Vintage Swap goodies sent off to Pennsylvania

My partner, Lorena, has received her (super-late) Vintage Swap package, so now I can show you what I sent.

The swap started with a questionnaire, which I found so helpful. When I read Lorena's answers, I got an immediate picture in my head of just what sorts of things I would get for her. I printed it out and kept it in my purse, and had so much fun going to all my favorite thrift shops over and over on the hunt. But it turned out to be much harder than I expected to find what I wanted! (I'm sure I'll find tons of stuff now that it's over...). Each time I entered a store, my mind would recite the litany of hoped-for things: "green, brown, orange, paper ephemera, tins, pyrex, fabric, crochet..." Slowly, a package started to come together. I was delayed by sickness and over-busyness, which gave me a bit longer to find things to include. So, in the end, I sent:

--A vintage sheet (because she said she liked vintage fabric, but found it hard to cut into. Sheets are easy, because they're so plentiful!) The funny thing is, I have the same sheet. I've made an Itty Bitty Baby Dress, some bloomers, a 4-year-old's dress, and a skirt and headband for myself from this sheet, and still have some left over!

--Some rick rack and trim from my stash, tucked into a little appliqued fabric pouch.

--A vintage postcard of the courthouse in our town.

--A brown and yellow scarf.

--Two volumes of Stitch by Stitch. These are from the late 80s, which just doesn't feel "vintage" to me, since I was in high school! But I've read about them on blogs described that way, with good reviews. If you can look past the horrible 80s fashion and styling, there's some really good info in there about crochet, knitting, sewing... I had a hard time passing them on!

And my favorites...

--A pyrex mixing bowl with those lovely handle/spouts I find so handy when baking:


And these fabulous vintage knitting booklets:




I was so nervous putting this package in the mail! I sent it the day I received my package, and I so hoped she be as pleased as I was. It sounds like she was, thank goodness!

Joy in the mail

This week, after weeks of baby sickness and sleeplessness, I've been inching my way back to normal. The gorgeous spring weather has helped immensely: the kids and I have spent many hours outside each day. Cleaning up the yard and gardens has helped; it does my soul good to see beauty and order emerge from the drab mess.

And this

helped oh, so much! It's my Vintage Swap package! Yay! My partner, Lorena, really pinned down my taste.

I knew I was going to like it when I peeked inside and saw that dishcloth used as wrapping paper. And it just got better as I pulled more out of the box:

wrapped:


unwrapped:


Lucy decided this little jar was hers:

I had a hard time getting it back from her! It's full of lovely old buttons, which are sure to find their way into something for her, anyway! Even the jar is super cool--it's from ink (I had to look up the Skrip name on the lid right away, I was so curious about the unique shape), and has a little glass pocket inside it so you can have ink right up near the top to dip your pen into.

I am in love with this apron, and put it on right away. The colors are perfect for spring. No super baby in this one yet; I'm busy wearing it!


And there was Pyrex (in a pattern I've got some of already!), and a super soft, totally adorable dish cloth,


and cool old cookbooks,


and the cutest vintage children's book:


What a thrill. Thank you so much, Lorena. I love it all. And thank you, Heather, for organizing these swaps. I can't wait for the next round!

Lorena's package is on its way (we were a wee bit delayed; oops!). I'll show you what I sent when I know she's gotten it.

Vintage Swap Winter 2010

It seems many of my favorite bloggers have joined Vintage Swap at one point or another. I've read many a post about the lovely things people have sent and received as a part of this exchange. It seemed like just the thing to brighten up grey winter days, so I've joined this go-round. I'm new to the world of crafty-mama blog swaps, but I'm super excited to participate in this one. I wonder if there's anyone out there who shares my particular love for vintage children's books and tablecloths and aprons and dishcloths and pyrex and...

You might want to go on over and check out their site, though sign-ups are done for this round. Seems like there will be posts about all kinds of good thrifty finds, and there's a tempting blog roll I'll have to check out (as if I don't read enough blogs!)

