My Nautical Swap

My first swap for the year was organised by Rachel of House Pinheiro (she organised the pincushion swap last year too). The theme for this year was 'nautical' and my partner was Helen MacFadyen (her blog is called Grosgrain Green - pop over and have a read).

As per usual, it took me a while to decide what to design. Nautical is a huge subject, but I did have a bit of a clue from Helen, as she like anchors. I had a look around Pinterest and pinned some seaside pictures and had a look in my fabric stash for suitable fabrics.

I didn't want to make a cushion as Helen is an accomplished cushion maker herself, so I plumped for the relatively safe pincushion (you can't have too many, I have five that I use regularly!), a needle case (again, useful) and a lavender pillow. Once I had the bit between my teeth I had loads of ideas for nautical makes, but I had to stop somewhere (I will be making them at some stage though).

Here are the finished articles:

Needle case, with anchor.

Lavender pillow, featuring a vintage New Brighton poster.

Seahorse pincushion.

 The pincushion took me a bit of time as I highlighted all of the seaweed in the image with french knots (they can become a little addictive after a while!). The image was sew onto, with blanket stitch, a piece of Vanessa Arbuthnott fabric and stuffed with sheeps' wool (it helps to keep your pins rust free).

The needle case was made from a patchwork of Ian Mankin fabrics (I have some samples, which are very useful for small projects like these, as well as seeing the fabrics in the flesh!).

The anchor image as machine sewn on, the pages of the case are felt and it's fastened with ribbon wrapped around a button.

The lavender pillow has the image directly on the linen fabric it was made with, and a little embroidery of the words 'A gift from New Brighton' and 'Be beside the seaside, Beside the sea' either side an anchor.

My little gift to Helen, was a collection of Teeny Tiny Vintage's wonderful pins.

 The card I made.

Here's what Helen sent to me: 

A needle case. Helen must have been psychic as I'd been meaning to make one of these for my sewing table in my workroom for ages. My needles had been in the two pincushions I have up there, but they were difficult to see in the sea of pins. An excellent choice in some beautiful seasidy fabric, with lobsters on the inside. 

Image from Grosgrain Green

This bag was also made from the lobster fabric, but has little blue seahorses on the inside.

 

Image from Grosgrain Green.

  

Both of these items are beautifully made, reiterated by my Mum who used to make clothes etc on a sewing machine for a living.

 My little present was this card, which is a lino print made by a local Edinburgh artist Sam at Hand Press Print. I've always like lino prints ever since I made one years ago at school. I like the simplicity of the images that still portray an image really well. I could tell that this one was of Scotland before I read Helen's note.

Everything was wrapped in this beautiful paper, which will crop up in one of my 'makes' no doubt.

Another great swap, with a wonderfully talented partner.

TTFN
Louise