Finally. . A make or two

Two posts in one week ..wow I must of found some of the oomph after all .
goodness it seems a while since I made anything, but the last few days , weeks , I have been busy with the normal things in life plus "entertaining " the in laws over Easter too but I have been disappearing and trying to finish a bunny cross stitch..nearly finished, hopefully for the next post ?

I also stitched these up with felt......

This is my favourite I think

I love this patchwork felt .

Then a bit of buying....
I didn't need them , have no particular project in mind but I REALLY wanted them!!! Ha ha.
I have bought the odd fat quarters here and there over the last two years  but have been relatively brilliant
for me (!!!) and not bought hardly anything fabric wise . Then I saw these on a favourite on line shop just before Easter.  Well I did not impulse buy.  I put them on my wish list and as I try to do , I left
them a few days (though I did pop back to have another look once or twice..hee hee) and then
because I still really loved them still days and days later I ordered them and they arrived a few days
ago. .

The children had been to soft play on respite and the postie arrived and I think he thought I had gone bonkers or was making a pass at him as I exclaimed "oh am I pleased to see you" grasping my little
parcel to my heart!!! After he gave Dextie his usual cuddle and biscuit he looked up and all I said was
"fabric" he gave me a smile and nod "for me it's fishing tackle" he said  and was on his way .  Each to their own was one of my Dad's sayings and that immediately sprung to mind.The dining room table
was clear ...very unusual , but I am trying to tidy up as I go along...we'll see how long that lasts.  Anyway I sat down , and one by one took them out of the parcel..

Some of the fabrics are by Tilda

I adore pastel colours and duck egg blue

Is always a favourite colour of mine 

but

I couldn't resist 

these grey theme fabrics

which go so well 

with duck egg

and these are teal

aren't they pretty.? 

The colours are beautiful, just as lovely as they looked on line.  I really have no idea what I am going
to make........but that's part of the fun for me ...decisions...decisions. I a group of patterns printed out and collected from magazines etc so I will not be short of inspiration.

Little miss has been busy too.  She has made all these lovelies and has quite a production line going !
She has been eyeing up the new fabric but I have told her it is all mine... She just giggled and the glint in her eye said "we'll see!".  She has already earmarked some dash wood fabric that she found in the stash ...... I do love watching her , comparing colours and putting fabric combinations together.
She has started under supervision to do some ironing now too.  It is only the fabric she wants to use
On her projects , but as with the sewing machine , she is calm, safe and patient .

coasters and tissue holders

different patterns 

and sizes

stash busting at it's best 

And more 

This hat she made at DT at school .. She brought it home, she made it for me..I am so proud .xxxx
She told me Daddy had helped her to measure one of my other hats so she got the size right..clever girl!

and last but no means least , the Easter swap arranged by Kimberley over at Creative Chaos

I was partnered with Lyn from Australia who does not have a blog.  I missed the post for the swap partners and so we were late posting which was entirely my fault.  Lyn was so gracious though and we posted but our swaps arrived a little later than Easter.


Lyn sent me these lovelies

Lyn was so kind sending sweets and gifts

for the children.

A beautiful pouch , I love it ! and the ceramic egg is

just too pretty for Easter

it will have a new home on 

one of the egg cups on my dresser. 

Soap and tea bags too

This bunny coaster is so lovely

it now sits on a 

table with a vase of daffs nearby.

And I posted these

Some painted eggs, sewing kit

and embellishments 

and buttons

Adhesive fabric, the Apple  was bought , but I

added a couple of charms.

The owl pin cushion and the Easter feltie I made 

and Easter would not be Easter without sweets

because I was worried chocolate may 

melt I sent a pouch of marshmallows

hot chocolate drinks and some 

English sweets.

Another lovely swap

Thanks again to Lyn and  to Kimberley

for arranging it.

Catching up.....recent swaps

I do apologise to my lovely swap ladies as I am VERY behind in posting some swaps from Easter .
Delays of all sorts have been going on here...no one seems to have much oomph to go or do anything
maybe it's just the way school holidays should be . I do have lists of things to do and yet can't get motivated or stir motivation of any sort in anyone else either. Suggestions of walks on the beach have fallen on extremely deaf ears this morning, the kids even disappeared under the settee quilts to drown me out!!!! I guess it will be another  duvet day... When even the offer of ice creams etc can persuade
then I know when I am beaten !
My dear brother in law remains unwell in hospital , thank you for all your kind wishes.  He has now been moved to a hospital nearer home which helps my sister as she no longer drives and has to rely on public transport or lifts.  He is undergoing extensive physio but so far little progression, ironically the heart surgery itself has gone remarkably well.

So before I go off on another tangent here are the swaps

No 1
The country swap, by Kimberley over at Creative Chaos.I was swapping with Glenda .  A bit of kismet here. Back last year Glenda and I received a handmade ornament from each other in a Christmas anonymous swap and here we were again.  We chatted via e mail and these goodies are what I received from Glenda, all the way from New Zealand

 

A sheep tea towel, diary inserts, tea and chocies 

The tomato sauce holder made me giggle,

can't remember the last time we had a bbq here!

A beautiful bracelet, key ring, purse and hand cream

...just all so lovely

And this is what I sent
as I am a Londoner but now living in West Wales I sent a mixture ...

oops up side picture

I made this scissor fob from London theme charms

I also sent a recent cross stitch magazine, London ribbon,

Postcards, recipe books from Britain and Wales, a Welsh thimble

ribbons and pegs in red and blue and white colours

polo's and pork scratchings!

