a happy mailbox.

 Ashely ( spotted dog quilting blog ) 

and I made a trade recently.

For Ashley - I created two crochet pincushions.

And I received a yard of the  

adorable travel trailer fabric 

and a couple of pieces of this cute 

scalloped circles fabric.  

Thank you so much Ashley, it was 

a lot of fun trading with you!

 

Another trade was between Jocelyn (who does not have a blog - yet!) and I.  I didn't take a picture of the goodies I mailed to her (a misc. package of fabrics from my stash).  But we are both creating the row along quilt that 

Lori over at Bee In My Bonnet is hosting, and it has been so much fun sharing fabrics between the two of us!

In addition to trading, I received the sweetest gift from Jocelyn.  I have really enjoyed chatting with her through emails about quilting, crochet, good books to read, etc.  My heart was touched when she wanted to send a treat in the mail to say thanks for answering her quilting questions.  It was such a delight to do so!  My heart is warmed by your kindness.  Thank you so much Jocelyn!

heading to the post office.

The granny squares that I was working on over the weekend, came together as a scarf, today.  This is my favorite crochet creation and the one that takes the longest to do. 

I am the the process of making 2 trades and can hardly wait to show you what they are.  My darling granny square scarf is en route to Canada!  And my charcoal gray one has already arrived in San Diego.

Oh boy!  Trading is so much fun!!

(both scarves can be found in my little etsy shop)

I have the most happiest of mailboxes. I can assure you.

(from Debbie at Happy Little Cottage.  Each day begins with my cup of coffee and checking on blogs to see if Debbie has posted, who by the way has the cutest of Etsy shops)

(this lovely Denyse Schmidt fabric is from Nicke at kiss kiss .... quilt.  we do not have a Joann fabrics near by (like not even in the state) and as I posted about falling madly in love with her fabrics, Nicke sent several fat quarters, after my sending her fabrics from my stash.  I am just dying to do something with them, with the ones above from Debbie)

(hand over my heart ... I nearly squealed when I opened this little treasure.  Mary from Molly Flanders sent these buttons in a thank you parcel, for two bracelets I had created for she and her sweet daughter Molly.  I can hardly wait to create something very dear with them.  They sit on my desk so I can see them and dream of the possibilities)

(these goodies and fabric are from my new blogging friend Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter, after making a recent fabric trade.  I am so happy to be meeting Amy this year at The Sewing Summit and being able to say "hello" in person)

Over the past couple of weeks, I have received the dearest of parcels from blogging friends, who either out of kindness, they sent a gift to me, or through a trade of sorts.  I can hardly wait to share what came in the mail.   

My sentimental heart overflows.

meant to be.

I think it is safe to say, that if you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I love to barter.  I am a stay at home, home school mom, with no income.  Oh, and I love to quilt.  You do the math.  (wink) 
With no desire to put my family into unnecessary debt and a deep desire to create lovely quilts, I knew I needed to come up with a plan.  I have been creating jewelry for many years now.  I typically sell in town, or one on one.  My favorite creations have been personal ones.  To remember a dear deceased dad, to usher in the miracle of a new baby, a special way of saying "I love you" to a wife ... those are the jewelry pieces that bring me the most pleasure.  And those orders trickle in from time to time.  I do however have a surplus of other pieces that slowly I have been able to trade for fabric.  

Back in September of 2010, Mary and I made a trade.  Amongst her lovely fabrics, was 3 yards of Rural Jardin by French General.  In my favorite colors.  I could hardly wait to use it.  So I tucked it away.  Waiting for just the right plan.  Imagine my delight when Ms. Betty Lou and I agreed on a trade, and her portion was a 12 pack of Rural Jardin fat quarters!!  My mind has been racing the past few days ... trying to decide what to create, that would use every stitch of this lovely fabric.  I don't want to waste a single thread.

And how cute is this card!!  

I adore those sweet polka dots!

Thank you so much Ms. Betty Lou.  I will cherish the fabric and am so glad that you love your new bracelet and little tissue pack.  It has been a real joy trading with you.

parcels.

This past week I received some very sweet  goodies in my mail box that I wanted to share with you.  A darling little chocolate bar of fabric and sweet card from my friend Vanessa over at V and Co.  She has to be one of my very favorite blogs and I credit her with my adventures in quilting.  She was one of the very first blogs I started reading, and tried to create nearly everything she shared with us.  Thanks so much Vanessa!  I will create something very special with the sweet fabric. 

 

 

Donna over at Donna's Lavender Nest sent six of her very own books to me after reading my new love of The Elm Creek Quilts series.  I am so excited to have these books and will savor every word!!  Thank you so much Donna!  This is most generous of you!!  Each book is like a gift just waiting to be opened! 

Another lovely package arrived this past week as well.  Melissa over at Lilac Lane, and I made a real fun trade (2 pair of earrings for fabric) and I have been anxiously waiting to show you the sweet fabrics that were received on my end.  

Included in her package of fabric was an unexpected surprise.  A package of adorable cards that she creates and sells in her shop.  I have just the perfect use for them in mind!  My daughter's senior portraits that will need to be sent out in a few weeks.  Thank you so much Melissa!

And last but definitely not least, new fabric for my stash.  Imagine my surprise when I opened my parcel to find the lovely "just picked" fat quarters that I purchased coupled with 5 additional fat quarters of Tonya Whelan's Delilah and delicious ginghams!  Miss Jenny Lynn you could not have blessed me more!  Thank you so much!!

all in one day.

