Fabric Destash

So I've had to admit to myself that I will never get around to all the projects I've fleetingly wanted to do, that I will never use up all my crafting supplies.

Rather than just leave things in the closet without a purpose, I've decided to do a little destash. Hopefully my supplies can go to new homes where they may actually get used!

As the picture shows, I've got some fabric listed in my destash shop so far. That's some Alexander Henry Maxfield (I think this would be lovely for a black and white quilt!) Echino Scene in purple (alas, poor dress I had planned, you were not meant to be) and some of Denyse Shmidt's Katie Jump Rope in Green Ribbon. Look for more in the coming weeks.

Little Bags

It all started when I saw Milky Robot's bag. Then MrsMcPorkchop's. I had to make my own!

The design is so cute! I love the looping straps...

the velcro inside...

the back pocket.

I think they're perfect either as a little camera case or just as a cute wristlet for carrying essentials when you're on the go.

The pattern is from Keyka Lou, you can get it and make your own. OR if you you want, you can save yourself the trouble and just snatch one up from my shop.

Swap Round Up

Recently I completed a couple of swaps and I wanted to post some pictures of what I sent and received.

First, for round 3 of the Scrappy Mug Rug swap group on flickr, I made this Dresden mug rug for my partner (with Innocent Crush, of course):

  

I also added in a pincushion made from hand-stitched hexagons, and a few shrinky dink pins!

And this is the mug rug package I received. Isn't the embroidery great?

 

I also shared in the {Urban} HOME Goods swap.

 

One of the things on my partner's wishlist was a Kitchenaid mixer cover. I was nervous to make it since I don't have one myself to test it on, but I found this tutorial and went from there and it seems to fit! I used my partner's favorite green and gray colorscheme with some stripes for fun.

 
 

I also included a couple of potholders, another partner request.

  

What I was really hoping to get was something I've been meaning to make myself but haven't gotten around to, and the sewing machine cover I received really fit that bill! I love the Hope Valley fabric and colors. And the inside is corduroy! I also got this super cute raccoon needle book. So sweet!

 

Here's the cover on my machine in my teeny-tiny sewing corner.

Swapping can be a lot of fun: getting inspired seeing what everyone is creating in a group, trying to guess what you will be getting, stalking your partner and trying to come up with something perfect for them. But it's also a bit stressful: working on a deadline, hoping your partner will be happy with what you create, hoping you'll like what you get. While I think my swaps have gone pretty well, I think I'm taking a little break from swaps for a bit. Maybe it was just doing two at once wearing me out, or the nagging feeling that I should be working on my project list first!

What about ya'll, do you swap? I'd love to hear your best (or worst) swap stories!

Mug Rugs Sent and Received

Round 2 of the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap has been completed! (For me and my partners, anyway.) Just wanted to post pics of the completed mug rugs, sent and received.

This is what I came up with for my partner. From her inspiration mosaic and her emailed information, I knew she loved bright colors, coffee, and Denyse Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy. (A word on FMF: I had not really used it before, and I ended up doing a little splurge and getting some to use for my partner to be sure she'd like her mug rug. AND I ended up a FMF fan as well. Look out!)

The mug in the middle is from some Heidi Kenney Spoonflower fabric which I think is just too cute! I also added in a FMF coffee cozy (and I love how my partner yarntini is using it!) and some bonus recipe cards.

And check out what I got! This was made by grant_and_kelly. I love the Far Far Away fabric she chose and how it looks almost like you are peeking through a window at the owl and the pussycat. The big hexes are great and I love the quilting too.

Know what else is cool? The mug rug is totally reversible, with a cute Rapunzel on the back (and what looks to me like another window). (Am I window obsessed?)

She sent some great extras, too. Those cookies are like Thin Mints on steroids. Yum.

This swap was a lot of fun, maybe I'll try and get in for round 3, too! 

Free as a bird

I love birds. And free stuff. And crafting. So you can imagine how happy I was to find these free crafty birdie patterns!

The embroidery pattern is from Gennine's Art Blog (you can find it in her sidebar). I've long admired her style and have been wanting to buy some of her art. But until I can afford that, I've made my own art based on her design.

I used white on blue fabric since I love Gennine's style of using light lines on a dark background. I haven't decided yet if I will keep this in the hoop or if I will sew it into some other project. But it makes me happy just looking at it. AND it rekindled my interest in embroidery (and cross-stitching, which I used to do a lot of, but haven't in a while).

The other free pattern I found was for these little bird stuffies! It's from Spool (again, pattern in sidebear) and apparently many people used the pattern to make bird mobiles for babies. Would it be weird to make an adult mobile just for me?

I love playing with the fabric combos and the sweet contrasting bellies. I've tried these both with hand and machine sewing and either way works. Machine is faster, of course, but the hand sewing is kinda relaxing.

AND you know what's neat? The bird pattern was just the right size to cut out of some of my new favorite Innocent Crush fabric. How cool is that?

Let me know if you find any other free birdie patterns out there!

New Tea Wallets

Just listed these in the shop!