Swap Thanks!!

This was the summer of the swaps!! Here are some pictures of the fun!!

Heidi's Aqua and Avocado Swap:

Isn't the packaging divine? This box was HEAVY!

Everything individually wrapped.

LOOK at these vintage casserole dishes!! Beth also sent a vintage cookbook for some yumminess to bake inside, and then the sweet aqua/red table topper for serving. LOVE IT!!

Here's what I sent ... aqua colored book, candle, and lemon reamer - I love that tool! Found aqua AND avocado glass bird tealight holders - heavy and adorable. Paula Deens tags are exactly the right color combos. Aren't the green stationary supplies cute? The sweet birdcage is from the thrift store but a reproduction. My FAVORITE item is that cute little avocado-colored colander. The bouquet is just to round out the color combo. Hope Beth likes it!!

Sweet cupcake apron package from Laura's Swapbot swap:

Stephanie made this cute, flirty apron reversible!!

I made this from the One-Yard Wonders book!

Such a fun package!!

Rita lives in Canada and wasn't eligible to participate in Val's Hot Pinups for Hot Mamas Apron Swap, so we swapped one-on-one. We agreed on pinup aprons and then local items.

LOOK at my package. LOVE the Canada goodies (cute hockey-puck pincushion not shown). The best is MY OWN pinup diva towel. Sweet!!!

I made Brassy Apple's Corset Apron for Rita. Front side, American Pinups;

Reverse side, Outdoor pinups (a little more risque than I like but ..). I added lots of little Americana items in her box but didn't take a picture.

Secret Pal 15 at Ravelry... I've been SO SLOW in this swap but have LOVED participating.

This is the last package from my partner, Marylyn aka Mazzam! LOVE this soft yarn she sent AND she made me this gorgeous shawl. I'm so lucky!!

In my final package, I sent to my partner, Katie, another knitting book, a card made of seeds that can be planted (hope she likes that), and then some special yarn I had MADE for her at Yarnia, Portland's only DIY Yarn Store. It's a blend of silk, bamboo, and mohair fibers and is so soft.

Sweet Goodness Winter White Swap

Sweet Goodness Swaps are always fun to participate in. This is an entirely different group of swappers than my apron gals so it's always so interesting to see their creations and I've received the best packages.

I have only a partial post BECAUSE of camera issues. I'll have to post what I received later but here's a glimpse of what I sent, mostly the handmade goodies. The theme was Sparkling Winter White and partners answered questionnaires for each other. Now, the email from my partner Jenny came when I was particularly busy so I have to admit that I replied with my answers without reading her's first. Good thing, too, or I might have not been entirely truthful because our answers were almost IDENTICAL. Favorite memories ... sledding as children for both us, favorite part about winter ... wearing sweaters for both of us, we both love vintage pinups, etc ...

For the Love of Sweaters: I really enjoy wearing sweaters, especially turtlenecks. (Now, my twenty-something daughters HATE my turtlenecks but that's another story.) I found a cute crochet clutch pattern a couple of years ago and knew that would fit the bill. It's called "Favorite Sweater Clutch" by Julie Armstrong Holetz and I made it one of Jenny's fav colors, pink. Part of the swap is to include a thrifted item, and I found a sweet Sparkling snowflake brooch at Goodwill that matches perfectly.

For the love of Pinups: I had some gorgeous vintage pinup Christmas fabric in my stash that was PERFECT for this swap, so I tried out my new apron pattern, McCalls M5825 (view A). In my stash was also the cutest polka-dot rick-rack that I had to add along the ruffle. This might be my favorite apron I've made since I started sewing and swapping aprons two and a half years ago. Can you even see the pocket??

Apron Update

I've been staying busy on the sewing machine, too. I am making two more aprons for my students, one for a gal who missed the last class and one for someone who really wanted a different one. Then, I gave away a pair of gloves but wanted to make them match her apron so had to wait for her to choose one. The winner and her best friend are the ones who gave me the gorgeous bouquet of flowers so I'm go to make two pairs of gloves. I also still need to mail Dorothy's gloves (I've been showing them off) and create special gloves for Karen at the FAS.

I have finished two swap aprons and am almost done with the third. First, here's my favorite, a cowgirl apron made for Val's Hittin' the Trail Cowboy Apron Swap. I just love the pinup girl fabric. I bought some more of this fabric at a little shop in Long Beach WA that is going out of business. If you hurry, I bet you can call and order some of your own. They still had some of the white background, yellow background and pink background (I bought up all the black and some of the pink). I don't find in on their website so you may need to call and ask for it. J and O Fabrics.com also carries this.



I think this apron is my husband's favorite ... he's think it turned so very elegant. My partner, Karen, says she likes it, too, and already has it hanging in her kitchen. The theme was Parasols, Pink Lemonade and Polka Dots. I found the facing material first, with all the gorgeous asian parasols .... so I added an Asian sub-theme to my package and created this chic apron. It was fun matching up the pocket perfectly so as not to distract from the from scene.

Lastly, I bought this gorgeous vintage pinup Bewitched fabric from Alice's ebay store but she's sold out -- J and O has some in, though. The print is a bit larger than I had imagined but I love it. I'll have my sweetheart apron mailed off tomorrow and then HAVE to make one for me.