It's Friday !

I guess my favourite thing today is finding out that I love swapping!


Especially when I get goodies like these:

Made especially for me by the lovely Emily at The strawberry patch!

But it is not only the goodies that are brilliant it is also getting to know everyone involved in the swap - I had to stalk my two partners secretly and I feel I want to get to know them better (hope they do too when they get what I made them!)

I certainly want to keep in touch with Emily!

 I also was inspired to try out some new things:

Free Motion Applique and/or Embroidery - love making little pictures and my first was this one here made for my swap partner

Zips in pouches - had put off doing this for a long time and thanks to Kat's no nonsense tutorial here! I am not frightened of zips!

And although I didn't send this off I also made a fabric basket from one of the tutorials recommended by the swappers

And finally I have learnt to use Flickr more during the swap by commenting on the swap items being made.  I used to think it a poor alternative to Blogging but I see it has it's place.

Now big thank yous need to go to Cindy at Fluffy Sheep Quilting who hosted this great swap - looking forward to round 2 - but not quite yet!

Susan at Canadian Abroad who nudged me into it....I didn't go quietly!

And all those lovely people who said kind things about what I was making but especially Susan and Helen at Archie the Wonderdog!  How would I have coped without them!

Roll on the next batch - yes not just one - but four swaps!  We have been assigned partners for the Scrappy Swap hosted by Kat on flickr here! - so I am off to do a bit of stalking...just need to get my tweeds on and you may see me in the hills coming up downwind of you though of course I'll be trying to sneak around unnoticed!  Shhhh!

This post has been linked to Favourite Things Friday over at Quilting in my Pyjamas!