Tea Time Swap

I recently participated in the Tea Time Swap via Instagram.   My good friend Alison White @alisonwhite31 was the Swap Mama for all of the Australian participants.  Our secret swap partners were delegated in late June and we had until November 1st to send off our parcels.

The swap requirement was to send 1 main handmade gift & 1 item of tea in your partners preferred flavour.  Suitable items could be; cushions, table runners, embroidered hoop, mini quilt, wall hanging, mixed media canvas etc. This was not a mug rug swap therefore a mug rug was not considered substantial enough to be considered as the main gift.  The tea item should consist of special flavoured tea that our partner likes.  If we wished to include extras, things like a mug rug, tea making supplies, a nice mug/tea cup & saucer, tea towel, basically anything else with a tea theme that our partner might like, was up to our discretion.

What I Sent:

I was quite excited when I received the email containing my secret partner's details as I was assigned my dear friend Faye Peresipkin @mysewbusylife  Throughout the year, Faye and I have been partnered up in quite a few swaps and have gotten to know each other quite well via our Insta-stalking. Faye's craft work is amazing and she has a track record of spoiling me rotten.  Time to repay the favour (again)!!! 

Some time ago I had purchased a 7" stacker of the fabric range "To Norway With Love" by Sue Daley Designs.  I had put it aside together with a pattern named "Angel of the Tea Party" by Michelle Ridgway which was published in "Inspiring Country Threads Stitchery" magazine.  The two were a perfect match and I thought a perfect gift for Faye.

This is the original version of "Angel of the Tea Party" by Michelle Ridgway as featured in Inspiring Country Threads Stitchery magazine volume 14 no 1.

I added very simple stitch in the ditch quilting to the finished top.

The completed Mini Quilt that I made for Faye.

Some of the extras that I sent to Faye - a magnetic grocery list pad; a wooden tea themed shelf ornament; some ribbons for her daughter; a handmade trivet; and a tea themed card.

Faye stipulated on her application form that she likes black tea, green tea and peppermint tea.  The tea that I sent to Faye was an organic tea called  "Choc Mint After Eight" by QT Tea Co.  It is black tea with mint leaves and chocolate pieces with a chocolate mint flavour.

What I Received:

These are the mosaics that I created for my partner to give her an idea of my preferences:

@jennyofelefantz has some beautiful embroidery patterns that I like.  My kitchen colours are red & white so any red work will look fantastic.  As I often use my kitchen bench as a cutting table, a tea cup pin cushion in red & white would look lovely in my kitchen. 

I don't drink regular tea but I do drink Peppermint Tea, Spearmint Tea, and Ginger Tea.  I also don't mind Chamomile Tea or any Sleepytime Herbal blends.

My secret partner ended up being Rommy Laurie @Rommy2704 and this is what she sent me:

This is the entire parcel of goodies which I received.  It included a tea bag holder made out of Lori Holt's "Bake Sale" fabric with a selection of T2 Teas and other tea bags; a picnic set also made from "Bake Sale" which included a set of 4 coasters and a fold up placemat/table cloth; a pretty mug and a very very gorgeous mini quilt. 

Here is a close up of the beautiful mini quilt which Rommy made.  The feature fabrics are Lori Holt's "Bake Sale" and feature a kettle with a stack of tea cups beautifully hand embroidered on the right.  It is so beautifully made and will look lovely hanging on my kitchen wall underneath the Lori Holt "Farm Girl Vintage" bunting that I have made.