Studio Stella

O Happy Day!

The Stella Studio love is flowing here!  (Can it be because Valentine's Day is right around the corner?)  

First, my sweet friend, Lisa, gave me these cuter-than-cute-couldn't-be-more-perfect note cards.  She is famous in these parts for turning out the most creative card crafts.  Lisa is as thoughtful as she is crafty, and I appreciate these beautiful Stella-inspired cards more than I can say!   The photo doesn't show it, but the baby Airstreams are cut from mirror-like silver paper so they look like just like newly polished aluminum!  She even used dark purple card stock because she knows that's the my favorite color and the color of our house.

Just after Lisa gave me the note cards, my blogging friend Gina, of Lily*s of London*ish, let me know about the On the Road Again stamp set from Inkadinkadoo that she, (and obviously Lisa), spotted at Michael's.  Now I can make some Stella note cards of my own, but they certainly won't be as well-done as Miss Lisa's.  If you haven't visited Gina's wonderfully inspired blog, do.  She's the most productive crafter and blogger I know!

Thanks for thinking of Stella and me when you see Airstream goodies, girlfriends!  

All Good Things Begin With LOVE

My first swap was a Valentine's Supply Swap, hosted by ArtsyMama. I have her to thank for my winning the swap partner lotto, because that is how I met Gina, the scaredy cat blog girl's guardian angel.

ArtsyMama's site is chock full of inspiration. She is a librarian/artsy mama/Minnestoan and I am two of those three, so maybe one day our paths will cross in person. Until then, her site is one of my favorite comfort zones!

Gina is also an amazing artist, prolific blogger, Flickr phenom, eBay seller, ZINE presence and, most importantly, a really generous soul. She made my first swap so easy and way, way fun. When I told her I was thinking about starting a blog, she offered heaps of encouragement and even said she'd put a link on her blog to mine. She didn't snigger or point and laugh at all! (Fair enough, I couldn't actually SEE her reacting to my silly, naive questions...) Her every email was the equivalent of, "Welcome to the party! You go girl!"

Here's the Valentine box I sent Gina.

And here's the beauteous one she sent me.

I got all kinds of good stuff out of that swap: inspiration, support, kindness, and super cool previously undiscovered velour rick rack! Gina, a (once) total stranger from the internet ether, sent out a little love and that has made all the difference.