Fun Mail

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted anything.  Where does the time go?  I mailed a bunch of swappy stuff on November 15, just in time to get the house ready for a welcome visit from HS for Thanksgiving.  He was the only one of the clan who could come home this year, and it was wonderful to have him.  Between the cleaning beforehand, enjoying his visit, cooking more food than a family our size could ever eat, watching football, our traditional Thanksgiving night viewing of White Christmas, Black Friday, a shopping outing Saturday, and a date with HS on Monday, there didn't seem to be much time for much else. 

Not to mention the fact that it is D*A*R*K by the time I get home from work now.  It makes it frustrating to take pictures.  (And although I went out today about 3:30, these seem a little dark to me even then.  Oh well, it is December, I guess...)

Meanwhile, the postman (actually we have a lady postman at our house now) kept dropping off wonderful little packages.  This adorable little guy was from Whitney (the Peacock Tree) in the FLiPS swap.  Isn't he cute?  I really love his little heart lips!  And look at all the other fun goodies she included.  Whitney and I have swapped several times now, and she says she's coming to within 30 miles of Pensacola next summer.  I'm hoping for a meet-up.

He has such a fun little fishy face.  I really love him.  He will be perfect for a little spot on my sewing machine where none of my other pinnies fit.  I know I'll put him to good use.

Thanks, Whitney, for such a fun addition to my sewing space!

There are a lot more fun little packages to share, so stay tuned...  Since most of what I'm working on now is for Christmas, I'm going to share them one at a time.

TGIF

If you've read my blog a time or two, you've probably come to the conclusion that I am a swap addict.  It's true.  I admit it.  I really need to get this addiction under control.  But it'll have to wait until I get the 4 (or is it 5???) swaps done for the middle of November.

The little cottage above is for the Fab Little Pincushion (FLiPS for short) swap.  I found the pattern here.  It was loads of fun to make.  Next time I may try some different details, but this was a hoot.  I had to cover up the welcome sign, as it might give too many clues to my partner.

Next is the Trim the Tree swap, and this one is finished and ready to mail to my 4 partners.  I can't find the tutorial I used, but if anyone knows where it is, I will gladly add the link to give credit where credit is due.  These acrylic ornaments happen to be on sale at Michael's right now, so they are pretty inexpensive.  I found that cutting your scrapbook paper on the narrower side gives a more interesting ornament.  Of course, it took me a few tries to figure that out.

Then I made this little tote for my partner in the Modern She Made Swap.  I really like these text prints together.  The Paris map fabric is so fun.  The pattern is here.  This is a really simple to sew tote, and the outer pockets are formed when you attach the straps.  Seriously, this bag took about 45 minutes to sew.

These cute texty prints were not my original plan, but somehow I didn't get home with the fabric I bought to make this little goodie.  I opened the bag from the fabric store on Saturday afternoon after the store had closed, tore the whole sewing room apart, and finally concluded that I left it at the store.  I called first thing on Monday morning and described my fabric, they said they had it, I went rushing in after work - only to find that the fabric they had set aside was not the fabric I had chosen originally.  The owner was there however, and kindly cut some more fabric for me.  So nice, as these were 1-yard cuts, so pretty expensive.

I also decided to make my partner a pillow cover, so I got out my EZ Dresden ruler again, along with the Dear Stella prints BD#1 picked up for me at Sewing Summit (isn't she so sweet to share with her dear mother?) and added a couple of other prints to give it some variety.  I bought some navy solid for the background, but really wish I had a navy polka dot.  Sadly, my LQS didn't have navy dot, and I don't have time to go hunting.  I'm planning to hand quilt it, so I think it will be OK.

Then I decided to embroider the Dresden center to give it a little interest.  Really need to get rid of the pencil marks, but I'll get around to that.

Here's the print that inspired the embroidery.

And I still have my winter mug rug to send back to Mary, who made me the Texas snowman.  Mary will get a Florida snowman, just as soon as I get a chance to sit down and make it.  I have such a fun idea!

