Patience required.

I seem to have an inability to resist getting involved in Flickr swaps.  Is it the thrill of not knowing who my partner will be? Of seeing the amazing photos posted and crossing my fingers that it will end up at my house?  Or the fun of stalking my assigned partner, trying to guess what they’d like?  I have no idea… but they are FUN.

The { Urban } HOME Goods Swap is a collection of an amazing number of very talented sewists, and the inspiration is truly amazing overwhelming.  I’d like to show you the goodies I received from my partner, Krista, and also what I made for my (other) partner, Kerri.  This is a blind swap; meaning I know who I’m making items for, but I have no idea who is making something for me.

Here’s what Krista made for me – a beautiful dresden mini quilt that is already hanging on my wall, and a thread catcher that I never knew I needed and USE SO MUCH now that I have it!  She also sent me a few fat quarters and a sweet card :)

Here’s what I made for Kerri, but what’s not pictured is the coasters that matched – can’t seem to find the picture! ARGH!

The inspiration for this mini quilt came from Amy’s work @ Nanacompany.  Have you seen her work?!  She is incredibly talented and incorporates such a fun mix of machine and hand work.  I could spend hours looking at her work (maybe I have, maybe many times).   Her work looks so natural, and whimsy.  I don’t know how she manages to make everything look as polished as she does – I’m guessing practice?   This was the first time I attempted a project like this, and it took a LONG time to complete!  I did, however, realize how much I loved doing projects that take a lot of forethought.  Most of the things I do don’t… I either follow a pattern, or I wing a quilt design that isn’t very complicated.  It was a really great learning experience, and took tremendous patience.  Hopefully Kerri enjoys it!