6.07.2007

Aye, It's the Swappy Life for Me

My friends around me think I'm a little loony. Lately, our conversations go something like this: Friend: "Hey, whatch doin' today? Got any plans?" Me: "Well, I'm finishing up my winter dangly for an online dangly swap with the Garden of Pink Shadows, how 'bout you?" Friend: "Um, is a dangly what I think it is?" Me, acting like I don't know what they really mean: "You know...it's a piece of artwork with something sparkly and dangly hanging from it." Friend, rolling eyes and snorting: "Oh, okay, a dangly, uh huh. Hey Jane, Michele's makin' a dangly." Then I endure assorted humiliations...for the next week! This is my life, and if you create art, maybe it's yours, too...

Later, I excitedly ask them if they'd like to see my offerings for a handmade postcard swap. Or my bird tags, or my Spring Tweet collage. It' doesn't have quite same the connotation as a dangly, but they chortle anyway. Well, most of them. I do have one cohort.

"Hey Michele, can you go to a movie?"
"No, I need to mail something out tomorrow and I have to make it tonight."
"Why do you put yourself through all that stress? You should just tell those girls you can't swap anymore."

No!!! No!!! No!!! I'll tell you why, because I LOVE it...and I'm addicted. I can't stop reading other blogs and signing up for swaps. And, by the way, I think I might even be making a few friends! Maybe someday it'll be passe to me, but right now, it's my incentive to make something...to have somebody to make it for; somebody who signed up too and LOVES danglies, and postcards, and collages and...That's why.

I know that there are others out there like me. Admit it, you are all swapaholics! If you're not, try it, just once. The first time I felt so sheepish about it, thinking all the while that maybe I'd get an email back saying "no, you can't join our swap, we don't even know you!" But it was never like that. I love all the gracious hostesses who let me join them. Thank you all, so much.

Mums the word, now, when my friends ask me what I'm doin'. Can you imagine what they would say if I told them, "oh, nothing, just finishin' up my jar fairy for Miss Melfie's Jar Fairy Swap." I don't even want to go there!

Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of glitter...it's the swappy life fer me!

15 comments:

Mippie said...

My name is Melissa, and I'm a swap-a-holic... Only I don't want to be cured!! Loved this post--so well said!!! I'm so excited that we're going to get to actually meet at Silver Bella!!! Should we bring something to swap?? :) xo-Mel

Connie said...

Very nice. You do great work, and are very creative. It was nice chatting with you and Tracy today.
Blessings,
Connie

Connie said...

I forgot I was going to leave my blog address, so you can be invited.http://thehoehnefamilyblog.spaces.live.com
Blog Soon,
Connie

Michele said...

"Hello, Melissa. Let's all welcome Melissa..."
The only cure is more, more, more...so, of course we should swap...it's what we do, it's who we are! :) Do you have a theme in mind, or shall we just surprise one another?
til next time,
Michele

Kari said...

Total swapaholic here too. LOVE your blog!!! Look forward to visiting often:) FUN stuff! The next best thing to BEING in a swap is looking at pictures of other peoples swaps!! Ahhhh...
Kari

Rose Garden Romantic said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rose Garden Romantic said...

Oh, I'm so glad your are have joined us here in blogland!! I have just recently became a swap-a-holic too!! Isn't it sooo fun? I LOVE the jar fairy you made- it's so imaginative! I was in the jar fairy swap and the "she sells seashell" swap, too! I only wish I had also joined the crown/tiara swap and the Jenny's "bits and pieces" swap!! I am so missing out! When I come back from vacation this summer, I think I may have to host one of my own! :D I really enjoy seeing all your lovely photos on flickr and I will be sure to visit your blog now, too! Oh, and as for telling others what I'm doing- well, I just don't!
How do you explain a jar fairy to one who just doesn't get it? Thank goodness for all the wonderful kindred spirits here in blogland and on flickr who do "get it"!
Michelle

Dede Warren said...

Oh Michelle, you're a girl after my own heart. Why do you think I moved to the neighborhood (blogland)? It wasn't for the location... it was to be surrounded by all these like minded women. The rolling of eyes would never happen here. We share more of the jumping up and down, she picked me excitement of a swap. After all, what are friends for?

Simply Me Art said...

I too am a Swapaholic!!! I am having the best time and will keep doing it as long as i can. Nice to meet you, jamie

Charmingdesigns said...

Just found your site, because Im new at this! I just did my first swap...matchbox with http://natashaburns.blogspot.com/index.html thought I would start out small...from what ya all are saying, I'll be the next to get addicted! lol. Laurie

Heidi said...

oh my. This is why I too feel at home in blogland. The gals here "get it". Really. Get. It. If you don't get it, you never will. I love your funny story. I'm beyond that now...I just don't answer the phone! Can't wait to see more of what you make!

Stephanie said...

Just found your blog today. I am new to all this too, as of January. I came across flickr and have never been the same! I love looking at what people create. I also did the matchbox swap. Fun fun!

www.angelinascards.com said...

Hello,I think I am becoming a swap junkie my self! I would love for you to join my christmas /card tag swap.I love your blog and will add it to mine. Thanks,Angelina www.angelinascards.com

Cheryl Ensom said...

That is INCREDIBLE! Love it! And I SOOOOOO get the swap-anxiety but does it stop us from signing up for MORE? Heck, no! :)

Anonymous said...

Hand in the air...
Hi, I am Bren and I have a major addiction to Swapping.
I posted about this on my blog several weeks ago and other's out there are like us.
There is a 12 step program I have heard of to fight it but I don't want to fight it. It's too fun.

Have fun at Silver Bella. I am not really too sure of what it is but everyone seems to be going to it.
:) Bren
http://benzy55.typepad.com/my_weblog/