You might recall a while back, I showed you my little art quilt, Sometimes I Really Miss Iowa.
Cindy, from Adventures of the Singing Quilter, commented on that post. She's an Iowa girl, too. We struck up some pretty nice conversations. We decided we were destined to meet sometime, we have so much in common.
Anyway, I had started reading her blog, and I saw some of her stuff in Flickr--in particular pouches...like this one and this one (and here's the back of that one). (While you are on Flickr, check out Cindy's sewing room! It's the same color as I want to paint my new sewing room when it's built. I think Doris has a sewing room the same color, too! Check out Cindy's photos here, here, here, and here. I wanna go to Cindy's house and play right now! This room just looks so HER!) She participates in lots of swaps. I mentioned to her that I had never done any of that, except for the Gruber's swap that I engaged in with my Gruber's buddies a little earlier this year.
So, she offered to do a swap with me. I thought it sounded like fun! We made an agreement to swap by November 20. We both got our items from each other on Friday after Thanksgiving. How's that for fun?!
I asked Cindy to make me a pouch with hexies on it, because I love some of the ones she has already done. She asked me for a Christmas pillow. I was happy to oblige on that, as I had a pillow pattern I was wanting to make, anyway!
Here is the beautiful pouch she sent me. Isn't it awesome?! I am just so tickled and thrilled with it. It's more than I could have hoped for. She designed it herself, which I just love. Every time I look at it, I discover little details I didn't see before. Let me tell you what I love about it. First, I love the size. It's about 12 inches tall and 8 inches wide---good sized! It will be just right for carrying a small handwork or knitting project. I love that! So often, pouches are just too small to take the whole project in. But it's not too big either. Perfect size. Second, I love the colors. I love the oranges, pinks, blues, grays, and tans. It's very different, and I love it. Third, I love the "big stitching" along the hexie flower! (Of course, I LOVE the hexies, too...but that oges without saying!)
Let's take a closer look. Fourth, I LOVE the Sweetwater fabric in the center of the flower. You know I'm all about Sweetwater! And I just love the fussy-cut flower, the text fabric, and the thimble fabric. I am just giddy over the little pieces of fabric in this! I never think to collect/use such cool fabrics in this way. Awesome! Along with all this, Can you tell from the photo that she stuffed the center of the flower a little, so it sticks out? It's details like that that I just love!
Oh, yes, and fifth, how about this little birdie charm on the zipper?! And it has music notes on it ("Singing Quilter!"--I'll think of Cindy every time I see this and use it!). It coordinates with the fabric on the front of the pouch and with the birdie fabric on the handle...
...which is the same fabric as the lining. And sixth...POCKETS inside! Yay! How helpful!
And here is the back of the pouch. I love this blue fabric, but seventh, I also really love the little detail of the patch on the back. (Also, eighth, notice the bright turquoise zipper! I never would have thought to use such a bright color, but I love it!)
Isn't it adorable?!
Inside the pouch was this little bundle of joy.
Some really awesome twill tape (along with the twill tape that tied the whole bundle up). Thank you, Cindy! I was lamenting to her that I had no cute twill tape, and she uses it so expertly in many of her projects!
A cute clip that I think Sweet Pea will probably steal from me for her or her dolls. How about that cute hedgehog fabric?!
And a cool vintage hankie. I'm going to stash this away until I can figure out a cool use for it. I'm sort of digging the color inspiration in this hankie. Aren't you? Do you have suggestions or ideas for how I should use this hankie?
And if that was not enough, she also included for me a set of cloth napkins she made to go with my kitchen! You might remember I blogged my kitchen curtains, which are red and black. This is so perfect! And I have no napkins in these colors (I have been thinking I need to make some), so I am really grateful for these! They are finished on all the edges and reversible. Cindy you are too much! Thank you! (She emailed me and said she was going to do this, because she felt like a pillow was a lot more work than a pouch. She wanted to do something more. I'm telling you, I came out ahead on this bargain!)
To top it all off, she enclosed this adorable, handmade tag. Isn't it neat?!
On the back is a little pocket that holds another tag, on which Cindy wrote me the nicest note.
Thank you, Cindy, from the bottom of my heart. I just love this and will treasure it! I will think of you every time I use these items (which will be very often!). I loved doing this swap with you. I hope we can do more in the future! I have so enjoyed getting to know you!
Cindy said she'd try to blog the pillow I sent her later today, so if you want to see that, hop on over to her blog, Adventures of the Singing Quilter.
I'll do a process post on the pillow this week also. I have a few things to say about the construction, a review of some thread, and a giveaway! So, be sure to come back!
I'm going to go pet my pouch a little more now. I do adore it so. And we'll be having dinner in style tonight with our new napkins!
Until next time,
Oh, my! I love everything about the pouch, too. It's so adorable!
Posted by: Kim | November 26, 2012 at 01:54 PM
Wow! What great fun it must have been to receive this wonderful pouch. I love all the things you listed--it is a perfectly charming bag and useful, to boot!
Posted by: jenclair | November 26, 2012 at 06:33 PM
Wow! That is an awesome pouch and goodies!
Posted by: Maggie Szafranski | November 27, 2012 at 07:56 AM
Oh wow! Lucky you! What a great package! I cannot WAIT to see the pillow you made for Cindy! I'll keep refreshing her blog till it comes up lol :)
Posted by: Ivy | November 27, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Very cute pouch! I can't wait to see your pillow -- I'll bet it's perfect! (And maybe with some Sweetwater? LOL???)
Posted by: Thimbleanna | November 27, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Darling pouch! I love it and like how she used the hexagons on it. Love the "laugh" too. Looking forward to seeing your pillow.
Posted by: carolld | November 27, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Stephanie!!! You are so kind!!! I am beyond thrilled that you liked everything this much!! It was an absolute pleasure. Have a great evening, my friend!! xoxo
Posted by: Cindy | November 27, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Adorable pouch! And napkins too! I've got some new napkins cut out but haven't had time to press or sew them yet.
Posted by: Lynn | November 27, 2012 at 11:27 PM
A very successful swap! I love that both of you used birds.
Posted by: Amy DeCesare | November 28, 2012 at 07:47 AM
I think you both got a great deal! :) Love the pouch and all the little details!
Posted by: Lisa Ruble | November 28, 2012 at 09:06 AM
Very lucky, indeed! She put so much thought into this! But I know the pillow you sent her was pretty awesome too!
Posted by: Marit | November 28, 2012 at 12:54 PM
I agree Cindy is great such a lovely friend to have and the things you swapped are lovely your pillow is gorgeous !!
Posted by: linda | November 28, 2012 at 01:54 PM
Cindy does awesome work! Love her gift to you.
As they say, birds of a feather, flock together!!!
Posted by: Maureen | November 28, 2012 at 02:04 PM
How cute! Love hexagons - I bought a book using little hexagons years ago - this makes me want to dig it out and actually try something out of it instead of just looking at the pretty pictures :)
Posted by: Deb | November 29, 2012 at 12:31 PM