Cool Katie..something to make the day at work go slower. LOL

Can't wait to hear about it later.

Anticipation is half the fun, Katie, you're probably about maxed out on all that anticipation by now!!

Hurry up, I want to see whatcha got. :-)

Annie

Can't wait to hear what was sent from Minnihaha! Hope it's cooler there than inland Connetercrit today, good grief, 90º and blistering, to be hotter in the days ahead. Ah Minnesota, cool forests, steams...sigh!

Bet your partner can't wait for you to get home either.

Are ya home yet, are ya home yet ;)

Waiting, waiting, tapping foot. Hurry up!

Are you home yet?

Yes I'm home! We were in Boise for a few days. I arrived home to find a box with big red 'FRAGILE'labels on it. The poor box looked like an elephant stepped on it, but fortunately Linda (doucanoe) packed it well and everything was fine.

What a nice bunch of goodies, and sorted into a legal five items, hehe.

First, along with a nice letter from Linda, was Do the "Can Can" - A lid rack and jar labels (very cute and I go through them like crazy). I will use the lid rack, I've always disliked the magnet on a wand that I have now (and don't use).

Mix It Up a Bit - Peach Iced Tea and a package of Minnesota Minestrone. When I saw MN on the package, I was hoping there was wild rice in there! It's hot...we'll certainly enjoy the tea.

Make the Cut - A lettuce knife and a Wavy Knife. I donÂt have either one of these. I do have an English cucumber waiting to be cut....the wavy knife looks way fun. And the lettuce knife looks handy for more than lettuce.

Spread It On Thick - Trader JoeÂs! Some Trader GiottoÂs bruschetta and champagne mustard. Two things I have not tried and my trip to Trader Joe's in Seattle is postponed until at least Sept.

Handmade With Love - Wow. I feel very honored to receive Linda's Âfirst attempt at glass fusingÂ. The two little dishes are just beautiful. I have a thing for glass dishes and these are perfect. (I only took a picture of one trying to capture the gorgeous colors.)

Linda, THANK YOU... we will enjoy everything, and I will treasure those little bowls!

{{gwi:1463944}}

{{gwi:1463946}}

Katie, you are sooooo welcome!

I am glad everything arrived intact, especially if the box was in bad shape! Since the wine I sent Gina broke, I am extra extra careful in packing!

I had to buy two of the lettuce knives, ya know! Glad you like the bowls, I am practicing glass fusing every day, hoping to get better at it!

Linda

Great swap package, especially that bowl. Love the colors you selected, Linda.

Gorgeous bowl! Enjoy all of your wonderful gifts.

AM

Love everything, but especially the bowl - can't believe how well it matches your wallpaper! The wavy knife looks like a great gadget. I have a lettuce knife and love it.

Great job Linda. Katie, it sounds like you'll get lots of use out of your items :)

Linda,
All I can say is wow and how do you fuse glass (like I need another hobby, not)

The lid rack is adorable and very useful, I would get splashed trying to fish the dang things out of a strainer thingie.

Peach Iced Tea would be great about now!

Well done! Enjoy the goodies, Katie

Katie, I agree that you can never have too many labels when you can, and that lid gadget looks interesting.

I really like the glass dish, though, that's beautiful. You know it's one of a kind too.

Annie

Wow is right. What a nice package. And how special to get something in glass created by Linda.

You are going to love that wavy cutter too. I have one that Linda sent me and I use it to cut potatoes.

Enjoy Katie.

Ann

Linda, the glass dish is just stunning and it looks to match Katie's wallpaper perfectly. I really like how the light plays off that blue color in the dish! You are a very talented woman.

Katie, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. We want to see just HOW creative you get with the veggies ;)

The glass dish is such a special highlight:) Lovely package!

That's a cool package! Linda, I'd like to see pictures of you making this fused glass - it looks very interesting.

The bowl looks like slumped glass - is that the same as fusing? Very artsy and fantastic! I wish I could make that myself - I love all kinds of glass.

The package must have been sent UPS if it looked like an elephants stepped on it - luckily the glass arrived intact. Looks like a great package.

Lars

Katie, great package and that glass dish is fabulous! Was the other one in the same colors?

Linda, you do beautiful work! Just wonderful. Nice package.

Jayne

I had no idea about lettuce knives...and boy that wavy knife looks like fun. Great package!! The dish is awesome.

I too love the dish - what a wonderful handmade touch. I'm waiting to hear how it's done!

Great package, enjoy Katie!

Stacy

The bowl is beautiful. I can't believe that was your first attempt Linda. I want to see more of your work.

Enjoy your package Katie, it's a great one.

Tracey

What a nice assortment of gifts! So lovely to include something homemade.

Enjoy your goodies, Katie!

Teresa

Great selection for you Katie-- hits your interests plus some fun new stuff-- that wavy knife will give your canning a new look . How very special that Linda sent some of her work-- that dish is wonderful !

