Liberate Your Art Postcard Swap

The Postcard swap is now at an end and to finish it off properly, there is a final BlogHop to visit all those involved. 

It has been a long journey, especially for the postcards and the lovely Kat who has swapped everyone's lovely artwork and sent them whirring around the world.

The postcards have now all found new homes and will be treasured by the recipients.

Looking forward to visiting all the lovely blogs involved and seeing everyone's liberated art.

Please stop by The Kat Eye View of the World to see all the lovely bloggers involved.

Postcards

I joined a postcard exchange on Facebook and although I haven't finished mine as yet, here is the one I received from Becky:

I have also finished mounting up my postcard images for the Liberate your Art postcard swap:

I have included 6 so that Kat herself can keep one :)

Postcards

Having joined the Liberate Your Art postcard swap again this year, I have been busy this morning using the photos I took of my latest projects to create some unusual cards. Here are some of what I cam up with, showing the before photo and the after postcard...

Now we only have to send 5 postcards, but so far I've made 9 as I just can't decided which ones I like better. I will post more soon, most are of the polymer clay jewellery pieces I made with my father last weekend, just close up images as you can see above... I quite like these and every one is different but I do want to show my diversity with different types of work too.

What do you think? Any ideas?

Keyring exchange

Have finally got my keyring exchange in the post to it's recipient in America. Part of an exchange on Cross Stitch Exchanges group on Facebook. Here is the keyring I have made - front and back. I also included a pack of beads, a hand-dyed skein of thread and a keyring from my weekend in Somerset.

Also here is the keyring and goodies I received. I love the keyring itself, haven't seen one made that way and the charts are just so cute.

Mini Pillow exchange

Finally finished my mini pillow to Karen in Canada for the mini pillow exchange on Facebooks Cross Stitch Exchanges group. Chart is a freebie from Gift of Stitching.

Spring Exchange

Here is the cushion I made for the Spring Exchange on Etsy team British Sellers on Etsy. I actually finished and sent this back in March but for some reason, again I missed sharing it. So here it is.

I made the multi-coloured panels by stitching some scrap fabrics from my TUSAL jar onto a white cotton square, then layering some off-cut threads from the same jar, a piece of lace (not from the jar) and pleating a rainbow organza on top before using some fancy stitches on my sewing machine to compact it all. Then machine stitching flowers on top and sewing on buttons. The centre of the cushion is the trimmed edge from the fabric I made.

It's a technique I had been looking to try since starting the TUSAL jar over a year ago and this gave me the perfect opportunity to do so. I see many more being made in this way as I have a new jar for this year too...

Spring Exchange received

I have recieved my Spring Exchange piece from Lorna and it looks amazing! I love it! I couldn't wait when I picked it up from the Post Office and opened it as soon as I walked out the door so this picture is taken of it on the passenger seat of my car.

Spring Exchange

Here is the exchange piece I sent to Rachael for the Spring Exchange on Exchange Heaven. I put some of my materials in so you can see what it can be used for. I also included a matching pincushion that had a keyring attached so you can hook it onto scissors too etc.

I put a piece of felt under the part that sits on the arm of the chair so hopefully it won't slip around.

So glad you like it Rachael! I loved making it.

Bollocks!

Have been looking through my Crazy 2011 pieces and realised I hadn't posted the finished picture for the Bollocks piece I stitched. It was sent as part of my Advent Exchange parcel to Moll in Norway.

Scissor fob exchange

I arranged a scissor fob exchange on Facebook in January and for some reason haven't posted pictures so here they are, firstly the one I sent to America:

And here is the one I received from Canada:

I love both of them! I especially love the Canada button!

Friendship Exchange

Members at the Scout Hut Crafters took part in a friendship exchange where each member made something for another member. I made up a small hanging scented pillow for my partner Lorna and included a beaded wire flower brooch too. I have been making flower brooches since I managed to find the right materials and tried it with the students in my Craft Club. Unfortunately I completely forgot to take a picture of it all before bagging it up for the exchange. I was just so focused on finishing it...

When it came to receiving my parcel from exchange partner Anita, I was gobsmacked! Not only did it look amazing but before I had even read the label on it I had smelt what was inside... CHOCOLATE! I do love my chocolate and these were all handmade and absolutely divine. After unwrapping it very carefully I was met by 4 rows of different chocolates. After trying a couple I realised there was another layer underneath! 2 delicious layers of chocolate all for me and all handmade... I feel so spoilt!

Here it is in all it's loveliness!

Thankyou so much Anita for the gorgeous chocolates! They will be well enjoyed!

Pink exchange

All the way from Australia, here is the pink exchange piece I received from a member of A Crafty Natter forum. Took me a little while to work it out but it is a person holding fabric and needle. It reads, 'Have you caught the cross-stitch bug?'



and here is the back:



The piece I sent to a different member in Australia is actually the needlekeep I posted a tutorial for lol.

So excited!

When I was told my BSoE (British Sellers on Etsy) exchange piece was on it's way to me I couldn't wait, but was also nervous as my piece still isn't ready to send, struggling with making something 'spring' related has really got me in a knot. Anyway here is the parcel I received from the North of England which immediately went up in my window.

ATC exchange

Here is my ATC that will be on it's way to Lancashire this afternoon. It was the 'super fun test exchange' on facebook group 'cross stitch friends in the UK'.

Here is the one I have received, isn't it cute!

Bead Soup Party

Make sure you're prepared for the next Bead Soup Party!

I've missed out on the past few parties so this time I'm hoping to be able to join in.

Be great to try something new and send out some lovely beads.

Check Lori's blog below to sign up:

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/2011/09/prepare-for-5th-bead-soup-blog-party.html#comment-form

WOW it's been a while

I am sorry to say I have neglected my blog.

I have been so busy creating things that I have forgotten to post you all updates!

Firstly - Joey and I went to Derby with my mum to see all our lovely friends from A Crafty Natter which was a blast! Mum and I raided the charity box again, of which the money raised goes towards fabrics for making quilts for charity. Also took Joey to the Space Centre too which he loved!

Secondly - I've sold my cute little panda phone charm! He was just so adorable, however whilst in Derby I made 2 more in CHUNKY wool so they are a little bigger.

Thirdly - I finished my Advent Exchange and finally got it in the Post after some shuffling around with parcel weights.

I've had an ornament exchange to stitch for on A Crafty Natter and a Secret Santa piece for a group on Facebook.

Hopefully I can start posting pictures soon.

Updates

Just realised I have a lot of updating to do.

Firstly I need to post my TUSAL update for September.

Tell you all I have new items in my Etsy store and I've relisted those that I hadn't realised had expired.

Show you the prep pages for my Sketchbook for the Sketchbook Tour.

And After tonight let you all know what is happening with Craft Club as we meet for the first time today.

I'm sure I've missed some things out. I really want to show you the things I've been making for my partner in the Advent Exchange at A Crafty Natter but they won't be received till Christmas.

I have been making so much and creating new Etsy store items, I'm so excited about the new items for my store I hope you like them too!!!

Another Bookmark

I recently took part in a bookmark exchange on facebook and although my bookmark was received and I received one in return, some of the participants didn´t. So I offered to stitch a replacement for one of the ladies and here is what I made for her.

I´ve noticed there isn´t a post of the first bookmark I sent and the one I received so here they are:

(SENT)

(RECEIVED)

Received!

My other ornament was received extremely quickly by Royal Mail standards, I posted it one day and it arrived the next. I received a lovely email from it's recipient which I am so thrilled about anyway here is the second ornament I sent.