Mini Monty

I love swaps

If you've been visiting here at Mini Monty than you'll know Im a Huge fan of Swap-bot, the on line swapping site. Ive received some great stuff and met some really great swappers. But every now and then Im blown away by people and their talent at crafting, or sending me something that I really love.

I joined in a Pin Cushion swap for some fun over the school holidays and Im yet to finish mine, but yesterday I received a package in the mail from South Australia in the Barossa Valley. Marie sent me the sweetest pin cushion and a little extra!

The Pin cushion is cross stitched little owl and a matching covered tape measure! I LOVE IT!

Marie informs me that the Pin cushion is a biscornw, I always wondered what that meant and now I know. Thanks Marie for taking the time to read my profile and making me something so special, and I just have to say it's all sewn up so beautifully!

And in another package I received some yummy vintage sheets. Lori and I have swapped before and she contacted me asking if I would like to do another sheet swap. Of course I was up for it.

Thanks Lori Im saving up to make a quilt. Very sweet! 

And some BIG news came my way yesterday too, my application that I sent into "Meet me at Mikes" was accepted and Pip ordered six of my Owls...woohoo Im over the moon. So guess what im doing for the next week....yep making owls.

Hope your day was filled with good news and lovely packages too!

Linen,linen on the wall.

Now that is finished I don't want to swap it. I made it as an Art Quilt for a Swap on swap bot. But its turned into more than that. I now have plans for a series or garland of them, which means I will need to make another one of these or make something new for my swap partner. Ah the dilemmas.

Its so hard to take photos of linen with white writing. Made form all second hand goods. Yay. except the fabric on the back, but hey the front is all thrifted including the linen napkin. I used foil behind the cloud, as I didn't have any silver fabric, but guess what mum pulled out of her stash yesterday. Yep so Im all set for the next one. Its funny how you start to really think about the words your stitching and what does "every cloud has a silver lining" mean. That everyone has some good in them...Its a weird one.

 and speaking of thrifty finds, look at this adorable bunny.

Someone has put so much work into this little guy. his all hand stitched and stuffed so solidly, I cant imagine how they did it so well.

He looks old and his eyes are a bit on the yellow side but his still handsome. Even his clothes are hand stitched together.

I wonder where he came from and who made him? I'II never know but he has a new home now, and many kidlets to love him, although if you ask the kids they will tell you his Mummy's.

Happy thifthing people.

 
 

Who knew?

I never thought quilting was my thing but im really enjoying dipping my toes in the water so to speak. I went to Craft fest on Friday with my mommy dearest and my Dad looked after my kids so I was KID FREE... I was so in my element, however I have to say I was disappointed in the old fest. I found it to be more a Beading and Scrapping show than anything else, with that being said I did come away with a few purchases. One being a charm pack that was reduced to $20 it had some Owl fabrics in is so I couldn't resist. So where's this leading....Im getting there, I needed to make another beby gift and for some insane reason thought I could make a quilt with some of the fabric's from the pack.

So long story, not so short I decided on a stacked coin quilt with a difference, cause I didn't have heaps of boy type charm squares, I added more white.

So off I went on my merry way, don't look to closely folks, but im shocked to say it coming together and quite quickly.

So Ive cut out the batting and was deciding on the backing, had it all picked out. When to bed and work up and thought "no" that's not what im looking for. So today I whipped up the backing.

I thought the white with the strip to brake it up would look good one quilted. I embroidered Bubs name and date of birth. So that's as far as Ive got, now any suggestions on the best way to machine quilt that is quick and easy? im thinking I may just zig zag or run lines across?? Ive never free motioned on a quilt before and have tried on scrap to no avail. Ideas welcomed peoples.

And just to top off the quilting theme here are the next Blocks on the BOM Im in with swap-bot.

Very Pink, Pink for the Month of October, Breast Cancer awareness month.

A bit wonky, but Still good, very pink, did I say that? I did. I likey a lot.

So who knew I'd be quilting and loving it even if its wonky.  
 

Swapsies...

I hosted another swap on Swap-bot, this time for a Pincushion Cuff that you can wear.

It was quick, easy and really fun, I may make some more just because. Made it up as I went.

and I received a swap from a lovely Lady in the U.S It was for a useful Owl item. I got two, a great pin Cushion which Im yet to get a photo of as the Kids took a liking to it and this oh so sweet pouch.

Made from recycled sweater...I love him.

Back tomorrow with that mother load I found at the local thrift store...sorry I have just gotten around to taking photos of them all. Check out my flickr if you cant wait...(yer Im sure your all running to flickr right now...lol) Click the flickr link at the top of my page...incase you were wondering.

Have a great Monday...
 
 

Check it out

If you haven't seen it already you need to check out Missie Krissie' blog. She had just designed a new jewelry tree and its stunning. I ve ordered a few times from Krissie and I love her hand made jewelry.

So krissy is having a giveaway to  launch her new Tree made from sliver wear.

It has places to hold everything. Go check out her blog and you can see what I mean. Support a local Aussie artist too.

At home Mini Monty, Ive been reading...alot, but when I haven't been, I made a fabric folder for a swap I hosted way back in March, one of the swappers got flaked on so I angel-ed...eventually. Its a folder to hold ATC or Artist Trading Cards. The swapper asked for a folder and since im not a scrap-booker type with paper and glue, I pieced one together from scratch with fabric.

 

I embroidered the letters and added a card, sewn on just to break up the block of green material. My swapper also liked green, so I added different variations.

 

Inside I added a pocket and a ribbon to tie up plastic pockets. It started out as a folder cover that you could slip on to an ordinary folder but I stuffed up and ended up slipping in bits of cardboard to make it into its own folder, I just sewed the cardboard in place, which was difficult as it didn't exactly fit under my machine I had to roll up one side to get it threw, if you know what I mean.

