FLiRTs 3 received from my partner!!!

Craktpot was my partner in the FLiRTs round 3 and I was hers.  Here is the clock that I received and this picture doesn't do it justice.  It came with two sets of hands so that I could hang it in the kitchen with a knife and fork set or with the set I attached to the clock. That black blob at the end of the second hand is a tiny mouse.  I plan on hanging in on my bedroom wall with my rouges gallery of frogs. These mini quilts are from some of the swaps I've been in.  Oops, I just noticed it doesn't have the last frog quilt I received from FLiQs.  That's because its hanging in my livingroom.  I really need to transfer it here so they can
all hang together.

This quilted clock fits right in.  Especially with the boots border and the small hand embroidered frog in the bottom left corner.  Here is that frog along with the charms attached to a bookmark I also received. Isn't he darling!!!!

Most of the partners send extras along with the quilted item for the exchange.  I received a bookmark (handmade), Rotery cutter case, 3 FQ's, some cute pink buttons, a bodkin and some great candy.  Look at that darling frog card.  I just love it.  In fact I love it all.  I've really love these swaps.

Some people ask me what I like about swaps and why I do them.  Here's my answer to that; first I need dead lines, I work really really well with deadlines.  If I don't have one I put things off, sometimes for years.  Remember that's why I started sharing my patterns here so I would have dead lines.   Second I love designing.  The hardest part of design is sometimes coming up with an idea.  This leads into the third reason.  Third I love to figure out what people love and make or buy a gift especially for them.  My daughter has always loved that about me.  She tells me I am the best gift giver she knows. Fourth I love to receive gifts.  This may sound selfish and maybe it is but I love all gifts.  When my kids where young and received a box of gifts from my mom, I wouldn't let them open the package.  I had to open the shipping box and they got to open the gifts.  I also just had to be present when the gifts are open.  I also have to watch everyone open their gifts before I open mine so that I can see everyone's reaction to all their gifts.  I guess I feel the same way about mail order, it's like getting a gift.  

“Presents are made for the pleasure of who gives them, not the merits of who receives them.” 
― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind

Marjory

FLiRtS swap completed, sent and received!!!

FLiRtS is a swap group on Flickr.  The initials stand for Fab Little Random Treasure Swap.  This is a very unique swap as you get to choose the level you want to work Simple, Medium, and Fancy.  Then choose five items from a list. You don't know who your partner is and you don't know which item your partner will decide to make for you.  Your partner will probably post pictures to tease you as they work. I only posted this:

I was afraid if I posted more my partner would know what it was and who it was for.  She did tell me when she saw this picture she was suspicious.  She also admitted that I am her partner also which they don't usually do.  But when I saw this picture she posted I thought it might be her:

It's the start of a fabric clock and I can't wait to see the final.  I'll post it here when I finally receive it.  It should be sometime next week as it's already in the mail.

Back to what I sent.  The major item was a sewing machine cover made with the pattern "The street where I live".  I adapted it to include trees so that the design goes completely around the sewing machine.  She had furnished the dimensions of her sewing machine.

For extras I made a small pouch with a flower design and a sugar skull pincushion.  I am sharing the pattern of the sugar skull with my readers.  It is a really fun and easy pincushion to make.  You can see that I had to make one for myself as usual.

If you want to download the free pattern just click on the picture of the sugar skulls and it will take you to the PDF.  I will share the flower pouch a little later.

Sugar skulls are fun!!!

Marjory

Snowy Noel Block 3 Snowy Candles

I've been so busy with some of my swaps that time just slips away!!!  Better later then never.  Here is block 3, "Snowy Candles",  just click on the picture and it will take you to the free PDF file.  There are no special directions for this block.

Have you noticed this button on the right side of my blog?

Click on it and it will take you to Peckspieces Gallery on Flickr.  This is a group page for anyone that has made anything from one of my patterns so that we can all share in their work.  You will have to join Flickr and join the group to upload any pictures.  There are a few items already there; Threads of love shares her "Spooky Pumpkins" mini quilt; ljordan shares her 7 blocks of the Flutter series; and fibberbabble shares how she used crayons to create a mini quilt using the "Spooky Flowers" pattern.

I want to thank everyone for their interest in my work and I would love you to join with these ladies to share your work on Peckspieces Gallery.  I also want to thank these three ladies for being brave and being the first ones to share on this gallery. It's always scary to be the first few.

Here is sneak peak of a wall hanging I'm working on for Halloween. This is the center block and is about 24".  There will be more fun to come. Finished size so far is 46".

When the top is done I will be sharing the patterns for the entire wall hanging. This entire quilt is all pieced except the circles and ovals here.  The rest of the blocks are not original to me but are traditional blocks done up for Halloween. 

I have also been working on a new pincushion for Halloween.  It is a Sugar Skull and it's darling.  I will share this sometime before Halloween.  There are two quilts using Halloween fabrics in a fun way.  The second top should be done sometime this month and I will be posting them here.

I am also working on several items that I will share sometime in December as they are for Christmas and part of a swap so no hints.

Well back to work to get all these items finished this month.  I'm doing pretty well and that is why I not on here more.  

Halloween is almost here!!!

Marjory