You are Invited to a Alice in Wonderland Charm Swap!

In preparation of this much anticipated movie coming out on March 5th...I've been planning this charm swap since last year! And I so hope you'll join as it will be unlike any other charm swap I've hosted!

This will be my 5th hosted Charm Swap.
You can browse through past Charms Swaps HERE.
Sign ups start now.
I will accept up to 25 charm makers.
You may leave a comment here but you must also e-mail me ~ altered-art@hotmail.com with your name and mailing address.
Worldwide is welcome and you need to be 18 or older to participate.

You will need to make 25 +1 charms.
The plus one is for something I'll personally put together for a art submission.
Please be creative in making your charms!
Use fun supplies but be sure they are safe to wear or display.
There are so many interpretations of the story that you should have no problem finding inspiration!
Watch the movie, past ones, the new ones, read the book, see the cartoon...the creative possibilities are endless!

Your charm must have a ring or clasp attached.
Please do not make your charm out of paper, unless it is approved by me.
You can get idea's from my past swaps of what materials can be used~ shrink plastic, wire, bottle caps, rusty things, glass, clay, recycled, felt,soldered, fabric, buttons, beads, findings...
~Please make something that reflects the "Alice" or "Mad Hatter" in you, or any other character from the book...have fun with this!

Please enclose each charm in a small craft zip lock bag with your contact info (web site,shop,blog,e-mail....)
For the plus 1 charm, include what materials were used in the making of your charm,

Shipping and handling is $5 and can be paid by cash, check or paypal.

All charms are due in my hands no later than March 20th.
I will have them in the mail no later than the following Saturday.
Those participating will receive a themed goodies bag with their charm set.
Clip art, tokens, extra charms...:)

So what are you waiting for?
Sign up today!

Feel free to use the above button on your blog and link back to this post!

Update as of Feb.28th....
Participating Charm Makers~

1. Me!
2. Glenda Hart
3. Ashani Samuel (Fiskateer #4682)
4. Michelle Betaudier
5. Angela Hoffmann
6. Valerie Myers (Fiskateer #2226)
7. Bianca Gaspard (Fiskateer #1794)
8. Sue Kruse
9. Mahala Elliot
10. Victoria Sturdevant (Fiskateer #6939)
11. Sheri Leseberg
12. Charity Donaldson
13. Carol Hoffman
14. Connie Williams
15. Wanda Stivison
16. Melinda Nikkel
17. Diana Pohl
18. Dawn Freedain
19. Marissa Decepida Wong
20 Stacy Antonelle
21. Gemma Manzo
22. Sandra Geiger-Stivison
23. Gracie Rios
24. Barbara Moore
25. Shelly Rae Wood

***This swap is (CLOSED) and creating!!!***

Come See My Shop!

I've just uploaded a ton of new items and changed around the categories!
And I still have more to add!
Yes...I've been busy!
It's definitely a "process" ~ first to make the items, take the photo's, photo shop them on the computer, and then add them to the shop complete with wording and shipping cost!

Whew!

I do wish Etsy allowed more that 10 categories as I'll have to get creative in placing some "New, New" items I'm adding soon!
Can't wait!


Here are my updated categories:
Birds and Nest
Rings and Things
little Faerie Things
Party Hats and Crowns
Seasonal Favorites
Halloween and Fall
Sewn with LOVE
Upcycled Items
Studio Supplies
Gift Ideas



...and while you have Etsy on your mind, please to visit this post for a chance to win a beautiful bracelet!
The seller is offering FREE shipping if mention my Blog!

New in my Shop!

I've just finished uploading some new items into my Etsy shop!
More to be added Sunday night!

Etsy Spotlight - Elizabeth Bogardus!

Starting now, every third Friday I'll be listing a Etsy seller!
This month's seller is Elizabeth Bogardus!

and here is little bit about this amazing gal:

~ My name is Elizabeth and I live in New England.
I am a sixth grade teacher who had been stuck at home on disability for 4 years following a bone marrow transplant. That is what has given me more time to be crafty.
I have been on the mend for the last six months finally,
and I hope to be back in a classroom in September.


I am a huge reader and have been fortunate that a couple of publishers found my blog
and send me advance copies to read and review.
In the summer I love to go to New Hampshire where my sister and BIL have a beautiful home
and boat on Lake Winnisquam. I also enjoy going to Ogunquit,
ME every summer with my extended family.


I've always been crafty, learning cross-stitch and sewing in Girl Scouts
and I made most of my Christmas and birthday gifts as a child.
My mom was always trying new things and would then teach them to me:
knitting, crewel, candle making, etc.



I am often inspired by the seasons or holidays.
Sometimes I see a new materials in a store and get excited thinking of ways to use it.
I'm also inspired by the many true artists on etsy and the blogs I visit.

Please name your top 5 favorite blog or web links you like to visit and why.

Well, besides Faerie Dust Dreams, I visit Colorado Lady often. Suzanne is the host of Vintage Thingies Thursday, a long-running meme and I love to share my vintage things and see what others have.

Someday Crafts always has easy tutorials for craft and home decor projects.

Penniwigs has great vintage images and shares at least one daily, so I'm always lurking around to see what's new there.

