FOC swap 2 reveal!

[onetomatotwo]

Wow this board has been super-active! There's so much to say!

First of all, Madmatigan79, I'm glad you liked everything I sent. I've never made a box before and after I finished yours, I wanted to keep it! I just loved how that blue paper ended up working so nicely. The photos that you posted of your family enjoying the crafts I made just... well... I don't want to get overly emotional or anything, but they really warmed my heart. It was the epitome of what I love best about swapping -- the joy of bringing joy to someone else. I was dying to say something at that point, but settled for just sending links around to my non-craftster friends: "Look at this cute family enjoying crafts that I made!" Everyone I know agrees that your daughter is totally adorable.

And I didn't want to say anything about this before now publicly (since I would give myself away), but I did something during this swap that anyone in a secret swap might want to try -- I sent my partner email messages from an anonymous address over the course of the swap! It was an awesome way to communicate with her directly -- if you've ever wanted to ask your partner a question or send them some photos to post, this is a great solution. It's easy enough to get an anonymous email address through yahoo and I would highly recommend it -- it was fun chatting with you throughout the swap!

Now, on to the other packages... I love the rooster art that TheBon made (she's a whiz with the exacto knife, ain't she?) and that chicken fabric batgirl sent is just amazing. I agree with everyone else here when I say that you should make it into a tablecloth -- it's just so perfect laid out there.

And finally, Gingerquilts, I bow down to your mastery as a quilt artist. That tree quilt is just... well, words fail me. It's absolutely gorgeous. I hope to someday produce something so lovely. On a technical note, I gotta ask -- is it applique or reverse applique? And what technique did you use? Tell me more! Tell me more!

Whew! Do I get a prize for World's Longest Gushy Post?

[batgirl]

I aspire to be that good at sewing (first, a straight seam, then, THE WORLD!!!)

LOL, for my first major project I'm making a "manly diaper bag" for my brother from Amy Butler's nappy bag pattern. It was going really well, feeling quite proud of myself. I got to the big curve to attach the lining, and it was SO HARD!! I did some serious drunk-driving on that seam. THEN....I realized the lining was inside out. GAH!!!! To be continued...LOL

[gingerquilts]

Kaesea, the tree quilt is fusible applique, from a pattern, actually.  She has you trace the entire tree AND the borders in one piece on fusible stuff (wonder under, steamAseam).  Then you iron it onto the black fabric and cut out all those bitty parts.  Then you fuse it to the background and do a teeny tiny satin stitch on every edge.  Since I used black fabric and black thread it's very forgiving.  Plus, if I added too many stitches here or there I figured it looked like "nature".

Then I just layered it and quilted in the blue parts.  It's really pretty easy!

[onetomatotwo]

It's really pretty easy!

Hmmm... maybe for you, ya Quilting Goddess! But thanks for the tips and inspiration.

I've only recently branched out into applique (I learned from this tutorial by the wonderful seaofstars) so maybe I'll try my hand at something more intricate at some point. For now, I'll just admire your beautiful work. Lovely!

[Madmatigan79]

I've never made a box before and after I finished yours, I wanted to keep it! I just loved how that blue paper ended up working so nicely.

You MADE that box?!!? It is fantastic!!! I love the colours and everything but just assumed you got lucky at the store and found a stationary box that matched everything in the first package perfectly! Am I ever dense! How did you make it? I had to run and get it and look at it again - it is seamless...I still would not have guess it was handmade on a FIRST TRY!

Damn, woman! You've got skills!

[onetomatotwo]

Hee hee! Yeah... I could hardly believe that I made it myself when it was done. It was hard to give it up.

It was... difficult. But totally worth it. I thought that paper was fantastic. It was a hand-made paper that I bought at Paper-Source, which is actually also where I got the kit to make the box. The "kit" basically comes with pre-cut boards and very detailed, well-written directions. You supply the paper, bookbinding cloth, glues, tools, and patience. Now that I've got the directions, I'd probably cut the boards myself, although it was handy to have them all cut for me.

Glad you liked it! 

[mjadams]

i know who my FOC is!!!!
My foc is amazing, fabulous, caring and has really cheered me up this month!
Its mommabear!


I just got around to posting pics in the thread of my great last two packages! go check them out! She did my whole wish list:)

Here is a recap!

package one was two pairs of amazing crocheted earrings that i wear all the time! in my favorite colors.




my second package blew me away!
She made me the things i wanted most! An amazing crafty and super fun kitting bag out of a pillow case! and inside, amongst other things was the most amazingly detailed handmade knitting needle roll! Check out the detail.









For my "surprise", she sent me this pitcher that her friend made in Montana! its beautiful!


along with some buttons to add to my collection:)


Then....theres more:) i love Kermit the frog! the Muppet's have been my favorite since i was a kid:) she found out and sent me all this!






Thank you so much mommabear! i am the luckiest to you have you as my FOC:)

[mommabear1963]

Megan, I am so glad that you like everything and that I was able to bring some cheer into your life.  You are very welcome I really enjoyed crafting for you and getting the gifts for you.

[batgirl]

Those crochet earrings are so cool!!

[snacker]

What amazing goodies!!!!  Goodness, 7 pages that I have missed!

radal16:  The felted necklace: I made it up using inspiration from craftster (Jane Doe and other leafy scarves).