A lovely Rusty 6 X 6 swap post and more woes

I'll start with the woes. After subzero temperatures this week, one of my water pipes finally broke. So my once lovely basement studio was once again under water yesterday. However, this time, I knew to call my insurance agent and have him get a plumber out immediately. What a horrible mess a flood is. I know some friends in Iowa experienced floods this year, and I know what they went through. The water is now back on, and I'm looking at a huge deductible that I'll have to fork out, but at least I'm going to get it fixed AGAIN. So, I spent all afternoon and evening yesterday dealing with water damage, plumbers, water cleanup crews, and lots of loud machines in my basement. And you wonder why I don't get around to visiting all my favorite blogs!!

However, before all that happened, something magical happened yesterday morning. Patty Szymkowicz and I both opened our swap packages.


As always, my dear friend Patty Szymkowicz from Magpie's Nest sent a decorated package that hid these beauties. They are my RUSTY pages, my theme, for our 6 X 6 swap. Patty wrapped these in lovely packages and I felt like it was my birthday.


With Patty it is about the attention to detail.


Just look at this beauty, all wrapped in some stunning tissue that I already have plans for.


I opened the package yesterday morning, a cold, cloudy day that was not conducive for photography, especially with my limited camera.


This is the first page I saw when I opened the package. I almost called it a "gift," because it really was a gift: one made of friendship and art.


My pages are the largest of any in this swap, measuring A4 size or 8.5 X 11 inches. That gave Patty plenty of room to play with. And play she did. Look at this rusty detail.


But Patty never just sends her art. She also includes her heART. In addition to the lovely lace, which I also plan to use in covers for my scrappy journals, Patty also sent a ton of lovely papers, many of them in other languages, collage fodder, cigar box bands, napkins, and a piece of rusted fabric.


Look at the rusty detail on this fabric. I know this will go in my Rust book, as part of my own pages.

Now, feast your eyes on the lovely pages Patty sent me. When Patty has them on her blog you'll be able to read how she made them. As soon as I have a direct link, I will post it, because I'm curious, too. Update: Direct link to Patty's post describing these pages is here.