Goodies Galore

Yesterday was a particularly good mail day for me, I received two of my swap parcels, and they are pretty awesome.

First up is the Here Comes the Sun swap parcel, received from Lex (who I think has the Captain Plaknit blog, but that’s just a guess from some quick detective work on my part, please correct me if I’m wrong Lex). She sent me a very cool scarf made out of recycled wool, and a brooch also made out of recycled wool as well as a crochet flower. Well, I can’t wear wool anywhere near my skin, but I’m thinking that this “scarf” will take on another purpose in my new craft room, and I might have to make some more to go with it.

Next is the Colour swap, in the flavour of Turquoise (my fav colour), from Sheila. I don’t know much about quilting, but I think a lot of work has gone into these items, and they are gorgeous. The package included a shoulder bag, a little purse, a needle book, a fat quarter of swirly fabric (LOVE IT!), a vintage heart pendant, and some sewing bits and pieces - embroidery thread, metallic sewing thread, velvet ribbon and buttons.

It was my birthday in the weekend, and I chose to spend my birthday doing what I love. I don’t usually get the chance to go out at night, because I don’t drive and because I am needed at home. Every fortnight there is a Saturday craft night on at the local scrapbooking shop, bookem. I haven’t been since May, but I managed to make it to this one because it was on my birthday and Hubby was pretty happy for me to go out for a special occasion. Let me just say that having so many crafty ladies as friends is FANTASTIC, because every gift they give is amazing, even the cards were great!

I didn’t actually get a lot of things for my birthday from family, I got money (except for the early birthday present from my wonderful mummy, my fantastic sewing machine!!). So these were the only presents I got on my birthday, and I am so lucky.

This is what I did while there, made a whole pile of tags to put on the stuff I sell on Felt, and just for general gift giving. The great thing about going to these nights at Bookem is that they have just about every shape punch, stamp, tool….you can ever imagine, and you are free to use them while there. So for these tags I used my own stamps and ink, but used a couple of different sized circle punches from their stash.

Did you see the bag I made last week? Well I made another one, and a little matching purse/iPod touch case. I also made another one, not out of a vintage pillowcase, but a plain black pillowcase with some pleat/fold details, and it came out great as well. No picture, because it’s part of a gift for a friend, and she might see it on here before I give it to her.

I have been busy sewing gifts all day, but now I’ve hit a creative block, and I can not think of anything to make for the last person on my list. Why are there so many birthdays this time of year? And really soon I will have to start doing something about Christmas presents, because they will be handmade too. Last year it was gift baskets full of handmade jam, lemonade, chocolates etc. I really would like to make some kind of relish/chutney, but it has to be easy and cheap. If you have any great recipes please share.

I almost forgot about this totally awesome award. Leonie from Kiwi at Heart has passed this on to me, my very first blog award.

Now here are the rules:

1. Accept the award. (Post it on your blog along with the name and link of the person who has awarded it to you.

2. Pay it forward to 15 other bloggers whom you’ve recently discovered.

3. Contact the bloggers and let them know that they have been chosen.

Ok, so here’s my list:

1. Vintage Mum, Modern Child

2. Melly & Me

3. Beach Vintage

4. Troc, Broc and Recup

5. Vintagesue

6. The Yvestown Blog

7. The Wardrobe

8. The Clip Cafe

9. Squidgyums

10. Striking Keys

So I know that’s only 10, but that’s all I have time for right now. I’ll do another 5 later, and email everyone to let them know. Time to go grocery shopping with the famdamily, yay.

ETA:

11. Spunkee

12. Punky & Me

13. Pencils and Pins

14. Moose & Bird

15. Magpie Chic