Linda -- yes -- we need some more pictures of your "craft" -- beautiful !

Lettuce knife? So what are it's tricks? Nice package. Keep u with the glass work. My neighbor stared doing fused glass a few years ago and make the most amazing things. I know that picture doesn't do it justice.

Great package! WOW, first attempt and such a beautiful bowl, Linda. I like the canning lid holder, too -- never seen one of those before. Enjoy that peach tea, Katie.

Brenda

That bowl is a real beauty! And trader Joe stuff, lucky you.

Enjoy all the wonderful treats!

janet

That box was supposed to go to me.

I have a lettuce knife like that - got it from a bakery with a sheet cake as a giveaway - I use it to strip my herbs. I can't seem to do it with my fingers, the ones that my supermarket carries.

Haven't seen that lid rack before. Hmmmm. I need canning jar tongs too.

Linda, you made those??? I'm very impressed!

I have a lettuce knife and a wavy knife. Love 'em both. My kids won't eat carrots that aren't wavy. LOL

Great package, Katie. Linda...wow!

Jayne, it's a matched set. I mean, I've done a lot of 'crafty' things, including etched glass, but these are art.

Jessy, sorry...the box went exactly where it was supposed to. You wouldn't believe how well those bowls fit in with my eclectic mix of 'stuff'. Thanks for the hint about the lettuce knife. How's this for coincidence....We just got back from a food run to Spokane where I found some gorgeous fresh cilantro and 17 cent limes at the wholesale Cash and Carry. I was just about to head to the kitchen to make a quadruple batch of Lime Cilantro Sauce(I was thinking my swap partner may like to try it ;-D )I'll try the knife out on this huge bunch of cilantro.

Wavy canned things...hmmmm..I'm going to have to think about that.

Oh I love your package! That glass dish would be very special to me too! Enjoy it all~

Great package.I love champagne mustard and didn't know that TJs carried it, I'll have to check it out.
Linda

Linda, that bowl is to die for! Wow! The whole package is very very nice.

Still awaiting a fused glass tutorial, or should I just visit and watch you make one? I can bring some wine; I'm waiting for my swap partner to post and have time on my hands. Heehee!

Very nice! I've never heard of a lettuce knife, and I just saw the wavy knife for the first time recently. And the lid rack seems very clever and very practical.

And then you balance it with the beautiful bowl!

Very nice package!

Thanks for the compliments on the bowl, everyone! Glass fusing is basically taking two or more pieces of glass and melting them together in a kiln. The bowl was made by placing strips of green, blue and terra cotta (Katies kitchen colors) glass on a piece of clear glass, along with more clear glass pieces to make the square shape. I fired it for 30 minutes at 1450F. Then, I placed the flat blank on a bowl mold and fired it for 10 minutes at 1250F to "slump" into the mold to make the bowl. Yes, Lars, you had it right!

Here is a photo of a few more projects. Like I said, I am a beginner so these aren't too amazing....yet!

Round bowl, Square bowl, Plate (which I am still working on...) two barrettes and a pin.

{{gwi:1463947}}

Here is another photo of Katies package with both the bowls

{{gwi:1463948}}

Yes, bubbe, grab your wine and come on over! We'll melt glass together! LOL

Linda

Oooooh, how crafty you are Linda as well as doing a good job of researching about your partner.

"that lid gadget looks interesting." Annie, did I hear that right?

"I am a beginner so these aren't too amazing....yet!"

Linda, you do NOT need to apologize for that glass. I think it is amazing NOW! I would definitely buy that!

Wow - I love the handmade glass bowls! How very cool! Linda, they are amazing to me!!! Excellent swap package!

Whoa! Great package!

Very cool goodies and I love homemade touches, especially those dishes..way cool!

Okay, that lesson would require that I bring a case, no problem! I would love any of those items of yours and would buy them in a heartbeat. Isn't that great to be able to express your taste and talent like that? Wow!

Great package! So, IÂm trying to figure out how to use the jar rack!! LOL! The labels are always handy! IÂve never heard of a lettuce knife. I love that wavy knife. I think thatÂs a gadget I need! The tea and minestrone sound great! The bruschetta and mustard would be gobbled up in our house!! Linda, that glass is just gorgeous! I canÂt believe you made that!

Wow! Katie! Enjoy!

Great job Linda!!

Oh man that dish is gorgeous! I love when people get handmade stuff from their swap mate. It's just so special.

Great job Linda! Lucky you Katie!

That is a beauty, Linda. If that's a first effort...

Just a very nice package all around. Looks like you got some great stuff, Katie.

Katie, you are going to like the canning lid holder, they are very handy, no more fishing around hot water for a lid and I never have enough labels.

I just keep looking at that dish! Linda, it is beautiful, I don't even think beautiful describes it, you are so talented.

What a nice package.

I love the bowl! Linda, how do you do that???

Tikanas