For Book Reviews I always like to see what Marie is reading at The Burton Review because she loves historical fiction even more than I do.

My guilty pleasure website is Jigidi an online puzzle site where you can make your own puzzles and do the ones that others have made.

*****************************************************
The above bracelet is part of our Etsy Spotlight giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win this beautiful hand crafted treasure
please visit Elizabeth's shop here

and then come back to this post with "what you like in her shop!"
( be sure to leave your e-mail or blog link in case you win!)

Since Elizabeth will be featured till the 3rd of next month,
she will adding more new treasures for you to view and giving you
extra chances to comment and win!

Elizabeth is offering FREE SHIPPING to anyone who mentions the Faerie Dust Dreams feature in their "notes to the seller" for every purchase till the 3rd of March.
Good luck!
* * *
If you are interested in being featured in my Etsy spotlight, here are the basics:

1. Your shop must be current
2. Once accepted, you'll featured on a 3rd Friday of a month,
and will be visible on my blog for the whole time.
3. You'll need to mail me 2 good quality shop samples
4. I will handle the shipping of the "won" item to your winner.
5. In the case I don't have a seller to spotlight,
the current seller will have a extra month.

Interested? Have questions? E-mail me!
altered-art@hotmail.com
International Welcome!

Little things here and there...& then something BIG

Erika of "In our Bedrooms" gave me the following items...just in time for my Birthday!


Please visit her blog....so clever... thanks Erika!
Here are a few things I received for b-day...they are not all here as I have not had time to upload the camera yet!
A collection of new jewelry makings from Scarlet Lime...
from my husband and Dyllan (pre-bought by me)
:)
Laura Bray of Katydiddy's made these uber cute head bands for me using some of my own fabric!
So Tomorrow is a big day! I'm posting something special that's I've had in the works since last year and I do hope you'll pop by! Especially if you sell on Etsy!

See you then!

50 Ways to Cope with Stress

Sometimes we all need reminders to stop and smell the flowers...
to see where this came from...
visit this amazing blog!

Crazy Love on Valentines Day

Dyllan was excited to help me make pancakes that morning, can't you tell?

Concentrating on stirring the batter...

Even got a shot of me!

So good!

Here he is with the bag he decorated at school filled with 31 colorful Valentines!

For Valentines Day, Brian and Dyllan gave me what I've been wanting since Christmas...
Crazy Love CD by Michael Buble'
Have you seen his video "Haven't met you Yet?"
Go here...and prepare your heart to be melted....
:)

Better than Lemon Meringue Pie!

The day after Dyllan's head injury was my Birthday, so we went to
Hollywood for the Ripley's Odditorium.

This sound machine was great...one sounded like
a real horse was galloping right across the ceiling!

There was lots of odd things to see and I was very surprised and delighted to see this!

Some of the things were really gross, but the rest was mostly interesting.
A first for all of us to attend this place!
Afterwards we walked up and down the strip and decided to have lunch
at the Disney Soda Fountain.
The decor inside was neat inside

and while having lunch I enjoyed watching the soda jerks make the
different ice cream sundaes and fountain treats!

I wore one of my Tiara's I made!

If you have been watching American Idol...this is the actual Theater they are in!

And here is the Chinese Grauman Theater

There were so many people there!
Some were for the weird people and some were for the famous hand/foot prints
like this one of Doris Day.

and then there were of course the stars... :)

While we were walking along...a clown shoved a balloon sword in Dyllan's hand
and said, "You like that?" "Which of course Dyllan did.
And then the clown turns to me and asks for $1.
The nerve...
But I gave him $2 just because,
and the guy gave Dyllan and extra (free) sword.
When we went to sit down...the balloon holster and puppy hat
tumbled right into Dyllan's lap from out of nowhere.
So here he is sporting it all with his red hat (protecting his head injury from germs)

Alice in Wonderland is coming to the El Capitan in 3D
on March 5th...anyone want to go with me?
I've only been there once before for the opening of Aladdin.
It is Sooo much fun!

To promote the Wax Museum..they had Marilyn out for the public to see...

She looks so real!

I wore my Tiara all day and even when we got home from Hollywood,
I wore it when I went by myself to Barnes and Noble.
In the 3 hours I was there browsing magazines and books...no said anything.
Either they thought I was nutsy or maybe a Princess! lol!

When I got home from the book store,
Brian and Dyllan sang Happy Birthday to me
with Strawberries and whip cream!

Here are 2 things I treated myself to at the book store!

Dyllan made this Birthday Crown for me.
It was his idea. We made it on Thursday.
I did was the cutting of the crown and stars.
He colored with crayons, printed the words and added the stickles!

I will always cherish this crown...

So precious!

Even the stars are perfect!

The next Day I made my own cake. Why?
Cause I wanted it to taste good...and plus, once you've tasted homemade...
store bought or from a box just does not compare!
I made a triple lemon cake and it was well worth the effort!
It tasted (hands down) better than lemon Meringue Pie!
100%!
If anyone wants the recipe, e-mail me your mailing address and I'll send you a copy!
Why snail mail? Because It's becoming a lost art and I want to keep the tradition alive...plus everyone loves happy mail...don't you?

Can't you just taste the home made lemon curd filling? So tart and tasty!

I'll post the rest of the weekend next....
:)