A thank you and Big Rock Candy Mountain: Grungy Monday

I dislike doubling up on posts, but it's a must lately if I'm to get everything posted. Surely everyone involved will understand as they too are always struggling to find an extra minute.

Or they won't understand and I'll find a "Tsk, tsk, don't do that" message in my Inbox.

Here we go, then: Back on June 20 our friend Nigel of Freebird's flights of fancy took a moment to show off his incredible undersea chest creation and to offer a little blog candy.

Turns out that I won candy, which arrived while I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago. And what a wonderful surprise it was! I posted a photo here of what Nigel included for me, packets of tea and art stuff and even a creation of his very own!

That's right! I now own a limited edition Nigel!

While that might read as a bit snarky, I promise that I'm in earnest. I always feel exceptionally lucky when a fellow artist shares something with me that they've made. What greater honor can we hope for in life?

So, many thanks to Nigel for his gifts and especially for his art!

On to my own piece for today: Fittingly it includes two items Nigel sent to me, a stamped image and a bit of handmade paper.

The piece also features distress inks in spiced marmalade and mustard seed, some of Tim Holtz's, ahm, designer tape stuff (I never can remember what it's called), and Distress Stickles and Crackle rock candy!

Ah! There! Were you beginning to wonder how I was ever going to circle around to Grungy Monday?

The Grungy Monday challenge for this week is rock candy, which I think fit perfectly here though I probably used the tiniest bit of anyone in the challenge!

Go here to see what Mr. Tim Holtz does with rock candy!