Monday, May 9, 2011

Swaps That I Have Received

Pretty Little Pouch: I have been one lucky swapper!  THIS is why I am so stoked about swaps.  Here is the very swap that I have received.  Celeste (Celesta50) sent me this beautiful Pretty Little Pouch.  I knew from the first second I saw this that it had to be mine.  Perfection pouch!  How many design elements did she add?  Linen, Parisville, embroidery, circles, large enuf for my small or medium embroidery hoop, zipper pouches in one bag.  Holy cow.  Plus the interiors of both are gorgeous.  I have already toted this thing all over creation.  It went to the beach with me this weekend and to jury duty last week.  Thank you Celeste, you are a wizard.



Make Mine Modern:  The second swap package I received was another incredible find!  This one was from Tamiko (Strawberrylicious).  Holy Crap, look at this loot.  She made the most beautiful, sweet, superfeminine, little pouches and sewing kit I have every had.  Once again linen!, Sherbet Pips (sigh) and hexies.  Plus Parisville fabric and background for the cathedral window pouch.  It is kinda funny that I sent a Shebet Pips charm pack to my partner for this swap, and I received one!, which is soooo great because I had a hard time parting with my first pack.  I paid it forward and got the reward.  *happy*

Look at this sewing kit!  She even made hexies for me.  And adorable scissors (a secret passion of mine).
Cathedral window zipper pouch.  Just large enough to hold my money, credit cards, phone and keys.  I carry it in my big purse.  I can see people looking when I whip it out. 

Each one a marvel!  The outside of the sewing kit.  SQUEEEEEEE!  Pips, Parisville, Pouches...

Pink Puppy Pips in a pouch.  I am keeping my pips charms in this little pouch.  I will keep making the pip hexies and store them and the scraps in this one.  Who knows what it will grow up to be?

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Swaps - That I Made and Sent

I participated in two swaps that ended last month and one that will end in June.  I am totally hooked on them.  Learning a new technique and trying to figure out what someone else would like to have really expands my knowledge and appreciation for different styles.  To say nothing of the beautiful stuff I have received.  But more about that later. :)

First was the Make Mine Modern Swap. 
Holy Cow!!  I loved doing this one because it contained so many different elements.  It didn't make me narrow down to one thing, so I could create as many little crafts as I had time to finish.  My partner was so cute and I loved her ideas and style.  I was nervous because I had to ship to Australia and had been reading some shipping nightmares.  At the suggestion of friends, I crammed as much as I could into two little bitty flat rate envelopes.  (I had to unwrap and squish everything)  Fortunately everything made it there safe and sound. 
 


Second Swap was the Pretty Little Pouch swap.  This was a quick and fun swaplet.
 
I had a partner that was fairly specific and I immediately knew what I was going to make for her.  The box pouch.  Since I had a great pattern that I wanted to try from The Plaid Scottie, it was really fun.  It did take me several tries and some alternate pouches just in case....but I did it and I liked making them.  It took some elbow grease, but here they are.  (I only sent the blue and the gold polka dots).  

Third Swap is the Goodie Bag Swap. 
This one is not finished, but I am almost ready to box it up to ship.  I have a couple of goodies to throw in...
This swap was for purses or bags and I selected the Intermediate catagory since I wanted to force myself to step up my skills.  The pattern I used was one I had for a while and wanted to tackle.  It wasn't as hard as I thought and I added some stuff.  Plus I used one of my all time favorite fabrics, Amy Butler's Love.