Pincushion Swap

About 12 months ago I joined a pincushion swap on the Crafty Bits  Blog.  My partner was Ruth in USA.  I posted my pincushion which she received and she posted her parcel to me which I never received until today.  It was a lovely surprise, I love the pear pincushion and  the 2 patterns that Ruth sent me.  I would like to thank Ruth for the lovely gifts and also Australia Post for finally geting the parcel to me.  The date on the postage stamp was 19th November 2011. I guess all good things come to those who wait,

The wonderful package I received!

The package I received was from Madelyn ~ I was just floored by the wonderful package I received. Where do I even start? Oh I know, the AMAZING purse that she made me! I love making purses and I think this is the first time anyone as ever made me a purse ~ and it has a zipped pouch to match. Not only that she sent me a large piece of the fabric. Guess I'll have to make myself a few more matching accessories.

The other thing I really loved is the owl key chain she also made. I love lace embroidery!

How cute are these accessories ~ especially the little tin

Also in the package was a great Owl potholder pattern ~ which I can't wait to try.

And last but not least the cutest knee socks EVER! Alas, they were too cute and stolen by my daughter before I could even blink!

Thank you so much for the wonderful package which I will be enjoying for many years to come, I'm sure!

Julz swap package

I'm so sorry I'm late with this public thank you ~ Had the crud that was going around the family which unfortunately turned into pneumonia ~ and it kicked my butt! Doing much better now and trying to catch up on my life.
Julianne and I both participated in the Owl swap and man ~ did we have amazing partners.
Here's the package Julianne received....

Julianne was partnered with the amazing McKenna, who she adores. I would imagine Jill also had a hand in this package and what a package it was. The handmade owl ~ just too adorable. It is sitting on Julz bed along with a few other select favorites.

And the journal is so unique and so amazing. Julianne loves loves loves books to write in!

And just check out these little owl hooks ~

There were also some adorable owl ear buds that were hooked up to her iTouch and in here ears within seconds of opening the package. Not to mention the note cards and note pads and the book "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen, who also happens to be from Florida and is one of our favorite authors. We've read most of his adult and young adult books.

And Jill didn't forget me at all ~ and she knows me so well. She sent me this lovely assortment of Flamingo goodies. Makes me want to have a flamingo party ASAP. Thanks guys. So much more than we could have hoped for!

Owl Love That Makes You Cry

This is my daughter. She has swapped along with me for the last few years. She loves swap mail! She knows the drill, you wait until Mommy gets home from work and has the camera in hand to open the package. She even reminded me that I usually snap a picture of her with the package.

After posing with the package, then it's time to dig in to see what's inside the package. She was excited to find an owl bag stuffed with tissue paper and more goodies!

Look at all of the things Julz (and Barb) sent. As I mentioned before my daughter has lots of swap experience but she was so cute about this package. She started to tear up and made me stop taking pictures until she cleared her eyes. She loved the pillowcase for her travel pillow(Barb made her an awesome Florida pillowcase and travel pillow when we met them in Florida a year and a half ago. She still uses that travel pillow all the time!) They also included owl paper, owl cards, an owl craft. an owl pouch, an owl purse and our favorite . . . .

This owl picture, painted by the talented Julz! Don't you love it? We do!!! It's already on display. Thank you Julz and Barb for enough owl love to make us cry! Awesome package! Thank you!!!!

OWL BE SHOWING YOU WHAT I GOT ...

Thank you Barb ..... Wow, I was sooooo spoilt:-)
I recieved my owls swap package yesterday - lots of loveliness wrapped in red tissue paper!!!
So, I guess y'all want to see what I got ....

First, there was all these wonderful paper and scrapbooking goodies. I've made 2012 my year to get caught up on all things scrapbooking (ok, so it may take longer than a year!!!), so these will be put to good use.

This is piece de resistance #1 ..... Isn't it lovely?
My very own owl clutch!!!! And as if it couldn't get better than that - it's in pink!!!! Barb's work is beautiful:-) I love, love, love this new clutch of mine.

As if 1 piece de resistance piece wasn't enough ..... TaDah ..... piece de resistance #2 ..... an owly mini quilt!!! This will proudly hang alongside my other mini quilts in my crafty abode (my kids know it as moms office!!!) ... All my mini quilts have been gifts from friends .... I'm a very lucky girl:-)

Thanks Jill for hosting ... it was a whole bundle of fun, and thanks again Barb for bringing a smile to my day!!!!

Owl Goodness

So by now all of our owl packages are flying around the world, just waiting to land at their intended destination. I was lucky enough to receive this owl package from Ngaire. It arrived the day before I left on vacation so I'm a bit slow posting a picture. Now that I'm home it's time to share my owl goodies. Ngaire sent an owl emery board, a wooden owl and an owl softie all tucked into an adorable owl gift bag. The owl softie is made from a sweater, so you know I was going to be in love with it! Thank you Ngaire for my owls, I love them!!!

