The best thing about doing a swap??

Opening day!

On the Handmade Craft forum, I participated in a "Paper Bag Swap." The object of the game was to gather some goodies together, (a fat quarter, some ric rac, ribbons, buttons etc,) and pack it all up in a paper bag and then swap that with a partner. Then we all had to make something using the items and send it back to our partners.

And today was the grand opening day! I recieved my parcel from Donna a few days ago, and hid it away in the sewing room so it wouldn't tempt me to open it early. So as soon as I got out of bed this morning I raced over and opened it up like a kid on christmas morning!

Donna had wraped the item in lovely blue fabric (that she thought would go well for my Breast of Friends BOM - and it will, thanks Donna!) And sitting on top was the gorgeous little heart, embroided with flowers and beads. It was almost all too pretty to open (almost!!)

And inside.......

An absolutely stunning little wall hanging!! I absolutely LOVE it, and was exactly what I was hoping for. The little embroidered angel is so cute, and so well stitched too. Donna has done an amazing job with the rather interesting array of pieces that I sent her, (the blue floral fabric, the buttons and beads, pink embroidery thread, lace and black ric rac.)

Thank you so much Donna! As you can tell, I just love it! I can't wait to hang it proudly in the lounge room. We love blue and pink here, so it will look great.

And I suppose I better show you what I made then? Well a few weeks ago, I showed the photo below of all the items that Donna sent me... Two very yummy fat quarters, some big blue ric rac, ribbon, lace, two DMC threads, and some lovely wooden buttons.

And the result? Well, something I hope Donna will like!



I orginally was going to make a bag, and I even started designing and making the bag. And then somehow 'bag' turned into 'doll.' I'm still not quite sure how. But I kept playing with her and I think she is lovely. She has bloomers on underneath using the lace as a trim, and she also has a petticoat trimmed with lace too.



And once she was finished, well, there was fabric and bits left over! So I started playing again, and came up with this little wall hanging.

I really love the simplicity, yet detail, of this. I just randomally pieced it all together, and I think it worked out really well. I stipple quilted it all (my first time - so quite a few mistakes!!) and then added the three little wooden buttons.

I really loved doing this swap, and now I want to do another one!! Who's with me??!