My Aussie Hoop Swap "Parcel of Awesomeness" Arrived.

On Saturday I posted about the Aussie Hoop Swap and showed you the parcel that I sent to my swap buddy - Kristy Monaghan.  Today it gives me great pleasure to share with you the AMAZING parcel of awesomeness that I received from the super generous Faye Peresipkin @mysewbusylife from New South Wales.

 

Firstly these are the inspiration mosaics that I posted for this swap:

 

Dear Partner, if you decide to make something for my kitchen, could you please use red / white / black / grey or orange tones.  I have 1970's orange benches and white cabinets but I have red & white as the main colour scheme.

Of course I had to add some options for my sewing room.  The secret squirrels reside in the sewing room.  The first picture describes my personality to a T - I might now be mostly housebound, but I haven't lost my spirit of adventure & I love old buttons & the movie "Up".

 

But before I show you what was IN the parcel, these are the teasers that Faye had posted on Instagram:

 

 

 

 

 

When the postie delivered the parcel, Gemma the cat decided to join me as I opened everything:

 

Aren't they beautifully wrapped!   I am just waiting for my Security Inspectpurrrrr to finish her "Cat Scan" before I have purrrmission to open them.

Brown paper packages tied up with string (& a lion sticker), these are a few of my favourite things!

Gemma likes coffee because she knows that when Mummy drinks coffee she gets to sit on Mummy's lap.

Gemma says hello to the Super squirrel hoop whilst I weep tears of joy!

 

This is the entire parcel of awesomeness that I received from Faye who completely spoilt me rotten!!!!  In addition to not one but TWO awesome hoops, Faye also gave me some quilting pins; Tim Tams; Robert Timms coffee bags; a cute wooden pen (I thought it was a kangaroo but it is actually a squirrel); a kitty notebook; and yes they are sitting on a fat quarter of Cotton & Steel "Tokyo Train Ride". 

A close up of the beautiful hoop which is now proudly hanging in my kitchen. 
I absolutely LOVE THIS!!!!!

Faye told me that this handsome fellow was machine embroidered.  I was totally blown away when I saw it as everything about it is pure perfection!  This is now hanging up in my sewing room where my secret sewing squirrels reside.  And yes I honestly did weep when I saw this!

More photographs from this swap can be viewed on Instagram under the hashtag #AussieHoopSwap

Aussie Hoop Swap

 

 

Earlier this year I participated in the "Aussie Hoop Swap" which was hosted by Jas McMahon @jasminesews

 

Participants were asked to create a piece of hoop art for their assigned swap partners. 

 

Our partners were secret so we did not know who was making for us - at least we didn't until our parcel arrived.  And who we made for may not be the same person who was making for us.  Our dispatch deadline was 31 March.

 

My assigned swap partner was Kristy Monaghan @misskm89 who lives in Western Australia.  I was told that Kristy likes blue, aqua, turquoise and navy.  Kristy does not sew but does do embroidery.  

 

Kristy's inspiration mosaic

 

When Kristy mentioned that "the ocean is my place to be happy and sooth my soul" I immediately knew that I would run with this theme. I was inspired by the image of the lighthouse in her mosaic so went searching online for suitable images to use for inspiration.

 

This is the hoop that I made for Kristy.  I used a combination of variegated threads.  For the waves I used colour #1053 by ThreadWorx, #415 "Bonnie Brook" by Cottage Garden Threads for the lighthouse and seagulls; and #803 "Pea Soup" by Cottage Garden Threads for the light bulb.  I used a soft grey for the clouds.  I've used a combination of chain stitch, back stitch and satin stitch.

 

The entire parcel of goodies that I sent to Kristy kept with the ocean theme.  I included some stickers, the latest "Get Creative" magazine from Spotlight, a DMC embroidery pattern "Under the Sea", an "Ocean Breeze" candle and a selection of Semco embroidery threads in her favourite colours.

 

The candle that I included was called "Ocean Breeze"

 

The Semco threads that I sent were various shades of blues.

 

The card that I sent

 

When Kristy received her parcel

All photos on Instagram were posted with the hashtag #aussiehoopswap   There are some amazing photos in this feed so please check them out when you have time to do so. 

In my next post I will show you what I received from this swap.