Paper Bag Swap

Edit: For those of you wondering about my giveaway, I am leaving the comments open until Tuesday night now and will be drawing the winner on Tuesday night.
I have been working on a paperbag swap this year. I haven't posted about it much because I keep forgetting to take any photos of the quilt tops I have worked on! Not sure why. Maybe because I know the quilt is not for me? Not sure. This was the kind of paperbag swap that you start yourself. Then others work on it and it finally comes back to you! We started out by making a 15 and a half inch square doing anything we liked. (I think I did post this square.) Next we had to frame the square. (On the quilt we received, not ours) Then add some triangles. Next was applique. And finally we had to add squares and or rectangles. Of course, when we had finished a section we took the quilt back to Jane (or Sara) at the patchwork apple and swapped for a different paperbag! This swap has been an interesting ride. Sometimes I have received quilt tops that are just so far from what I usually do that I have felt that I couldn't possibly even work on them. I have felt lost and not sure what to do just about everytime I have received a new paperbag to work on! I think swaps are good for us creatively because we are usually stretched beyond what we would choose for ourselves and I was stretched with this swap! Today I took my last quilt up to the patchwork apple and my finished quilt was there waiting for me! (Photos below.) I also bumped into Loz which was fun! She was there collecting her paperbag quilt top too! I did know she was in the area, but hadn't planned to bump into her so it was a lovely surprise. We chatted as we both bought fabric. (I know! Who would believe that of Loz and myself? We are both usually so restrained in that department. NOT!!!)

This photo was taken outside this afternoon. This is a pretty good representation of the colours. I really love my quilt top. I am going to add some more to it myself and then quilt it. I'm thinking of turning it into a rectangle. Not sure what I am going to add to it. I'll have to think about it for a bit!

Here it is inside on my sewing room floor. The colours not quite right, but you are better able to see it all!


Another shot of it. (Can you tell I really like it?) Jane plans to have an exhibition for all those that finish these paperbag quilts sometime next year. I almost can't wait. I really want to see how the quilt tops I worked on have turned out and what their owners think of them. It must be the nosey-parker in me coming out! Can't wait!!!

Ooops!

Spent today sewing. I was determined to finish round 2 on the paper bag swap I have had hanging around all month. And I did it. Not only finished it, but delivered it to the patchwork apple as well! Of course, in my hurry, I forgot to take a photo. I figured that my bin was the only proof that some creating had gone on here! I wasn't terribly happy with what I had done, but am focusing on round three. Onward and upward!

Paperbag Swap.

This is the bag I made and sent to Leah for Missymack's paper bag swap. Leah loves owls so I decided to applique and embroider one on the front of the bag. The bag is lined and has a zippered pocket inside. I am pleased with the owl. I think he's very cute!

Usually when I make something I just make it up as I go, but don't tend to keep a record of what I have done. Mrs 24 (picklesticks) has been encouraging me to keep a record of what I have done so that I can write up a pattern to put in my etsy shop. I was planning to have the pattern for this bag in my etsy shop next week, but our pending move has put me a little behind. The pattern should be finished next week, so look out for it if you would like to make a cute bag!!!

Paperbag swap received!

Yesterday I received my paperbag swap from Leah. She did a marvellous job with the fabrics I sent and I really love what she did with it! I am desperate for a new bag and wallet. Well, not anymore because that's what she made for me. The bag is above. (The stitching is lovely, but all the detail photos I took were blurry!)

A good look at the wallet Leah made. I have been meaning to make a wallet since mine died last year. (Sad I know) I love this one because it's really practical. I will really be able to use it. I just love those fabrics!

A brooch with all my bits and pieces. And an mp3 player lanyard and cover. (Okay, I have to admit here that I had no idea what this was when I opened the package. As I stood there wondering Mr 15 said, "Hey! Cool mp3 cover!" Of course! On the tip of my tongue - thanks son!) All the mp3 player crazies in my house (there's a few of them) are eying it off, but I haven't relinquished ownership of it yet. I may just get an mp3 player myself!

Thank you Leah for all the lovely goodies (and the extras!). Thank you Sam for organising the swap. I am still working on mine for Leah. It's got to be good now! This swap was so much fun! Got to hit the sewing machine!!!

Even more on the paperbag swap!

This is the paperbag I sent to Leah on Monday. Fortunately, she took a photo of my stuff! (Just so I could steal it obviously!) I went for the whole red/white/gray/pink thing. I found it really hard to choose. I could have gone so many ways. I love blue/white, blue/green, green/pink and many other combos at the moment. I like too much I think! I found it impossible to stick to just two fabrics, so I got three and told Leah to edit or omit as she likes. It's quite an exciting swap because we can make anything! I will have to put some ideas down on paper. I have started my stitching weekend. Not camping, but at home. (Some of us are not well) I am busy stitching stockings onto a mantle piece at the moment. Hope you all have a good easter!

More on the paperbag swap...

No, I didn't send a blurry leaf to Leah for my paperbag swap. I finally chose some fabric and notions to go with it, but forgot to photograph it before I sent it! Miss 22 was with me and she was busy taking photos of fabric on her phone. (My phone doesn't have a camera, perhaps I should petition Bradley for a new one!) She kept discovering fabric that couldn't possibly be and had to take a photo of it. (I believe she has the "chickens and beans" photo as her new wallpaper on her phone. Seriously. Chickens and beans. I know you all want that fabric now! Cows and beans I could understand. Remember Jack and the Beanstalk? But chickens and beans? Anyway, I know where you can buy some if you really want it!) The leaf is courtesy of Mr 14. He brought it in with him when he came home from a run. He saw a leaf in a leaf (A bit like a square in a square!) and felt it was noteworthy.

Oh! On the diamonds front, my quilt has arrived at it's destination. You can read about it here.

It's April!

This is the bit where I say that I can't believe it's April already. In fact it has been April for a couple of days! I have been busy doing very little. Today I even went to a Tupperware Party. I haven't done that for about 17 years! Mrs 24 (picklesticks) had a tupperware party at her house today which required some familial support. So I went and so did Mr 20, Miss 18, Mr 14 and Mr 8. When I got home Australia Post had delivered a paperbag of goodies to me. This is part of Missymack's paperbag swap. Leah sent me a bag of goodies to turn into a gift for her! This is quite a different swap than I am used to and I am looking forward to getting started on it! I have yet to send my paperbag to Leah, so I will have to get going! Even Leah's paperbag was cute!

I think April will be another busy month. Next week is easter. We are going away camping and I am looking forward to it very much. It will be a great opportunity to stitch. I have a couple of months of a block of the month to stitch and I want to work on my redwork cushion swap too. We have a birthday during the easter break and then another later in the month. The school holidays are after easter and near the end of the month I will be going to Quilt Fabric Delight's Inspired Stitches Retreat. I can't wait for that either. I was reading Leanne Beasley's blog this week (one of the tutors) and words like only 23 days to go were being bandied around! I think April will whizz by! I'd better get my running shoes on!