Vintage Swap

 Do you like vintage fabric goodness? Sweet florals and lovely cottons?

If so then I think you should pop on over to my friend Fairlight's blog. She is having a vintage sheet swap and today is the last day to sign up.

check it out the details and inspiration of lovelies made with vintage sheets over here.

a long but rather crafty post.

Create.
& I did. I've been meaning to share these for awhile & now they have been received I can. These were the packages I sent off to Chelle, Fairlight & Jacy for the Domestic Bliss scrappy swap. I had an absolute ball with this swap, I was just so inspired. I may have got a little carried away but there's something so fun and satisfying about using up tiny little fabric scraps to make something new & plus I had so many scraps left over at the end too so I just kept creating! So be prepared for a fairly lengthy post...
included in the swap:

pin cushions. from Heather Bailey's square deal pincushion pattern (down loadable here) Such a quick and fun little project, highly recommended. These nearly didn't make it to the post office on account of I wanted to keep them myself, but then again what would I do with three almost identical pincushions?

yes, yes they are. The very best.
Button magnets.
I used the self cover buttons from Spotlight (beware this is highly addictive!) cut the button 'eyes' off the back and used silicone (also addictive) to glue the magnets ($2 at spotlight for a pack of 4) onto the back.
hehe I also just realized my brother has written "lollies, chips & chocolate" on our shopping list & mum has substituted lollies for maple syrup *grin*
ooh and that label to the left was one of the items I received from Chelle in my package :D

Fabric Coasters. inspiration & sizing from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing Book:

Chelle's.

Fairlights.

Jacy's.

Gift Tags. Also just as addictive as covering buttons with fabric. I particularly like the squirrel ones :)

Bible Verse Teabags. A feed of scripture while enjoying a calming cup of tea & some time out (hopefully). The 'lemon twist' and 'peach raspberry' flavors made these packages smell so yummy!
Babushka doll iron ons. I used visafix for this project & left the paper connected to the other side of babushkas for the girls to iron onto their own projects. Apparently I have fed little Olivia's matroshkas obsession & she has already commandeered one for herself. I think Fairlight said for a pillow? I think little mini matroshkas like these would look very cute around the edge of a young girl's outfit too, but so time consuming though.. maybe one day.

Notebook Journals.
one for Jacy:

& inside cover.

one for Fairlight:

(the inside of Fairlight's journal is the first picture)

& one for Chelle:

inside.
Knowing how Chelle loves to collect quotes I turned hers into a quote book (as I know probably all your other ones are almost full dear ;) I added a first quote in for her, it's the sweetest:

wow, I wasn't joking when I said this post would be long *grin* hope it was fun enough that you were able to stay with me :)
kt x

exciting little things

Things that are exciting me today:

1. a fun-filled weekend with my boy.

2. Getting to babysit this little munchkin tomorrow:

my second cousin Keara.
In the same way that her mumma used to babysit and look after me and the same way my mumma babysat for her mumma before that - and how I just love that cycle!

2. The fact that while heading to work this morning and picking up the post it was incredibly sunny and I was wearing a short sleeved t-shirt!! The way I could smell the sea on the breeze and the way I was grinning while walking down the street because I forgot that spring could be this good! And the new feeling of vitality and freshness that spring brings.

3. A party at Morgan's Uncles 40th party and the fun we always have while with his family.

4. Sleepovers at Brant, Lar and Keke's and getting to go to their lovely little church on Sunday.

5. My sassy apron that came in the mail. Thanks Nettie I love the fabrics and colours - it's so very very me. It's a lovely simple apron that I can see me getting a lot of use out. (Is anyone else so very messy when they cook?) I'm hoping I can wear it soon when making that tomato jam I've been thinking about for awhile mmmm. Thank you Thank you receiving things in the mail in just so fun.

6. Finishing off sewing projects that have had me going all week and looking forward to the surprise when they are received :) Giving and creating for others just gives me such a kick.

7. Thinking about my next sewing project. The Amy Butler Frenchy Bag pattern and her fabrics in grey and white and mustard:

8. The fact that it is Friday and we all know what that means :)

a is for apron, s is for...

Sassy Swaps!

Sign ups are still happening for the Fall Sassy Apron Swap and close on the 25th July.
For this swap you have to make a full length apron, a pot pad or potholder and include your favourite pie recipe. You can find all the other details here, so come and join in the fun!
Heres to hoping my swap partner will actually send me something this time. And thanks again to Beth for helping me to not loose my faith in the swapping world and to join up again :)

and heres some flickr apron eye candy just for fun because work is super boring today...

1. 'last minute apron' by little birds (wish my last minute stuff looked like this!)
2. 'robot in the kitchen' by aboemonster
3. 'Ginger blosson hostess apron' by brassy meg
4. 'Apple apron' by Karissa Cove
5. 'Emmeline apron' created by retro mamma
6. ' Childs apron top' by brassy meg
7. 'Chic Green apron top' by brassy meg (can you tell i love these and the colours in her aprons!)
8. 'Swap apron' by brassy meg
9. rick rac apron by morganmoore
10. 'Give thanks hostess apron' by brassy meg
11. 'apron' by flossieteacakes (love the tea towel loop holder - such a cute idea!)
12. 'half of sky'' by one wish world

apron love II

just a few flickr favourites I found tonight while brainstorming ideas and colour schemes for the summer apron swap. (following on from my apron love post) I also brought two apron patterns from Spotlight this week (I brought one and got one free as they didn't have another pattern mumma wanted! yipee!)

1. by all buttoned up
2. by Tania Ho of chocolate a chuva (there is some super cute stuff here!)
3. by shim & sons
4. by Soule Mamma (so cute in Adelaide size!)
5. by Qpatchwork
6. Dishtowel apron favours (what a sweet idea!!) by The Felt Mouse

And a big hello to my swap partner if you have popped around :)

a sweet conversation...

a conversation i had with Morgan last night:

Me: *in excited tones* Guess what I joined up for today!?
Mgn: ummm...
Me: an online apron swap!!!
Mgn: oh....cool?!?
Me: You think it's one of the stupidest ideas you've ever heard, hey?
Mgn: I only just got used to the idea of a house swap and now, NOW your swapping aprons?!

but the way he said it, the confused tones in his head and the way I could see the little clogs in his brain clicking over and trying to process this vital information was just so funny!

It seems he has a long way in understanding the concept and excitement of a swap. Of being able to make something personal and special for someone else and getting something equally as special and handmade in the post just for you, making new friends and being able to bless someone else. But he will one day understand, and he will love it and until then we'll just take these foreign ideas with baby steps :)

summer apron swap

i just signed up for the summer apron swap :)

yup yup yup

i'm so excited to start sewing and to get my partner so I can make something special for them!
if you want to join in click here or click on the sassy apron page link under my inspiring blog lists.
The theme is summer and the apron must include a dish or teatowel and the recipe for you favourite non-alchaholic beverage (and i'm pretty sure I will include the recipe that saw me faint in morgan's arms and then be carried into the doctors surgery because I dropped the blender blade on my foot! ah, memories)

so go and sign up :)