Behind the scenes of the Nature's Blessings Swap Journal

It will be nice coming back from my trip to a clean studio.  For weeks and weeks before the trip, I was up to my ears in the Nature's Blessing swap.

I had three tables filled with stacks of pages from the artists.

And this table set up with towers of journal covers, and a small, cleared area where I could sit and put the pages into the books.

Another table was set up for wrapping the books to get ready to ship. Then, there was a pile of packages waiting for labels by the computer and boxes of packages ready to go to the PO by the door.

And yet one more table set aside for choosing complimentary groupings.

Which is very complicated since there are two sides to each set of pages.

Of course, with soooooo many artists and hundreds and hundreds of pages, there is a huge mix of styles and the books can't "match".

Plus, it's only right that each swapper receives a variety, no one wants back exactly what they sent in.

They join a swap to get a sampling of pages back in their own books.

But, I do think that there has to be something cohesive about each book, so that there is some sort of flow as you flip through it.

I do my best to gather together 6 pages that look nice together.  

Of course, with so much bounty to chose from, that is not a hard job!

I probably take way too much time doing this, but each book is special to me.

I love looking through each stack and picking out the pages that I pull together.

It is such a treat to have this bounty of creativity overflowing my workspace!

I just wish I could sell tickets to the room, to give tours of the pages.  I'd be rich.

I'm sure there are easier ways to do the swaps. If I'd open six packages at a time and swap those six out with each other, keeping the other packages  boxed up til I was ready for them, I wouldn't need to use a whole room to do this.

But I just don't think the results would be the same.  I like piecing each book together, with as much care as each artist put into their own pages.

I hope the artists love the books they receive as much as I do.

And I want them to know how much it means to me that they trust me with their creations.

There is some beautiful work here, isn't there?

Amazing amounts of detail...

Lush and lovely supplies...

Adorable whimsical thoughts...

Layers of loveliness...

Innovating ideas...

Charming charms...

Little surprises...

Pages and pages of pretty!

Are you impressed? I know I am.  

Thanks again to all of my swappers! And to those of you who had to drop out and ordered a blank book to fill up with blessings at a later date, a big thank you. That was kind.  Making dozens and dozens of book covers, white washing and tying on charms, took me weeks to do. I appreciate my time not being taken for granted. It was nice of the people who signed up, but couldn't finish the swap to still purchase the book that I had taken the time to make for them.  

 

Comments

[Lesley Walker]

Wow! So much loveliness! It's made my day. Blessings

[Linda P.]

What great fun to scroll through all these beautiful pages, Karla! Thanks for sharing the pretties from this swap.

[Yvonne Welty]

Thanks for sharing Karla! I definitely enjoyed seeing the pages and am really enjoying my journals!

[Sandy]

I am gobsmakced! over all these amazing pages of stunning artwork. I would have taken the tour. I cherish my book and have communicated with each artist whose pages I received, new friends, lovely art, and a hearty thank you for all the hard work you put into this swap.

[Jeannie McGehee]

WOW!! The pages are all awesome!! Can't wait to include some of the ideas in my book! Thank you for sharing and for all your hard work in the care & construction of each book!

[Karla Nathan]

Arent they something, Jeannie? Im ready to do another, that was such a pleasure.

[Karla Nathan]

And Sandy, thank you for the fun ephemera book that you gave to me. I took it along on my sister trip to Florida and my sisses and I used pictures from it in our travel journals.

[Karla Nathan]

That is great, Yvonne! I hope your friends enjoy them as gifts too. Thanks again for purchasing extras.

[jeanie]

Absolutely brilliant, Karla. I love seeing the diversity of pages in all this! I don't know how much time you spent but even a rookie could tell it was dozens of hours.

I have to sign up for your class. I'll do it today. I'd love to do a Christmas in July swap sometime -- all holiday things but time to have this precious book in time for the holiday season!

I love it, I love mine and I'm so grateful for all your work!

[Karla Nathan]

The room seems empty without them!

[Kathy]

It is so beautiful to see all the pages matched up in sets like this! I love my journal and I appreciate the thought you put in to assembling them.

[Pallas]

They are all beautiful - so much inspiration.

[Gail]

Those pages are drop dead gorgeous!!! Makes me even sadder that I was not able to participate. Hopefully I can next time.

[Karla Nathan]

There will for sure be a next time, Gail. I enjoyed this one a great deal.

[Robin]

I would have taken the tour, too....these pages are gorgeous, made my day ! I loved this swap, I love my journal, and I love last years fairy journal as well. I treasure all the time spent, especially yours. I'm ready for another one anytime !

[Margie S.]

Wow!! So many beautiful pages. Thank you for taking the time to take all of these pictures and to share them with us. I cannot even imagine all the hours you spent putting these together for us, Karla!! Thank you so much. I love my journal and I SO appreciate all that you have done for each one of us who joined this fun swap. I hope when you recover you'll think of doing another one. haha! I look forward to it. So much fun! Thank you!! Thank you!!

[Margie S.]

Oh and PS!! I love the cover you made for us. It's so beautiful. I will treasure this journal.

[Karla Nathan]

I really am looking forward to the next one, this was a lovely experience from start to finish, and everyone was so nice to work with. Thanks for being a part of it, Margie.

[Karla Nathan]

That fairy one was so special to me too, Robin!

[Karla Nathan]

It was quite special to have all those pages here with me.