A NEW CUSTOMER, A NEW FRIEND AND A FUN SWAP!

So, I order this fabulous necklace from Molly at Miss Molly's Designs - I had to have it, I loved it.
So, she goes to my etsy shop and places an order with me and after exchanging some emails and becoming blog friends *we really hit it off* we decided to have a One on One Swap!
It was so much stinkin' fun!!

I wanted to show you this simple, different, yet gorgeous necklace that Molly made (I found it in her etsy shop). She made all of the links, has added fabulous beads and this wonderful old key. I love the simplicity and the use of a found object, the color of the beads............okay, I just love it!!!

And, now for my swap items from Molly!
Look at all of this!
It's all so wonderful - the square bingo cards are stiff cardboard *never seen anything like them*, the found objects (yea!!), a wonderful copper square that's been etched (stamped?) with the definition of "celebrate", other metal pieces (yea!!), these wonderful turquoise wee bitty bird beads and the clear gold "rhinestones", the retro' metal pink flower, these awesome buttons AND the container the necklace came in with the necklace so you can see it one more time:).
We're going to do it again, we had so much fun doing it the first time!
And, I want to do a destash - heck, I could do more than one of those! LOL
Go visit Molly's Etsy shop - she has a real gift! And, her blog, wonderful reading:)

Thanks for sharing in this wonderful swap with my new friend, Molly.

And, my loyal readers - gosh, I love y'all!
xoxo, Jan

I NORMALLY WOULDN'T MENTION MY BIRTHDAY...

My birthday is this Monday.
Yes, I know, I know, they made it a holiday - but I won't talk about that lest I sound like a braggart.

I'll be 55.
Years.
Years old.
55 years old.
You still can't believe it, can you?
I KNOW!
Because I think I'm really 24.
Barbie and I have always been the same age and I'm totally sure that Barbie's 24 again this year.
Do the math.

The only reason I mention my birthday is because today, five days before the holiday, I received a package in the mail from one of the dearest women I have ever met.
And, that's about the extent of our relationship, but, in reality, it's more than that.

I met Sammy Stafney at the Art and Soul Retreat in Portland last fall.
I know we shared at least one meal together but the rest of that weekend is pretty much a blur.
And, I know that we have exchanged charms that we made for the retreat and we may have had a class together.
(Those of you that know me really well know that I can't remember anything.)

We've kept in touch through emails now and then and planned on seeing each other at this year's retreat in October.
Sammy found out that I had to back out of this year's retreat at the last minute and that I had a birthday coming up.
That dear, sweet woman sent me a box full of presents which I received today.

That's the reason for telling you that I have a birthday coming up - it is so that I can tell you how blessed I was today by an art friend - and isn't that the way it usually is?
That we, as friends joined through our art, bless each other???

I cried throughout the opening of each gift that she had filled the box with - mostly I think, because it was SO unexpected.

She got me!
She totally blessed me with her thoughtfulness and I wanted to share with you what a dear, sweet woman she is and to show you what she put together to bless me.

Below you will see pictures I took of all of the wonderful surprises that Sammy sent me.
Thank you, Sammy, for being such a darling friend and for making me feel so special.

Above is a precious necklace that she made for me!



Gorgeous silk material w/ black velvet roses!

Lots and lots of fibers!!

Fibers, ribbons and lots more!

And a sweet handmade card.




XOXO to Sammy and to all of my other precious art friends who bless me daily,