THANK YOU, Emily and Sheri

I have been receiving some Happy Mail lately and here's just a sample!   I participated in two swaps that ended around the same time and my partners were amazing. 

First, in the Vintage Cowgirl Swap hosted by Sweet Goodness Swaps, Emily from Texas was my partner.  Check out my totally STUFFED box of goodies.

Aren't these too sweet?  We were to include one handmade item, one thrifted item, one "sweet" (mm, Rolos my fav), and challenged to include a vintage cowgirl image.  She certainly did that!  And, I don't think stayed within our $15 budget, either.  I've found myself wearing the cute little "S" necklace almost every day since it arrived.  THANK YOU SO MUCH EMILY!

Here's a few snaps of what I sent her --- a tutorial on the cowboy boot clutch will be posted soon:

Apron, 'cause that's what I do

My first altered clipboard

Twig star

Cowboy/cowgirl magnet

This totally cool embellished horseshoe (bad photo tho)

and my first Cowboy Boot Purse/Clutch

And, as if all that goodness wasn't enough, a second package arrived that day, this one from my A Swap for All Seasons partner, Sheri Howard.  The theme this time was "Something Old... Something New", and we had to include something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a wedding photo.  LOOK!

You could tell from the packaging that this was special

Everything was wrapped so beautifully

She had the printed definition on every one

Breathtaking, especially the handsewing on those amazing towels!!

OLD - delicate vintage hankies

NEW - amazing handstitched towels

BORROWED - Russian nesting dolls for my collection!!!!

BLUE - vintage cookbook, also for my collection

THANK YOU so much Sheri for all the time and attention you put into my package.  You really took my likes into consideration and gave me such a wonderful gift!!

Sheri posted what I sent here HERE, but I want to leave you with the vintage wedding photo I sent her ... this is from my mom's first wedding (married four times!) in the 40's:

New Obsession - Cowboy Boot Purses

So, while in search for some crafty ideas for my Vintage Cowgirl Swap, I stumbled upon my newest and latest obsession: Upcycled Cowboy Boot Purses!! I saw a cute picture, then I found a tutorial, next a seller FROM OREGON, and now several sellers.

I've been scouring my local resale and goodwill stores for the past couple of weeks but have not been willing to pay $30 for a pair old boots I'm going to cut up and maybe ruin! Ebay has a few good deals (don't you sneak in ahead of me!), but now I AM SO EXCITED to pick up the cutest pair of red and black boots off of Craigslist this weekend for $15!! (I didn't have the heart to tell the gal I'm cutting them up.) Will my purse look like the professional's $400 purses? No. But will it be cute? I sure hope so!

And, apparently brilliant minds think alike because, on page 74 of the June/July 2010 issue of Mary Janes Farm, she has a how-to on, yes, "Cowboy-Boot Purses"!!!!

Check these out!

The tute that started it all, Janome's Recycled Cowboy Boot Purse tutorial

This little baby is over at HGTV

This is one of the more simple designs from the professionals at Diamond 57 in Oregon.
This looks almost doable for me, right?!? She's made purses for stars like Taylor Swift, and designed a couple of amazing bags for charity that were signed by Reba McIntyre. She will also custom make purses from your own pair of sentimental boots to the tune of $150 for single/$275 double plus $$ for all the extras.

I really like this double-boot model from West Texas Totes. But, at $434 plus $20 shipping, I think I'll work on my own!

Promise to post pictures of my work in progress!! Partner, don't be peeking!

UPDATE: My "tutorial" is posted HERE.

I'm also a Thirty One Gifts consultant - come check out our personalized bags, purses and gifts - or start your OWN business. Check it out HERE.