I know, the suspense is killing you...

Finally, the finished mini quilt for the Spare a Square Challenge. I loved making this project and using other people's scrap fabric really was fun. I think my favorite is the green in the center with the little circles and flowers. See it? How cute is that one? I'd love to get my hands on more of that. Anyone know where to find it from my tiny little piece? Get out your magnifying glass and have a look.

I had some trouble coming up with a working idea for these fabrics when they were full size. There were too many competing patterns and colors none really stood out, except the numbers of course, its hard to miss those. I knew I definitely wasn't cutting into those they are too graphic and needed to be kept whole. I started out with a confetti theme and sketched a little girl tossing fabric in the air. The sketch got tossed out, pared down along the way. I really like the idea of making something from nothing so we have all the tiny bits of fabric becoming a whole. Oh, and a limited edition numbered quilt. Only 6,313 more to go in the series according to my cool numbered scrap. :)

Becoming

The beginnings of my Spare a Square project for the JCHandmade Challenge.

Little scraps of great fabric on their way to becoming something new. I should have taken a picture of the scraps as soon as I received them but I was too busy kicking around an idea for the project. My scraps were from group four and in a week or so you can take a look at the flickr group and see what everyone else came up with for this challenge. There are a few projects posted there already and they look great.

Vintage Bits and Pieces

Another good day at the local craft/thrift store. Love that place! So many fun things to show you. I know I can't be the only one who makes the squealy noise when finding a whole bag of vintage silk thread spools for....ready? Two, yep two dollars. My family thinks its a little weird that I'm not planning to actually sew with it. Maybe someday...okay, probably not. Right now they look fantastic in their little vintage pyramid on my grandmother's desk.
Also from the amazing thrifty crafty place, a huge bag of quilt pieces already basted and waiting for a project to call home. I found a place for some of them on a new notebook holder so I can look ultra cool when I go to those PTA meetings. Its hard to be cool at PTA. :)
On a totally unrelated note, I received my scraps of fabric from JCHandmade for the Spare a Square Challenge. Its amazing how being handed a few fabrics you probably wouldn't have combined yourself can make think. I wasn't really sure where this project was going when I first saw the scraps. After a day of ignoring them and then waking up the next morning thinking about it, I finally got started. The project is going in a totally different direction than I thought, but I really think I like it. Oh, and here's a teaser, I used a little bit of some vintage goodness to pull it all together. Stay tuned for a WIP photo hopefully tommorow.

Spare Change Swap

Have you seen this?!
Chickpea Sewing Studio is organizing a scrap challenge. Sign ups are open until October 15th.
Basically a 1/2 yard fabric swap (cut into 5x5 inch squares). The squares will be used to make a white and scrap quilt. I may just be able to check a Christmas gift off my list after this swap!

An example of a white and scrap quilt made by Chickpea herself. I love the way the white makes all the fabrics stand out. Go check out that swap for yourself and let's make some quilts!

Goods for the Gratitude Swap

No more sneak peeks! Here's the real deal, this is my completed Gratitude Swap package winging its way to Tonya. She should receive this today. Hope you like it Tonya!
I used Soulemama's free Gratitude Wrap Pattern. You can find the downloadable pattern in her sidebar. This pattern is great, easy to follow and quick to produce. So simple and yet so cute!

Tonya likes a good surprise so I hope this is fun for her. My only clues were greens, browns and she loves hedgehogs. The wrap is mostly linen with recycled denim (with four kids we have a lot of that around here!) and some other fun scraps. I used denim and chenille for the inside pockets for some added texture. The cute hedgie embroidery pattern is a freebie from Pimp Stitch, another fun pattern!

I filled those pockets with some handmade cards, made with stamped linen scraps and stitched onto cardstock. I really like the way these turned out. Oh, and if you look closely, the thread ends were left on intentionally. I thought it looked kind of cool.

Also included in the package were a few local treats. We found some yummy candy, popcorn on the cob, apple jelly and a beeswax candle with a (plastic) bee in it at the local farm market. They have the best stuff and the coolest Halloween Teepee filled with Jack-o-lanterns so it was no hardship for the kids to go shop there! Although the littlest one did leave the teepee in tears. I think it was the hanging skeletons at the end. Oops, forgot about that part.

This was a great swap, hosted by Melissa and I had so much fun putting all this together!
Alright, now go check out those free patterns!

Sneak Peek

A sneak peek at a WIP for the Gratitude Swap. I'll be wrapping up a few loose ends and mailing it out this week. I hope my swap partner likes it.

A Box Full of Fun

Morgan received her Sewing Kit from Sarah and Emily last week. We're so glad it arrived safely after a lovely vacation in customs. Morgan had been stalking the poor mailman everyday waiting for her kit. Sarah and Emily, you were too kind! Everything was just beautiful and completely color coordinated. Morgan received lots of polka dot fabric, tons of ribbon, yarn, buttons, the coolest scissors ever as well as, a make your own magnet kit made by sweet Emily.
Thank you both for your kindness! I know Morgan already has some ideas in the works for this kit!

Our First Swap

We've just participated in the Children's Sewing Kit Swap hosted by Melissa. This was our first swap and it was a great experience! Melissa has such a great blog (so many fun ideas!) and did a wonderful job organizing everything! This is the kit that Morgan and I put together for our swap partners Sarah and her daughter Emily. The cool pincushion in the corner was made almost entirely by Morgan with a little help from me. She did a great job! Since I can't figure out how to make two photos go where I want them you can find Morgan's kit from Emily on the next post.....arghhh. Any advice is appreciated....please?