silver bella swaps

So many creative swaps were organized for Silver Bella. They were traded after the welcome dinner on Thursday night. The ones that I saw were just amazing {especially the Button Bella Fabric Fat Book swap hosted by Michelle - I flipped through Pam's book at dinner - maybe she will post photos on her blog, so check it out, or look on flickr for other Bella swaps}.

I made an ATC for Gina's Fine Feathered Friends ATC Book swap. We mailed our cards to Gina and she put the book together for us, made the cover, and even a cute little bird's nest pin for us to wear...

The other swap I did was the Sweet Valentine's ATC Swap, hosted by Shannon...

Love my swaps!

silver bella

I am still so overwhelmed at how amazing Silver Bella was, that I don't even know where to begin...

So I will jump in and start telling you about it ALL! It was better than I hoped it would be. So hard to explain how excited I get over all things crafty and artsy, but that is why Silver Bella is so fabulous...the women there 'get it'. It is so amazing - to be surrounded by all these creative women. Women that inspire, women that write books and blogs that I read religiously, projects from the pages of my favorite magazines. Silver Bella is like the ultimate happy place, and I was like a star-struck giddy school girl. Renee can tell you how many times I said "oh my god, there's ...". I was so excited the entire time, I am still recovering from my Silver Bella high.

Renee and I had to be at the airport at about 4am on Wednesday, but I was so excited I didn't even feel tired. After 2 short flights and a long stopover in Detroit, we arrived in Omaha. We dropped our bags at the Embassy Suites {in the historic Old Market district} and headed to the infamous Second Chance Antique Store...

We'd seen the photos from last years event and knew it was the place to go. This store is amazing - they have everything a Bella could want and more...

Here are some of the treasures I found at Second Chance {there would have been more, but suitcase space was limited and I knew I had to save room for vendor faire splurges...}

We spent some more time shopping and dining, and after spending a small fortune in cab fare to get to all the places on our 'must see' list, we rented a car the next day so we could go to anthropologie, Archivers, the SONIC Drive-In, and other favorites.

Thursday night was the official start of Silver Bella. While Renee and I were waiting to go into the ballroom, Carol Wingert came over and said she recognized me! How cool is that? {I took a class that she taught, last October in Edmonton, AB}. I have been a fan of hers for a while now and always read her blogs to see what she is creating, so that just made my night.

We sat with Carol and her friend Pam for the dinner and welcome from the Prima Bella herself, Teresa McFayden. There were gift bags at our table stuffed with goodies from some of the sponsors...

{love the glass glitter and the Italian glue from Andrea of One Hundred Wishes...}

and the Silver Bella yearbook...

The little black box held all the supplies we needed for our first workshop...

and great little fabric scissors that were a gift from Fiskars. After dinner we got started on the group workshop, making a little embroidered bird ornament. It has been a while since I have done any needlework, but I loved this little project {and I actually finished it}...

More Silver Bella to come...

toooooo busy...

packing my bags, to post...

See you after Silver Bella!

summertime, and the livin' is easy

OK, it's not really summer, but apparently R thought it was...

when he got out of school, changed into his shorts and asked if we could go swimming yesterday! How weird to go from the storm last week to seeing kiddies back in shorts again.

And I really don't know what Miss S was thinking when she decided that antenna's were the perfect accessory for her outfit...

but on her, it works.

sweet atc?

One of the Silver Bella swaps I am participating in, is the Sweet Valentine's Prom ATC Swap {to go with the whole prom theme that is happening at the event}. This is the ATC I have done so far, but I'm thinking it is not quite right, it needs something more?...

I may have to go back to the scraproom and work on them a little more...{...or I could just package them up pretty and call it done, and then hop on the plane and go have fun - yes, let's go with that}! Less than a week 'til Silver Bella!

more hallow's eve

The kiddies had a great time trick or treating, first at the mall in the afternoon with Renee and Miss C...

and then later in the evening too. Jillian and her family joined us for dinner {and brought us the best candy apples, yum!} and then Kelly and her family, and Christine and her family met up with us, so that the kiddies could all trick or treat together. R was thrilled to be running from house to house with his buddy Q, and Miss S had fun trying to keep up with them.

Here are some of the little goblins...

Luckily the weather was mild, so it wasn't too hard to layer under Miss S's Bumblebee suit! It is crazy how much loot the kiddies came home with - good thing I am here to help them out with the chocolate!

trick or treat

Mommy: What are you going to be for Halloween?

Miss S: A Bumblebee!

Mommy: What does a Bumblebee say?

Miss S: Beeeeeeee! Bzzzzzz!

Miss S: Where's my 'tinger? I'm going to 'ting you!

Mommy: You're going to sting me? You are a silly Bumblebee!

Miss S: Look. This is how a Bumblebee dances...

Miss S: R is 'piderman. I love 'piderman.

Mommy: You love Spiderman?

Miss S: And Batman!

R: Mom, can I tell you something? This is how Spiderman shoots his webs...

R: Can we go trick or treating now? Trick or treat, smell my feet...