My AREtsy Valentine

I am a very proud member of the AREtsy Street Team of Arkansas Crafters. The skill and talent of all the AREtsy crafters is amazing as is the range of crafts created by these extremely talented ladies.

This year, due to all of us being up to our eyeballs in craft projects at Christmas, opted to have a 'Valentines Day Swap' instead of a Christmas one. Sally of Dogwood Lane coordinated this little swap. She gave each of us participating a name of a fellow AREtsy to make a little something for. That AREsty may or may not be the one making a little something for us. It was fun trying to figure out what our given name liked, didn't like, and what would make them smile the most.

Laurie of Glassbead drew me. Laurie does amazing handcrafted glass beads. Just check out her Etsy shop to see for yourself. When I recieved my little package and opened it, what I saw truly touched me. Laurie, not a bird expert, put a lot of effort into making me three very, very special little cockatiel beads. She doesn't seem to have the high opinion of her creations as I do, so I thought I'd share so you could also let her know how absolutely amazing a job she did.This is the first one I pulled out of the little package. Cleo saw it and thought it looked a lot like her. She really wanted me to give to her and got awfully mad at me when I said no. It does look like my Cleo, doesn't it? This second one looked a lot like AsaMina's Momma Bird. She went over the rainbow bridge 5/21/2007 and that makes this little bead a bit more special

The third little tiel bead looks like my 40th birthday present, my little Worthington Israel Wentworth, himself (he's still working on growing into that name)

I will always treasure these three little tiel beads. A lot of thought, patience, artestry, and friendship went into each one.

And, neither to be made light of, nor forgotten, is my little white chicken (I think she looks like a Gertrude, don't you?), the glass heart at the beginning of this post, (which I've already worn several times and gotten many compliments on (totally my colors!)), and an icicle that I couldn't figure out how to photograph and do justice to. No self respecting Yankee should be without an icicle. It reminds me of New Hampshire, where I've spent most of my life and still am a bit homesick over having to leave.

Thank you again Laurie.