Christmas Crackers

I had a bit of a problem making these for an exchange on my crazy quilting group, but I finally finished them. My sewing machine decided it didn't like overseas travel and died, so I had to hand piece both blocks. The note tied onto each block is a picture of the place where I bought some of the things here in Uruguay. Both blocks were sent last Friday and are winging their way to the US and Canada, respectively. I hope their owners-to-be like them!

A Hidden Finish

I participated in the fall exchange on the BBInteractive YahooGroup this year, and sent this to my partner. She's received it, so I can post it now. The pattern was off of a French freebie site, and I like the way the thread turned out. It looks like fall to me.

Thank You Nita

I participated in the My Stitching Place exchange on the Friendly Stitchers yahoo group. This is what Nita sent me - hand dyned fabric and thread and beads and the most beautiful ornament.

She managed to pick my favorite color palette. Thank you Nita!

Thank you Myra

I participated in the Brooke's Books exchange and here is what I got in return. Myra must have looked at my blog because she sent me these wonderful crazy quilting supplies. Thank you so much, Myra! I've already got ideas running around for them. I also love the focus of the exchange - the ornament. She said it was a design from Faby Reilly, someone I've never heard of. I really like it, though, so I'll have to look at her others. Thanks again!

Ornamental Beading

I participated in an exchange on the Brooke's Books yahoo group and decided to just finish an ornament I had already stitched instead of stitching a new one. This piece I completed back in December, but I finished it last week and mailed it to the Netherlands last Friday. I hope the recipient likes it. I think I'll make another one for myself.

Thank you Cindi!

Remember I made a tin for a tin swap last month? Well... Cindi drew my name to send one to, and she made a beautiful one! This is it, in four pictures. Thank you so much, Cindi! I love it.

She also put some goodies inside. I don't tat, so the tatted things are such a beautiful mystery to me. I'm sure I'll find a use for them. Thank you for the motifs and threads and beads and thread holder!

What to do With an Old Container

This tin originally held a watch for one of my sons. It's not quite square, and I saved it because I thought it'd be useful some day. Some day came. I signed up for an altoid tin cover exchange with Crazy Quilting International. And so - I covered it!

The top is all one piece because I picked out the blackwork pattern before the tin. Then I found the tin to fit it. I didn't buy anything for the project except the two pieces of ribbon around the outer edge.

The inside papers were marbled by me a few years ago when I did it on a regular basis. This particular set has always been one of my favorites.

And here is the tin from the side. I really like the effect of the two layers of ribbon on it. I hope the person I'm sending to likes it too.

A Blackwork Star

I have an altoid tin swap due on the 30th. This is the base I am working from. The group is crazy quilting, so this is going to be pretty different from the others, but I liked this star and it turned out bigger than I thought, so - no other fabric pieces around it. There's going to be more embroidery, though. Anyway, fabric is a scrap from somewhere and thread is Vikki Clayton's perle 12.

Christmas Ornament Exchange Sign Ups

If you'd like to participate in the Christmas in July ornament exchange, click on the Christmas Ornament Exchange link on my sidebar. Sign ups end June 1st and mailing date is July 15th. This has been successful in the past, and all manner of embroidery is encouraged.

All Cracked Up

I opened my exchange Christmas crackers with all the other presents last night. They were fun and full of goodies! This top one is from Rose Ann. She pieced the pretty crazy quilt block and added three motifs to it. Then she stuffed lots of fabrics with unusual textures, some lace, and some threads in it. Oh, and lace and beads, too. Thanks, Rose Ann!

Lyn sent me a pretty medieval block with a lady in the middle. My daughter's already claimed it; it's getting made into a pillow for her once I'm done embellishing it. She spent about twenty minutes last night deciding what charms and stuff were going to go on it. Thanks, Lyn!

And I got this bunch of treats from Kerry - lots of glitzy fabrics and goodies inside, especially beads. I also got something called a mesh button maker. I've never heard of one, so I'm going to get to learn something new. Thank you!

I hope everyone who got what I sent likes their goodies, too.

Received in Exchange

At the chapter meeting Monday, I got this cute little ornament in exchange for my temari ball. It's from Angela, and Joan got my temari. I've now been asked to teach temari making....

Crackers Made

I finished these up this morning, and since my husband took a picture of them, they're all sealed into their envelopes and ready to go places. Each one has threads and trims and buttons and beads inside. I hope the recipients like them.

Pretty Mail Day

Yesterday, I got this beautiful Christmas cracker in the mail. It's the same exchange that yesterday's blocks were made for. I wonder what's inside.

Three Exchange Pieces

One of my quilting groups is having a Christmas cracker exchange. We make crazy quilt blocks to embellish and then roll them up into crackers stuffed with stitch goodies. These are the blocks I made for the exchange - all of it done this week.

A New Link

If you notice, there's a new link in the sidebar. It's Christmas Ornament Exchange, and I inherited it from Simone D. in the Netherlands, who's guided it through several iterations. If you're interested in a world wide exchange of ornaments of -any- kind of needlework, sign up. The rules are on that site. In the past there's been an average of thirty to forty participants. Wouldn't it be spiffy to receive an ornament from somewhere else hand made by someone who loves needlework as much as you?

Exchange Received

I'm participating in the Christmas in July ornament exchange and I got my surprise yesterday. Pascale in Belgium went overboard, and I love every bit of it. Thank you, Pascale.

Valentine Exchange

I participated in the Valentine's exchange on Vikki Clayton's forums this year. My post office messed up, though, and kept this buried in their packages section for two weeks, so I -just- got it yesterday. Isn't it beautiful? Tracy from Kentucky made it for me. I have it hanging on my warping board for now until I find a more permanent spot for it. I think it's gorgeous!

Received in Exchange

I was lucky enough to receive this lovely ornament in an exchange! It'll definitely be going on my tree. I think I was even the first person to receive an ornament in the exchange. For a look at who made this one and some of the other ornaments going out, check out the blog.