Playing Catch Up and Feeling Lucky!

We've been home from our trip to New Mexico for a week now, but Rick was off last week too, so we remained in vacation mode for an additional week. It was relaxing to hang out around the house and go out to eat and get together with family and friends. Rick went back to work yesterday and I decided it was time to get caught up on a number of things.

One thing I especially wanted to do was some show-and-tell. I've been unusually lucky this summer and have been the winner of some unbelievable giveaways. Allow me to show you what I'm talking about...

From artist Lani Kent, Healing Expressions, I received a set of five greeting cards designed with prints of her original collages. I first discovered Lani on Ebay about 3 years ago and continue to be quite taken with her artwork. Imagine how excited I was to learn that I won these cards! Thanks, Lani!


I only recently came across Paula Clare's blog, Paula's Palace of AltAred Art and it seems there is always something fun happening over there! The very first comment I left on her blog put me in a drawing for all of these incredible papers (oh, how I love paper!) and Sandra Evertson's book Fanciful Paper Flowers and I actually won! I hope to try my hand at making some of the flowers soon.


I received a second package from Paula while we were on vacation. It was one of her RAK's (random acts of kindness) that she likes to send out. How nice is that?! There's candy in that great Halloween box, and isn't the tag adorable? Thanks, Paula!


I have written about winning Sharon's (My Vintage Studio) gorgeously embellished vintage bottle, but I wanted to show you a photo. It's the one on the left and I just LOVE it...Thanks, Sharon!

The bottle on the right is one that I made. It's a craft that darling daughters and I were going to do together during our women's weekend but we ran out of time. We turned it into a 'take-home craft' and I was able to put mine together before going on vacation. I think the bottles look nice together :).


I've also written about winning Mother Henna's Mad Tea Party Giveaway--two tea cups that she turned into real beauties with her henna designs. I am so enamored with her henna work and these cups let me enjoy it everyday. She included a huge number of different teas (more than pictured because I've been trying them out), a package of lavender and 2 magnets, 2 button pins and several post cards with her art on them. Love, LOVE it all! Thanks, Kara!


Speaking of giveaways--Terisa, SabiiWabii/Running With Scissors, is having a giveaway to celebrate her 100th post. Terisa was my swap partner in Bella Enchanted's Mermaid Swap and created the most lovely Minnie the Mermaid for me! Click this logo to enter your name...Terisa will be drawing the lucky winner's name on September 1st!



I have one more incredible show-and-tell to share with you but I want to give it a special post of it's very own! So please come back soon to check it out:).

Marilyn