Valentine Swap

From Viv

 Happy February everyone! I have enjoyed this month so far. It has included a fun swap that Viv from Viv out on a Whim had this year! What a fun swap this was and a fun challenge for me, too!

We were to make a Valentine card and a decoration, and include lots of goodies or joy!

From Viv

 As, you can see, Viv really did a great job of spoiling me! I sure had fun opening each little present that she individually wrapped for me! I had an empty spot on my old Singer sewing machine which made a great place to put all her wonderful Valentines! She made a cute decorated Valentine box, a beautiful deer Valentine on a spool, a sweet girl on a swing, and the sweetest heart ornament with a key! She also included plenty of chocolate to keep me smiling, and some pretty towels for my kitchen! Do you see those cute paper globes? I have never had any of these before! I am excited to use them in my decorating throughout Spring!

From Viv

 I am really amazed by Viv's talent. I am thankful for her swap and the challenge it provided for me to flex my creative muscles. Bloggers are the most talented people and doing a little something outside of my comfort zone is fun in a challenging and learning way!

I sent Viv a package of Valentine fun as well, which she kindly has posted about on her blog.

So I hope you go give her a visit and take a look at those as well!

But here is a peek at a few things that I made for her!

Paper craft Valentine

I am so happy to be part of a fun online community where I have met some of the sweetest people on earth.

Felt Heart

I have made friends with gals that I share more interests with than the people most of the people I interact with every day. Thank you so much for your friendships!

Cupcake on my vintage music box cake stand

Thank you again Viv! This was a fun swap to be included in! And I hope everyone has a sweet Valentine's Day!

God bless you,

Little Susie Home Maker

Christmas in the Kitchen Exchange with Erica

 Merry Christmas everyone! Swaps are a lot of fun and Erica decided to do a Christmas swap this year that was kitchen themed! "Christmas in the Kitchen" Exchange 2014, Her blog, Golden Egg Vintage, is so much fun and she is such a delightful young woman! If you haven't already been visiting and following her, I urge you to do so! Thank you, Erica, for having such a fun swap!

All my sweet swap gift from Patti!

I was partnered up with, Patti , her sweet blog is called, Pattin-Patti. Yes! She is another fun and super talented sweet lady! These swaps are so much fun for so any reasons. But getting to know another blogger a little better is always the best part! Patti, was also very understanding that it would take me a little longer for getting her gifts made, as I have been suffering so many frequent migraines. I think I will call her Patient-Pattin-Patti! Thank you Patti for understanding.

Adorable measuring spoon snowman tag!

Now on with the swap! Her are photos that I took of all the, "Oh, so awesome" Christmas crafts and items that she sent me! Just look at this tag! Isn't it so cute and smart! Measuring spoons make the snowman! This really makes me smile every time I look at it!

Christmas cookie cutter ornament!

Here is such an adorable cookie cutter ornament! I was really excited to see this one! It is a combination of some of my favorite Christmas vintage thingies! The glass balss, The Christmas tree cutter and the cute little wooden bead Santa! Wow! Can you say, Cute!!!

Snowman Vintage Nut-grinder snow globe!

Now on to the bigger and very awesome kitchen ornament! Yes, you guessed it! It is a vintage nut grinder! All decked out in Christmas Winter wonderland! Isn't this just an amazing snow globe! Cute, cute, cute!! 

Here is a different angle so you can see the outside decorations better!

So, now I have some really fun items to decorate my kitchen with!

And of course Patti didn't stop there! She included a wonderful travel coffee mug that I have already been using like crazy! Candy which you know didn't last long! lol

Look at this adorable Mrs. Clause! Oh, my! I have just the perfect Santa to pair her up with! I will save that for another post!

All the wonderful swap items from Patti!

Did I mention the kitchen towel and pot holder, cookie cutters, match box Santa and craft stickers?

Isn't this candy filled boot so sweet!

 I really was happy and I had fun making the fun kitchen crafts that I came up with! So I am sure you can see those over at Patti's blog. I will post some of my own pictures later.

 Thank you both, Patti and Erica! And thank you for visiting my blog today! I sure pray that everyone has a safe and happy Christmas. Be blessed and keep a smile on your face!

God Bless You!

Little Susie Home Maker

Happy 5th Birthday to Retro Revival and I won!

Have you ever felt so happy because you won a giveaway! Well, multiply that times a whole bunch and that is how I feel!

A few weeks ago while roaming around on Facebook, I seen a post come up from one of my favorite bloggers, Cindy, at Retro Revival Biz.

Her blog just so happened to be celebrating its 5th birthday!  To celebrate, she was giving away an apron, sleep mask, shower cap, and insulated travel flat iron case with a chance to win on her Retro Revival Facebook Page!

Being excited for her, I knew that I should share her post and I never expected to win! Then on the announcement date of the winner, I was strolling through my feed and there to my eyes surprise was my name listed as her winner! "Yahoo!"

Opening this package up was so much fun! It all looked so pretty, I almost hated to open it! Almost! lol!

God bless you and your business, Retro Revival Biz!

May you have many more years of success and fun! Thank you so much!!

Blessings,

Little Susie Home Make

Giving and Receiving

We baked up a storm and made candies galore! We gave baskets of food and much much more! Our lives are abundant and the blessings are full. I was so happy to share with others this Christmas.

