Send a little Love Swap - I recieved.............

This is the lovely parcel that was sent to me by Stephanie.

The little basket is already in use on my desk.

The gorgeous fabric is sitting patiently for a new project.  

I am looking forward to trying out the Clover fabric heart maker.  I have a couple that make round Yo Yo's but not a shape like this.

Plus a brand new tape measure which I was quite desperate for so very timely and some crisps.

Finally a length of fabric ribbon with hearts on which I will use with the fabric.

Very thoughtful parcel for this swap.

So thank you very much Stephanie ( also a thank you on my Instagram page) the LOVE has been swapped.

I have a crazy patchwork Workshop tomorrow with 5 lovely ladies and i shall post some pictures here and on my Facebook page.

have a good weekend.

xx

Send a little love swap

Has been a while since I blogged as I was having trouble getting my photos but I think that I have solved it now.

My swap partner was Stephanie from Calico heart and I decided to send the following:

A hand stitched felt heart with heart shaped buttons.  Long time readers will recognise this as I have made this before.

I also made loads of oil cloth purses a while back and I thought that Stephanie would like this one for perhaps car parking change etc.  You can get a set of keys in this too.

I also added a tin of chocolates, a heart shaped hard backed notebook which I thought was brilliant!  A bright red beanie hat which I could not resist when I saw it in a shop.  

Everything has arrived all safe and sound and the hat will be worn during break duty at Stephanie's school!

Tomorrow I shall post the lovely items sent to me.

Take care all.

x

Valentine Swap 2016

To start off the new year and help to dust off my blog I have signed up to the swap above.  Click HERE if you would like to find out more and sign up.

xx

Initial Heart Swap - Thank you.

Yesterday I received some "Happy Post"  from Sweden.

Carin's initial heart swap to me.

The stamps on the front of the envelop were very colourful and and featured different sports.

Some chocolates were part of the swap and I am saving these until the weekend.

Also in the parcel was this cute felt heart.  The smaller heart is cut out and fabric put behind the gap.  This is called reverse applique.

Part of the swap was to add the recipients initial, hence the letter "A".

Very neatly hand stitched!

Many thanks Carin for your swap items, I am now finding somewhere to display and hung up my new felt heart.

Now everyone, some of you may know, ............what does the letter "A" stand for again?

Take care and keep warm.

xx

The Pledge and Initial Heart Swap 2015

I Indigo BLue will try my utmost...

·        To always swap on time.

·        To always email a THANK YOU to my partner.

·        To be considerate and thoughtful when choosing a gift.

·        To give my partner the quality of gift that I would like to receive.

·        To communicate when it’s required.

·        To NEVER over commit and let a partner down.

·        To advise the swap mama when I receive my gift.

This I sewomly pledge....

This year I have signed up for the above swap.  I have already made a start and bought a couple of items to pop in the parcel today.  

Hope you all have had a good week even if it was not very good weather.

Off to do some work on the swap item and work out my tension sample for my new crochet blanket.

Take care all

xx

The Swap Pledge

Just a quick diversion from the Snow Holiday........

I took the PLeDGe...

I invite anyone and everyone who wants to participate in my swaps to do the same. Place the button on your blog sidebar & post "the pledge"to acknowledge your intention & commitment.

MAKE THE 7 STEP PLEDGE

I (insert name) will try my utmost...

·        To always swap on time.

·        To always email a THANK YOU to my partner.

·        To be considerate and thoughtful when choosing a gift.

·        To give my partner the quality of gift that I would like to receive.

·        To communicate when it’s required.

·        To NEVER over commit and let a partner down.

·        To advise the swap mama when I receive my gift.

This I sewomly pledge....

~*~*~*~*~*~

Phew!  Think that will save as the Internet here does not seem to like Blogger very much which is why I have not posted many pictures for the last couple of days.

Been snow shoe walking today......brilliant off to try and sort out the pictures.

Take care and thank you to the new visitors who have been commenting over the festive holidays!!

A generous gift from Ali Bee......................

A month or two back Ali over at Ali Bee Creations posted about some cute crochet kittens that she had been making.  I left a comment about how lovely they were, (my crochet skills are still quite limited) and Ali very kindly offered to make one for Sophie.

Then due to BT messing up my Internet connection, holidays and hip and back issues for us both it was a while before I was able to get back to Ali to ask if a purple one was possible.

Then on Friday a cylinder shaped parcel was delivered.  Once the brown paper was removed Sophie found a lovely paper covering the cardboard cylinder.  Brilliant idea for sending things in.

Sophie spent ages looking at this!

Once the lid was off lovely summery yellow tissue paper peeped out.

The tissue paper then revealed the cutest purple and lilac crochet kitten!!  Now Sophie knew nothing about this at all and when she opened it her face just lit up and then a barrage of questions of where, why, how etc.

