just a reminder.....

This post is just to say thank you to all of you lovely ladies that have signed up so far to my

it's lovely to see so many new faces and to see that so many of you are friends in the real world too!!!

There is still time to take part in the swap as it doesn't close until the 31st October, so if you fancy taking part then head over to this post and leave a comment I will be pairing up partners and posting them on my blog on Thursday.

Also did you see my blog got hi-jacked the other day by my daughter Rachel, thank you to everyone that popped over and said hello

...Rachel's Blog...

Hi I am Rachel, Oh and I have my own blog! 

I am 14 years old...I love CRAFT, PHOTOGRAPHY, PINTEREST, READING, DRAWING, WRITING etc. etc.

I have my own blog - http://rachelwalters98.blogspot.co.uk, and would love it if you could follow me!

I love reading new blogs and writing new blog posts...

It would be great to here from you...

LOVE RACHEL 

xxx

A Cracker of a Swap

I've missed out on the last few Christmas swaps what with one thing and another so I thought I'd put together a little swap of my own.

This will be a nice simple swap because I know that lots of you will be busy making gifts for family and friends or getting your makes ready for all those wonderful craft events that take place before Christmas.

How it works

*****

Each of us will be making a fabric Christmas cracker filled with goodies 

1) Take a kitchen roll tube (much roomier and nicer than a toilet roll!)

2) Fill your tube with goodies (you're be surprised how much you can fit in!) I think it would be great to include your favourite Christmas joke!

3) Wrap you filled tube in some lovely fabric and tie the ends with ribbon

4) Send your completed fabric Christmas cracker on it's merry way to your swap partner

5) Receive a gorgeous fabric Christmas cracker stuffed with goodies and a lovely piece of fabric too!

*****

Suggestions to fill your kitchen roll

sewing and crafting goodies in the way of buttons, ribbons and threads, needles and pins, stickers, beads, charms and lots more

Christmas chocolates, sweets etc

pampering goodies like nail varnishes, bath bombs, soaps etc

something handmade (as long as it fits in the tube!)

key rings, brooches, earrings etc

A favourite Christmas joke

A favourite Christmas recipe

*****

SWAP RULES

This swap is open to UK and overseas bloggers - please state whether you prefer UK or overseas

You don't have to have a blog to sign up but if you don't then I do need a contact email from you

Sign up before the 31st of October - I will then partner every one up and post partner detail with links/emails on the 1st November.

Last posting date for your Christmas cracker will be 1st December - if for any reason you can't make that deadline please let your partner know. 

Blog about what you receive and what you have sent so we can all see your wonderful goodies.

I will set up a flicker group and post the link when I have partnered everyone up.

Right, I think that's everything, if you have any problems during the swap then please let me know, but bear in mind that I am only the organiser of this swap it is up to you and your partner to swap details, likes and dislikes etc and to arrange a time to swap (by the deadline hopefully). I do understand that sometimes things happen and if for whatever reason you can't take part in the swap and need to pull out then please let me and your partner know, it's so disappointing not to receive anything!

okay so who's up for a swap then....

leave a comment below, don't forget if you don't have a blog then please leave a contact email

thanks Tracy xxx

P.S feel free to use my image in the sidebar on your blog to shout about the swap!

A Feast of Pumpkins!!

Although I have been very quiet on the blogging front, my fingers haven't been too idle, they have been beavering away making scrumptious, soft and squishy pumpkins.

Ages ago I was given some old curtain samples, you know the ones that hang on the rails and I never found the right creation for them until now....

 My little tables and chairs cut out from an old tree taken down in our garden seemed just the right spot to photograph more of my pumpkins.

I made myself this trio of pumpkins as I just loved the colours and the textures!

i think every home should have a pumpkin or three this year and several of mine have now gone to new homes (oh and a couple found their way into school for the harvest table) if you would like to own a pumpkin (or three) for yourself then head over to my facebook page for more details.

A very last minute make!!!

Last week a friend of mine asked me to make her "a very last minute make". 

"Can I have two personalised birthday banners by friday" she said. 

Always up for a challenge I set to work, this was very much a work it out as you go along kind of job, somethings were added some discarded but here is the finished result....

removable number heart (just need to make the other numbers!!!)

lots of hand embroidery

I love the effect of these layered yoyo's

and a birthday wouldn't be complete with a cupcake or two!

Because these were a work it out as you go kind of project my friend didn't really get to see them until she picked them up, thankfully she loved them and so did the girls -  result!!

Autumn Swap goodies

Hi everyone, I've been hiding again but am trying to get back in to regular blogging and there is no better time to blog than when you have just received a gorgeous load of goodies through the post.

I signed up for the cosy autumn swap over at blueberry heart and was partnered with Helen from Moonstruckcreations, we emailed each other a few times to find out likes and dislikes and this is what Helen sent me through the post.....

lots of lovely packages wrapped up with orange and black tissue paper

 

a wonderful striped ball of wall, I have my thinking cap on as to what I want to make with this.

a super cute owl pouch, which I have had to hide from my daughter!

orange and brown ribbons

 a lovely autumnal hanging heart, I love the idea of the embellished leaves

some scrumptious chocolate which were delicious :) but which I had to share :(

I love the scent of this soap (honey and oatmeal) and the wrapper is brilliant too, I might just have to keep the wrapper for crafting I'm sure I can use it somehow

another cute autumnal gift in the way of this pumpkin, I have added this and the hanging heart to my autumnal window display.

Like lots of you I love collecting threads, ribbons and buttons so I was thrilled to receive these variegated embroidery threads

some sumptuous satin ribbons 

and lots of lovely buttons, which are going to make a great addition to my ever growing collection.

here are all my goodies from Helen photographed together

thanks Helen for being such a great swap partner.

Now I know Helen has already blogged about the goodies I sent so I can show them here too.

I went with a pumpkin theme as Helen mentioned she liked to collect pumpkins.

a fabric pumpkin

a crochet wreath with pumpkins and leaves

pumpkin chocolate treats and a hot chocolate sachet

an autumnal scented candle

a pumpkin coloured crochet flower brooch

a box of tissues

and finally some pumpkin fabric and autumn ribbon

I also managed to find a super pumpkin card in the charity shop card box but i forgot to take a photo of it but you can see it over at Helen's blog