Accessory Bag Swap

Do you have the Christmas let down blues?  Are you looking for something new to look forward to?  Well, perhaps you'd like to take part in my Accessory Bag Swap! 

Please keep in mind . . .for those of you who fear zippers, there are nice patterns out there without zippers, such as this free Moda pattern. This swap is coming on the heels of Christmas, I totally think this would be a good opportunity to use some scraps from your sewing room.  There is no need to spend a lot of money on this bag swap.  What kind of accessory bags might work?  Hmmm....it is really up to you, perhaps it is a small change purse or a make up bag or some sort of bag for jewelry when you travel or a clutch for a night out or a sewing bag to hold tools or an ipod case.  A accessory bag. 

Here are the requirements:

1. You must e-mail me to sign up. My e-mail is located in my profile information.
2. Create a homemade accessory bag. Send it to your partner by Saturday, February 11th . Please only sign up if you feel you can make the deadline. No one enjoys not receiving a swap package when they put a lot of effort into theirs. If an emergency happens, be kind and let your swap partner know when you feel they can expect to receive their package. Also, please let me know when you ship.
3. After you have received your package, please email or snail mail your partner a letter thanking them.
4. Have fun.

If you are interested, email me this information:
In the subject of the email, please label it: SWAP information
1. First and Last name (I will not post last names on my blog.)
2. Your postal address.
3. Your blog address (if you have one, it is not a requirement)
4. Your email address.
5.  Would you be willing to ship international?

UPDATE:  This swap registration is officially closed. 

While I haven't quite worked this out yet, I am sure there will be a drawing for a prize for those who get their swap packages out EARLY.  To be entered in the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL drawing, your bag should be out by Monday, February 5th and I should have your email saying that you did so.

Here is your bling:

One last homemade present to share

Mom and I adopted a family for Christmas. The family had 2 girls, ages 10 and 12.  We had lots of fun buying girly clothes and other fun stuff.  I got right on the ball, and made 2 of these bags in some fun fabrics.  I also filled them with books and art supplies as both the girls loved to read and do crafts.  I used the Practical Bag by Grand Revival Designs.  I sure hope the girls liked them.

Kate Spain Vintage Hankie Quilt

I am really tickled with this quilt.  I love how the Kate Spain fabrics coordinate with the hankies, and it just is a nice momento from my grandma's house, don't you think?? 

This was a gift for mom this year, and she hung it up in her kitchen...looks great.

Sweet Repeat and a Winner

I hope you had yourself a wonderful Christmas.  We sure did.  Buddy was a lot of fun this year.  We are both enjoying our time at home a lot, and of course, break is just flying by.  Before Christmas actually happened, I managed to sew two more mug rugs, and I just love them in this Kate Spain fabric. 

Too cute, right?

As for last week's giveaway, I wish I actually had 19 to giveaway, but I don't.  So I asked Buddy to pick a number and he did.  The winner is Mary of "I Piece 2".  Congratulations, Mary.  Send me your address and I will get that mug rug out to you. 

Tomorrow, I post a finished picture of the vintage hankie quilt, which I did finish and gift in time.  It is now hanging in my ma's kitchen. 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Well, are your presents wrapped?  Is the house decorated?  Are you ready because Christmas is here.  I don't know about you, but it has been a bit hectic here finishing up the last few presents.  On Monday night, after my son's holiday walk at school, I decided to finally get on the stick and make a few of these cute mug rugs from a Label Crew project.  What a fun, easy project!  I started them on Monday, but had to leave them "almost" finished so I didn't miss The Closer.  LOL.  Yes, pretty dedicated fan I am.  I mean, I knew I only had about 20 minutes of sewing left, just top stitching and buttons. 

Didn't they turn out cute?  Buddy gave them to the latch key supervisors, and I gave them to a couple of coworkers.

I had the Mary Engelbreit scraps from another project....I thought they worked perfectly.

I hope you are enjoying your holiday season, and I'd like to apologize for being so out of touch.  A week ago Sunday, I was sewing a baby quilt when the phone rang.  One of my coworkers of 12 years had died.  He was a very kind man, who in 12 years of teaching with him...I never once heard him complain or say a mean word.  The news just kind of sucked the fa lalala right out of me.  So, I want you to know, sincerely, I appreciated your comments on my last post, as I appreciate your friendship always.  And, I am doing much better tonight.  Today was our last day of school, and I think the break will be good for everyone's spirits.  I am gifted with working with WONDERFUL people, who I think of as family.  While it was a difficult week and half, it was easier because you knew you weren't alone in your feelings. 

With that being said, my friend loved Christmas.  And, I think he would think it oh-too-fun to have a Christmas giveaway.  If you would like to win one of these mug rugs, just leave a comment.  I will try to close comments on Monday...as long as the holiday madness doesn't swallow me up.

In a last note about my friend, this is a story I think quilters could appreciate.  Last year, he wandered down my hallway with his favorite, worn, loved, cherished baseball hat in hand.  He said, "Kris, do you own a glue gun, because you seem like the type of person who would."  And I replied, "Yes, I do.  Why?"  He held out his other hand which had a Detroit Tigers patch in it.  He asked, "Would you glue this patch on my Tiger's hat?"  To which I said with a laugh, "John, I am not going to glue that on your hat, but I would be more than happy to sew it on for you."  And so I did.  Later in the day, to my surprise, I had countless staff members coming up to me sharing how impressed John was with my stitching and how you "couldn't even see the stitching at all"...I guess he carried that hat all over the building, he was so tickled with it.  I think so often our projects, no matter how small, mean so much to the people we care about and sometimes we have no idea how much people are touched, and I am glad to have this small memory for keeps.

Just Sewing Along

So, I will admit I am starting to feel the pressure.  I need to get some of these gifts done.  Now.  LOL.  I finally sat down and finished the binding on this gorgeous mini quilt.  Love it.  Fabric:  Strawberry Fields by Fig Tree.  Hard to giveaway, frankly...just keeping it real, people.  LOL.

Then I had even more requests for coupon clutches after the last round, so I zipped up a few yesterday.  Should have been zippy at least, but I was slowed down by several stupid mistakes.  Uggh.  Ever have one of those days in the sewing room when you know you should just walk away?  Yes, that was me yesterday.