Loops and Leaves

Got some quilting done over the weekend. Just in time to give it away this weekend at a wedding reception. I used a variagated thread. Love the look-- Quilted loops and leaves.

It came as a kit----i recieved it from a swap your UFO swap---It is finished! It will live on and not be in the to-do pile any longer!!! yay for the finished Ufo!!!

Here is the back. It matches pretty good.....plus it has been lingering around here for WAY to long....it was ready to move on too. don't ya think? aaahhh that feels good. :)

The little workshop on fabric postcards went fine. It was a bunch of fun! These ladies...so set in their ways...only a handfull would take a stab at making one.  Here is Betty who stepped beyond the comfort zone:

I recieved my box of shop goodies from Deanna! She sent a bunch of hair goodies bows, clips, and headbands {keeping those for stocking stuffers} and baby bib and burb.  They are wonderful! Great construction--not cheap at all. and Super Cute. She has the shop Fancy Peacock---cute name. Check out her shop and her blog. Thank you- Thank you!! Love them all.

Skipping to a new topic and a repeat from yesterday, but i still would like input so there ya go...... I need some input....wanna help me out? Sure you do----yes? please?

I have a secret project {i know, i promised a reveal--but not quite ready---it's coming though, just be patient} .....I am wondering :

If you were to ask a craft designer interview questions what would they be?

Will you give me some questions that you have always wished someone would ask? Beyond the 'tell me your story' 'inspiration' favorites' question. Share a few or a lot with me will ya?  Sometimes what i think of is something totally different than what others think....and then i think....why didn't i ask that? rats.....

Thanks a bunch girls---you really know how to help another girl out.

Send Offs

The gals have finally recieved my send offs so now i get to share....what i sent off.

Raggedy Ann

Upcycled Apron

Funny- when i go to show off i recieved mine!!

This is from Nadine she has some great shots of the process on her blog too.

It's all 80's lacy goodness!!! and a bag to match! + some good goodies. thanks nadine. I have my dads retirement/birthday party coming up this week. maybe i'll be sporting my new apron. it is long and has wonderful coverage!

The winner for the

CRANKY QUILT

flickr group would be

AMY

i will be sending off your goodies this week. yay!

no need to draw a name since she is the only one that posted.

but some how it is a holiday weekend, sorry about that!

keep posting though in the flickr group and you can be in next months drawing.

Don't forget......2 days until Sew mam Sew give away Day!!! yippeeee!!! I have some good stuff to choose from + another sewing gal is putting something of hers in the pot. You definitly won't want to miss it. To add to the fun i will be having a MAJOR shop sale.

Slacker Swapper

That would be ME!!! don't be all affended like i was talking about it. it's me. yup...

Purging the inventory of photos i came across a few....that i never shared! how dare i. That is like rule #1--share what you got and give them thanks....such a slacker.

Please accept my appologies as i share today and hope to find links to who you are.

I really do love to do swaps, so please don't ban me?!

The following are in random order. Not really sure which one would be the oldest.

This one was a collection of papers. You send them, they bind it and send it back. Great collection of fun paper. perfect for sketching, doodling, and just plain fun stuff.

]

This one was send some fabric to 3 different people, they make something and send it back. This is what i got from one. Guys i love this wallet!! It matches my patchwork purse perfectly and is really functional and great!

I also got a table runner, got drink wraps, some hot cocoa mint stick stirers from another gal, and still waiting on the 3rd....hmmmm
Birds of a Change Swap. You make and send 5 then you recieve 5 back. I sent my bird ornaments. Aren't these just cute?! They are all hangers. I need to find them a home. Still searching for their 'nesting spot'. Regina put this one together.

Here is a little owl in the owl swap. we both did stuffed ones. funny.. From Auntie PittyPat The little owl sits in my room in the basket full of my own stuffed animal collection.hee hee

I sent this little gal along with some fabric and goodies...used the Quick stitch pattern, but used recycled sweater instead of felt. worked perfect.



I got this UFO project from Cleary. no blog.

Great package of pre-cut quilt top with a bunch of pattern possibilities in their own clear bag!! love it.

