Summer Swap

After a massive overdose of swapping in late 2013, I decided to cut swapping waaaay back. I have kind of missed it, so when my friend told me that there was a handmade gift swap on Elfster, I decided to give it a go.  Elfster is not my preferred swapping forum.  It is much more geared to store bought gifts,is very difficult to use and very difficult to find messages directed to you personally.  But it was the first swap I'd seen in awhile, so I signed up.  This is the fun package I received.  I'm so tuned in to quilting lately, I seldom think that there are other crafts.  I love these awesome book marks made just for me.  And the tote is very cool.

I've been really bad lately about not taking pictures of my finished items, but here's a pretty good representation of the apron I made my partner.... 

Along with a set of pot holders and a fabric basket. 

I'll just have to do better at remembering to take pictures.

Too Many Swaps?

Mosaic for Fab Little Quilt Swap (FLiQS)

NOTE:  The Think Christmas Blog Hop/Simple Merry Christmas Quilt Giveaway ends TONIGHT at midnight.  If you are still thinking about entering the giveaway, leave a comment on this post.  (Note that the prize is 8 FQs of Denyse Schmidt's DS Quilts fabric, not the quilt itself.  Sorry.)

I got a little bit behind last week when I was making the Merry Christmas Quilt, which had to be finished and posted by midnight Thursday.  I almost made it.  The blog post came at 1:15 am or so, but I doubt I had anyone jumping up and down to read it at that time of day.  Should you want to make this little quilt yourself, the tutorials are here (part 1) and here (part 2).

Then I had hoped to spend the weekend sewing but I volunteered to help a friend organize a swap, so I spent the weekend partnering up swappers (who knew it would take me so long???)  This swap mama stuff is more difficult than it looks, but I finally came up with a method that worked for me after about the 4th try.  And then there was the fun of sending 45 emails...  But overall, it was a good experience and will serve me well the next time.  There's a first time (and a learning curve) for everything, right?

Mosaic for DS Quilts Mini Quilt Swap

So Sunday evening, after all the emails were out, and when I should have been sewing but I was watching the Olympics instead, I sat down to make some mosaics for some swaps I've joined.    We all know that I'm a swap addict and apparently have no self control when it comes to these things.  Is it the fun of making something for someone else?  The fun of getting a little present in the mail (and even WH likes that part)?  The fun of stalking my partner?  The fun of trying something new?  All of the above?   I have no idea what motivates me to do these things, but at least it's not a self-destructive addiction.

Is it?

Mosaic for my new colors for Q3 of the 3x6 Bee

And I made 4 mosaics.  Is that a ridiculous number?  To make in one night?

I always use Big Huge Labs to make my mosaics, and it made the mosaic just fine, but I can't get it to download the credits for the yummy pictures I choose, so all of my mosaics are credit-less.  I'm sorry creative Flickr people.  I really tried.  I even disconnected Flickr from BHL and reconnected it, and it still doesn't work.  I see on Flickr that it works OK for other people, so I'm not sure what has gone wrong.  People put so much time, effort, and creativity into these lovely creations, I like to give credit where it's due, you know?

Mosaic for the Modern Scrappy Bits Swap

So I'll be swapping like crazy for the next couple of months.  But I'm still determined to work on the list.  August is, after all, FINISH IT month.  It has been proclaimed!

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.