Polka dot swap

As I enjoyed the pincushion swap so much I entered a couple more. This post is about the first one, with the theme of polka dots.

This one was run by the Popular Crafts magazine. The magazine is published every two months and they host a swap for each edition. The rules are that you make something for your swap partner with the theme, polka dots in this case, and you enclose a little present, not more than £3 in value. Though the rules say just one little present, I have found that most swappers add a little more to their swap packages. Swapping gives you delights twice, you have the fun of making something and putting a package together and then you receive one for yourself that's full of loveliness!

Anyway back to the polka dots. My partner was named George, she works at Waterstones, which, as it turned out, was of great benefit to me, but that's later. 

Ideally, you're supposed to use items in your stash to make your items, but, although I have some polka dot material, they're quite dull colours. So I cheated a bit and popped to Calico Laine and bought some light blue polycotton with white dots.

I made George a brooch cushion (with a china brooch attached) and a lavender sachet in the polka dot fabrics. Her little present was a set of crossgrain ribbons, plus one of my brooches and a little card.

George made me a tote bag (her first bag, exceedingly well made) with the polka dot element being the bag lining. The bag has my name embroidered onto it and is also decorated with buttons, sequins and felt butterflies. My little extras were some felt birds, mini luggage labels, a tin full of map postcards and (this is where George working for a book shop helped, she gets free books!) a copy of 'All Sewn Up' by Chloe Owens. I'd seen items out of this book in Mollie Makes and it was on my, 'I must have one of those' book list so I was thrilled when I saw it. The whole parcel was wrapped in lining paper decorated with various stamped motifs, so it was a joy from start to finish.

Wasn't I a luck girl? 

I'll tell you about my other swap next time.

TTFN
Louise.