 

The back, before I Ironed it out! He he

 

So it got there eventually and Im happy to report she liked it. This was one of those things that was always in the back of my mind, bugging me and I felt bad for the swapper who didn't get anything when she had put alot of work into her swap for someone else. *breath* sigh* its done!

Brown Owls

On monday night I attended my second Brown Owls meeting. It was a Cupcake and Mulled wine Material swap! That's quite a mouth full to say and write. We brought along 5 fat quarters wrapped in newspaper to swap. I ended up with this stash.

 

some pretty cool fabrics, Love the three at the front..Ive always wanted that fish fabric...Thanks ladies. I sat with some great gals and learned to crochet not something I was not expecting to do.Jo was teaching Cindyand I sat in and then ended up with some of Jo's wool and before I knew it I was hooked! Pardon the Pun. So Im slowly coming along...

 

The pink one at the top was the first one I did with Jo, and the one with the pink boarder was my at home attempt and as you can see my third is getting neater. However Im still having trouble with joining the round, but I got on to Pip's blog and worked out what I was doing wrong. So I have to say a Big Thank you to Joannabecause of you I can now granny...yay! It was great to meet new people and I introduced myself to Kristy as im going to spend the day with her and others on the 18th making the Great Mulity Tasker. If your in Melbourne and Local check it out, I think Kirst still has places.

So over all I had a productive night. Thanks Pip for hosting.

Kitchen Swap Arrived

Hello there, I hope you've enjoyed your weekend, and in my case a long weekend! I received an email from Nancy who was my swap partner in the Kitchen swap which was hosted by Sew Fantastic.

You could make or buy and send 3 items minimum as long as they were kitchen related!

Ive always wanted to try and make those wicked kitchen gloves with the oil cloth trim...So that's exactly what I did.

 

I had the oil cloth from when I went to the quilt show, I love how they turned out. I then built the rest around the gloves. I made the recipe folder next and printed off some cards to put in it. They are all free designs off other crafters blogs. Im shocking for not taking note of WHO's blog Im taking them off. They were all One Pretty Thing, if that helps...

 

My Sewing machine didn't take well to sewing through the Oil Cloth, I don't know why they call it that it more like pvc, or vinyl.

 

I embroider a tea towel and added some goodies.

 

Some Tea I brought at the Salamanca Market in Tassie, and some Olive oil soap. I added a shopping list pad too.

So hop on over and check out Nancy's blog and Sew Fantastic's blog too.

Paper Bag Swap Done and Recieved!

Kris got my package the other day and has posted about it so now I can show you what I made with the materials she sent me!

 

I made a hand bag, and used linen from my stash, which Im quite fond of, but this linen dose have a down fall, it creases easy! Any who, I embroider some birds and flowers as I read on Kristin's Blog that she likes birds. I used some stitching pattern from Cinderberry mixed in with my own design, I put a K in the tree.

 

        

Its a good size to transport all her goodies even her crafts. Next came the wallet, it was so easy to put together I may just have to make one for myself!

 

 

An then I tried ti make a key pouch out of one of my Japanese craft books

 

 

And from the scraps I made a broach, which I put on top of a paper bag, with some chocolate and Tea that I brought whilst in Tasmania.

Im happy to read that Kirs was in need of a new bag and wallet, so it all came in very handy!

Owls in Three Mediums

I can finally reveal one of my swaps as my swap partner received it. With this swap you had to create/gather owls in three different mediums. One being brought from and op-shop/ thrift shop and the other two you could do what you liked, Draw, make, create in any form as long as they were different. I chose to part with my cross stitch owl that I have show you in an earlier post, as I really didn't have the space to hang it and the colours don't really suit my house.

I also showed you my owls stuffie half made in my creative space... this is him finished.

 

 

I quite like his doilies eyes. I found a whole set of them at Savers, I think they were coasters? And I tried real plastic eyes for the first time. I think his handsome.

For my third medium, I carved a rubber stamp... it was a bit fiddly, and it turned out o.k

 

He looks like he had a hard night! too many Tequila grubs I think!

I threw in a owl button for  good measure too. Im happy to report Wendy from Queensland loved her package!! So im happy too.

Now im just waiting for Kris to get her package so I can show you what I made!

Have a good Monday, Im off to Brown Owls tonight, quite appropriate really!

A Challenge from Amitie

Well, throw down the gauntlet! What the heck is a gauntlet and how?

Yesterday I received this letter in the mail.

 

They had a visit from Sue Spargo and have gone embellishment mad! So my challenge is to make something from the ribbons provided. My mind has been working over time, and Ive already decided what it is Im going to make. So stay tuned, if you want to become a VIP Blog member visit amitie and join the fabric fun then by all means ....join.

PAY IT FORWARD

I was lucky enough to join Mary Grace from Hooked on Needles and her PIF register. Today I finally took a picture of what she sent me. I was very spoiled!

 

Blue scarf, just in time cause the Melbourne weather has turned arctic...a beaded charm which is now hanging on my hand bag. Mmonogrammed cards, how cool! and fabric bucket, a handy tea wallet, love the colours and a mini photo album.

 

I haven't taken it off since I got it!

Now If you want to become part of my Pay it forward I still have two more places! Comon' you know you want to...I will make you something within the year and then you in turn will make something for three others. Please don't make me beg now...

Toffel I haven't forgot about you, I know what it is im making you I just need to wait till my swaps a finished.

I joined another blog land swap, this time its for the Kitchen. More on that next time.

I had a mole cut out yesterday on my shoulder and im strapped up like a footballer.I didn't ask how many stitches, didn't feel a thing when they did it, but now its a tad bit sore.

Till next time