I recently did a swap with Susan of Su-lu Design after I looked all over town (i.e. in 2 beading shops and the craft stores)  for some large ear wires. We’ve never met in real life, but we both lived in Astoria and shopped at the same grocery store for who knows how long. Then I moved out west, and she moved out west, to the point that when we got to the podunk town of Kadoka, SD, I said “No, no, I want to stay at that motel!” which I recognized from her photos. It was good to know I was not alone.

Here are some of the goodies she sent me.

The fabric I used in the background is a hand screened piece by Lara Cameron. Gorgeous, gorgeous- just some of the other good mail I’ve received recently.

It was a fun little swap, and I’ve been wanting some of her earrings for a long time.  Sometimes I feel like making things to sell is just an elaborate form of barter, since I always end up using my paypal money to buy more handmade stuff.