Share Your Country Swap Update

Back in February Kimberley over at Creative Chaos organised a Share Your Country Swap with the aim of sending 5 things that symbolise the country you live or were born in.

I was partnered with Sue from The Life and Times of Super Sue, this was a new blog to me and once Sue and I started chatting via email it soon became apparent that we have lots and lots in common, including a love of all things foxy and I think that Sue was right when she said that she is "my sister from another mister". I really enjoyed getting to know Sue and putting together my parcel for her which took a little longer than expected and an even shockingly longer time to blog about!

Anyway enough of my rambling, I know you all just want to see what we sent each other so let's get on to the photos.

Sue wrapped all my gifts in dress making pattern paper.

   

Each one with a little tag hinting as to what I might find inside.

Touristy bits with class - definitely!

A pretty notebook which I have hidden from my daughter Rachel!

Three fabulous fabrics which I have lovingly added to my stash and now I just need to find the perfect project for, time to starting pinning again I think!

These were too lovely to be hidden away until Christmas 

so have been added to the walls of my new studio.

My favourite New Zealand tea, which is sadly not being made anymore, so I'm savouring this last box.

A gorgeous brooch/pendant in one of my favourite colours, what's not too love!

A couple of New Zealand magazines, to be enjoyed in my new studio with a cup of New Zealand tea (see above)

Both Sue and I love foxes and Sue made me this amazing pouch,

which when I unzipped it contained......

...these sweet poppets, tiny balls of yarn,

I haven't decided yet whether to make something from them 

or use them to decorate a wreath for my studio.

The foxy themed continued with this New Zealand made wooden fox brooch.

There was also this very arty New Zealand sheep tea towel

And finally this very pretty necklace made from an old stamp.

As you can see Sue thoroughly spoiled me and I loved everything in my parcel.

Thank you Sue for being such a wonderful swap partner and for letting me know I have a sister all the way over in New Zealand!

Here's what I finally sent to Sue.

It became apparent right from the start that Sue has "a thing" for London buses, 

Cath Kidston and polka dots, 

so I made this Cath inspired spotty London bus cushion for her.

I found these London bus themed goodies on Ebay and had to hide the mug from my hubby as he thought it was a gift for him!!! I think it would look fab holding pencils/paintbrushes or I did think it could be turned into a pin cushion.

Although I am still on my fabric buying ban (and still going strong) I can

buy for swaps if I need to and as I didn't have anything suitable in my stash and Mrs Kidston had kindly designed this London bus fabric I found on Ebay I thought it rude not to send it to Sue.

Both Sue and I love a cup of tea, but Essex is known for it's salt and not it's tea leaves, so I opted for a good old Yorkshire tea to be enjoyed with as many Toffifees as Sue can fit in her mouth in one go!

Essex is a funny county and quite misunderstood by those that have never visited and this tea towel sums up my rural seaside home rather well.

My parcel to Sue wouldn't have been complete without something foxy. 

The lovely Angela from Card Bubble designed these fabulous foxy cards 

And I added a foxy cross stitch kit and a couple of foxy stationary bits to finish off.

This swap was so much fun to take part in and I really enjoyed getting to know Sue. 

Thank you Kimberley for organising another super Share your Country Swap and thank you to sue for being such a generous swap partner. 

Share Your Country Swap

Back in January (it really can't have been that long ago!) Kimberley over at Creative Chaos organised a 

Share your country Swap

with the idea being to send 5 things that symbolise the country you live in / were born in.

Something to eat; something hand made by you that represents your country;  a tourist nick nack; a stationery item ie notecards,postcards, a pen; a souvenir tea towel. 

I was paired with the very lovely New Zealander

 Elaina from A Little Bit Country

Now Elaina made it very easy for me as her About Me page on her blog is very informative

and having decided that as we are both excessive tea drinkers, a tea is so very English, that this would have to be one of the themes along with London as this is where Elaina met her husband and fell in love, not only with an Englishman, but with the city.

You can read about Elaina's London story here 

Before I show you what I sent to Elaina here is the wonderful package that Elaina put together for me.

some very tasty sweets that I ate in hiding in my workroom as I didn't want to share 

(is that mean of me?)

These sweet little bags (I am growing quite a collection of these from my new Zealand swaps) and some Manuka honey soap

Some delicious teas - which I'm looking forward to trying

a very bright and cheerful New Zealand bird tea towel

a handmade necklace showing the islands of New Zealand and a New Zealand magnet

a New Zealand themed tea pot shaped tea bag/spoon rest

some postcards of Elaina's favourite beach and a gorgeous summer magazine which i am going to enjoy reading now that the sun has come out here in England.

And here is what I sent Elaina, 

everything either had a tea, London or red, white and blue theme.

I found this fabulous red, white and blue London, tea pot fabric 

which I made into a quilted mug rug

and these cute lavender filled tea bags

because I thought Elaina might want to make something for herself from the fabrics I added a little bundle of them

along with this London ribbon

I have an old map book in my stash and used this London part to make a felt heart

and I found these super wartime London tea themed stickers on ebay.

I know that Elaina loves to collect china and I was really lucky on one of my charity shop hunts to find this little trinket box

And finally I sent some teabags 

 and some shortbread

Thank you to Kimberley for organising such a wonderful swap and thank you to Elaina for putting together such a lovely swap parcel.