Why I love swaps!

Private swaps, or organized swaps, regardless, they are always fun! I did a private swap with knitpixie on Ravelry. Traded my Two Balls or Less and One Skein book for some hand-dyed sock yarn and a copy of a printed pattern. Now, she had sent me a picture of the yarn after it was dyed to make sure that I would like it. Now I know why the internet does not do pictures of yarn justice. This yarn is hand-dyed BFL sock yarn and is so soft, so yummy, and so beautiful! The color is exactly what I wanted. To go along with my gorgeous yarn, she also made me some gorgeous stitch markers. Loving the fact that they match my yarn. So pretty! Looks like I got some knitting to do tonight! Can't wait either.

The pattern is Pulsations Socks from Spunky Hats. A little more lace-y than what I'm use to but I think that they are absolutely beautiful! Besides, I'm always up for a challenge.

Then she spoiled me with beautiful (matching) stitch markers. Love them!

Another picture of the yarn because I just can't get enough of it. I feel like some evil villian and the yarn is my cat because I'm sitting here (typing this) petting my yarn.

Thank you so much again knitpixie! Everything is beautiful!

Craftster.org Apron Swap

A while ago I had signed up for this swap over on Craftster and it was so much fun. After I received my swap partners information I had been slowly piecing everything together. It was alot of fun and in the end, I ended up with the most beautiful apron that I own. She really did an excellent job on it and I love everything about it. Even how the pocket lines up with the print of the fabric.

Then, somehow, she had ESP and knew that I loved pomegranate (any form that it comes in). I swear, I did not tell her. Anyways, she gave me the BEST smelling pomegranate candle ever. I put it up in my bedroom and without it even lit it smells up my whole room. YUMMY!

As well as those, she also gave me some handmade soaps.

As well as some other little goodies.

On my end of the swap, I made her a reversible apron with a nice little pocket on both sides and then appliqued on some stars.

Side A of her apron

Side B of her apron

I also made her some dishcloths out of some cotton yarn I had. The pattern for the dishcloths I seen on The Carol Duvall Show.

Then last but not least, I put together a little "fabric package" that consisted of the remaining of the lime green fabric, some of the black fabric and finished it off with some black ribbon that I figured she could use for one of her future projects.

It was a very fun swap! Maybe (after the holidays) I'll sign up for another swap over there.

My side of the swap.

Yesterday I got a message from ninjanator that because she lives in an apartment and no one is home during the morning I could go ahead and post what I had made her for the swap since she won't get it till Saturday. (If your reading this ninjanator, I hope you like it!)

She really wanted a crochet hook case so after going back and forth about fabric I finally narrowed it down and made her case. Both the fabrics I used I got from Walmart. I put in a little pocket so that all her stitch markers, row counters, needles, and other what nots won't fall out. The ribbon closure is some that I received from an Etsy seller.

All rolled up


Opened up


A close up shot of the pocket. I added a velcro closure for easy opening and the added buttons just to give a little added detail to the front.


Then because what crocheter wouldn't be complete without a nice set of stitch markers, I made her these.

I just LOVE making stitch markers and they are the perfect little gift to include in a swap.

Also, she loves ninjas (hence the name) and after browsing around on her Wist to get a better idea of what to make for her, I just couldn't resist making a little ninja lapel pin. I actually have never made a ninja before and it was SO FUN! Although, I don't think I'm adding to the "toughness" of ninja's because I added cute little buttons eyes for him.

I left the fraying on him (rather than making him nice and neat looking) because, well, he's a ninja and he's out there fighting battle.

Crafting for others

So over on Craftster I had posted about the knitting needle case I made for Sabrina (aka tinyneedles) and ninjanator over there mentioned that she wants one for her crochet hooks but doesn't have access to a sewing machine. Maybe I should've and maybe I shouldn't of but I had to ask if she wanted me to make her one. (I just LOVE making things for other people.) So after a couple of messages back and forth she said that the only way that she would receive one is if she could make something for me in return. So we messaged back and forth some more and then finally it came down to we would each send each other one medium size gift (my crochet hook case for the Shroom from CrochetMe) and then 2 surprise little gifts.

