Valentine's Day Swap Items and a Charming Pin Cushion

My swap items finally made it across the country to Utah to my swap partner, Suzee, in the Show Some Sewing Love swap hosted by Kris. I think they went by Pony Express! But according to my delivery confirmation, they were delivered on Valentine's Day (very appropriate!). I haven't heard from Suzee yet but I'm going to show what I sent. I hope she liked what I made and included.


I found out after the fact, that Suzee is a big fan of the color green. Wish I had known that earlier because I found some very cute "hearts-y" green fabric that I could have used for her. Also that she's not a big fan of pink but more of a red/white Valentine's fan. Suzee posted all that AFTER I sent her box off. Oh well, I did a mix of everything. One thing I did read on her blog; again AFTER I made everything, was that she collected key chains. Well, luck was with me and I had made her one and didn't know that fact. I bumped into a couple of tutorials on the key fobs and wanted to try to make them. Figured I would include one for Suzee. If you're looking in the picture, it's laying above the M&Ms bag. Couple other things I included were some heart socks, some cupcake cups and sprinkles, a kitchen towel, two love birds (those are great! I made more. One of these days I will have to take their pictures and show them off). PINK hot cocoa mix and mug and some fabric covered thumb tacks and magnets. Other odds and ends too. So, I hope Suzee likes everything. Table topper NOT included of course. ;)

Charming pin cushion... Vickie posted on Moda's Bake Shop how do make one. So cute! So I made one and finished it last night. I made mine reversible and that I put buttons on both sides. I used two charm squares from "Flutterby". Cute. I did have a couple of issues... don't I always?! In making the "petals", I didn't use enough floss the first time. Tried again. Second time, I only needed another 6 inches or so to finish it! Tried AGAIN. Third time did it. But I took so much floss off the skein that I had to be careful not to get knots in the middle of everything. But it worked. Since I tried three times to make the petals, I forgot to pull my threads taught so that the petals are more defined. Half look good, half are okay. But I'm fine with it. It's a very cute pin cushion and it's just for me. I'm going to make more. I will perfect the amount of floss and petal definition.

That's all I got. Oh, one more thing. Blogger is showing that I'm very close to my 100th post! Maybe I'll do a giveaway?! Oh, I think I might! ;) Stay tuned!

Have a great day!

Jen

Sew Some Love Swap Items Received!

The mailman left me some good mail yesterday! Kris (our swap leader) was my secret swap partner. How exciting!

She packaged everything up so cute... look at all those hearts.

I just LOVE the table topper! Can you see it under all the stuff? Now I have to clean my house so that I can display it on my table. And take a new picture so that you can really see it. No rest for me today. And the towel is oh so cute! I need to know where Kris got that nice waffle weave towel. I can't find anything like that over here. Or maybe I'm just looking in the wrong place. I've been using regular kitchen terry towels to embellish but I like this one so much more. And she was nice enough to include Amelia and gave her some Play-Doh (Punkie loves play-doh!) and some cookie sprinkles and heart cookie cutters. We will be making some sugar cookies soon.

Thank you Kris!

My cousin and her family came to my mom's house to visit last night since we haven't seen each other in a while. Her little boy is getting so big and Punkie can't wait for him to get bigger so that they can play! I can't believe he's 4 months old already!

My cousin also came bearing gifts. She, her husband and baby boy went to the UK for Christmas to see his family. She brought me back some yummy fat quarters! I say yummy because they have cupcakes and sweets on them. I can't wait to pick out a pattern and make a lap quilt for myself out of them. Add another quilt to my ever growing list!

So, I am by myself today. Punkie spent the night at my mom's so she won't be home until later this afternoon. My husband left very early this morning to go snowmobiling in upper Vermont. He won't be home until Wednesday afternoon. Punkie and I are solo. But since I'm free, I don't know what to do... clean my house, veg in front of the TV with a movie or sew and watch a movie. Decisions, decisions! I'm sure I will sew since I don't get this kind of free time very often and I'll get a lot done. Maybe I'll start on Magoo for Punkie... I will finish my swap items! Or do I work on the quilt top for Amelia...?

Well, I better get started on something!

Enjoy your day! Thanks again Kris!

Jen

PIF - Pay It Forward

I joined RachelJane and Sharon in their Pay It Forward quests and now I have a question. Each of them asked for 3 people to join them and since I joined TWO... do I now need SIX people for my PIF?? I just want to be fair, you know?

So, I guess now for the rules... in a nut shell, these two kind ladies will hand make me a giftie and instead of paying them back, I return the good deed to others (whomever would like to participate). Those that received gifts from me, in turn post on their blog (I guess you need a blog to join) that they are participating and choose three people to which they will pay it forward (and so on and so on). Oh! And I believe you have roughly 6 months to get your gifts made and out to your participants.

So? Do I have any takers to join me in the Pay It Forward quest? I guess I would need at least three and possibly six so that I cover all the rules for myself (since I joined two of them).

If you're interested, kindly respond to this post.

I have put my lap quilt project aside for now so that I can get started on on my Show Some Sewing Love swap items. Things are going pretty good. I would like to get them done in the next couple of week so that I'm ready to put them in the mail by the deadline. And I need to get a fleece blanket sewn for my god-daughter so that I can get that in the mail for her birthday; which has past already. I sent her a card though with an "IOU a Birthday Gift" note inside. The pillow case to match the fleece blanket is done. Just have to get to work on getting the fleece sewn.

That's all for now.
Enjoy your day!
Jen

Valentine's Day Swap

I'm not organizing it... Dandelion Quilts is. Go and check it out and sign up! Should be fun!

I have some pictures to upload of another completed project. I will get to that tonight, I hope. Amelia just threw her baby carriage down the stairs so that she can play with it in the living room. I thought she fell down the stairs! So I think I better get off the computer for right now until my husband gets home!

Enjoy the rest of your day!
Jen :)