kicking off the year with an easy swap

 

Hello there and welcome to 2013 !

Are you staying home or traveling ?

Did you manage to get any time off ?

 

I mentioned on facebook about a postcard swap and

got a great response .

This will be the easiest swap ever !

 

All you need to do is let me know here if you would like to play.

Send me an email with your address.

Pick up a postcard from your home town or somewhere

you are on holiday .

Write a few chatty words on the postcard , whack on a stamp

and post it to the partner that I pair you with .

 

It will take you a few minutes and a couple of dollars , that's it !

 

What do you think ?

As it is minimal cost it would be nice to have bloggers

from all over the world playing !

 

I'll give you a week to sign up and then I will let you

know who your partners are .

 

You then must post your postcard within the week .

 

Tell your friends , the more the merrier !

 

 

insert pin here

I'm hosting a pincushion swap on my facebook page !

Very remiss of me not to let you know here in case you wanted to be in it too.

The only thing is you must be a facebooker.

I won't be swapping this pincushion of mine , I really do need a big one as

I tend to just throw my pins in the general direction and hope some

land in the right place . 

Even if you can't join in on facebook you may need a new pincushion anyway.

Here is the link to lots of tutorials on Tipjunkie if you need some inspiration . 

Thanks for visiting , nice to see you !

I can't think of a title for this post

We are almost at the end of school holidays here .

Right at the beginning of the holidays

I felt I needed to make the decision to continue

working around the kids and their friends,

juggling two part time jobs ,

renovations and all the other stuff we seem to manage.

Or let something go for just two weeks .

So except for orders I have done no work,

designing or sewing for Clare's Craftroom

for two long weeks .

My girl and I made these cards together

and a bit of scrapbooking and that's it !

I think the break has refreshed me and I can't

wait to get back into it .

In the meantime to kick me back into some

sort of creativity I have started a paperbag swap

over on facebook .

If you are an Aussie interested in a small swap

click over , like my page and let me know .

I'd love for you to join in .

There's only a few days until the kids go back

to school , do you think I can last that long ?

the great cushion swap

I joined Vics cushion swap , yes I know I said

no swaps this year but.....

Anyway I had no idea who my partner was

until my cushion turned up here this morning .

Well Jennie from Craving Frocks really

out did herself with my lovely cover !

After going through my blog Jennie decided

to use my own images on my cover

how clever is that !

I really love my new cover and appreciate

the effort and creativity that went into it,

Thanks very much Jennie .

I have sent my cover to the hostess with the mostess

but she hasn't received it yet so I won't show

it to you , I like to keep her in suspenders !

PS I do apologise that I have been unable

to email and thank Jennie personally so to speak.

vintage sheets

I always feel a bit sad when I cut into

one of my vintage sheets .

But then again if I'm making something for

someone else I feel a bit more confident

that if I stuff it up there is plenty more

beautiful fabric to work with .

There is also the added bonus that if I make

something for someone else and I just adore

it and can't bear to part with it

there is plenty more to make one exactly

the same for me !

colour swap !

I very very lucky to be partnered with Loreen in 

Lisa's colour swap . Loreen sent me 

all these lovely colourful things from New Zealand .

Look carefully at this ball , it is all yo yos 

attached to a styrofoam ball .

It must have taken hours and I love it !

My yo yo ball will be starring at my home this Christmas . 

Thanks so much Loreen and Lisa for

making this such a fun swap .

If you want to see what is in these parcels

that I sent Loreen you'll need to visit 

her lovely blog . 

The Great Apron Swap

I had to pay Teresa Green Supermodel a lot of money to come

out of retirement for another photo shoot .

Here is Teresa modeling the apron I made for Duchess

in the craft forum apron swap .

She wasn't as cooperative when it came to modelling

the beautiful aprons that Duchess made for me .

Models can get a bit snooty I think !

Thankyou Duchess for being such a generous swapper .

Cooking up a .......

Well of course I can't show you all of what I'm making as

this is for a swap but I'm pretty sure my partner doesn't read my blog .

It's just that there is not a lot I can show you at the moment as it is all TOP SECRET stuff !

 I have some big things

in the works and I wouldn't like to spoil your surprise !

Truthfully I'll be the one surprised if I get it all done .

Ready to party ?

As the kids have gone back to school this week I've finally had a chance to play with my dolls. You'd never know it but I have cut down on my swaps this year so when the Handmade Craft Forum girls decided to do a pegdoll swap I jumped in dotty feet and all .

All these colourful party girls have been popping up all around the house the last few days they are so easy to make and really brighten up a dull spot .

Mmmm now I have to decide which one will be going for the swap .......

paper bag swap

Most of you will know I'm a member of the Handmade Craft Forum where lots of chatting , swapping , sewing and crafting goes on .Recently we had a "paper bag swap " all this meant was we sent a paper bag full of various crafty bits to our swap partners eg. fat quarters , ribbons , buttons etc . We then were able to make whatever we liked from the bag and then sent it back to our partner . I was so lucky to be partnered with Sandy (no blog) as from all the various bits she put together this lovely stitchery . It is so nice when you can see how much effort and friendship goes into the work . Thankyou again Sandy .

Squished into a post bag.

The indignities a girl must suffer . This little redhead was stuffed in a post bag with her ankles around her ears and sent off to Victoria to my Bee Sew Whimsical swap partner June .
June has released Angel and thankfully she is unharmed .Thanks for being my partner June I'm
glad you saved her .

Bee Sew Spoilt

As you probably know I joined up for the Bee Sew Whimsical Secret Santa Swap . When the partners were drawn a few weeks ago I received a lovely mysterious card from my partner just to say hello . Today I received a parcel from my Secret Santa and what a parcel it was . Just look at the time and effort my partner put into making a gift for someone she hasn't met . It was all made so beautifully and taking the time to personalise it was that extra touch that made it even more special . My partner was Bev from http://www.kaingahappenings.blogspot.com/ and I'd love for you to see her lovely work .

Thankyou Bev I love what you have done for me and the wallhanging will take pride of place this Christmas in my home .

Advent Swap

The Craft Forum is having an Advent Swap . Partners are chosen randomly ,we then shop and buy and sew and create 25 gifts to be opened each day from the first of December .

I have only just completed mine and wrapped all the little goodies today .

My parcel will now be packed up and sent to my partner PIECEMAKER .

Another lovely lady , Carol , then sends a parcel of 25 to me .

It has really been so much fun I can't wait till next years !