This past week (which I think that my mailman officially thinks that I came into a hoopla of $$$ because it seems like everyday he's dropping of something or rather for me, my b~day was a few weeks ago and so I had ordered somethings with my b~day $$$$ that James gave me) I had received her gifts that she had sent me and I'm completely overwhelmed with everything.

First up is this BEAUTIFUL crocheted Shroom that she made me using the pattern from CrochetMe! I LOVE it!


Then (which I absolutely LOVE this one because what girl doesn't love a good piece of jewelry) is this beautiful necklace that she made me. I LOVE it!


And last, but not least are these adorable pie charms that she made using polymer clay. They will probably get turned into stitch markers.


I thank you ninjanator VERY VERY MUCH! for everything! It is all very beautiful and I love each and every item you made! (Handmade items are the BEST items you can own!)

(Not posting the pictures of the items I made her just yet because she still hasn't received them yet, well, she lives in Canada and it's at her post office, she just hasn't picked it up yet because of school. Don't want to ruin the surprise for her now.)

I am a BAD BAD BLOGGER

Well, I have a good excuse though. It's summertime which mean that the girls and I have been outside playing and having a good time. As promised before, when I did my private swap with tinyneedles and I am just now getting around to posting about the things I made/sent her. I forgot, however, to take pictures of everything before I sent it out to her so you can view the photos of the things I made via her Flickr account.

I made her an apron for when she makes her pizzas. It's a reversible one and here is Side A and here is Side B. Then I also sent her some other goodies such as yarn, DPN holder (that I found the tutorial for via KathrynIvy.com), and stitch markers.

Then to post (brag) about what she sent me, a VERY awesome purse, some fabric (that I've already used up) awesome vintage inspired needle case, a beautiful crocheted jute basket, pincushion, and very cute little barettes for my girls.

Crafting for a private swap

I've been really busy over the past week. The main reason is because I'm participating in a private swap with tinyneedles over on Flickr. She has this purse that is really pretty and I really wanted it. In exchange I would make her an apron. So that is just what I've been doing and while I can't post any actual pictures of the apron because if she hops on over here it'll spoil her surprise for her. (and we don't want that to happen now do we?) But like her I'll give you a little sneak peak at the fabric I've chosen for her apron.

The white (yes it is white, the lighting in my room gave it this weird yellow hue on it) and blue polka dot one I got at Salvation Army a while back and the navy blue floral fabric is actually given to me by my Grandma. She was cleaning out her (what use to be) sewing room (and now it is just a junk room that I said I'd come up and help her clean out one day because I know she has some hidden crafting treasures in their) and found this fabric and gave it to me. Oh, how I so badly want to take a picture of her apron. It is really pretty and I drafted it up from my own pattern, which I have to say that I am pretty darn proud of myself for. I'll post pictures of it though as soon as she receives it.

A couple other things as little extras that I made for her (because she is a knitter and LOVES to knit) is a DPN case which I found in her favorites and clicked on the link in the picture and came across the tutorial. Which I might add that if you are a knitter and want to give it a go at sewing but don't want to make the cliche pillow, I would give this a go because it is SUPER SUPER SUPER easy and you can complete it in about 30 minutes. Or if you are like me and have 2 kids pulling on your leg saying that they have to go potty, or they need you to get them unstuck or whatever reason, you sorda, kinda, don't really pay attention and didn't put right sides together but you didn't realize it until it was completely stitched up. Yes, that is what happens to me when I try to get something done in a jiffy with me hoping that the girls will keep themselves occupied for a little bit. So, if this happens to you add on about an extra 15-20 minutes of time with your friend and mine, the seam ripper. So I digress. I also made her some stitch markers because we ALL know that those little buggers get lost in the couch, vacuumed up, or for some reason just dissappear into thin air.

The DPN case is made from some vintage fabric that I had left over from this purse that I got at a garage sale at the beginning of the summer, and the stitch markers were made from glass beads, head pins, and jump rings.

I'm going to throw in a few more little extras for her because she was a MAJOR SWEETHEART and made my girls some hair clippys that are just so sweet and so precious and I know my girls will love them.