This is Gertie. Her name is stitched on her tie around her neck. She is from Heidi. She also sits in my room in front of the books, beside the basket full of my own stuffed guys and gals now. Love her!! She has a little bonnet...can you see in that awfully dark photo?

This is the little gal i sent. A kitty cat with her little bird friend in her hands. I added those cute shoes. Love them!

The kids did a GREAT Valentines swap with other kids. Each of them got a box full of the perfect books and goodies for each.

Here is Eliza with hers + the shirt she is wearing and still loves to death!

Here is Jaroms: Lots of little activities and make it yourself kits. he loves to build and do that stuff so it was Perfect!!!

And she threw in some WONDERFUL stuff for me!!! Check out that bag!! And the little sling purse which i now use for my cameral, Perfect. + chocolates...mmm

Here is Jerika and Ammon opening their personal packages.

Everyone has thuroughly enjoyed their goodies. They like getting mail too people!!

Not a Swap, but a win!!! yay for me!!

Sakura- she is soooo great. She sits in the chair in my room in front of the basket full of my own stuffed animal collection :) LOVE HER!!! want your own? sure ya do....go to PilliPilli blog or store.

She does great hand work and quality. Very nice. Around 11"tall. Just perfect in the chair.

Well, thanks for looking and swapping. Want to know what i am waiting for still? ummmm let's see, the 3rd sender of that one swap, a fairy doll, anything else? hmmmm. Want to do your own swapping? This is where i find all of mine. Great site, great swaps... oh, my goodness just peaked...did you see the upcycled apron and the annie doll swap and even the little button one??? See how tempting they are? Good Luck

Speaking of luck......

How was everyones LUCK yesterday?!

Here is Sage with her green collar so she wouldn't get pinched.

Lucky her.

**I just have to report...we won!! it was our lucky day!! Finally. That would be my indoor soccer team. We played at 10:20 pm last night and won 6 to 4!!! WEEEEE.

**** Don't forget ****

CRANKY QUILT

PATTERN TOMORROW

Will you be there? or is it here??

Links, winner, swaps, and snow bunnies

ok, all you lurkers...i guess you all got together and decided that Amy would love to have the pocket people....so

The winner is AMY!!! She has the second largest pocket people collection in the World. This will just further her advancement above everyone else. :) Mine is the first--but hers are actually finished!) congrats and i will be sending those on over to you pretty soon.

Lurkers- go to her link. she had a great christmas of handmade.

I thought that i would catch myself and everyone else up on the swaps. I haven't reported a few.

Cupcake Swap. This was really a lot of fun to do. This is what i recieved:

a cute cupcake corispondance package. It has the cute chenille fabric outside with cupcake flannel and ric rac embelishments. Plus a ribbon yo-yo closure. very cute.

Inside: writting supplies. A tablet of pink paper, a journal, a pen, a letter opener, and the cutest cupcake cards and tags (see them on the left?) I should have shown them off better. Way cute!! oh, and please notice the crocheted pink and chocolate cupcake pincushion. love it!!

Please don't be angry with me--- i lost her name and her link. how could i do that? how rude. Well, if you are reading this---please post so we may all know who you are- and i can be reminded. sorry, but i still love it. thanks!!

Up next: SSCS or Secret Santa Christmas Swap

Look at all those goodies. A cookie cutter, some wayyyy cute buttons, 12 days of Christmas the Australian way, a calendar (lives at the computer now so i know what day it is), a little tour info book and take a look at this:

A Christmas stitchery!! and the star hanger even came with it!! yay!!! look at the cute buttons too. Great job and it is hanging in the living room right now above the fireplace. Thank you Thank you. My secret giver was the chocolate cat. I couldn't find a link for her either :( again--post if you would like us to come visit in blogland. we love little trips. missing in photo: chocolates. of course there is no excuse except for eating them. mmmm chocolate....

Take a peak here if you would like to see what i sent my secret partner. This was sooo fun. To have a little extra under the tree and really not have any idea what was in it!!

I also recieved one of the three bits and pieces swap. When i get the other 2 i will post those all together. Fun stuff!!

