Swap Addict

This was my mosaic for the Potholder Pass Swap.  The theme was "Spring".  What do you think?

I'm a swap addict.  There.  I said it.  My name is Wendi and I'm a swap addict.  I love to swap.  I do Flickr Swaps and Blog Swaps.  This year, I made a resolution to only do one-swap-at-a-time.  I failed miserably.  Didn't make it through the first week of January.  Maybe - possibly - I over-commit.  Maybe.  I am in three virtual bees (is that excessive?)  And I have already completed 2 swaps this  year not including the bee blocks (too much, do you think?).  And I'm not really sure how many swaps I'm signed up for at the moment (well, admittedly, that is a bit scary!). 

But they are fun, and I love doing them. 

This is my mosaic for the Mini QT Swap.  The theme is "movies" - can you tell?  

 I've never been a swap mama, but sometimes I am amazed at the partners I get.  Only once, last summer, have I had the same partner for two swaps.  Oddly enough, she was a person that I felt I didn't have very much in common with, but I had a blast creating things for her. 

 Mosaic for last summer's Urban Home Goods Swap.

Sometimes, when I go to stalk my partner, I can't believe how perfect they are for me.  I "favorite" every picture in their mosaic.  I read their profile and am amazed at how much we have in common. How do the swap mamas do it?

This is the mosaic I created for the Pillow Talk Swap.  Aren't these pillows fabulous?

One of the things I really like about swaps and virtual bees is that they really stretch my skills.  I've made some things I never would have even tried if not for the motivation of the bee or swap, and the desire to make something my partner would love.  And everyone else is so creative, it just sparks my own creativity.  It is very motivating to see what everyone else creates.

Mosaic for the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap

I've heard from some people that they swap, but they don't like what they have received.  That is not the case with me.  I've liked nearly everything that my swap partners have sent.  And some things that maybe didn't wow me when I opened the package grew on me as time went on.  I have never received a single swap that was poorly made or that I didn't think my partner put a lot of thought into.  I have been blown away by the cool stuff I have received.

But the truth is that I don't do bees or swaps because of what I might receive.  The fun of the swap is in the creative process.  And having the inspiration to make something that might please someone else.  And try techniques that you haven't tried before.  And to see what other people create. 

My very first "real" swap package received

So, do you swap? 

The awesome sewing machine cover I received in the Make Mine Modern Swap

Has it been a good experience for you?

The dreamy dresden placemats I received in the Placemat Swap.

What was the favorite thing you made?  Or received?

Really cute mug rug I received in the Mug Rug Swap Adventure

 Have you made anything that you thought you couldn't do before you tried it for a swap?

Last year at work was very difficult, so my partner in this mug rug swap made me my own little get-away!

Just food for thought.

The darling sewing machine cover I received in the Sewn Spaces Swap (good thing I have more than one machine, huh?)

 My name is Wendi, and I am a swap addict.