A Swap For All Seasons

Thursday, May 21, 2015

the Summertime Giveaway begins today! Just leave a comment to enter... Open to ALL!

Let's celebrate the beginning of Summer with a Giveaway! Sign up today through June 15th by leaving a comment on this post. Make sure to leave your email address on your comment so I can contact you if you win. The winning comment will be chosen by a random number generator and announced on Monday, June 16th. The giveaway package filled with summery goodness will be on its way to one lucky winner and should arrive in time for the first day of Summer! (which is June 21st ~ also Father's Day). Feel free to grab the badge- in the right column on top over there >>>
to help spread the news. Good luck!

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

wednesday wow

This is the prayer flag that I made recently. I loved working with this fabric and colors so much that I went on to use it again for my May sampler.

I revisited an old love of mine when I made this...counted cross stitch. It was my passion when I was in my 20's. Oh, holy moly! I needed a magnifying glass for almost every stitch to be sure I was in the right spot in the linen. It's a good thing it's no longer a passion~ my eyes are too old! But it was fun to revisit an old love.

One final note...tomorrow will be the last post for May...and you won't want to miss it!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

repurpose

This sweet sampler uses denim from an old pair of jeans for the background. It originated here. I also love her use of the different little fabric scraps for the flower petals.

A while back, Bev mentioned something somewhere about getting clothing from thrift stores to use for the fabric. (GENIUS! Why didn't I think of that?) I also like the idea of cutting a few favorite garments (a dress or blouse I loved but no longer wear, sentimental kids clothing, etc) into pieces and keeping the fabric for quilting and other little future projects.

I love the idea of repurposing and using what I already have. I have so much, that I'm sure if I really committed to the idea, I would ~~never~~ rarely have to buy any crafting/sewing supplies!

Monday, May 18, 2015

handy dandy gadget

I had always wanted one of these mini irons. I think something about it spoke to the little girl in me. My sister gave me one for my birthday a few years ago. It stayed in the package for a very long time because the need to use it never seemed to arise. I even found a larger iron attachment that fits the handle at an estate sale for $1 ~ score! Well my friends, it's time has finally come! I am finding it to be such a handy helper for my fabric samplers. It seems that no matter how many times I iron the pieces, I find wrinkles in my finished sampler. This gets into the little spaces and crevices between the embellishments just perfectly. And it's just so darn cute...

Saturday, May 16, 2015

vintage image saturday

Some pretty spring ladies!

Friday, May 15, 2015

May's Sampler

All finished. I really enjoyed working with the pretty blue and white fabric this month. Have you been noticing the great matching matchbox in the pictures? A swapping friend made this for me (I cannot remember who! Isn't that sad?) and I've loved it. It has been sitting on my desk for a long time. When I pulled the blue fabric out of the project box this month, I put the little box in the picture because it matched so sweetly. I decided it belonged to the fabric, so I added some vintage blue buttons, and passed it along to May with her sampler. I guess you can call it "regifted" ~ I prefer to call it "repurposed with love"! Just a simple tag and tissue paper wrapping and it's ready to go. In fact, it already went! Its arrival in the UK actually preceded that of the new princess! Happy May, May!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

a special little something

Isn't this great? Linda sent this to me last month. It's a fabric sampler brooch. What a great way to use the bits and bobs that are left after making your monthly sampler. It would make a great little tuck-in to go along with your sampler, a memento to keep for yourself, or a special little something to send to a friend. (as Linda did!) So sweet. I just love it!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

wednesday wow

These make my heart sing! It came from this Etsy shop, but alas, it is sold! There are lots of other pretties there as well.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

the layout

I've had a few different layouts going so far. This is the one I keep coming back to. I found this pretty little brooch at an estate sale a few weeks ago, and it needed some fixing. As I was working on this layout, I remembered it and decided to dig it out and see if it would work. I like it! Now I'm ready to start sewing...

Monday, May 11, 2015

just another make it monday

Button flowers! It seems as though I am always posting about button flowers... ones that you can make this way, that way and the other. These cuties combine felt and embroidery in various ways. Great inspiration! They originated here on flickr.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

vintage image saturday...happy mother's day!

Friday, May 8, 2015

dottie angel sweetness

I love everything Dottie Angel! If you haven't visited her yet, you are in for such a treat! This is one of her (countless) creations. She sews, crochets, knits, embroiders, and sometimes all in the same project! I love her use of the dangling floss from one word to another in this little sampler. I'm glad I posted this on a Friday, because if you decide to visit Dottie Angel properly, it may take until at least Monday for you to emerge! In addition to her blog, there is a facebook page, items for sale in her etsy shop and elsewhere, and a book or two!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Who was born in May?

How about Tim McGraw 47, Audrey Hepburn, Adele 26, George Clooney 53, Melissa Gilbert 50, Billy Joel 65, Mark Zuckerberg 30, George Lucas 70, Tina Fey 44, Cher 68, John Wayne, Queen Victoria, John F. Kennedy. Wow~ what a list! Are there any May birthdays in our group?