I also put a few new snow bunnies in the shop. The other ones got sold and went to new owners and so here are some new ones. Ready and waiting for a new snuggler.

And of course if you would like to narrow the gap of Amy's pocket people collection hop on over to the shop for your own.

I am supposed to be picking up and cleaning the house today and tomarrow. We have a new years party here for family and friends every year. Nothing big, just 2 ping pong tables, food for a lot of people, treats, drinks, maybe a movie, games and of course conversations!! If there is any one in the near visinity of us that would like to swing by go ahead!!

kids are definitly allowed and your ticket for entrance is a smile and a plate of goodies

:) mmmmm

is it really that late?

Thrifted, Gifted and Made Spring Cleaning Swap

Thrifted, Gifted and Made Spring Cleaning Swap was the swap....here are the items. i had been matched up with a gal who knits. She is just a beginner knitter she says....so this is what i put together for her:
7 different sizes of knitting needles--got a great deal on these babies!! yay

1 pillow case knitting needle case, made this one. Used the big hem for the top of the pockets (that was nice and easy). Did a folder over flap for the top to keep them all in and not falling out.---hate it when that happens!-- and a white ribbon tie on the edge.

1 bi-fold book. This is laminated and has every stitch (basics, i think) that you knit. Easy reference and quick too. There is one larger pocket this fits into. When the book is in it folds in 3rds and not in a roll. So really it is up to her to decide how she likes it.

4 Skeins of yarn. These are miss-matched but they are all kind of the same colorways. They could easily be doubled up or used together for accents and such.




Not sure if that is it, or if there will be anything more. I might buy one magazine on knitting for fun reading.....boy do i love fun reading!!

I love doing these trades. I find all of them at SwapDex ---if your in the mood, hop on over and check them out. I think they are all going right now, but they will be updating pretty soon again. I have had good luck so far, and have loved all that i have gotten from other crafty gals.

These are the ones i am doing this time:
the toad stool swap, different but isn't that the point? gotta try everything once!!
The Flirty Apron Skirt swap....i just picked up some fabric today for that one. not really tooooo firecracky, but a cute red, white, and blue fake hexagon pattern matterial. I am hoping to follow the curve at the bottom for a cute hem...wish me luck!
A different plush swap. I know, i know... i couldn't help myself!
The Not too Shabby Summer Swap... i picked up some different fabric today for this one too. I am thinking ...i typed it all out and then checked on the blog and found out the partners where announced sooooo i will not let it out of the "bag".... ;) ok?! that's all the hints!

Now i must go and find some "snacks" and "good reading" oh really, i must stop that.....
Happy swapping!

Weekend Workings

On friday i got a package in the mail!!! It was my box from the Kitchen Swap. Take a look at all the stuff. I love it.

i got some new wooden spoons. Now i tell you---who doesn't need some of these after 12 years of marraige? That goes for the crocheted hot pads. you know, my grandma made me some a long time and i love them....again, time for some new ones. The brown one has teal on the back, very cute. There is one tea towel and a little larger one that is on my table with the little basket on top. Some chocolate cookies (yum,yum...already gone- i shared :) There is a tile hot pad thingie with some birds on it. I really like that. The cute apron with the seed packets on it and a nice big pocket. Fits perfect. My favorite was the little botteling jar--you can't see it very well. It has 3 fake eggs in it-speckled- with some rafia at the bottom. Then it is cealed with some cute ribbon tied at the top. I put this in my display transom. LOVE IT!!

I just love a good swap don't you?!

Here is my sneak peek of my plush swap. I think she turned out pretty cute.

After the swap is recieved i'll put in a big picture of her.

I finished quilting this on Friday. It is another one of those quilts that has been around for.....3-4 years??.... yikes! I finally put the borders on and got the quilting done. You can sort of see, i did a meander of Snowflakes.

I have one other quilt on the machine right now, i think i'll finish it tonight and post later. After this one i have 3 more that need to be quilted. I think i will finish quilting everything, then go back and do the bindings.

Anyone up to having a "binding" party in 2 weeks? I will post again with what all we will do. Maybe i'll make a prize or something. i need to get thinking on that.

For those of you who will play,

Get your .....piles ......going!!!