A few months ago I noticed that Sam of Incy Wincy stitches had organised a button jewellery swap. I hung off joining because things are just MANIC busy for me right now, but when Sam mentioned she was one person short i decided to go for it. I was paired with Laura Figiel of She Draws and I finally got round to posting Laura’s package off yesterday. Only a couple of weeks late – sorry Laura!

Unfortunately, being as far North as we are I’m struggling to get good photographs these days so you’ll have to make do with this. Time to dig out the lightbox again perhaps!

On the left there are two brooches, in the middle there are two hair bobbles, a keyring, a ring and a necklace. I had initially made a bracelet and decided I hated it so had to start afresh. I packaged these up with a FQ of Japanese fabric and a little pouch of Daim sweeties so hopefully Laura is happy.

I will get a photo of what she sent me later in the week Thanks to Sam for hosting this swap!

Posted under jewellery, sewing, swaps

I’ve signed up for Sam’s button swap after she was short a swapper. I never intend to join in these things but get sucked in by the excitement and fun. I’ve been partnered with Laura which is very exciting as I’ve been in awe of her work for quite a long time now!

I’ve also joined in Apryl’s Fantasy Movie swap which I’m massively excited about. I’ve been partnered with Christa who shares the same favourite film as me (The Labyrinth) so I need to get cracking on with my crafting for her

Also! I didn’t want to post about this until after the fact, but I have been crafting again! My lovely friend Fiona got married on Saturday and she mentioned a few months ago that she had loads to do but no time to do it. I asked if I could help and she asked me to make the ties for her groomsmen (the pink ones). This of course gives me an opportunity to share a photo of the gorgeous bride and her handsome new husband.

Aren’t they gorgeous? I’m so thrilled for them and it was an honour to share their day, they are such a fantastic couple and I just know they’re going to make one another so happy.

I’ll leave you with a bit more pink. I am a bad Mummy.

Posted under sewing, swaps, with the kids

Yes, yet again I have nothing better to do with my days than concoct weird and wonderful ways to test the Royal Mail and their abysmal services. I’ve had a few people ask about joining in my next swap recently so I decided it was time to get one organised.

Who? Swap partners will be allocated on an ‘anonymous benefactor’ system this time. I will forward your completed questionnaire to your benefactor and it is up to them if they want to reveal themselves by signing your package or if they want to remain anonymous until the swap is completed.
What? – Your parcel must contain a box of home-baked goodies by you, packaged in a plastic lidded box. These are inexpensive to pick up at the supermarket and you will receive one in return from your swap partner so this shouldn’t add extra cost. You should send a home-made recipe card that you think your swapee will enjoy and an additional gift. The additional gift could be a tub of hot chocolate powder for example, or perhaps an item that you have crafted yourself. This is the bare minimum.
Why? – Because it’s nice to create a gift to make someone smile, and it’s just as nice to receive a gift that someone has put care and attention into! And everyone likes home-baking.
Where? – Only at www.blottedcopybook.co.uk
When? – Sign-ups open NOW and close next Friday 26th June 2009 at 10pm. You will be allocated your swapee by 1pm on Saturday 27th June 2009. You will be expected to send out your parcel to arrive by Saturday 11th July 2009. For obvious reasons please only post your parcel on a Friday if it’s first class, and don’t post on a Saturday or there is a risk that your parcel will arrive at your swapee having gone stale.
How? – By emailing me with the answers to the questionnaire below. PLEASE only use this email address.

The questionnaire

Name:
Address:
Blog/website/shop address:
When do you usually eat your cakes or biscuits? Are you an on-the-run type, or do you like a nice biscuit or two with your tea?
What is your favourite kind of cake or biscuit?
Is there anything you are allergic to or really don’t like to eat?
Is there anything you’d like to tell your partner about you?

Are you in?

Posted under swaps

First off, the Time for Tea swap sign-up is now closed! I will be emailing all participants tonight with a questionnaire and I will also email the newer signer-uppers with an invite to the Flickr group where we can share photographs of our works in progress and swap parcels. I’d like to use some of your photographs at the end of the swap so if you’d rather I didn’t, please let me know. Signing up to flickr is not mandatory, just another excuse to get to know each other a little better.

Today’s post is for me to do a little showing off. When I was trying to decide what to make for Annie in the Owl Swap I came up with the idea of a bag she could keep her knitting in. Now for me the critical element in a knitting bag is that it MUST be able to fit my knitting needles in it. Also, personally I don’t like record-style bags – I’d prefer something a little more upright without losing any space. Now with apologies for the less-than-fantastic photographs – this is what I came up with:-

I also liked the idea of being able to close the bag over but still have a little access to the contents, so I made one large strap that can be slung over a shoulder, and another smaller strap for the large strap to go through and hold it closed.

