, which is hanging in the paper craft room. The last treat (I am sure I am forgetting something) was a pair of aqua blue fuzzy socks. How did she know I love fuzzy socks, and especially ones that are a soft aqua. Kat wanted to borrow them. I said,"No, borrow an old pair." She told me the old ones were "hard," which they are compared to these!

Thank you, Renee. I am blown away by your generosity! This was an incredible swap! Renee brought the basket to my house. I was not feeling well and Kat traded with her. She said she was so sweet and had one of those beautiful Scandanavian faces. I am hoping we can get some of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area bloggers together this summer and then I can meet her. 

Underneath this is the basket that I gave Renee. There are some similarities, huh? Do you see the bird, beads, flowers, trim? 


Here you can see my first pincushion, which was on the top. I started with a turquoise blue ceramic Oven King bowl on the bottom. I have a bird in a nest on the top. I sugared the bird, then started making the flower garden. I got a little carried away!!!! Nonetheless, it was fun to make. You can also see the top of my basket. It is a vintage sewing basket I bought from Kari's shop. I actually bought two, one pink and this one, and I had a bit of a hard time giving this one up...but I am so glad I did to such a great partner. Sigh. Swapping is so much fun!
-Suz

16 comments:

  1. Wow, you both scored. Well done Suz!

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  2. Yummy, yummy, love those spring colors & all the wonderful vintage treats. I have that same sewing basket, minus all the cool stuff inside. Great swap. Lisa

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  3. Oh My gosh your photos are so good I was munching on the delicous chocolates you sent me as I was snapping photos! Lol by the way loved the treats, I don't think she has ever had such gourmet treats before!

    thank you so much I had so much fun and I can't wait to meet you!

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  4. what a sweet blog you have! if i wasn't soooo sleepy i would hop around a bit more but i am sleepy so i will become a follower and be back SOON!

    love the basket!

    xo
    elyse

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  5. ps

    3 hour time diff. it's 11:19 for me.

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  6. your basket full of goodies is TDF! what a lot of wonderfulness! also love the basket you sent too, i'd have trouble giving it up as well :)

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  7. Hello sweet friend,
    Sorry for my absence but life in Virginia is hectic : ) I, too, was in this swap...lol. I just wanted to tell you how pretty and special the basket you made for your partner was. I am glad you shared it with us.
    I, was reading your post about possibly moving to AZ someday and I have the same dream, or at least moving somewhere where there are fabulous stamp, scrapping and antique stores. I do not have much around me...
    Have a wonderful day!!
    Catherine

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  8. It's so nice to meet you Suz, looking forward to Silver Bella '10. I'm looking for that badge and can't find it anywhere except "stealing" the logo from their web site and creating one. Your blog is delightful, I'm now following. And salivating over this great May basket swap. Holy cow what delights and treasure brimming inside that basket, your's and the one you recieved!

    Later I'm off to check out your blog roll on the sidebar, I looooove blog hopping!

    ---Pat May aka whyte

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  9. Suz, You always leave such sweet comments on my blog that are very much appreciated. I am so glad that your swap was all that you hoped it would be. Everything is fun and inspiring. Lots of crafting ahead for you! Again, thank you for stopping by. Elizabeth

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  10. hi suz! it IS so much fun and i can see that you are just finding your way quickly in the best possible way! happy to "meet" you here and look forward to following your adventures.

    xo
    elyse

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  11. Fabulous swap you had there Suz! There is so much kindness and generosity in the land of blog!
    It's a beautiful thing!
    oxo

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  12. Wow- what a great swap. I bet all those pretties really got your creative juices in overdrive- and fun that you're both from the Mpls area.

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  13. Great idea...a basket swap. You got some real nice goodies!

    Please stop by and enter my jewelry giveaway!

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  14. sitting over here with a little envy now....so much fun and how lucky are you!!

    have a lovely weekend.

    ♥rebecca

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  15. You ladies certainly swapped a lot of wonderful items. How fun for each of you. Happy creating...

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