ArtsyMama

First off, a couple of quick things regarding the Sweet and Sinister Swap. The response has been extraordinary and I can see that this year is going to be even better than last. I am very excited!! So far I have been keeping up with getting in touch with people immediately after receiving an email stating that you want to be in the swap. Make sure you provide your PayPal email address so that I can invoice you immediately. You will then receive an invite to join the private blog after your PayPal payment is received. Please leave me an email at artsy_mama@hotmail.com if you are waiting on me for an invoice. When you join the blog make sure you leave a comment with your blog or flickr url right away so that I can add you to the blogroll.

I do want to mention that you can join the members only blog for tons of tutorials, giveaways, projects and loads of inspiration over the next 3 months and choose to not participate in the swap. That is just fine and will still be well worth your $10. I am lining up some terrific guest designers and goodies for all of you. Just let me know if you don't want to do the swap.

It's a thundery summer day here today in Minnesota and I had the most delightful morning sitting in a coffee shop with fellow artsy blogger Fiona. We met during one of the early rounds of Rhonna's 21 Day Challenges several years ago. We have several things in common, including enjoying vintage goodies, doing art journals and mixed media art, blogging and we're both librarians. The neat thing is Fiona does all these fabulous things in her homeland of Scotland! She is visiting her in-laws live right here in the same suburb of the twin cities as yours truly. Small world.

She was absolutely delightful and inspiring. It's always so fun to meet up with like-minded people and gush about finding vintage treasures, making art, traveling. It just blows my mind to think that we have so much in common, but she is off doing these things in a 1000 year old town in Scotland. I love it and hope to visit her some day! She has a fabulous tutorial for the Sweet and Sinister Swap that I can't wait to show all of you. She gifted me with the wonderful black and white vintage apron above in Sweet and Sinister style! Also all of the vintage Christmas ornaments you see pictured after cleaning out the attic at her in-laws. Of course the shortbread from Scotland is much appreicated too. Yum! Fiona is such a dear.