I hope everyone will be happy with their packages of owl goodness!

Happy Hooters.....

Yeah the title is cheesy...but it got your attention, right?

Okay...so here is my lovely package from Cassie! I love EVERYTHING...she totally got me with those TOADSTOOL napkins!
The Tim Tams were good but lasted about an hour...hahaha......all that felt and those stickers will be used up quickly.
And look at the sweet hootie and the hootie sewing case...


here is the inside of the case...just precious!



an check this adorable owl watch...oh my gosh! When you squeeze its "ears" the wings open to expose the watch! (okay so owls don't have big old ears, but you know what I mean..the feather tufts that LOOK like ears....)

Cassie....thank you SO much, I adore everything!!!

on its way

I had a blast making a few things and while most are obvious, the long thing is a plastic bag holder we all have so many of...

I hope she likes everything!

night owl

be it a coaster for a cold drink or little birdie water dish, I hope my secret partner likes this little night owl

Just a little hint....

Just a little hint of something that will be going out to my partner in the not too distant future!

Owl works in progress

I created a couple of owl items this week. The first is a journal made from a composition notebook. I altered it using scrapbook paper, Sharpie markers and an old yellowed book page.

I also made this small pouch from one of my favorite felted wool sweaters. It's a bit wonky as I'm not very good at sewing zippers. Wonky or not, he's definitely growing on me. I'm not sure he's swap worthy, though my daughter assures me she wants it if I don't send it off to a new home. Really, he might fit nicely in my purse stuffed full of Sharpie pens for drawing. One way or another he'll have a home.

What owl works do you have in progress?

thinking

sometimes I doodle what I am thinking of, just to see if I will like it......

hmmmmmm....

A little Owlspiration

So many adorable owls out there ~ Lot's and lots of inspiration on Pinterest.
You can see my Owl board here for starters and from there it is unlimited!

more owls

I adore owls. I have always loved them. I love their big eyes and there feathers that look like fur.
Every now and then, I see an owl at dusk. Sometimes when walking the dogs, they will look up....and we will see an owl as it passes by. They are so silent that we can't hear them...but the dogs can. They are such amazing creatures.

On someones facebook page, I found these kitchen owls from recycled things..here are 2 of my favorites...

owl lovers....

I stumbled across this blog today while looking up owl ideas...and realized I had stumbled across it several times over the last year or two.....such a neat website!

and then I found THESE cuties too!

Begs the question....

What should I make??????????

Owl Patterns

Here are two patterns I have that I haven't used yet. I'm not sure I'm going to use either for the swap. I'm trying to decide exactly I'm doing. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Owl Partners

Your owl partner information has been sent. Please e-mail me so I know you got your partner information. Remember, feel free to post sneak peeks and inspirations here.

Let the owl fun begin!

New Swap Announcement

Announcing the . . . . . Give a Hoot - Owl Swap.

If you want to sign up scroll down to the bottom of this message and click the link to sign up.

Swap details:

We are swapping Owls this time.

• Create 2 handmade owl items for your partner
• include 3 little tuck-ins or treats for your partner.

1. Please be prepared to spend or create items that are about a $10 to $15 value. Remember to send something that you would be happy to receive.
   
2. All packages must be mailed by Thursday, March 1st. If you are in the US please use delivery confirmation and send me an e-mail to let me know when you mail and when you receive an owl package.
3. Sign-ups close January 30th at midnight. Partner information will be sent shortly after sign ups close.
4. Let's all play nicely! I hate to have to include this here, however I must. If you cant follow through to create and send a package by the deadline(Thursday, March 1st) please contact me in advance. We don't want any sad swappers! **** This is new: If you are more than 2 weeks late mailing you will not be allowed to swap with me again. Yes I will keep track. Sorry to sound mean, but your tardiness affects not only your partner but my family too. It's unfair to your partner and it takes time away from my family to have to track down people who send late or flake out. We all have good intentions but if you know you might not be able to follow through please don't sign up. I don't like being mean, as it's not in my nature, so please save me the hassle of tracking you down . . . mail on time.

* For this swap your partner is a secret, meaning the person you are making for is not the person who is making for you. If you have questions or need additional information about your partner, contact me. Feel free to check out other participants blogs and make new friends. Also since it's a secret you can post little sneak peeks over at Crafty Bits Swap Spot. I can't wait to see! If you have other concerns or swap questions please contact me at jillytacy@yahoo.com

***Sign up by clicking here.***

Happy Owl Swapping!