Photo by Kelly of SewKellySews

 Finally, I have to make my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap.  This is my pillow from last round and I really had a blast making it.  Kelly (and her girls) seemed to like it too.  I still haven't settled on an idea for this time.  There are so many rolling around in my head.  But this one has to get started this weekend.

Then I have one more swap before the end of November, as the folks in the Sew Fun Bee create some Christmas goodness for their partners, but the due date is pretty flexible.  I think I have an idea for this one too, it's just a matter of doing it.

So, November seems to be a truly swappy month here at prsd4tim2, but I've got it well in hand (I hope).  At least a few of the projects are finished.  And Monday is a holiday, so I hope to have a seriously creative weekend.

Super Duper Swapping... (And Last Call for Giveaway!)

Last call for entries in the My Memories digital scrapbooking software giveaway.  If you're interested, go here to enter.  Ends tomorrow.

As I've mentioned a few times before, a week ago Saturday dawned a bout as ugly as a day can be.  Thunderstorms and heavy rain descended from the heavens as though it was the beginning of Noah's cruise.  And in the midst of it all, the poor FedEx man appeared at the door and dropped off a package.

It contained lovely swap items from marslaura, my partner in both Super Swaps swap and PP11.  Now, the first thing you need to know is that the Super Swap was for an oven glove.  Some people even sent two oven gloves, or an oven glove and a pot holder.  Even if you add PP11, which was for 2 pot holders, this is way over the top.  Would you look at this loot?  There are 2 placemats, 2 pot holders, an oven glove, a soap bottle apron and a trivet filled with scented rice!  It also contained some additional fabric in case I wanted to make some coordinating items.  What's left to make, I wonder?  I'm not sure there is anything Laura hasn't covered here.

I really love the soap bottle apron.

And look at the personalized embroidery on the oven mitt.  So cool.

So, I feel very spoiled.

And if that wasn't enough, I also received some other swappy stuff the previous week, and with all the rain and WH's surgery, just didn't get a chance to take pictures.

I received my ticker tape mini quilt from Denise.  I love the flower.  I love the mix of ticker tape, applique, and embroidery.

Denise had my name and I had hers.  In this swap, you know who your partner is, so you have to be sneaky about the pictures you post.  Denise received my pineapple mini.

Denise's creation has so much texture....  Would you check out all the French knots in the center of this flower?  There must be hundreds of them.  Wonder if she counted?

And the ticker tape fabrics she used were fun too.

Thanks, Denise, for a fun little mini quilt.

And I also received my pinnie in the Fab Little Pin Cushion Swap, or FLiPs as we affectionately call it.

Be13cca made me this lovely pinnie, and there is certainly no mistaking its purpose.  LOL

On a side note, I've been dying to try this letter piecing technique.  Now, maybe I won't have to.

Here's the back of the pinnie.  Look at the fun fabrics she used!  All that fussy cutting!  So cute.  And a little bundle of scrap fabrics.  Boy, can I have fun with those!

Thanks Becca.  I really love my pinnie.

So, it's been a great round of swapping and it's been a lot of fun.  I really love the stalking and creating, but it's fun to get these fab packages in the mail as well.

 Happy sewing!

The Merry, Merry Month of May

I've been a crazy swapping fool during the month of May.  To say I was over-committed is a gross understatement, but I got it all done (just in the nick of time!) and they are all on their way to their new homes.  In fact, some of them have arrived already.

Pot Holders for PP11.

The Circles Mini for the DS Quilts Doll Quilt Swap.

The Mannequin Pinnie for the FLiPs Swap.

The napkins for my private swap with Peggy.

The pineapple ticker tape mini for the Mini QT swap.

And finally, the last swap of May was the Oven Glove/Pot Holders in the Super Swaps Swap.   The photo at the top is my co-worker modeling the coordinating apron as well.

 I still do have a couple of bee blocks to make, but I will get at least one of them done this weekend.  The other is a Dear Jane block to hand -sew, which may take me awhile. 


It was a pretty busy month, but I got all the swaps done, at least.

And I still managed to complete some granny squares...

Some hexie blocks...

A 12-inch Swoon test block...

And 3 quilt tops, which are still WIPs, but at least the tops are finished.

All in all, it was a pretty good month.

Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day