Giving and Receiving...

This blogging community continues to inspire me and overwhelm me with its incredible generosity.  The amount of inspiration that is shared on a daily basis is just so amazing. 
Do you love to read comments left on your blog posts?  I certianly love to read them.  I think they are the one thing that really speak to me about how I am doing as a blogger and as a crafter and as a person.
I do not always respond to every post however once in a while there are those comments that just call out to me. 

 I have said before I have not had any formal giveaways because I like to send surprises to my loyal blog commenters.  A few posts ago I showed a Wizard of Oz ATC.  One of my followers really liked the little ruby slippers and asked where I got them.  Long ago and no longer to be found and not even any manufacturers name is what I had to reply to her.  So instead I offered to send her one of mine. In return completely surprising me she made and sent this beautiful thank u card and beaded charm.  Her name is Ana of Scrappy Pink Corner .  She creates adorable mini albums and I am smitten with them. 

 Along with the beautiful card and charm she included this giant envelope chock full of the most fun elements that I can now use to create wonderful cards and albums and lots of great projects.  To say I was overwhelmed would be a gross understatement.  I gave her so little and yet she gives me so much.  Life is like that...you get what you give.  No, not literally but in the sense that if you are generous and giving then you shall also receive much good in your life and that is exactly what has happened here. 
Mr. C has always told me I am generous to a fault!  Now that I didn't understand...how could being generous with others be a fault?  He explained that I do not have money or wealth to share with others as I need what little I have to support me (this was when I was single and struggling).  I also over volunteer my time.  For me it is about the giving to others to help them or share my supplies or talents and that my friends FEEDS MY SOUL AND MAKES ME SO VERY HAPPY!  Money cannot buy that.  Having things cannot buy that. 

So THANK YOU Ana.  Your generosity is so very appreciated and this is what life is about...happiness!
Now for using these fabulous goodies you sent me and creating beautiful pieces of pleasure. 
P.S.  I always ask before I post something I have received so as not to put the giver in a possible uncomfortable position. 
Don't you agree that this blogging community is amazing and generous and kind and creative? 
Do each of you enjoy reading your comments? 
Do you check older posts to see if anyone has gone back and left a comment you may have missed? 
I do!  I really do find it to be wonderful feedback for me.
Now I am off to get crafting... 

Christmas in June...

This box is truly Christmas in June for me. I was the super fortunate winner of a massive give away by the uber talented Roni of Ink Stains. Please visit her blog if you are not already following her and her incredible talents. Today she has the cutest paint brush charms. Roni never hesitates to share all of her techniques and she makes it so easy for everyone to create amazing art.

I gathered Mr. C and told him this box is Christmas in June. Then I slowly opened the box. What to my wondrous eyes did I see...

More art supplies than I could have ever imagined. And...a beautiful large Vera Bradley tote bag. Each and every item I brought out of the box was just so much fun. Mr. C was clearly amazed at how much was in this box of goodies. We were both overwhelmed with the generosity of Roni. So many of the supplies are exactly what I wanted to buy for my crafting.

Thank you so very much Roni. You are the best! I feel like the luckiest createology gal in the world. I am inspired by your talents and now have lots of wonderful supplies which I can use to create some super fun art pieces. I will definitely be reviewing many of your posts so I know how to use some of these supplies.

I have no excuses now!

P.S. My favorite item in the entire box is a copy of Roni's book titled "Collage and Altered Art". This book is one that you definitely should acquire for your library as it has enormous amounts of techniques and ideas and finished art pieces as inspiration. When you visit Roni's blog there is information on how to get your very own copy.

P.S.S. When I set the cigar box on the table Mr. C immediately opened it hoping for a cigar. Not. More art supplies. He said, "This is a really old cigar box. Look at the price, 2/27 cents!" Too funny Mr. C.

Replenish

Today the Saucy Chicks did some replenishing of supplies. An entire day of shopping and gathering supplies is exhausting but very necessary. The day before we spent working on projects and organizing more of the studio. We are so very pleased with our work. We merchandised our display area of Saucy Chick decorations and gift items that have been given to us. We sorted through lots of office supplies including a lot of colored pencils, Crayola boxes, watercolors and general pens, pencils, scissors and punches of all shapes and sizes. Lots of duplicate supplies are headed to some wonderful disadvantaged school children.
Now we feel ready to tackle lots more projects that we have in our minds to do.
We are completing tote bags, aprons, beaded bracelets and holiday cards. Gearing up to complete our own Christmas list of handmade gifts for friends and family. Therefore our supplies needed to be replenished so we will be ready to accomplish all the fun and fabulous items we will make.
We Saucy Chicks just completed a wire wrapping class so now we can expand our creative projects to include some of these fun techniques.
Today is also the last day of September and fall is in the air and on the trees which are turning lovely shades of reds, oranges, yellows and browns. It was very warm today and we have had no rain since February so we are hoping October brings us much needed moisture for the very parched earth and flora and fauna.
Createology is our motto.