Friendship Lacebook of Collages and Tags

Do you often wonder how to display or store or keep

those beautiful swaps, gifts or creations

from friends?

This might be one solution you could consider!!!

♥♥♥

Some time back I showed this cover of my
Friendship Book of Collages and Tags
which I was compiling.

I'm pleased to say that I have finally completed it

with a few extra pages that I can add at some

later stage.

The soldered charm was created by Marie (Lost Bird Studio)

especially for this purpose! 

It consists of a number of collages which (in some cases)

I have embellished further to combine with some of

my own pages

to add some pockets to hold

a collection of tags which I have received

over the past 12-18 months from

various loved blogging friends.

Below is the fat looking spine of the many pages

(20, in fact, counting the covers).

This shows the back cover.

I thought this would make a wonderful keepsake
of creative works from dear blogging friends
that I could treasure from my years
of companionship with
so many special
friends.

The collages and tags came as either swaps or gifts!

The first page on the right from Shane (Roses Lace and Brocante)

 I coupled with one of my own which contains a couple of tags

from Shane.

The next two came from Judy (Judith Ann's Blog).

They could have been used as prayer flags

but I chose to add them here in my Friendship Book.

The collage on the left with illuminated letter "S"

was created by Socrates (Altered Meditations blog) from the Medieval Lace Book Group

which I belonged to and the tag in the pocket opposite

was from Karen (Alaska Blue Moose blog) who

was also a member of the same group.

This double page spread contains another of my pockets

holding beautiful tags from Liz (Lululiz in Lalaland)

and Sharon (Livewire Jewelry) along side

another beautiful collage from Judy embellished

with more lace. 

The collage on the left hand side also from Socrates

sits in a silk backed and netted lace pocket

and the pocket opposite I created from some upcycled satin

and lace lingerie

It holds tags from Lynne (Adorn - Lynne's Bows and Bells)

Dorthe (Den Lillelade) and

Shane (Roses Lace and Brocante)

Another sweet tag from Dorthe and vintage lacecollage

 from Judy

with this pocket created by yours truly!

and these final pages were created by both Shane - (RHS)

with pocket by me on LHS!

So many pages with so many memories to cherish 
these dear friends and the artistry they represent.
I couldn't think of a more honorable way
to remember them all in the one
place - in a lace book of memories. 

The tags below are amongst some I still have to
create more pockets for but wanted to share
them with you so you too
could appreciate
the amazing
talent and creativity of some of my blogging friends.!

The idea of the Friendship Book could be an option

to incorporate any number of works such as this,

e.g. greeting cards etc.

Let me know if you have created something similar!!!

I am so very grateful to all of the friends I have met

in blogland and would really love to

acknowledge that in part by this post today.

Anyway my friends I hope you have enjoyed this 

very long post.

Take care and see you again soon!

Love and hugs,

Suzy 

Cards, Tags and A Giveaway Win

 I love to create cards,
 tags 

and especially collages

and lately I have had occasion to create a few

as gifts as well as a sympathy card.

The first two I created using

images from Paper Whimsy.

PW carries some of the most beautiful collage sheets

 that I have laid my eyes on

these images are amongst my favourites that I have 

recently purchased.

This one is for a friend who recently lost her husband 

and for this one I used a tombstone angel.

♥♥♥♥♥

Well I just couldn't believe what I was about to receive

when I opened this most amazing Giveaway that I won

from Manu at www.vintagesavonette.blogspot.com

Just look at this most amazing collection of ephemera, 

vintage items, linen and buttons.

I was totally stunned!

Everything was wrapped so beautifully

and carefully

broches, ribbon, jewellery and fringing. 

A beautiful vintage plane so worn and smooth

even with the original blade,

this amazing waxed plaque so intricately carved

and most rare

along with little boxes of buttons, a burlap heart,

some fine white linen

and these two little copper plates with my very own

initials "S" and "Q".

Everything is so beautiful and Manu I am sure

added more than I saw on her Giveaway -

Why? because she is one of the most generous

women I have met in Blogland

and, believe me, there are

many!

Dear Manu "Just thank you from the bottom

of my heart - you have indeed excelled in

generosity for which I am totally

grateful! Big hugs to you dear friend!"

