PMQG swap potholders

So back in November, at our Portland Modern Quilt Guild meeting, we were asked to bring along some swatches of fabrics (no more than to fill a ziploc sandwich bag).  Everyone dumped their baggie onto the table, then at the end of the night, everyone left with a different baggie full of fabric to make something for the original person. Sounded like a great idea until I managed to leave in a bit of a panic a half hour before the meeting ended.

It took me three weeks to remember that I hadn’t taken a baggie of fabric when I left.

The ensuing weeks had been crazy (mostly bad-crazy) and the idea of making something for someone else had completely slipped my mind. Then I panicked again.

Luckily for me, one of the fantastic folks at the PMQG had taken the extra baggie and gone ahead and made something. I have no idea what I missed out on, but I am grateful that Brittany took care of it and I didn’t have to add another thing to my to-do list. In the end, it was Brittany who was the lucky recipient of Elizabeth Hartman’s gift, so I think it might actually be fair. 🙂

At the December meeting everyone brought what they’d made, then each person searched for their fabric choices in a finished project. Unfortunately, I had totally forgotten what fabrics I’d turned over, but Amanda from Threadbias saw my name on these potholders. Chris made them for me and they turned out great!

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I actually don’t remember buying that Alexander Henry print and I don’t think the cream fabric was mine. It’s been a hard couple months and my brain has clearly stopped working as it should.

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The potholders are happily at home on my new counter. We moved out of the temp situation with my adult son and into a teeny tiny (450 sq. ft) apartment, just me and my teen daughter at the beginning of December.

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I’ve lost many of my belongings in the moves (four in the last year), including all my shoes and a bunch of kitchen stuff. So the potholders were needed and very much appreciated. I haven’t baked here much since the door of the oven bumps into the couch that doubles as my bed, but I have high hopes for using them.

Thanks, Chris, for taking the time to make them for me. I truly appreciate it and can’t wait to use them!

Threadbias pincushion swap

I’m a big fan of Threadbias, even though I don’t seem to get over there as often as I’d like. It’s a great site for sewists and quilters to share their projects and be inspired by the amazing work of others. One of the best things about it, honestly, are the people there. Everyone is so supportive of each other. It’s the perfect place to go when you need to have someone say ooh and aah over what you just made.

Recently I signed up for my first swap through them, a pincushion swap with Gena from Ontario, Canada. I made her this one using scraps of fabric from Art Gallery’s Alhambra II collection, with a little slice o’ selvage. I’m in love with the colors and their fabrics have a nice hand–soft, but not limp.

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I made a double layer for the bottom and stuffed it with lentils to give it a little weight. I like added oomph that the lentils give it. I’ve also used rice to weight pincushions and that works just as well.

And Gina sent me this… a little mouse pincushion (complete with braided tail and whiskers!) and some little bits and baubles. She included a pack of pins, a bodkin (something I always thought of buying, but never have) and some chocolates that I ate faster than I could snap a photo. Oops.

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It’s super cute and sitting on my desk at work, reminding me to enjoy the creative process and the thrill of handmade. Thanks so much, Gina!

xo!