9 patches for Amanda Jean

I read a few blogs. Ok, so I read a LOT of blogs. What can I say? It's embarrassing in a way, to peek into the lives of all these strangers, and yet it's so inspirational, and such a good way to feel connected to a community of like-minded people. Anyway, one of the reasons I started a blog was to join that community more fully. I always envied those bloggers who would say "I got this in the mail today" or "I'm sending out this gift to so-and-so."

So I love it when an opportunity presents itself for me to give back a bit and to feel a part of that group. It has to be a smallish contribution, because my life is way too busy. But when I read that Creative Chicks was trying to organize a group quilt for Crazy Mom Quilts, I knew I had to participate.

You see, Amanda Jean (Crazy Mom Quilts) had made 2 9-patch quilts for herself and her sister, and had organized a virtual quilt-along as she did them. (That was too much for me to handle.) She mentioned that she'd like to make a third for her other sister, but couldn't do another. I'm one of three sisters, and I loved the idea of similar quilts for each of them.

So did the Creative Chicks, apparently, and they suggested that readers could make the blocks and send them to her. Now that I could manage. I love seeing Amanda Jean's work and enjoy reading her blog, so I thought this would be a perfect way to give a little something back.

My sewing skills are not on par with hers. I hope she won't be disappointed in my blocks. (They're prettier than the bad-lighting photos, but not so nice as I'd like them to be.) But I had fun making them, and discovered that 9-patches are deceptive--not as simple as they look (I have a hard time keeping all the seams in place as I sew). I can't wait to see what else she gets!

Something quick while I nurse this cold

Remember these scraps that I sent to 2Hippos for her quilts for the Miracle Foundation? Go here to see what they're becoming, and to vote for the version you like best.

From many, one

Remember this package of fabric scraps I sent off a while back? After making a gorgeous quilt for Craft Hope, Ronit (of 2Hippos) had been asked to make a few more for the Miracle Foundation, in shades of red and orange and pink. She asked her readers to send scraps to help build her stash for this project. She's now finished one of the commissioned quilts. Here it is.

I thought it was so fun to try to spot bits of the fabric I'd sent in this quilt pieced together from so many sources. And I love the feeling of this quilt--that little bits shared by many people come together in a whole so much greater than the parts. An outpouring of love through fabric. I can't wait to see the others.

"Sew Into Summer" swap gifts revealed

My two "Sew Into Summer Fat Quarter Swap" partners have received the fabric I sent, so I can show it freely here now.



Our local fabric shop is going out of business (pooh!). I went--with all the other vultures--to their sale. They had just this little bit of Amy Butler fabric left, and I bought it because I liked it, but didn't have particular plans for it. It turned out to be just enough for the two fat quarters needed for the swap. I hope Ronit and Karen will like it, too. I had fun pairing it with some vintage buttons from my stash. (Please excuse the wonky photo, taken while pacing with, rocking, and bouncing my baby girl.)

More "Sew Into Summer" fun in the mail

Another package arrived in the mail today, this time from Ronit, who organized the "Sew Into Summer Fat Quarter Swap." I waited until nap time to open it, so I could savor it. Here's what I found.








































Ronit remembered that I'd entered to win the hippo fabric from her in the Sew, Mama, Sew! May giveaway. So she sent me a fat quarter of that now. (Yay! It's like winning after all!)

She added some "Happy Birthday" fabric, thinking I might use it in a birthday garland for Lucy. (I do have plans to make one of those sometime before her first birthday...)

What a lovely surprise. Thanks so much, Ronit!

Treasure in the mail: "Sew Into Summer" fat quarter swap

What fun! Yesterday's mail brought a treat...a fat quarter from 2Hippos "Sew Into Summer" fat-quarter swap.

A package arrived from Karen at Venezie Bags. Inside, it looked like this (I loved the cute packaging.)

Inside that, I found this:

So cheerful! This is what I was hoping for in doing this swap--something I might not have bought myself, but which I could totally see myself using in a project. Thanks, Karen!!

First swap!

Yay! I'm joining my first swap. It's a fat quarter swap, hosted by Two Hippos. Unfortunately, I'm such a newbie blogger, I can't figure out how to add the widget she created. Click on over to her blog to find out more.