Name game quilt swap - My partner received my hand made mini quilt!

My partner, Christie at Describe Happy received her mini quilt! I'm glad she seems to like it! I was so keen to make it that I did it before her inspiration mosaic went up LOL Oops. I also saw the size of some of the others and wished I'd made it bigger. I've never participated in a swap before, but I have learned a lot this time.
I also wish I'd put more things along with it, but at least I included a card with an image of Australia on it and a special note.
Here is me holding it...

I sewed lots of love into it.
I've wanted to do the pleat thing for ages, but I am normally making practical items so this is the first chance I got.

I've been doing counted cross stitch since Mum taught me at about 8 or 10 years old, but it's something I only pick up every couple of years. I like it better than blanket stitch and cutting out fiddly letters to fuse so that was the main motivation for that.
--
Here is a pic of me with the quilt I got from my partner in France (I know, it's huge compared to the one I made! Feel terrible, but I didn't know you could go bigger than the suggested size at the time, so I'm sure my husband would say "there's no point worrying about it!")


I'm loving it more and more. My Mum loved it the first day she saw it and wanted it for her sewing room (thank God it had my name sewn on!), and I think I was expecting something else to come and it took me a day to let it grow on me.
I also didn't realise at first that it was the window, seat, desk and bookshelf. So that was probably why I didn't immediately love it.
But now I look at it and am so chuffed!! I love the French flag to remind me how far it has come, just for me!

Name game quilt swap - Received my mini quilt & it's classic!

I am writing this late at night whilst my Husband tells me I should be asleep, so it is very brief!!
I received my much anticipated name game swap mini quilt this week! It was the size of a big shoe box and I didn't realise it was received until the next morning because my husband had put it on the table and I didn't see it!
First up was a letter to tell the story of my package all the way from France!


Wrapped in tissue paper *adorable*!!


Name game Mini quilt received from Christine. See the bookshelf, window, table books, and stool!? It's amazing!!

Lucky for me, she put my name on it. With the little French flag and all, my mother wants to steal it to hang in HER sewing room, but it is really growing on me.


And a little something extra again!


As well as all this thoughtful stuff. Some local magazines, a bunch of gorgeous notepads for sketching ideas, some super cute red buttons, red papers and a bookmark too!
That green fabric is all mine, and I think it may become one of my "uncuttables". You know, one of those fat quarters for which no project is ever good enough so it stays in your stash forever because you just love it too much to wreck it by cutting it up!!

My only regret is that I wish I sent more to my partner, but I guess Christine has taught me to share more of myself next time I am a part of a swap. Thank you, Christine. your handiwork will hang in my home with appreciation. (Another little note to you - How do I know your blog address? I know your swap partner has sent your parcel to you because she is my friend! And I think you should receive your package soon!)

Just a drop by

No pictures this post, just a little journal entry to verbalise where I'm up to.
I've been looking at the name game mini quilt swap inspiration board lately and it's so exciting to think someone's out there reading my blog (well, that's exciting on its own because I don't really reach anyone as it is) but that they're making something by hand with their heart, JUST for me!

I'm so excited because I've often seen co-ordinated "swaps" but they have always been finalised, normally years before I see the blog.
I was excited *just* to take part in it and have the opportunity to make something for someone else across the globe.
I pray and wish that she likes it and wants to show people what someone like minded made just for her.

...Then I remember that I too will end up with something handmade, which was made up (ideally) based on interpretation of my style.

I obviously love handmade. We don't often make things for our handmaking friends under the pretence that "she can sew, she doesn't want me to make something like that for her. She could just make it herself, probably better than what I could do anyway". But this just has so much mystery to it, and it's made me realise how little I end up with when the sewing's done.
When I *do* finish something I'll often critisize it and say "oh but the hem is a bit strange along here" or 20 other excuses about it, but I guess I'm a woman.
We try to level ourselves so that we are not someone to be jealous of, outcasting ourselves from the others. Listen to me ...I think I'm Carrie Bradshaw tonight LOL

Name game quilt swap - waiting for the GO. Entry is closed

Just used a little tool to make a mosaic for inspiration for my swap partner in the name game quilt swap I mentioned in this blog last year. Tomorrow or Friday I will get the details of who I can quilt for and I will get started right away!!

1. I like squares triangles points pinwheels stars etc, 2. I love brights, this is at my wedding (and it wasn't even raining), 3. sold etsy fabrics 4. R&A pinwheels5. red n aqua, 6. Cute rainbow stars, 7. "loving the red & aqua right now"8. Rainbow bowls 9. Rainbow again

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Name game quilt swap - join by 15 January 2012 [CLOSED]

I just signed up for this as seen on Ally's blog. Exciting, I've always seen these swap things but never in time to be a part of it. I can get a mini quilt with cassthecoolest on it :-D

Sign up by clicking here SORRY FOLKS THIS IS CLOSED NOW
Here are some of the swap basics:

It will be an international swap and is based on the idea of making a mini quilt for your swap partner, using their name / blog name in the quilt.

The size is up to you, but it should be bigger than a mug rug. Work on a minimum of 9” x 12”

It will be a blind swap which means that you won’t know how will make your mini quilt, until it’s delivered by your lovely postal service.

Leave a comment over at the blog post or send her an email if you would like to join too!

Sign up WAS open until 15 January 2012.