ALL the swaps!

This last month has been a busy one for me with swaps! I have however, learned to manage the time scales a bit better! (Aside from one swap, but I was determined to use a fabric that I'd ordered from the States which took forever to get to me, by which time I'd had to give up and use other fabric instead! Sewing first world problems....lol).

The first one was a rainbow mini swap hosted by @katebasti on Instagram. I used a pattern from Quilt Now, issue 3, designed by Sonia Spence of Fabric and Flowers. It's a teardrop paper piece quilt, which I had a few issues with to start off. However, the lovely Sonia responded to a message I left her on her blog and helped me through it! She was so patient :)

I still need to work on my seam allowances, but I'm pretty happy with how it came out. I also added a different panel at the bottom by turning one of the teardrops into a kite. It reads "when it rains, look for rainbows", one of my favourite quotes and quite apt for this swap.

The next swap was a spring mini hosted by @beachbabyc on Instagram. I had the pattern for this picked out within minutes! Another one from Quilt Now, this time issue 8, designed by Collette Howie of Poppy And Poochie. The original Catherine Wheel pattern was in black and white, however, for spring, I decided to use nice bright fabric from a jelly roll I had in my stash.

I really relaxed and enjoyed making this quilt as it was back to my happy place of hexie paper piecing! I also made a little extra for this swap, an embroidery hoop balloon, this time courtesy of Mollie Makes issue 52.

The last swap was a tea lovers mug rug swap, hosted by the lovely @jenipher1982, who I got to make for :) One of her favourite themes was nautical, and I had the perfect fabric for this!

As a little added extra, I made a tea cosy using a pattern I found online at Messy Jesse Crafts. It's the first time I've ever made a tea cosy, and after my mum saw it, I doubt it'll be the last! But a lot easier to make than I thought. I'm definitely getting more confident with my sewing machine and things I'm attempting to sew.

I've signed up to quite a few swaps to keep me going for the rest of the year, but the next deadline isn't until July. I'm going to have a little time out this month and maybe start making some things for myself and family, like that tea cosy for my mum! And possibly a cover for my sewing machine, maybe even start a full size blanket, panic! Hopefully I'll find time to post up on this blog more often too.

Swaps, swaps, and more swaps!

Eep! It's been a whole month since I last posted, naughty Moogle!

I have been crazy busy this last month between roller marathons, bouts (playing and watching), my niece's 1st birthday - lots going on!

I've also joined in several more swaps on Instagram (like I haven't been busy enough, lol).

The first one is the Verry Cherry Swap. Pretty much like the Strawberry Swap, but I've been paired with the person who'll be sending my gifts. She likes ginham, polka dots, aqua and red, so I'm hoping she'll like what I've made so far!

With Halloween coming up soon (one of my favourite times of the year!), I've joined not one, but two Halloween swaps. 

Kawaii means cute in Japanese :) For this, I have to make something small, include something small that my partner can use to make something themselves, some themed related goodies and candy. 

For the second one, we've to make a Halloween themed drawstring bag from a pattern we've been given and fill it with Halloween goodies.

The last swap I joined is a mini quilt one. I've only made a few quilts, with a few issues, so I'm hoping I don't mess this one up! But I have until December to finish it, so I'll just be taking my time.

And lastly, no so much a swap, but a lovely idea - a penpal list. You can send anything you like to those on the list, any time you like. Random snail mail that might just cheer someone's day up :D

Now, better get back to finishing off some Cherry Swap goodies!