Some of my favorite things....

Brown paper packages tied up with strings....



ok, so it ain't brown or tied up with string...but don't ya think it's sweet?
I'm getting these ready to be sent off tomorrow.
My friend Marie of Marie Patterson Studio gave me the idea for the little goodie packaging, of course hers looks fabulous!!!I always have a hard time trying to figuring out what to "gift" buyers and since I never really do "gift" the same thing twice, it got to be very time consuming and I always wound up with a headache...so I think this "BoneHead/SkellyPop" idea was not too shabby. I think I like it more each time I see it, what do y'all think?
A while back, I joined Miss Zan Asha of " Wild At Heart Art" "Under The Sea" swap and was really anxious to get my swap done, I had so many ideas but I finally settled on one, he was so much fun to do and he definitely had that flow factor going for him. I was able to finish him early so he's going out tomorrow too, I can't wait to show y'all what he looks like!! As soon as my swap partner gets him I'll show ya!!!

Blessings,Flora

I was fortunate...

enough to join a "Skelly Swap" hosted by the multi talented powerhouse,Dani Nelson, of
Ambitions Designs and owner of SpookyTimeJingles


The best part of it all was that I was paired with a most wonderful artist
Christine of Du-Buh-Du I think this type of ornament is called a " Catrina" you can read about it here La Catrina But for now just look at my beauty:



The pictures just don't do the doll justice, a delicate shimmering medium was used on what looks like ceramic or porcelain flowers that gently crown her head, her eyes
are black glittery dots within filigree flower outlines that surround her eyes,
and a necklace of black glass beads caress her long delicate neck.
As if that wasn't enough, she sent a gorgeous card in brilliant colors and a couple of yummy candies...all gone by the way...hehehe...and I wonder why I can't lose weight? She really is beautiful.



And this is a before of my Skelly, I was so excited and anxious to get the swap ornament done and sent that I forgot one thing...you got it NO PICTURES !!!!
I could of sworn I had, well Ms.Christine was kind enough to do me the favor of taking some pictures and will send them tomorrow...egg on my face....
Here is what the before of mine looks like:




I'll post the finished ones as soon as I get them..
blessings,Flora

Lovely suprize.....

My swap gift came!!!! How sweet is this?!!!
Maureen of " Urban Pastures " made is fabulous wall art hanging, the picture just doesn't do it justice, cause if you look closely you can see that she applied an overlay of texture to the heart as well as the painted leaves, then the sweet lovebirds, the cord has glass hearts and glass beads with two metal discs with floral designs on them?!!!!....I'm a lucky girl,I kinda like this swapping thing..... and I just might do it again!!!
blessings,Flora

Small Tokens of Love....

Prim and Whimsy Girls had a Valentines swap and I was partnered with Maureen White of Urban Pastures Art, I'm not ever really sure of what the swap items should be and I usually sweat it out till I'm done and it's sent and recieved...whole lotta sweating going on....But the gift has reached it's destination, so I thought I'd post it here.All handmade from my own design, embellished with new and vintage findings,acrylic painted then sealed.
It's called " A little Birdie Told Me "


Vellum, glittered cardstock, gold thread quilted-look velour fabric,

heavy fringe trim with mica flakes, gold glitter dots, glass beaded stickpin with
a handmade glittered heart.

Glazed eyes and lips, star glitter for added sparkle to eyes

Handmade paper clay Birdie, glittered cardstock collar and heart with glass bead eyes.

Here are the befores:



Hope y'all have a wonderful Valentine's Day with the ones or one you love!
Blessings,Flora

Christmas swap...

I made this snowman ornie a while back, and I thought I'd show him off, he's a sweet little guy. He's a multimedia air dry clay sculpt,acrylic painted then antiqued with a wax paste. Embellished with fabric ribbons, a few bits of star shaped glitter was applied to his eye then sealed with glossy varnish to make them sparkle and shine and of course a decorative hook. here are some befores:



Blessings,Flora

Dreary Monday and Halloween dollies

Woke up late this morning to a dreary Monday with drizzling cold rain...a signal of change in the air...the weather changes everytime it rains here anymore.
The saying "wait a few minutes and it will change" in reference to the weather here is usually true.
I really don't mind it, of course I get to stay home, so I can say that..lol! But I've always loved the rain, everything about it, especially the scent just before a down pour and right afterwards while it's still fresh.
I've had my share of scarey moments when driving in it though. I remember driving on a cloudy ominous day that suddenly turned pitch black with hail dropping hard and fast. And me in the middle of the freeway with all the other cars, nobody drives with a lick of sense when it rains, me included...we are all accidents waiting to happen!
"There but for the grace of God", so you say a little prayer for yourself and the other drivers,then cautiously drive on.
The one bright spot of the day is that I recieved a package from Australia YAY!!!
It was my swap doll from my friend Shagsy/Sharon and they are "gorgeous" as she likes to say, Truly!( And she's TOTALLY in love with "George Micheal", Yes she knows he's gay, but hope springs eternal,!)
I do so love Halloween and all things Halloween, so take a look at what she made for me.







Aren't they wonderful,the last pic is of all my doll swap dolls together, love them all, This way they won't be so lonely.
I guess it's not such a dreary Monday afterall not with my new Halloween dollies!
Blessings,Flora