Table Runner Swap

You are invited to join my Fall Table Runner Swap .... visit HERE for more info!s

Countdown to Christmas - Day 1

Today begins the Countdown to Christmas. I joined "A Swap for All Seasons" Matchbox Swap and we all will be revealing a new matchbox every day. EVERY participant received a different box for every day of the month and the creativity will amaze you. Join in the fun -- links at the mama swap site, A Swap for All Seasons.

My box #1 came from Nancy in Texas from MyCraftyLittlePage.

Here's the tender packaging:

The fancy altered matchbox:

And the sweet little goodie inside -- this handmade ornament!!

THANK YOU, Nancy and Linda!!

Mamarazzi Red, White, and Blue Swap

So, I'm taking a chance here and joining Mamarazzi's newest Favorite Things Swap - Red, White, and Blue. I never told anyone except HolleeAnn the coordinator, but my last Fav Things partner broke my heart. I pulled together a fabulous package of all my favorite things including my favorite Fix, Freeze, Feast cookbook and tons of other goodies. Plus, I really had to work hard to mail it out because that was the weekend I was coordinating refreshments for 200+ ladies at a three-day church retreat (I spent my free time driving to local coastal towns to find a post office!). My partner never even opened it or posted about it. She said she was struggling with funds and couldn't pull together a package yet but would soon - which I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND and am so cool with. However, that was several months ago and nothing. No contact. Makes me sad, for her and for myself.

Anywhooo ... hoping this will be better. I host swaps all the time and I can't lost faith just 'cause of one bad experience. =)

THANK YOU, Emily and Sheri

I have been receiving some Happy Mail lately and here's just a sample!   I participated in two swaps that ended around the same time and my partners were amazing. 

First, in the Vintage Cowgirl Swap hosted by Sweet Goodness Swaps, Emily from Texas was my partner.  Check out my totally STUFFED box of goodies.

Aren't these too sweet?  We were to include one handmade item, one thrifted item, one "sweet" (mm, Rolos my fav), and challenged to include a vintage cowgirl image.  She certainly did that!  And, I don't think stayed within our $15 budget, either.  I've found myself wearing the cute little "S" necklace almost every day since it arrived.  THANK YOU SO MUCH EMILY!

Here's a few snaps of what I sent her --- a tutorial on the cowboy boot clutch will be posted soon:

Apron, 'cause that's what I do

My first altered clipboard

Twig star

Cowboy/cowgirl magnet

This totally cool embellished horseshoe (bad photo tho)

and my first Cowboy Boot Purse/Clutch

And, as if all that goodness wasn't enough, a second package arrived that day, this one from my A Swap for All Seasons partner, Sheri Howard.  The theme this time was "Something Old... Something New", and we had to include something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a wedding photo.  LOOK!

You could tell from the packaging that this was special

Everything was wrapped so beautifully

She had the printed definition on every one

Breathtaking, especially the handsewing on those amazing towels!!

OLD - delicate vintage hankies

NEW - amazing handstitched towels

BORROWED - Russian nesting dolls for my collection!!!!

BLUE - vintage cookbook, also for my collection

THANK YOU so much Sheri for all the time and attention you put into my package.  You really took my likes into consideration and gave me such a wonderful gift!!

Sheri posted what I sent here HERE, but I want to leave you with the vintage wedding photo I sent her ... this is from my mom's first wedding (married four times!) in the 40's:

Nancy Drew Swap Reveal

The lovely Lori hosted her second annual Nancy Drew Swap and she partnered me with Heather.

Heather and I sent little questions back and forth and are SO MUCH alike. So, I know this was going to be good. I was not disappointed. Her box to me is so totally amazing, I can't believe it.

The clock is SO SUPER CREATIVE. Most impressive, and it looks beautiful on my bookshelf, too.

I love how we both chose western themes. She tucked in a bunch of little toy horses that were immediately captured and put into use so I realize they're not in the picture for my blog. I don't know how I had enough willpower that the Reeses DID make it ... I think I opened it up after dinner or something. One flashlight is already in my purse, with the other on standby; the gorgeous RED water bottle is ready for the car; the vase with the ME picks are in my computer armoire to make me smile; the canvases and oil pastels are ready for a special project; and, I cannot WAIT to make applesauce out of someone with my Scrabble Apple game.

I'm sorry if I left out anything. It's just all too perfect.

Here's a link to a couple of items I tucked in her box .... Don't peek, Heather!!

Nancy Drew Swap Time

2nd Annual Nancy Drew Swap

Sign-up date: March 8, 2010
Swap date: April 16, 2010

Choose a Nancy Drew mystery to theme your package around and with a budget of $15 send your partner a wonderful girl sleuth inspired swap package!


Lori and I were partners in last year's swap and it was SO FUN! I love getting fun packages in the mail and she put together a doozy of a box (read about it HERE and HERE). Join us, won't you??

(favs from last swap:  Lori made me this clipboard; I made her this purse)

Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap

I might be too late but I REALLY want to join Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap. I can make time to shop a little!!

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??

Heidi's Homemade Christmas Swap Recap

I have so many cute Christmas pictures to post but I am once again having camera issues -- first the battery recharger was missing, now the cord to upload is nowhere to be found. *sigh* So, my decorating open house will have to wait. I hope you enjoy a little recap from a recent swap.

Heidi from Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly hosted a Homemade Christmas Swap this fall, the criteria being to spend no more than $15 and include at least one nicely made homemade item and tuck in some goodies if funds allow. My sweet partner, Renee, swapped emails and shared wishes and preferences. Our packages were received earlier this month and check it out:

Look at this cute packaging - she used old sewing patterns! I LOVE it!!

This darling wreath is full of beautiful goodies - I really like the crystal garland and those beautiful birdies!


Look at this sweet vintage apron with the hand-stitched bird pockets

Then, a SECOND vintage apron, hostess style this time and super sweet.

Renee is a mixed media artist and she just stuffed my package ... altered composition books (with I Love Lucy and vintage pinup girls - my favs!), handmade tags, note cards, and so much more!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU AGAIN, Ms. Renee.


I only took pictures of my big gift for Renee but also tucked in some vintage pink ornaments and chocolate.
She asked me for a cream/white Christmas tree skirt in shabby chic style. I've NEVER made a complete circle and had a few mathematical issues that I didn't contemplate. I found some drapery lining fabric on clearance and cute out the largest circle I could, ala-snowflake style. Then, I bought a plush throw with the plans to use it to trim out the edge of my skirt in a fur-like feeling. I also bought some beautiful ribbon and sewed that on the seamline between the "fur" and the skirt. Finally, I laid out my finished product to admire it. Note to self - straight strip of fabric around a circle does not lay flat - at all!! After holding back tears and pulling myself together, I decided the only way to salvage my creation was to cut the fur and insert a "gore" of some sort. I had some tulle I thought might work - hubby thought it looked strange but my co-workers encouraged me and I'm so glad they did. I added some cream/gold buttons and, well, here it is. I really wanted to keep it!


It lays flat! (okay, fairly flat) - whew! I was so stressed. I think I'll make one of these for OUR family next year!! Do you have any crafting nightmares to share?