Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Beginnings of an ornament exchange

I think I have mentioned before that the reason I started blogging almost 2 years ago, was because I wanted to connect with people that shared my interests in art and jewelry; 'life, the universe and everything'.

That has happened in ways I couldn't have dreamed of  - and I am very thankful. Thankful for the connections, for the encouragement and support, for the love and the friendship.
Thank you - all of you!

I have been dreaming of finding a group of people here in Germany to connect with. For a number of reasons - maybe the most important is, to support each other in mixed media art and mixed media jewelry, which does not have such a widespread community here - yet.

The end of November I approached three ladies within Germany and asked it they would be interested in an ornament swap for Christmas. Unfortunately, Gaby of Colorful Adventures was not able to commit to an additional project at this time - but I hope she will join us in the future, as the two other talented ladies - Stefanie of Stefanies Sammelsurium and Janna of Schnitzkästchen (aka Palimpa Lim) - graciously accepted my 'invitation'. I deliberately only asked a couple of people, as it was already far into the season and I was sure it would be difficult to find time to make a large amount of ornaments (but I will definitely be expanding the group for next year - because it was so much fun! These girls are incredible!).

Okay, enough of the talking already, before I bore everyone to death. On with the pictures!

This week, we received all our respective ornaments - last night we unpacked! Was it ever exciting!


This cute little box is from Stefanie.


This was the wrapping for Janna's ornament.

Talk about suspense!


These are the ornaments I received. Aren't they gorgeous?


This is Stefanie's ornament - anyone who follows her blog will recognize her use of vibrant colours. Love the way she combines them and she always has some sari silk in her creations. Love the little cherub - a resin paper/wire creation. A gorgeous ornament! I can't wait to put the tree up tomorrow.


This is Janna's creation. Talk about mixed media! She used brass, copper, vintage lace and sari silk and I think the heart is resin paper... fantastic. Love it! And that little face! There is even a little sleigh bell dangling from the silk - sigh!

Thank you both, Stefanie and Janna, for taking the chance and playing along with me for this swap. I promise, it will not be the last. 
Please visit Janna's and Stefanie's blogs later today, as they will also be sharing their ornaments with us.


Once again, thank you to everyone - for enriching my life and expanding my horizons in so many ways!

12 comments:

romantic decay said...

Very cool exchange! Love all the layers (something I need to work on).

Have a great holiday.

steufel said...

Hach, Renate: Danke, Danke, Danke!

mairedodd said...

this is wonderful! the idea and the ornaments... cannot wait to see what you made for them!

sharon said...

I love this Renate, great idea!! Step and Janna's ornaments are fabulous....really special! Can't wait to see yours!

lilylovekin said...

Renate, you enrich my life also and I am thankful this Christmas season to have you in my blogland life. Wishing you a joyful holiday season. Lorrie

Gaby Bee said...

Wow, diese "Christmas Ornaments" sind einfach traumhaft...und sooooo schön verpackt. Es tut mir so leid, daß ich nicht die Zeit hatte, mich an diesem Swap zu beteiligen. Jetzt bin ich echt gespannt, was du dir hast einfallen lassen, Renate!

Ich wünsche dir und deiner Familie Frohe Weihnachten!

ganz liebe Grüße,
Gaby

Diane said...

Super Renate! I think they both are fabulous, and now each year when you put your tree up, you will think of them =) I love that!

Palimpa Lim said...

Liebe Renate, ich danke Dir von ganzem Herzen dafür, dass Du diesen großartigen Ornament Swap in die Welt gehoben hast - und einfach dafür, dass es Dich gibt.
Nachdem ich heute den ganzen Tag unterwegs war und seeeehr spät nach Hause gekommen bin, hab ich es nun endlich ebenfalls geschafft, die Ornaments zu zeigen! Ich muß sie immer wieder in die Hand nehmen. Sie sind so wunderschön. Viel schöner als auf den Fotos. Vielen, vielen Dank!

Anonymous said...

Eine sehr schöne Idee. Ich liebe es mit meinen Baumornamenten schöne Erinnerungen zu verknüpfen. Liebe Grüße und frohes Weihnachten wünscht Dir und der Familie, Inge

In the Light of the Moon said...

Wow these are so lovely!!What a lucky duck you are to share in this exchange and I think its a wonderful way to meet like minded people in your area.

I also wanted to say that I recieved my giveaway treasures and I am so excited to play all the goodies.Thank you so much!!

Merry Christmas to you and yours,Cat

Hopemore Studio said...

Renate, Your ornament exchange was a great success. How lovely the ones you received and the ones you made!

I really think it's fantastic you reached out. I think you could singlehandedly create the a German community for like minded mixed media artists :)

Esther said...

those ornaments are gorgeous!!!