Santa Sack Swap 2016 - Part 2

So I have shared with you all the wonderful gifts that I received from Mary in the Santa Sack Swap and this post is all about what I made and sent to her in return. 

After reading Mary's blog about her love of nativity sets I wanted some of her gifts to have that theme. I found a lovely nativity themed fabric on eBay which then sat in my sewing room whilst I decided what I would I make. Part of the swap is to make either a sack, a stocking  or a bag. As Christmas is a busy time for Mary I thought a bag might be more useful so I made a nice roomy tote, which Mary has told me fits perfectly on her mobility scooter so she is going to use it all year round. For some reason I didn't a photo of the bag but you can see it in the last picture showing all the gifts I made Mary. I still had a little bit of the nativity fabric left over so I decided to make a cushion.

I added a little sparkle to the cushion with some stars sequins, 

and used red beads to pick out the berries. 

I really liked the words on this fabric and used a red embroidery hoop from my stash to make a hanging ornament. 

I tend to get a bit carried away with themes and this swap was no different, so continuing with the nativity theme I used my Cricut cutting machine to make this nativity vinyl decal and popped it on this glass jar. 

I added a ceramic star tag to bring a little Joy. 

The next part of the swap had me stumped for a while, I know Mary likes to craft from the comfort of her armchair so I decided to make an armchair caddy and a project bag,

but what colour to make and what fabric to use? After a little more stalking on Mary's blog I managed to find out that dusky pink might just be okay. 

 Here are all the gifts that I made for Mary

This is a super swap to take part in so if you fancy joining in this year pop over to Cheryll's Santa Sack Swap blog for more details. 

Santa Sack Swap 2016

I don't think I've quite mastered the getting more organsied thing yet which means I'm a bit behind with my blog posts, also being adopted by a cat has meant that my evenings have become kitty cuddle time and there isn't enough room on my lap for the cat and the iPad.

Tonight the cat has chosen the arm of the sofa instead of my lap so I'm able catch up on a little blogging time.

Towards the end of last year I took part in some super swaps, one of which was the Santa Sack Swap organised by Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin' in my cubbyhole and I was partnered with Mary from Trundling Through Life, Mary's blog was new to me and I really enjoyed getting to know her more through our emails and her blog. 

This is what Mary sent to me, a beautiful patchwork stocking in my favourite Christmas colours of red, green and gold.  

I hung the stocking crammed full of prettily wrapped parcels on the door to my orangery and it was really difficult not to have a little squidge every time I went past. 

I left opening my swap gifts until after lunch as I wanted to be able to take my time opening them, so whilst everyone else was relaxing in front of the TV, or playing on a gadget or two I sat myself down on the floor in the orangery and started unwrapping.

Mary made me a lovely Christmas card and there was a sugar mouse, which Rachel thought was a candle, I didn't tell her otherwise until after I had eaten it. 

In her emails Mary had told me about her trips to Brussells and the delicious chocolates made by Mary, chocolatiers to the Belgium royal family, so you can imagine how pleased I was when I saw my very own box of Mary chocolates. These were absolutely delicious and I was very good as I shared the chocolates coins with the children! 

My first package revealed this pretty hanging flower which will look fabulous in my sewing room.

Next there was this lovely scissors keeper, how cute is that button! 

Inside were the most perfect spotty scissors in my favourite turquoise blue. 

Last year I used a notebook to record all my makes during 2016 and I was looking for a notebook to do the same in 2017. Mary made me a covered notebook which means I can use it again and again.

Although I sew and have made several zippered pouches I never seem to get around to making myself one, so it's alway lovely to receive one as part of a swap. 

I love the yo-yo embellishments and the heart quilting.

Finally, the last package contained this gorgeous purple fluffy scarf, ideal for the colder days. I do love a scarf so I'm looking forward to wearing this one.

Here are all my gifts, together with my stocking.

Thank you Mary, I've really enjoyed getting to know you over the past few months and look forward to our continued friendship, and thank you Cheryll for organising, this is one of my favourite swaps of the year. 

A Swap Catch Up - Santa Sack Swap

 The next few posts are all about my Christmas Swaps that I didn't get around to sharing the time.

Santa Sack Swap 

This swap is a big swap as it begins in the summer with everyone signing up and being paired off by Cheryll from Gone Stitchin

It's quite a big commitment as you need to make either a christmas sack, stocking or bag and 5 gifts for your partner.

This is the second year that I have taken part and this time I was partnered with Melanie from The Patchwork Robin.

Here are all the wonderful gifts that Melanie sent me. 

My very own Santa Sack

I couldn't wait to open my sack and see what was inside

beautifully wrapped parcels

How cute is this little fellow.

A robin and heart hanger

A beautifully embroidered sewing case

look at all those lovely neat stitches

and inside, tissues, pins

and some new scissors

Downton Abbey fabric, the colours are wonderfully rich on these fabrics.

A wise and pretty owl to help keep my cutting table tidy!

Some gifts to help my inner (very well hidden) domestic goddess.

Far to pretty for my cooking so hung by the oven to add some festive cheer.

a fab festive snowman cake card

and lots of christmassy ribbons to add to my stash.

Here are all my gifts together

and to collage I posted on instagram at the time.

I have already thanked Melanie for all my gifts but I just wanted to say thank you for being a super swap partner and I promise no robins in the Send your Country Swap as we are partners again!!!

Here is what I made and sent to Melanie. 

Does anyone else's crafting kind of evolve. I do find I start off with an idea then it sort of runs this way and that until I end up with the finished project which wasn't entirely what I was thinking off in the first place!! I'm not sure that sentence makes sense but basically this is what I eventually made....

I wanted to use the christmas robin fabric scraps that I had to make a sack but because I only had small pieces I decided to make a hexagons which eventually turned into a fabric panel for the front of this hessian sack.

I didn't want any of the robin fabric to go to waste so I made a tiny hexagon flower and turned it into a hanging tag for the sack. Not what I had initially set out to make but a much nicer end product.

This wreath was really simple to make and Mr Mad About Bags initially thought it was for our home but I sadly had to tell him "sorry no, its for Melanie"!! I didn't make the robin but swapped my sewing talents for someone else felting talents to get this little fellow. I did crochet the holly and tie the ribbon though!

I found the perfect robin themed cross stitch alphabet on eBay and teamed it with another cross alphabet I had to create this patchwork cushion using my christmas fabric scraps. I was really pleased with how this cushion turned out and was tempted to change my blog name to The Patchwork Robin and keep it (sorry Melanie it very nearly didn't make it into the sack).

 I forgot to photograph everything else but luckily Melanie posted a photo on her blog.

As you can see lots of robin themed goodies 

This is a brilliant swap, and although its a big commitment with quite a few makes its so rewarding both in the sending and the receiving. Keep yours eyes peeled for the sign up over on Cheryll's blog on June 1st.

Swaps

Just popping in quickly to tell you about some swaps I've signed up for.........

First up is the 

Santa Sack Swap

you can still sign up as the closing date has been extended until the 11th June. 

This is a big swap but I loved it last year!

I have also signed up to Kimberley's 

2015 Dish Cloth/Mug Rug Swap

Kimberley has introduced mug rugs this year for those that don't knit or crochet.

This is a fab little swap and sign up doesn't close until the 21st of June.

I have a date with my paintbrush again today,

my new workroom is very nearly finished and I can't wait to show you all some photos and get back to crafting, it been a long four weeks!