Then...

Tracy, from Mad about Bags

ran a Stationery Swap

and I was partnered with Tracy herself.

We have chatted back and forth lots of times..

we have lots and lots in common

and have been swappers in the past

This is what I sent

I hand decorated these small pouches with 

a fox pouch I made 

And some bookmarks I decorated with handmade 

Yo yos decorated with beads. 

and a collection of stationery 

And

these are the lovelies I received 

from Tracy

Cath Kidston napkins (beautiful and my favourite)

equally beautiful stationery

All very me in colours and designs

and this beauty

a handmade pouch by Tracy.

I adore it !

Tracy makes such beautiful

gifts.

oh and lots of chocolates too.

To Glenda and Tracy 

Thank you so much for being

Wonderful swap partners.xxx

I also have a Easter swap to post from

Lyn

I will post that next time

as I have only just collected the parcel 

from the Post Office.

Xx

Seasons swap 2015......I was very spoilt!

This swap was organised by Kimberley over at Creative Chaos nz.  Once paired with your partner you get in touch and tell them what is your favourite season and they then put a swap together with items that fit into that season.

I was paired with Ellie from http://feltabulous.blogspot.co.uk/ ...I asked her to choose as I love all the seasons for different reasons and well, Ellie absolutely spoilt me.  This was a wonderful swap..
Thank you again Ellie xx

This is what Ellie sent me

on the lovely things Ellie made she explained 

what all the stones were..so thoughtful

Ellie  made the wool heart, the jewellery, the scissor fobs.

And

I got something from not just one season 

but every season

How generous was that!

I absolutely loved everything 

Ellie and I sent similar things

To each other

Over our e mails we noticed we had lots

And lots in common.

However I did have a big hiccup!!!

That week I had posted a couple of other swaps and some presents . my dining table was covered in
rolls of wrapping paper , tissue paper, bubble wrap and I, in My usual chaos  "lost" part of Ellie's swap under a pile of bubble wrap and because I was rushing to post it off I didn,t check everything was in the box.  Then on the mutual afternoon Ellie and I decided to open our swaps I sat down moved a space to open the box and found the smaller parcel I hadn't packed.  Oh the shame!!! Anyway I apologised to Ellie who was so gracious ...and part 2 was posted off . She has received both parts now thank goodness.

Here is what I sent. ( as you know I am having great trouble find "missing" photos , so the second parcel photos I just can't find , so to see all the bits I sent you might want to pop over to Ellie's blog.)


Ellie choose Spring into Summer as her favourite season..

I sent some tulip bulbs, a flower heart, flower pegs

some felting wool, black for soil (Ellie adores gardening)

and more wool in various colours

(She likes felting too)

summer bunting

A large pincushion made by me in her favourite colours

I added a few sewing charms

And her initial 

I made a garden theme scissor fob

The other parcel contained sewing bits and bobs

Including some hexagon EPP 

And some spares for Ellie to have a try with.

Ellie told me she loved what I sent 

which of course made me happy too.

I so enjoyed this swap.  Thank you Kimberley for arranging it . Xxxx.  Ellie too, you were a fabulous swap partner.xxx


See you soon.xx


                       

Swaps and more swaps!!!! Halloween mail art exchange 2015

I was warned "swapping" can be addictive and by jolly it is.

This year so far I have taken part in 5 (some double swaps) , I have 3 more to do and they are so much fun and the bonus you get to meet lovely , kind people too.

I have been partnered in the Twelve days of Christmas swap (picture on my sidebar) hosted by Jo, click on the picture and it should take you to her blog which is a lovely read...and am just waiting to hear from my partner now.

I am finishing off my swaps for the Paper and String swap...you still have time to join in , details on the Paper and String blog.

I have started a few things for my Christmas Santa 2015 swap and now I'm feeling festive making things for the craft fairs at Christmas time too..  I say fairs , this year I plan only to do 2 . Last year I did 4 in the space of  12 days and well it was too much what with all the things that happen in December anyway.  So this year I am just going to enjoy the 2 planned.


The Halloween swap was a secret one.  I was lucky to receive my swap from Lynda Ruth from http://twododo.blogspot.co.uk.

Such beautiful stitching

I was so delighted to receive this

Thank you Lynda Ruth

and these were the goodies 

Inside the envelope 

Including a photo of the lady herself.

I sent this to Mary from http://ipiece2-mary.blogspot.com/

I so enjoyed making this for Mary

I stitched a little "present" pocket

buttons

charms and purple ribbon 

I put together a skeleton scissor fob

Some more ribbons and 

Sweeties.

Mary loved what I sent which has made me very happy.

Ingrid arranged this swap 

and it was lots of fun too!

Thank you Ingrid

I have another post to do for the Seasons Swap

I have had lots of problems yet again

with blogging and accessing

my photo's

somehow loads got stored in 

2013 albums!!!

maybe a little bit of 

Hocus Pocus 

going on ?????

See you soon

Christmas in July 2015

Secret Christmas in July 2015 swap

The lovely Kim from Wisdom with needle and thread ( if you haven,t visited her blog please pop over and see how talented this lady is and how lovely her blog is.) hosted this secret swap.  I was partnered with Melanie from The Patchwork Robin ( again a lovely blog , go and have a look) her blog shows what I sent and this is what I received from my other partner the lovely Pilar from Cenefas de Flores

Thank you Pilar xxxx.  The ornaments are so lovely, all the goodies too.  I just wish you could  smell the scented petals , they are divine and now in a pretty bowl on my bedside table.

See you soon