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

wednesday's wow...from Joyce

Although Joyce is currently unable to swap with us, she is still thinking about us! She sent me this picture with a link to the artist's blog. What perfect inspiration! I love everything about this little sampler and the blog is a treat to visit. Thanks for thinking of us, Joyce. We are thinking about you and praying for you and David everyday! xox

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Happy Cinca de Mayo!

I found this fun Mexican banner here, and I thought it would be a great thing to share today. It is made from Mexican camabaya fabric. So festive! Hmmm...I think a margarita and some chips might be in order today...

Monday, May 4, 2015

make it monday

Looking for something sweet to make today? Here is some great inspiration! These little embellishments are perfect for using on packages, cards, and even your mini fabric samplers. I saw them on Pinterest- and they originated on this great blog. Great for using up scraps and for creating fun color combinations. A fun craft for a day in May!

Saturday, May 2, 2015

some pretties for May

I used this fabric on the recent prayer flag that I made, and it's so pretty that I went right back to it for May's sampler. I use so much pink in my creations, that this blue feels like a breath of fresh May air! I gathered some coordinating goodies (my favorite part!) and then I put away everything else on my desk. Let's see what develops...
Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday!

Friday, May 1, 2015

Happy May Day!

I want you all to pretend that you found this May Day surprise from me (the mason jar filled with flowers) hanging on your door this morning when you went outside for the first time. If I could, I would place one on all of your homes to wish you all a Happy May Day!

What I can do is share these sweet vintage May Day images with you. Feel free to save and print them out today. Keep one and give one away with a little packet of seeds or a tiny pot of flowers to a neighbor, friend or coworker. Use one to whip up a little card for someone. Or just place your favorite image somewhere and enjoy looking at it today!

Want to know a little May Day secret? I am making my May sampler for May in the UK this month! Isn't that serendipitous? Tomorrow I'll show you the goodies that I've pulled out of my project box for May's May sampler!

Saturday, April 18, 2015

vintage image saturday...

...featuring the fab four! I've also included some printable umbrellas for you. Enjoy!

This is the final post for April. If you would like to see the beautiful April samplers, take a blog hop! The blog list is in the right column over there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Or you can find many of them on Instagram at #aswapforallseasons

See you on May 1st!

Friday, April 17, 2015

friday fun...more decorating with umbrellas

If I had just the right window in just the right spot in my house, how much fun would this be?? This can be found on this interior design site.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

mrs smith goes to washington...or at least her fabric sampler does!

My April sampler for Linda is finally finished and will be on it's way to Washington later today.

More of the Process: As I began the actual execution of the sampler, I ended up changing the layout a bit. When I cut the fabric to 4 x 6-ish, I realized I didn't have as much room as I had thought. I ended up separating the words of the quote and placing them individually. Yikes! I forgot to place the fusible backing on first! And i realized this after I had already sewn the fabric to a white backing. So I ended up having to place tiny little stitches around each word to fasten them down. I learn something new with each sampler I make! I also changed the embellishments around a bit to try to create better balance.
On the back, to cover some of the stitching, I added a square of the fabric that features 2 little Lindas with their umbrellas. All done.

With a leftover fabric scrap I covered a little matchbox and filled it with buttons, and I made a little tag with some coordinating washi tape.

After a little simple wrapping, it is ready to go. I hope Linda enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it!

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

wednesday wow

This incredible sampler was made by Ali Ferguson of The Purple Thread Shed The details are amazing...that embroidered scissors!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

technique tuesday ~ machine applique

I found a tutorial with information on the different methods of machine applique. If you haven't tried applique yet, this might inspire you and give you some basic info to get you going.

Monday, April 13, 2015

I was going to post updates to my April sampler today...

...but I worked on my hair all weekend and didn't get it finished. Perhaps later.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

saturday images ~ under an umbrella sky

From July to September, hundreds of colorful umbrellas float above the shopping promenades of Agueda, Portugal as part of the local Agueda Art Festival. Oh how I'd love to experience this in person!

The second photo of the pink umbrellas floating on the water is one of the very first things that I ever pinned on Pinterest. It originated on Flickr, but I'm not sure where it was taken. I just love it.

Friday, April 10, 2015

a quick note about Monday's post

Hi friends! Someone asked me where the beautiful linens from Monday's Eye Candy post originated. Oh my! I forgot the best part! They came from this incredible blog ~ the entire site is a feast for the eyes! Please pay a visit!

friday fun...decorating with umbrellas!

Source: decozilla.com

Thursday, April 9, 2015

creating a garland

I found this beautiful example of a garland made from fabric samplers on the Gentlework blog. I love the use of lace and buttons. So inspiring!

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

a wednesday wow: for the love of umbrellas

I have lots of umbrella fun to share with you this month, and this quilt is the perfect start. It is absolutely swoonworthy and can be found here It is so fittingly called, "April Showers". Such great inspiration for a mini fabric sampler!

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

sampler update

I worked on the layout of my April sampler over the weekend. I printed the quote onto white cotton directly from my printer again- I'm still surprised at how well it works! I needed to pull out a few more embellishments and buttons to play with, and I'm getting close to the design I want. I'm still moving things around a bit. I'm having trouble covering up the cute little faces on the fabric, and of course their cute little umbrellas too - which is so like me!