I want to introduce you to Ruffles the kitten.  We went out for the day yesterday and Ruffles came too.  Whenever you saw Sophie Ruffles was in her hand, bag or on the seat next to her in the car.

Thank you soooooooo much Ali for making this cute little kitten, If only you could have seen the look on Sophie's little face, it was a picture.

Blogger's are a very generous community, which I enjoy being a part of.

Your return item is in production and will be winging its way asap.

Have a good Sunday everyone!

xx

Chooky Christmas Swap

After several miserable failed attempts at signing up for this annual swap over the past 2 years I finally managed to time it right and signed up!!

Even though it is Summer, all be it very wet and rather cold for August I have been mulling Christmas ideas around in my head ever since.  

Do not know any additional info yet, just got to wait now........oh the suspense of it all!!!

xx
PS, Pity Blogger does not want to let me load it into my side bar!

Felty Owl Swap

Above shows the owl that I made for our little swap.  I was a bit sorry to see this being posted off so I have decided to make one for myself.

I have never made an Owl before and I do not have any patterns so I ended up making my own.

I really wanted to have some details on the back so a hand cut flower with some hand embroidery and an added button.

I thought that it broke up the lack of colour on the back.

I also sent this keyring with an owl theme.  I did not actually make this, I found it at a craft fair.

Plus this bracelet which  I made.  I also made a whole batch last month for my craft fair stall in July.

Plus a packet of tissues with the Union Jack on them, a Cornwall sticker plus a little notebook for red

recording your cross stitch or embroidery projects with thread colour codes.

I love taking part in swaps and this very mini one suited both of us because we both have busy jobs and there was no severe pressure to be completely on time if something came up and there was no confusion or disappointment is not receiving. 

I would love to do another mini swap once the term has ended.  I have not made any ATC's for a while.......

Anyway....I am in the process of putting this owl pattern into PDF format and I shall let you know when it is ready.  I have got to make sure that it all fits when it is printed.

Take care

xx

Owl Swap- What a Hoot!!

Excuse the title but it is Friday and I could not resist.....
I like to take part in swaps but sometimes I miss the sign up.  Tatyana  and I have been visiting each others blogs for a while now and we "met" when we were paired up for a swap.  So a few months ago I suggested a little swap between the two of us.  After exchanging a few ideas we both decided on Owls.

Tatayana's parcel arrived safely all the way from Australia and it as great fun to open.

Started off with lovely tissue paper which I am going to use in my next sketchbook.

A very striking card which I think will eventually go in my sketchbook too.

Then...

...this cute little Owl with lots and lots of hand stitched spots!  That is right, each of these spots have been cross stitched on to linen!    There is a hanging loop at the top.

So neatly stitched.

Some lovely ribbon, I will need to think carefully what to use this for.  I normally start to think about useful things for the new term in the Autumn.  Especially wallets and notebooks.

Sorry...blogger does not like this picture!!   I lovely set of fabric crayons!!  This is such as great gift as I use these a lot and I have nearly run out!!  I really do appreciate these and I shall post about these as soon as I produce something (worth looking at of course).

Oh, how i love felt!!!

Then a mysterious bundle of bubble wrap.......

....the sweetest set of embroidery scissors and one of Tatyana's handmade scissor keepers with a little snail on the end.  Isn't it cute!!  Lovely colour too with the flowers all over it.
A lovely and very generous parcel Tatyana and I appreciate the amount of time it must have taken to stitch all those spots.
Tomorrow I shall show you what I made and sent to Tatyana.
Take care

Seed Swap 2010

Last year I took part in a seed swap being organised by Marmaladekiss. I have decided to join up again this year as I am hoping that I may have more seeds to choose from this time. Pop over to Julia's blog and read the guidelines for taking part. Meet some new bloggers at the same time.

Toffy went to the vet today and his eye is much better. He is still sneezing so he had the rest of the anti-biotic dose and will go back in about 10 days time to see what the verdict is, but it is looking good. He was a great source of fun last evening pushing and chasing a ping pong ball around the kitchen floor. The ball and kitten can go really fast on a hardwood floor!

xx

Spring Swap to Russia

My parcel finally arrived with my swap partner in Moscow so I can now show you what I sent.

Oh dear these pictures have not turned out very bright. Sorry, they looked much better on the camera! Oh well, never mind.

I made this cute bag which has a big wooden button and a popper underneath as I thought that a button hole that big might not look very good. It is lined with pink cotton fabric and can be worn on the shoulder or as a handbag.

There is a nice pleat in the centre front and back of the bag which gives the bag more room to put things in it.

I also added two fat quarters, a keyring, some posh tissues, flower post-its, and a cupcake card with a recipe on the back.

I really enjoyed this swap and I have made a blog link with Tatyana in Russia which I would not normally have had the chance to do.

