Send a Little Love Swap

It seems that we are all itching to get back to our routines after the Christmas break 

and I for one am missing my sewing machine!

It also seems it's not too early for a swap either, 

with February being the month of love, how about sending a little love around blogland?

The idea of this swap is to send a minimum of 5 things to include

Something heart shaped or themed

Something deliciously edible

Something handmade

Something red

This swap is open to both UK and overseas bloggers and readers of my blog

(you just need to have an email contact)

If you would like to take part then please leave a comment on this post,

letting me know if you wish to post UK or worldwide

Sign up by the Friday 10th January 2014

Swap partners will be posted on my blog on Sunday 12th January 2014

Then it's up to you to make contact with your partner and get to know each other a little better, swap details and arrange a timescale.

Swap parcels need to arrive at their destination no later than Friday 14th February 2014

I don't like the idea of rules for swaps so here are some handy guidelines ;-)

Swaps are supposed to be fun and a great way to use items/supplies you already have at home, 

Handmade is open to interpretation everyone's skills are different don't ever think that you can't because  the chances are you can, as long as something has been made with love then I'm sure it will be appreciated by your partner

I don't like to put a price limit on swaps but with postage costs at an all time high we can all appreciate a bit of thrifty spending

Life sometimes has a habit of getting in the way of things, if for whatever reason (and you don't have to say why) you can't continue or need to delay sending out your swap then just let me or your swap partner know

So that's the boring bit out of the way if I have forgotten anything then please let me know and if you need any inspiration then there's always pinterest!

I've started pinning already Valentines Pins

Spread the Bloggy Love Swap

This was the first swap of the new year and was organised by Jackie over at Sew Special Bears, I was partnered with Lucey over at Lemonade Kitty whose blog I already followed but obviously a little more nosiness was needed, purely for research mind!!! So Lucey and I emailed some of our likes and dislikes across the airwaves and I have to say that we have much more likes than dislikes which I personally think is a good thing!!! But what I want to know is how Lucey knew that my new favourite colour is red, as I haven't posted any photos of the new kitchen with it's red accessories yet!!!. Now Lucey was much more organised than me and sent out her parcel nice and early whereas due to illness and general family life I sent Paul out early Saturday morning to post mine off so that it got there in time for today (Phew! thanks Paul and Posties as Lucey emailed earlier to say that it arrived safely).

I waited patiently until the older two were at school and Tompom was engrossed in playdoh to open my parcel...

...and when I did the smell was heavenly!!! I just wish I had a smellivision monitor thingy so that you could smell it too (come on computer buffs we need smellivision monitors!) Now the package radiating this lovely smell contained this fabulous heart

 

in the sweetest fabric

 and just the right red for my kitchen is also had a handmade label attached made from my favourite Micheal Miller fabric "Springtime in Paris".

I love the "Garden Fresh" button which just happens to be in all time favouritist sage green colour!!!

Lucey I've been smelling my red heart all day but can't work out the scent please can you put me out of my misery???

Now if that wasn't enough red heart gorgeousness there was more to come.....

This super cute Scottie Dog Postcard which is going on show in my workshop with all my other swap goodies and a metal heart cutter with red ribbon which I am going to hang in my new kitchen.

 One of the swap items had to be edible and Lucey sent me this delectable chocolate heart from Betty's which is a shop I think that Lucey has mentioned on her blog before 

which as you can see I polished off whilst enjoying opening the rest of my swap goodies...

 

 

 Fully sated I was able to open this next package sealed with a strawberry label

and inside was this Mary Engelbreit notebook, which I had to prise out of Rachel's hands when she got home from school today, I'm keeping this in my kitchen to for shopping lists, ideas and to do lists.

Also a really unique Love Bingo number card which I'm going to frame and hang in the kitchen too, 

and this rubylicious red beaded bracelet

 which I'm looking forward to wearing to add some colour to my colour lacking wardrobe!!!

Lastly here's a snapshot of all my lovely swap goodies together.

Thanks Lucey for being a fabulous and patient "Spread the Bloggy Love" swap partner and thanks to Jackie for organising such a super swap and if you pop over to Jackie's blog I saw earlier that she's already organising a Spring Swap....

First Swap of 2011

I've signed up for my first swap of 2011 which has been organised by Jackie over at Sew Special Bears

The  rules are

5 items or more for your partner to unwrap on Valentines Day

one item must be edible

one item must be red

something handmade if you are able

You have until Friday 7th January to sign up and partners will be posted over at Jackie's blog on Monday 10th January with gifts being sent out by the 4th February in time for Valentines Day..