Flickr Fun!

I’ve done three great swaps through Flickr this past month.

The first was Pretty {Little} Pouch Swap.  You could make any type of pouch you wanted for your partner.  My partner wanted something large with pockets.  I had a heck of a time finding a pattern so when I did find it, I just ended up adding the pockets she needed.

Exterior is Kate Spain – Fandango.  The pattern looks hard but was super easy! I think I need to make one for myself and add a small strap for the summer.  I used the Flores Clutch pattern from Ithinksew (if you haven’t seen her patterns you really must!).

I also made a matching key fob to send along to my partner.  I only thing I would have changed with this was I would have used a sewn in magnet – but the ones I ordered didn’t arrive in time so she got just a regular old magnet!

And here is the wonderful pouch I received from my partner Terrie Sandelin:

I love the colors and the patchwork is just perfect!  She even has a tutorial on her blog so check it out if you want to make one for yourself.  I’ve been using this lovely to hold a tatting project – it’s just perfect for me.

Next up was the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap 4.

I knew exactly the mug rug I wanted to make after I saw the Hoo-Ha tutorial online!  I love to do hand work and I thought that it would make a beautiful mug rug.

I liked doing this so much that I might make the pouch for the next Pretty {little} pouch swap!!  I wasn’t sure if this mug rug was too simple so I made another one for my partner.

The red and white was left over from my parents DWR quilt and I just love making the hexagons.  My partner has not posted that she has received them yet, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she does!

And lookie what I received from my partner Stacey!!

The mug rug is PERFECT for me!  The colors are wonderful I just love it – it looks so nice on my desk at work and it makes me smile everytime I look at it.  She sent along some goodies too, a lovely fabric covered notepad with matching binder clip, some awesome chocolate (although I have not been brave enough to try it yet!) and some great note cards.  Funny thing, I would have never bought them for myself, that is the great thing about swaps – you get things that you’d never expect you’d like!  I was thrilled with my package of goodies – thanks so much Stacey!

My final Flickr swap for May was the Goodie Bag Swap.  For some reason I knew exactly what I wanted to make for this as soon as I got my partner.  I made it so quickly I had to wait almost a month to mail it (which is unheard of for me – last minute Sally here).

I had this wonderful Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow fabric that I wanted to use, but I thought all of it might make the bag too busy so my solution was HEXIS!!!  I use them to create the front pocket of the Bucket Bag by Keyka Lou (whose patterns I just adore!).  The only other changes I made was to add pockets on the inside (I’m still not brave enough to try an interior zipper pocket yet) and instead of making the handle all the exterior fabric (which was beige linen) I used the lining fabric for the underside of the handle – I love the final product!

I wanted to make a zipper pouch to go along with the bag so I again went with a Keyka Lou pattern, the inset zipper pouch.

If you have never done an inset zipper – do try this pattern – it was a BREEZE!!!  I did make the pattern 25% smaller than the pouch size so that it would go nicely in the bag.  I also added the clutch handle to it.

I think I’m going to make myself the clutch size of this pattern soon – I would be perfect to just grab and go in the summer!

I heard from my partner just this morning and she was thrilled with her package – SHEW!!!  I have not yet received mine but I know it will be coming soon and I can’t wait.

Well that is all from Flickr for now.  I’m in some other swaps coming up soon, more about them later.