I shall be making another one of those bags too, I think!!

xx

From Russia........Swap parcel

Last month I signed up for a spring swap and I was partnered with Tatyana.
Today I shall show what she sent me and then when her parcel arrives in Moscow I shall post what I made and sent. It is taking quite a while for her parcel to arrive.

Firstly everything was wrapped up some very zingy coloured crepe paper. I opened the paper and there were lovely items inside, such as this hand stitched pin cushion with owls on it. Stitched on a cotton fabric ( the name escapes me and I have some in the attic).

Then these lovely and colourful Russian Dolls. they are brighter that the picture shows. Sophie really liked these.

Some lovely fabric, which I will have to think about what to make from it and a postcard which I shall keep safely. On the left there is a beaded bag charm which also has a little metal owl at the end of it. Too small for my camera to put in focus I am afraid. Lovely parcel which had to travel a very long way and my first blog friend from Russia.

Many thanks for your lovely parcel Tatyana.

You brightened up my day and created a lovely start to Spring.

xx

Spring Surprise Swap.

I have signed up for my first swap of 2010, over at Dutch Blue.

I have just heard that my swap partner is to be Tatyana who lives in Moscow Russia!! How exciting is that?

I now need to make a pretty spring item that is soooo nice that I want to keep it for myself. i have already been to the Post Office to ask about postage issues and it will hopefully not cost any more than sending to Australia. I also need to send two pretty fabrics a note etc.

So, any ideas?

Glad half-term is coming up as this week has been a bit hectic with hubby working away so not much in the way of stitching being done here. People think that teachers work from 9am to 3pm and that is it, if only. But we have to juggle our lives too and also our own children. I have had to make special arrangements with work to be able to take her to school because hers and mine start and finish at exactly the same times. Then of course after school meetings and the evening parents evenings that go beyond the after school club sessions. Called in a few favours this week as I needed to be in three places at the same time today. Sophie's school, my tutor group and start an exam off at the same time. Then today I had to quickly collect her then dash back with her to meet a parent. We both eventually got back gone 5 armed with fish and chips from the chippy. Sophie, bless her has been so good about it all, a real star.

Sophie and I did manage to make something but I need to get the camera out for that so I shall post that tomorrow. However, it has been rather nice being just Sophie and me. Not done that since she was a baby. It has been fun to have a little lady to talk to and you now what the best bit was? (Even if she has had a stinking cold all week and nits......again, poor thing.) When she said at dinner on Monday, " It has been a very nice change having you take me to school and pick me up at home time" Well...., how chuffed do you think I am then?? Very chuffed indeed.

My Year 10 group took an exam today based on the theme of Sustainable Design and they and myself are very hopeful. The paper was reasonable and we had covered all of the contents. One tricky question, but still we are hopeful. Should know the result in March. Fingers crossed.

Take care

(Still chuffed, you know what? I love being a Mummy!)

xx

Spring Swap...

Over at Dutch Blue they are having a sign up for their Surprise Spring Swap. So pop over and have a look at the guidelines and maybe sign up.

There is also my Italian Giveaway and the deadline for this is midnight on Saturday 30th January 2010.

I would like to say a blog hello to the three new followers and new visitors who have left comments recently. I have tried to return the compliment but clicking on the followers link picture does not always work. If you read this could you add your blog to the comments section then I will be able to get back to you more easily. Your visits are much appreciated.

Take care

xx

Seed Swap Update....

I am a very bad blogger with a poor memory. I did email Pomona personally to say thank you for her swap parcel. However looking back through my posts I can not see that I have posted about it here. Tut Tut. I can only apologise and maybe blame it on my age. (The big birthday is looming).It was all wrapped up in lovely purple tissue paper and the smell was gorgeous. Inside the tissue paper was a floral bag tied up with yellow ribbon.

Inside I found four packets of seeds which will be sown in the garden next summer. By then we shall hopefully have our veg patch sorted out as well. At the moment we are busy with a building project in the house which I intend to say more about this half-term.

Inside I also found four lavender bags. This was the smell I detected when I was opening the parcel. It reminded me of my Grandma's garden. I had a lovely lavender bush at my last house, but for some reason I can not achieve the same standard of plant at my present house. Typical.
I intend using the lavender in an embroidered sachet that I had already started. I have quite a bit of lace upstairs which I had collected years ago because I had the intention to make a cream and lace quilt cover which never happened.

This was a lovely smelling swap which is now making my sewing room smell lovely and a pleasure to be in. i really must buy another lavender plant and try again to make my own for next year. Many thanks Pomona.

The clocks have changed and a welcome extra hour this morning was very nicely. It is lovely and sunny here today so a trip to Lanhydrock for tea, cake and a walk around may be in order this afternoon.

Many thanks for all of the comments on the button bracelet post. I think that is the highest number for a single post that I have ever had.

xx