♥♥♥♥

Now this is a gift of a different kind!

How special does it make you feel when you have

visitation from one of your native birds like this

Shrike Thrush

visiting inside your home?

This is a true blessing indeed!

Just want to thank all of my wonderful new followers

who have joined my blog recently and to each

and every one of you for your

very much appreciated 

comments!

Have a wonderful and stress-free weekend

taking some time to "smell the roses" as

we remember that as we are here for

such a short time

we may as well make it the best time!

Love and thanks, Suzy

PS Dear Carole "Lotus" if you are reading this post can you please contact me again, possibly with your correct email address as I am having trouble responding to your email! With thanks, Suzy.

"A Chance to Grow Your Blog" and GIVEAWAY!!!

Grow Your Blog Party

and GIVEAWAY

What a most wonderful opportunity our dear generous Vicki of

www.vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com

has provided to bloggers to showcase their blog and to bring

to light so many new bloggers and their wonderful

gifts of art to the rest of the blogging world.

I love to support Vicki because she is one of those souls
always out there ready to assist anyone in a far less 
fortunate situation than herself
so I thought I might join in the party and welcome all
new bloggers and old friends and followers into
my blogging world here

to share my secret space of creativity with

 a little background about myself.

But first, at the time of posting this, within the last 24 hours,
 we have been dealing with this crisis on our back
door step - OMG!!!  45deg.C (113deg.F)

approaching our property

and behind our shed and attached flat

but we are still well and safe
with no property damage (unbelievably!!!)

 somewhat terrified!

 due in no short measure
thanks to good preparation, hard work,
a great deal of luck and
a fantastic and well equipped rural Fire Service

(I am just so pleased that I had pre-prepared this post
before the outbreak of this fire!!!).

I really would not like to face a fire this close ever again!!!

♥♥♥

I started blogging about 3 years ago with the intention

of sharing what I do, offering inspiration to others

as well as gaining new visions,  knowledge, musings etc.

about those things which inspire my works.

I had no idea what blogging was all about really but
I just followed Blogger prompts and in no time
I had my own blog - much to my amazement!

So this is where it all happens!
(Click on my Studio button on the sidebar to view more images)

and these are some of the items which I create.

I honestly can't remember when my passion for creating with

rich, vintage and textural fabrics begun but 

my current work in mixed media has sprung out of 

my love of and my exploits into crazy quilting

as well as my love of embellishments such as vintage lace,

brocades, briads, velvets, doilies, buttons, ribbons

and sari silks from the costumes of the

belly dancers over 

the last 20 years.

Although it seems there is still much interest in my quilts

especially this particular one via Pinterest

and

my main urge to create these days is for fabric

and paper collaging which I love to apply

to fabric art journals like some of these

 and this one

and this Bird Journal which I haven't shown here

as yet but plan to soon!

These are a few felted books often needlebooks.

and

as well as collages for wall hangings and pages

to go into books and journals.

such as these.

and

and this smaller collage using a

vintage tart tin

and there are always tags and hearts and clutches too.

And a few pincushions here.

I know how everyone loves to look at images as this is 

where we get inspiration!

so the more the better!!!

I made these Heart Strings some months ago which I 

so enjoyed and hope to get back to creating

more sometime!

Last but not least is an image of a fabric and paper doll.

The other favourite things which I share here is my love

of  both my garden and treasure hunting - not just for my creative works

but just because I have a passion for things old, worn,

tarnished, tattered and collectible

so you will also see things appearing here

amongst the velvets and lace such as these.

As you have been so kind in coming to visit and view

my artwork I've planned a little 

Giveaway

A collage using all of my favourite doilies, vintage laces,

cottons,  burlap, string and buttons.

for you to enter by leaving a comment here on this page.

You don't have to follow but we all love and welcome

new followers so

I will be drawing the winner for this on 

Friday, 1st February

so don't forget to leave me a way of contacting you

via email

♥♥♥

Now I really wish everyone the very best luck with this

but more importantly the very best of luck with your blogs 

where you will be rewarded over and over

in so many different ways.

Thank you Vicki once again for all you have contributed

in making this event so successful!

Love, Suzy xxx

P.S. If you are interested in me creating an item for you

just email me at 

suziqu@tpg.com.au