Friday.  Friday was a good day.  

My dear quilting friend, Angela and I made a trade.

My handcrafted jewelry for yarn.

I truly believe I am the one who is the most spoiled between the two of us.

Can I just say ... I nearly squealed when I opened the box!!!  

Thank you so much Angela!  

I love it all.  I hugged the yarn when it was being taken out of the box!

 The UPS guy dropped by too, with a sweet surprise from Woody.  My very own copy of "An Elm Creek Quilts Sampler."  I have never read these books (and this copy contains the first three!) and can hardly wait for a quiet moment, to get started.

ps.  I love to barter!

If you are interested in seeing the jewelry I have, I would be thrilled to make a trade {of course cold hard cash is always nice.  ha ha ha - but it is so much more fun to trade}. 

cut cut cut cut

I just love the idea of one thing challenge, per week.
I am one of those types who implodes at the sight of too much to do.
I don't know where to start and then I don't and well you get the picture ... nothing gets done.  So having the challenge to choose just one thing and go for it,  is perfect for me!

After receiving a great deal of beautiful fabrics through bartering my handcrafted jewelry, for, each color was coordinated.  I absolutely adore patchwork quilts!  And so I began pressing, measuring and cutting every stitch of new to me fabrics, into 5" squares.  Then 3" squares and the rest is in a box for a dear friend of mine.

This is the backing and binding for my warm toned quilt.

And here is the plan.
So when given the opportunity for some personal sewing
I will be able to grab this quilt to be
and get going.

If you have bartered with me and see any of your beloved fabrics, don't be shy!  I would love to hear from you.  I am super grateful for the ladies who helped me to build my fabric stash.  What a fun hobby quilting has been to me!  And each of you have added love to each of my upcoming projects.  How that touches my heart!

My goals for this week:

bind queen sized quilt (Christmas gift)

finish binding candle mats (Christmas gifts)

finish rag quilt (Christmas gift)

YIKES!  Wish me luck!

a bartering story - with Amber

 

 Welcome to what appears to be my last bartering story Friday.

And this may be last, but certainly not least!!

Today I am sharing a most recent trade with

Amber at A Little Bit Biased.

Boy oh boy, is it hard to stay on task with my Christmas quilt, 

when I have all these adorable fabrics to play with!  (The upper left

fabric is woven through out my Christmas quilt!)

 

  And what a sweet surprise, to open the box of fabrics and find Amber's latest pattern amongst them!!  My very first pattern!  I could not be happier!! 

Thank you so much Amber.  

I absolutely love your blog and it was 

such a joy working with you in our trading!

* * *

I bet you all want to see what I sent in return, huh?! 

 

a few of my favorite pieces that went to a loving home

The lights are not permanently shut off with trading, just no more takers as of yet - so if you are interested, check out my Etsy shop then let me know what you would like for yourself.  Not to mention my bartering button on top of my blog, there are a few other choices in there that are not in the Etsy shop.

Thank you so much for those of you who have participated!

My cup runneth over!!  

Well my fabric armoire that is!

a bartering story - with Lori

 welcome to another episode of ...

a bartering story

(narrated in a vintage radio show voice)

 

Delighted is an understatement as to how I felt when opening this beautiful box of fabrics.  Lori {Bee In My Bonnet} absolutely blessed me with the sweetest of prints and did you happen to notice the gingham?  Oh my ... my heart sang when I saw those.  You all know how much I love gingham!  My little collection is beginning to grow and I can hardly wait to piece it all together!!

As you can see, the traded items were 2 zipper pulls and a lanyard created exclusively for Lori!!  She creates the most darling appliqued quilts I have set my eyes on.  Talk about swooning ... I could just admire her work all day long!

It was such a pleasure trading with you Lori.  

Thank you for the opportunity!!

a bartering story - with Jodi and Sherry

this has been the largest trade I have participated in

54 1/2 yards

and no, I am not kidding you!

Sherry traded 42 yards (older fabrics)

1/2 yard cuts = 20 1/2 yards

1 yard cuts = 9 yards

2 yard cuts = 8 yards

1/4 yards cuts = 4 1/2 yards

I could just kick myself for not photographing

the jewelry before mailing it!

I created 3 crystal, silver and pewter bead 

bracelets and 1 lanyard.

and Jodi {Pleasant Home} traded 12 1/2 yards (newer fabrics)

fat quarters = 5 1/2 yards

short of a fat quarter = 3 yards

1/4 yard cuts = 1 3/4 yards

1/3 - 1/2 yard cuts = 2 1/3 yards

I created 1 necklace, turquoise earrings, 

3 charms, 2 zipper pulls

 

click on image to enlarge

what a treat it has been working with Jodi

she is just the sweetest and 

it feels like fabric heaven in my little craft room

I will put to wonderful use all the fabrics I am receiving!

a bartering story - with Mary

  

I could hardly wait to begin my little scheduled programing of the bartering that has been going on around here.  I will be listing and sharing each Friday, for the next month, unless the bartering continues!  Then it will just keep on going - smile!

This week I would like to share the trading that went on between Mary and I.  What fun it was looking at all the fabric photos she sent my way and such a joy to package up my beloved lanyards then ship them off to her.  Not to mention that she was one of the zipper pull winners of my little give a way over at Jodi's.

Thank you so much Mary!  I really enjoyed the process of trading!  I love the fabrics you sent and have immediate plans for them all!