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Gosh, my poor blog has been so vacated that it seems to have developed an echo. LOL Bet y'all are surprised to see me, huh? Can't believe I haven't blogged in so long. No real reason as to why I haven't. I keep planning posts in my head & I've even taken pictures in anticipation of doing a post...but then I don't follow through. ??? I sometimes take a self-imposed exile from my blog but my recent, extended absence can't be attributed to that. I just haven't gotten around to it. I know, I know....it's been 6 months! But you have no idea what a procrastinator I can be! I've been planning this post for almost 2 months!!! *blushes* Anyway, good to be here again...let's see if I remember how to do it.
I'm sure most of y'all heard about Cassandra Van Curen's Handmade Christmas Ornament swap...some of you even participated. I want to share the ornaments I made & received from the swap. I was fortunate to be paired w/ some mega-talent..so many incredible ornaments! I put them all on this little white tree in my studio & although it was a Christmas swap, most of the ornaments were more wintry than Christmas'y so I've just now taken the ornaments down. So I'm not actually as tardy as I appear. ;)
These first 3 ornaments were crafted by Jeannie Ryan. Jeannie doesn't have a blog but she does have any etsy shop. Sweet, glittery chapel!
Nested bird on a snowflake....
& a glitzy tussie mussie! Complete w/ candy but I ate it before I took the pic. 
She included this sweet tag too so I hung it on the tree also.
These next 3 ornaments were crafted by Becky Swartzlander @ Rebecca Rose Designs Lovely soldered ornament!
And this adorable Colleen Moody inspired snowman! Love it! 
And this pretty little stocking.
These next 3 ornaments were made by Robin Sanchez @ Once upon a Pink Moon. Isn't this snowman clever???
And this little snowman cup? Too cute!!
LOVE this altered doll!
These next 3 were crafted by Cassandra herself. Loved this sweet "sugar cookie"!
And an adorable paper clay bird.
We kind of had a theme going w/ snowmen & birds....love this nested bird, also by Cassandra.
These next 3 ornaments are the ones I crafted. Didn't do much for this first one....just foof'ed up some vintage birds I bought @ Canton. 
I bent little spoons & filled them w/ a nest of tinsel. Mine's a bit different than theirs though as I didn't have 5 spoons the same. I like theirs better but mine's cute too.
I made little hot air balloons out of tiny vintage shiny brites, an old thimble & a frozen charlotte.
Lot of crafty creativeness on that tree, huh? And even though I've taken these ornaments off & packed them away, there still is. Robin, Becky, Jeannie, Cassandra & I were all so thrilled w/ our ornaments that we agreed to do a Valentine ornament swap & my tree is currently bedecked w/ beautiful handmade hearts. And I participated in another Valentine ornament swap also...I promise I'll be back w/ pics of those before Valentine's!
I've enjoyed my little tree in my studio so much that I have decided that it will be up year-round. Wonder if the girls will be game for swapping through all seasons? We've already agreed to do a Spring swap so maybe so!