 I know that receiving is fun, but I find giving so much more! The children and I had so much fun together creating love with food and crafts. 

We listened to Christmas music and danced and sang. 

It was fun putting our love in gift form.

Thank God for giving us the the gift of His Son, and the joy of giving!

With giving also comes receiving!

That is a blessing as well.

 Speaking of giving and recieving, that reminds me of Swaps! Swaps are such a fun part of the blogging community. We make new friends and share ourselves in really fun swaps. 

Debby at Cozy Blanket had such a fun swap called Cup Of Kindness. I hope you are following her blog already, but if not, she is a sweet woman with lots to share. She is a great crafter and she is a grandma and she is one of the nicest people ever!

My partner was Erica from Golden Egg Vintage and she also has a blog that you will want to follow if you are not already. Erica is one of the best vintage crafters and collectors and she specializes in Christmas theme!! I sent her my present and she sent me mine! Just look at her wonderful Cup of Kindness for me.

All so very Christmas Vintage!

Details! Make the cup even more fun! 

  I thought this was a lot to fit in one cup!! 

Erica, you must possess some Elf Magic!!

Vintage pipe cleaner Santa and cute Snowman, and decorated wreath! A vintage hand stitched Chicken /Scratch embroidered gingham apron!! Oh, Erica, you pay attention to what I like. You are such a sweetheart.

 See the pretty corsage that she made! 

Everyone loved this when I wore it for Christmas.

Thanks again Debby for being so kind in hostessing this 

Cup of Kindness Swap 2012.

Thank you Erica for being a wonderful Swap partner!

 Thank you to all my readers. So many have become friends and I am so happy and grateful for that! 

It was a good year and I am looking forward to seeing what blessings are waiting in 2013.

Live. Laugh. Love.

God bless you,

Little Susie Home Maker

Homemade Putz House Swap 2012

 I had never heard of a Putz House until Erica came up with the idea for a Putz House Swap over at Golden Egg Vintage. I was really intrigued by the idea and had to start researching what one was? So I started a Pin Board and have so many on it now it is funny!

For me, Putz house is a mixture of the love of miniatures and doll houses, and Christmas, and vintage, and mostly GLITTER!!! I had a blast making my house that I sent to Debby! I do hope she loves it as much as I love the one she sent me!!

My partner for this swap was Debby of Cozy Blanket. If you haven't been to either of these blogs, I urge you to go follow them after you read my post!

Debby made me this Putz house

 This is the beautiful Putz house that Debby adorned and worked on for me! Isn't it just so cute? I love the pale blue and the snow on the roof! Look at that little fence!

Putz house details

I cracked up when I saw Santa peeking in the window! There is a vintage deer hanging out along side the pine tree in the front yard. And a pretty glass stepping stone path to the front door, where a Christmas wreath hangs above the door! The freshly fallen snow givs this Putz house the wonderful feel of Christmas Eve!

Putz house details

But wait.. what did Santa bring? It looks like Hershey's kisses! Those won't last long! And a cup of Hot Cocoa mix! Gee, Santa knew how much I love Chocolate!!

Debby had a fun guessing game on her blog, too. Guess what? I won!! How blessed can I get? She sent this darling little bell ringer!! I think she is out Christmas caroling on her way home to put up her Christmas wreath!

Thank you Debby for being such a wonderful swap partner! She also sent me that pretty vintage Christmas handkerchief that you see the house sitting on in the photos!! I am so happy!!

Thank you Erica, for hostessing such a fun swap! I think I am addicted to Putz houses, now!

I am off to make more for my new collection!! Haha!

Bless you all!

Little Susie Home Maker

Blustery Day & Journal Swap

What a blustery day! 

The kind that reminds me of Pooh Bear and his friends hanging on for dear life! 

The wind has been blowing in tumble weeds from 3 counties over today! And the dust is flying for sure. Not the prettiest of Spring days. Sure to stir up some allergies.

 Living out on the plains, I never feel too comfortable when these Spring winds and storms kick up. But I did manage to go outside and un-stick piles of tumbleweeds from the bases of the bushes.

Be free tumbleweeds! It's kinda fun!

I been working on a little quilt project for a swap.

 I have never done any kind of quilting and decided this would be a fun way to wet my feet.

I love to visit all my blogger buddies blogs that quilt and look at their talent.

Cheryll from Gone Stitchin'

is the Swap Mama of this fun swap. 

She has the greatest blog so you must go visit her!

She set me up with my partner

Karen from Laughter in Quilts 

Another great quilter that I can learn so much from!

Please visit her as well.

Now look at this pretty journal covered in a little chicken theme!

Karen sure figured out what would make me smile from ear to ear, Yes this is such an adorable cover.

She made this block of the hen and it is way too cute!

Don't you just love the fabrics? Great color choices, Karen!

Yes, that is chicken wire print.

Oh, my!!!

 Look at the print on the back. A chicken yard!

Thank you Karen, you are so sweet.
I just love my chicken themed Journal Cover!!

I want to show a picture of the cover that I made for her as well!

I am really proud of myself,

because this is my first time piecing and hand quilting!

Karen was so encouraging to me on this swap project!

 And here is a picture of the inside.

Thank you both Cheryll and Karen!

I really enjoyed this project and the swap!

Many Blessings,

Little Susie Home Maker