Of course, this bag still had to have some relevance to owls really so I had my first attempt at appliqué. For a first attempt I was pretty pleased with myself although I’d have liked my stitches to be neater.

I only wish I was a neater seamstress because if ONLY I could sew in a straight line, I would make and sell these bags. Ah well, if wishes and all that! What do you think? Would you use it if you were a knitter?

Crafty plans for this week include my first ever attempt at making a cake with fondant icing, a little work on some longies I’m making for the new baby and a start on a couple of patterns from the fantastic Amanda at KitschyCoo. Luckily I will have my partner in crime Kat here to help me out tomorrow. Hooray!

Posted under general crafty updates, sewing, swaps

So I have a list of 23 people interested in joining the Time for Tea swap which is just thrilling! I’m very excited about this and I will be looking for some more information from everyone over the weekend.

In the meantime, I’ve had a few questions which I’m going to attempt to answer.

I would like to do this but I has no crafty blog. Can I still play please?
Of course! The reason I asked for a link to your crafty endeavours is purely so I can make sure everyone involved in the swap is legit and unlikely to welch on their commitment. If you don’t have a blog/folksy/etsy set up, you can still get involved if you are either known to me or known well to someone else involved in the swap who will vouch for you.

Sounds good but I’m mainly a coffee drinker and not much of a tea drinker…
Then we can either match you up with another coffee drinker or with someone sympathetic to your requirements (you heathen!)

So, would a lace doily, a teapot cozy, or a take-out cup cozy apply for the “time for tea-related handmade item”?
The “Time for Tea-related item” is totally open to interpretation. Maybe you would like to send something you’ve drawn or painted that represents time for tea. Maybe you make jewellery with little cakes and teacups involved. Maybe you’d like to send an apron, or coasters. Maybe you’d like to send a massive stuffed teacup. The crucial thing is that you have discussion with your swap partner and that you answer your questionnaire fully in order to help your swap partner.

I’ve thought about doing a swap for awhile but I don’t really know how it works.
In terms of how it works, you will be emailed with your swap partner’s contact details and answers to their questionnaire. You then have until the 27th March to put together your package and send it off to them and you can also get in touch with your partner for more information or inspiration. The general idea is that you and your partner will co-ordinate your parcels so you should hopefully receive on the same day.

I’d love to take part in a swap….i’m scared I’ll be rubbish though!
Relaaax! When I took part in the Owl Swap I told my partner that I was so nervous about what I was making, but in the end it’s all meant to be fun and an opportunity to get to know another crafty type. Besides, your partner’s questionnaire should give you all the help and support you need to make your swap ace.

Also, do you mean a crafting supply of some type when you say “Something your swapping partner can use in a crafty fashion”?
Yes. Some fabric, some yarn, stickers, some buttons, a canvas – something that your partner can use to create something.

Are there usually min-max value/costs for these types of things?
Yes, for this swap you’re looking at a retail value of around GB£10 I’d say. Anything above that is down to your generosity.

For inspiration I would definitely recommend searching flickr, a simple search for “swap” will bring up lots of groups and images to inspire you. Craftster has a whole sub-forum dedicated to swaps with a section just for people to post what they’ve sent and received for you to peruse.

If you would like to participate there is still time. Email me using this link to note your interest (PLEASE use this email address as it is one I have set up purely to deal with the swap and it’ll save me getting confused!) by Monday 2nd March 2009 at 12noon. I will send out the questionnaire email on Monday evening to all participants and I’ll need it returned by 8pm Wednesday 4th March in order to delegate swap partners on Wednesday night.

Posted under swaps

I’ve been contemplating running a swap for a while now, and since I’ve wrapped up the Owl Swap with the fabulous AnnieB which was organised by Apryl from Meridian Ariel it’s about time to get something else started.

So! I am proposing a swap entitled “Time for tea”. Participants should be prepared to send their swap anywhere in the world although I suspect most if not all will be UK-based going by my readership. Please Email me in the first instance to express an interest, ensuring that you link me to somewhere I can view your crafty endeavours (blog, flickr, etsy, folksy – that kind of thing). It will be a direct swap (ie you will be matched with someone else and you will swap with each other) which will be completed in time to post by Friday March 27th 2009 and should include as a minimum:
A time for tea-related handmade item
Tea (loose tea, tea bags – or if you’re not a tea fan, hot chocolate?)
Something your swapping partner can use in a crafty fashion

I’ll be back by the end of the week with more information and links for inspiration if this proves to be popular.

Posted under swaps