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.

Hexie Down Under

Hexies hexies everywhere.  English Paper Piecing (EPP) is very popular at the moment and almost everyone appears to be doing it.  Are you a hexie fan? Would you like to create your own hexie masterpiece but are limited by what's in your fabric stash?  Swapping with other hexie fans is a great way to mix up the fabrics in your hexie collection, so Isabella Golightly and I have decided to set up an affordable swap just within Australia.  One that is EASY to do and INEXPENSIVE to be a part of.

• Can you accurately thread or glue baste a 1" hexie?  
• Can you neatly stitch these hexies into a hexie flower?  
• Do you live in Australia?  

If you answered yes to each of these questions then you are eligible to join #HexieDownUnder  This swap will be for both thread basters and glue basters.  You can specify your preference and depending upon numbers we will attempt to keep these two methods in separate groups.  If you can do & don't mind either method that is even better. 

REQUIREMENTS:

• This swap is open to Australians with an Australian postal address only. Sorry, no international members.
• You MUST have a public Instagram account.
• Members are required to create and mail at least two (2) hexie flowers to each person on their list before 30 September 2015.  
• All members should be able to accurately thread or glue baste 1" hexies and to sew them neatly together into a hexie flower.
• Members are to use a good quality quilting cotton. Please do not use any other type/s of fabrics 
• All centres should be white (unless requested otherwise) and you are required to write your name, your Instagram account name, and where you are from on the centre hexie with a permanent fabric marker.  
• Please leave the papers/cardboard in so that the recipient can join them together easily. 
• Post a photograph of your finished hexie flowers on Instagram tagging the recipient together with the hashtag #HexieDownUnder prior to mailing them off.

YOU ARE ***NOT*** REQUIRED TO SEND ANY OTHER EXTRAS!!! 

Yes you read that correctly, you are not required to send anything other than the two (2) hexie flowers per person to the members on your list.  If you use a C5 sized envelope (162 x 229 mm) it will only cost $1.40 to post within Australia.

Once the sign up data has been collated, you will be emailed a spreadsheet containing the details of the people in your group.  You can work through this list at your own pace and mail them off as you go, however, we do request that you complete your list before 30 September 2015 - that gives you approximately 3-months to complete your list. 

We are aiming for up to 25 members per list to keep the number per group manageable.   If you complete your list early you can request to be added to another group.  Sign ups will remain open until we have reached 100 members. Depending upon popularity, we aim to have round two of #HexieDownUnder commence in October for a December finish.

Please click on the hexie-flower to access the sign up form:

Click here

Please direct any inquiries to Isabella at isabellagolightly@gmail.com

Criminal Minds Swap

 

Are you a fan of Penelope Garcia, Derek Morgan, Jennifer "JJ" Jareau, David Rossi, Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner, Kate Callahan, Spencer Reid or Emily Prentiss (not pictured)? 

 

Do you get excited whenever you hear the words "Wheels up in 30"?  Then this is the Craft Swap for YOU!

 

#CriminalMindsSwap

 

 

Registrations open on Wednesday 10 June just after the show airs in Australia (AEST) and I anticipate leaving registrations open until June 24th unless we receive maximum numbers sooner. 

 

In this swap we will exchange at least two (2) handmade items. At least one of these items must be a major item such as: a mini quilt, bag, satchel, table runner, embroidered artwork, cross stitch, painted artwork, basket, wall hanging.  The other may be a lesser item such as: zippy pouch, needle book, pin cushion, key fob, toy, pillow, clothing accessory, mug rug, placemats, coasters, ornament, bookmark, fridge magnet, notebook cover, hoop art etc.  You will also be required to send your partner at least one (1) naughty treat such as chocolate or candy.

 

You must have a public Instagram account (NO private accounts) and post a mosaic for this swap (you will have until sign ups close on June 24th to post one (or more)).  Please use the hashtag #CriminalMindsSwap. If you have not created a mosaic by then you will not be eligible for a space. The mosaic may consist of: preferred colour schemes, fabrics, décor, actor/characters from the show, show quotes, photos of items that you would like to receive, basically ANYTHING that you feel will assist your assigned partner to make you something special and to your tastes.  Please email Fiona (bendigolioness2@gmail.com) if you have any questions regarding the mosaic. 

 

All participants agree to check in with their designated swap mama at the designated check in times by the due date/s and to post at least three (3) progress photos on Instagram, tagged to the swap's hashtag #CriminalMindsSwap and their designated group's hashtag (to be advised).  These photos can be as detailed or as cryptic as you feel comfortable with.

 

This swap is based around the main characters of the TV show "Criminal Minds"  - the FBI's Behavioural Analysis Unit - and is NOT glorifying any criminal acts or violence.  Please do NOT depict any weaponry or acts of violence in your gifts!

 

The due date for this swap will be NO LATER THAN October 16th 2015.

 

If you are interested to join us, please click on the FBI badge below to access the registration form:

Click Here

 

 

Please note that submitting your application does NOT guarantee you a position in this swap. Spaces that are available are open only to swappers who have a good swap track record (e.g. have not shipped late & have not flaked) and who have a public Instagram account. All applicants will be fully vetted and checked against the Swappers Black List.