Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Summer Sewing Swap with Handmade Jane

Sponsored by Kestrel Finds and Makes!

I was really excited to see the "Royal Mail" package in my postman's arms yesterday, as it has always been my dream to be sent an invitation to the ball. Except it wasn't an invitation to the ball, but rather my swap package from the lovely Handmade Jane! Which is totally fine, because honestly, to arrive at a ball is exciting and all; once you're there, though, it's scary. And it's fun to deceive when you know you can leave, but you have to be wary...

*ahem* 

How adorable is that card with the sewn on dress in real fabric! Also, I managed to photograph all the hearts upside-down.

Devolving into quoting musicals aside, I was indeed happy to open my charming (but not tall...okay I couldn't resist one more!) package from Jane. Isn't it so sweet of her to wrap each present individually for greater enjoyment at each reveal? I was tempted to save one for each day this week, but couldn't resist. My impulse control is poor when it comes to sewing-related goods. Can you blame me?



Friends, I think Jane nailed it with her assortment! There's a red cat print, a fun turquoise print (seriously, white on bluish backgrounds is one of my favorite types of print ever; I've been in love with Tilly's Loire Valley Skirt for ages), buttons from the 1930's (officially the oldest thing in my sewing stash!), cute trim, a DIY magazine, and my favorite type of pattern -- a fitted bodice with a full skirt -- in the form of Simplicity 4257. I am so excited to sew with these goodies, and I can only hope that Jane likes what I sent her. Getting her package together was a bit of a challenge, since my stash is in TCOCC and I don't know the thrift stores in this area just yet, but I think I managed to hit the right notes...we'll see in a week or so!

Totally not related at all, but the other night I dreamed that I found Rainbow Brite sheets at the thrift store. When I woke up and realized I didn't actually have them, I was so bummed. Even better, when I told my sister, she was like, that's pretty sad. Only she meant it was sad that I was dreaming about thrifting sheets and wasting time being sad about it, not that the RB sheets didn't exist. And now you all know what a huge dork I am!

27 comments:

  1. this swap is so lovely! If it happens again I will take part. so nice to share things across the world!

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    1. It was definitely fun to pick out things for Jane, and also to get a package from overseas! I highly recommend these sewing swaps!

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  2. Wow, these are some sweet things that you got! I especially like the blue and white fabric and the ribbon. Will look forward to see what you make out of it.

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    1. The blue and white fabric is lovely, isn't it? I have a pattern in mind, but it's in TCOCC so I won't be able to get to it for a while.

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  3. I found a great Kermit playing banjo sheet (it is now mine!) a few weeks ago on ebay and ran across a ton of Rainbow Brite sheets at the time. Check it out! (Just be careful not to get the flannel ones.)

    Great swap loot - how fun!

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    1. Heh, I want to see what you do with the Kermit sheet! I doubt I will buy sheets on Ebay, just because I like touching and examining my sheets, plus I feel like the carbon footprint and cost of shipping kind of negates the environmental bonus of reusing old sheets. I'll just keep trawling my local thrift stores!

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  4. Bahahahahaa more people should quote Into the Woods on a daily basis...congratulations on your lovely sewing goodies!

    strugglesewsastraightseam.wordpress.com

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    1. Oh, I am always trying to work quotes from musicals into my daily conversation! Usually everyone just looks at me funny, though!

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  5. Your swap items are SO lovely! I'm excited to see what you do with that delightful cat print fabric!

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    1. They are, aren't they? Jane is such a sweetheart! I'm afraid to do anything with the cats because they are just too perfect!

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  6. I still have my Rainbow Brite sheets! Just rescued them from my parent's. But mine ARE flannel, so I saved them with the intention of quilting with them. I also have an 80s scarf of my mom's with rainbow hearts, and some rainbow-striped 70s or 80s quilting cotton to go with this quilt. Hopefully I have a daughter someday, because I don't see my son enjoying this quilt.

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    1. Oooh a RB quilt! Hahah I hope you have a daughter too! I've been thinking that my daughter better like superheroes, because I want to pass my dresses on to her!

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  7. That is such a lovely package! Damn, I wish I'd paired myself with Jane :)

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    1. Thank you for pairing me with her! You can have her next time ;)

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  8. What a fabulous package! Starting to see all of these packages popping up on the internet makes me hope my swap buddy likes hers (crosses fingers. I'd be interested in seeing a bit more of that DIY magazine (hint hint) :)

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    1. I'm sure anything you choose will be fantastic! I'll see if I can get some pictures of the magazine's innards...it's been ridiculously overcast and dark here lately!

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  9. I had a vivid dream last night that I found a mint condition Featherweight in a pile at a junk shop. When I woke up and realized it wasn't true, I was really disappointed too.

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    1. Okay, I'm pretty sure your dream trumps mine in terms of disappointment value. So sad!

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  10. love your haul - that blue fabric is gorgeous! i must get into swapping - it's making me very jealous seeing what everyone has got!

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    1. Swapping is super fun! I've been thinking that there need to be more of these too!

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  11. Oh I'm so happy you liked the package! Thanks for being such an awesome swap partner. x

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  12. Whatever to your sis! :-) RB sheets would be the bee's knees. I mean it. I used to have Rainbow Brite sheets when I was little, and I've been sorely tempted to look for them since I first saw your New Year's Star Wars dress...

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  13. Your package looks amazing, I love the cat print.
    Don't you worry about wanting Rainbow Bright sheets... I have a Care Bear pillow case, and I collect Strawberry Shortcake glasses and mugs, etc - me- a huge dork!

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  14. Rainbow brite and strawberry shortcake...two of my favs. I just can't believe you are back in the bay, and in the city, no less! You should come by and have lunch with me "on the steps of the palace"...er at my work on Nob Hill!

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  15. This is such a call bundle of amazing things! I love the material and buttons, you lucky girl! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk

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  16. Oh what a lovely haul of goodies!

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  17. Lovely goodies! I can't wait to see what you make with them! I have the dream about finding amazing things at op shops, and then I am so sad when I wake up :-( Sometimes the dream is so vivid I go searching for the items I dreamed in my stash weeks later, and then realised I never owned them.

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