Saturday, January 15, 2011

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.


 












24 thoughtful remarks:

Dianne said...

Wow! These turned out amazing & gorgeous!! Sure hope you are done with floods & plumbers for a while now...scary to think of the water damage to paper...at least you had a package to open and cheer you up!

Clare with paint in her hair said...

Oh no! Floods are awful, sorry to hear you have had to suffer one. At least you got a fabulous package to make up for the horridness of the day! Sending big hugs

Clare

Zue said...

What beautiful art! So many lovely pieces, a truly gorgeous visual feast!

Sorry to hear about your demise...it never rains, but it pours into your basement.

Don't worry nothing else can go wrong now.
Fingers and toes crossed
Sue xx

voodoo vixen said...

Oh dear Elizabeth, you really are starting 2011 out in some new and interesting ways!! Hours with no electricity and freezing cold and burst pipes!! I am sincerely hoping that this is your way of getting all the years 'upsets' out of the way so you have a breeze the rest of the year!!
Love the artwork in your parcel today and the rusty bits are just fabulous... still haven't tried your rusty technique out.... but I will!!

Healing Woman said...

What a wonderful piece of art! She has also included one of my belief's...To rest is to rust...

I am so sorry about your flood.....oh my...I hope you get everything back to normal soon.

Terri Kahrs said...

Elizabeth, I'm beginning to think that your house is inhabited by a gremlin!!! So sorry to hear about your water woes. Our first house had a "water curse" on the basement - I don't envy the work needed to set things straight.

On the other hand, Patty's pages are nothing short of exquisite!!! And it looks like they were received at just the right moment.

Hope you have an uneventful weekend. Hugs, Terri xoxo

elisa said...

¡¡¡Wonderfull!!

Thanks for sharing

Kisses

~*~Patty S said...

Cold weather really IS having its way with your abode...hoping this is the last of any trouble for you Elizabeth!

What a lovely post...I posted my rusty pages today too since I knew you'd gotten them. We have a sunshiney day so I will be busy trying the capture all of the beauty and creativity you sent my way so I can blog about them as well...great fun and such a wonderful swap. Many thanks to you for being our fearless leader...you will never rust!
oxo

elle said...

Wet is one thing, cold and wet is quite another. Hope you can now be warm and dry! Beautiful giftings!

Tammy Freiborg said...

Lovely treasures in the mail always help us get through a challenging day.

Annie said...

What a lovely swap. Special treasured shared.
So sorry to hear about your flood. Really hope you haven't got too much damage.
A x

Unknown said...

SO gorgeous! I wish I made stuff like this! What a treasure, especially after the day you had!

Kirsty.A said...

Wow. Beautful. So sorry about your burst pipe

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Oh no! I was just thinking this morning that I don't know where to turn my water off if I ever had this problem ('cos It recently happend to my son) I know there's a shut-off thing outside in the street but don't know if I've got the wherewithal to actually turn it off :-/
These pages are absolutely stunning I love all the colours :-)
Anne xx

Maggie said...

Oh, how lovely!! Patty is generous and so talented too! It's all so beautiful.

I'm so sorry about your flooded studio. I hope it's all back to normal as soon as possible.

Debrina said...

Wowza - what a gorgeous start to the year with that swap pack but oh poos about the flooding :-(

Diane said...

Stunning!!! I'm so sorry about your troubles--I can't even imagine --I'd be going crazy!

Anonymous said...

These are amazing! Thank you for sharing!

Steph said...

Dear Patty is certainly a talented gal...and an artist with a heart....love these pages and indeed a priceless collection for you.....

peggy aplSEEDS said...

so sorry to hear about your flooding problem. terrible. glad you had that wonderful package arrive to take your mind off the basement. those pages are amazing!

Anonymous said...

Oh, okay. Now I am going over to click a big follow on Patty's blog, because I really love that stuff.
Xx,
Amy

Unknown said...

I am so sorry to hear about the flooding....what a mess!
Patty makes beautiful things doesnt she......I bet you both were thrilled with your packages........

ooglebloops said...

patty never disappoints!! When you rest, you rust- great quote. If you ever do another rusty swap, I 'd love to try my hand at it!!!

Halle said...

Beautiful pages...