All in a days sewing...

So today was the deadline for the Make Mine Modern Swap. I had ideas lots of them and some bare bones beginnings... but for the most part I completely slacked on this swap. I think I probably should have sat this round out because the time just wasn't there. Luckily I had a good day of sewing and I think I pulled if off. Barely... considering the post office closed at 7pm



But I made a little pouch out of the super cute new line by Jessica Jones, Outside Oslo. I love the prints in this line and I like that she is a local Chicago designer too.



I also made a fabric basket which is a modified version of the Joel Dewberry pattern from Sewn Spaces. I think mine is just a little bit better.



Anyway it is off to my partner for them to decide. Hopefully they love it.

I did take a little break from sewing today to bring in the current tomato crop. I think I spent a whole minute picking. Unfortunately my plants got blight so I don't think they will go on to produce to many more tomatoes.



And now I should probably go to sleep as I need to wake up in a few short hours...

Modern Swappers 2 - Items Sent

Today was the last day to send my package to my Modern Swappers partner. I stitched right down to the last possible moment and got it shipped off just in time. My partner should have there package Monday if all goes well at the USPS. I will share two items now and the rest of the package after I know my partner received the package in case she is checking my blog. I want some of it to be a surprise.

The main item is several things in one. I love the sewing machine cover I got in the last round of Modern Swappers it looks amazing in my sewing room but it spends a lot of its time off my machine because I am sewing so much. So I thought to myself what if a sewing machine cover could serve a duel purpose. Lots of people have been making weighted pin cushion thread catchers to sit beside you when you sew. So I combined the two. When it isn't covering your machine, it sits under your machine. I have thought about the fact that you might not want this directly in front of you, so partner if that is the case hopefully you have something you can weigh it down with and use along side of you. Also the pin cushion is held on with snaps so you can use it anywhere as just a pin cushion and the thread catcher is also held on with a snap to make emptying your scraps easier. Partner I hope you enjoy your sewing machine cover/pin cushion/thread catcher/notions holder... in one!

I also made a wall hanging to match the cover as a decoration for her sewing room. I embroidered 'sew' on some tiny hoops and attached them to a small quilt. I have had these teeny tiny buttons for a long time and finally found a cute use for them.

The rest of the swap includes some little surprises and 1 1/2 total yards of fabric. I love this swap and can't wait to do it again! Hopefully my package from my mystery partner arrives soon.... I CAN'T WAIT!!! People put together some great packages!

Modern Swappers

This week I sent and received for the Modern Swappers group I joined on Flickr. I was the very first round for this group. For Modern Swappers you receive a "secret" partner, which pretty much means I send to one person but they don't send to me they are sending to someone else and no on knows who is sending to them until their package arrives in the mail. You are supposed to swap a handmade gift, a decoration or notion, and 1.5 yards of modern quilting 100% cotton fabric.

I was pretty excited that I "knew" my partner through a different bee. Plus I was already familiar with her photostream and her blog so it made my job of stalking a bit easier. Kelly, or as the flickr world knows her kelby30 and I are in The Stitchin' Bee together. Back in April I made this block for her family beach blanket:

This is the progress of the family beach blanket and all of the blocks the group contributed:

So for Kelly's Modern Swappers gift I made a beach tote to carry the family beach blanket in. I was able to fit a full/queen low loft quilt folded and rolled into this bag so hopefully it will be big enough.

Here is the rest of the swap:

I received a fantastic swap in return from Melissa (flickr name melissa.leray). She did such a great job of picking out things for me. I loved all the fabrics and the sewing machine cover matches my sewing room perfectly. I didn't have a single thing she sent, not even a pin cushion!

But all of that isn't even the best part. She had the copy of Weekend Sewing she bought for me personally autographed by Heather Ross, Denyse Schmidt, Liesl Gibson and Ashley of Film in the Fridge.

I was planning on sitting out for round two because I have gotten myself involved in one to many things, but I enjoyed it so much I decided to jump right back in! Can't wait!!