and now for some NON-paper crafts stuff....

i've totally been neglecting my sewing lately, i need to find more time for it.

here are a few things i've made for swaps lately.

for the i <3 sewing swap
top i made in a dark colour and "old lady florals" (per her request)




a pattern for the top, showing 4 different variations. i copied the pattern onto old sheets, and wrote up the instructions. i scanned the drawings, after failing miserably at attempting to draw them in photoshop!

and the rest, though i took out the zippers at the last minute (because i remembered that she didn't want zippers)

part of the swap was sending notions, but my partner already had a lot, and didn't really want more, so i substituted other things.
a couple of purchased patterns for dresses, cause that's what she likes to sew, i sent them instead of notions. crunchie bars and smarties, because she wanted some from canada. i figured they could be instead of notions as well. a 1/2 yard of pretty metallic purple fabric, two good size remnants or corduroy (definitely big enough for her to make bags out of), and 2 yards of stretch cotton floral (like blouse material).

and for the love/hate valentine's swap
here's everything all together.

she said she wanted a sketchbook cover, and that she loved lace, so i made her this -



(i have to say how FREAKING EXCITED i am that i found baby pink vinyl! i have been searching for it for YEARS! i had to buy 4 yards. i kinda wish i'd bought 5!)

part of the swap was to send a valentine's card, and i've been waiting for an excuse to make another one of these, so i made a very fancy card.







it's made of matchboxes, and each one holds a little surprise. one holds valentine heart brads, one holds a chocolate, one holds a simple pair of earrings once, and the last holds this cheesy little card.


(i should've known i'd end up adding papercrafts to this post somewhere!)

i also made her a simple pair of earrings to go in the last drawer of the box -

very very simple... i bought a bracelet at the dollar store and used the charms off of it, and the earrings themselves are from the accessory store, i buy earring/necklace sets when they're 10/$10 and dismantle them for the pieces.


she likes stripes, and shirts that are dark, and hoods.




there is red lingerie elastic trimming the bust seam, the sleeve cuffs and the hood, and there are three shiny red heart buttons on the front. this is the first time i've tried adding a hood to the pattern, and i'm not sure i like it... but i also think hoods on t-shirts are kinda silly too!

i really love that top!

and of course, she got one of the flying love monsters, this swap was the inspiration for all of them.


i forgot to post this well, i made it a few weeks ago. i really really wanted to play with my pink vinyl a little bit!





and the valentines i made this year... (i don't think i posted last year's valentines... i should do that) as usual, i made postcards instead of real cards!


red glitter paper base, then this super cool white netting with white foamy dots on it, red acetate, a vintage fabric heart, all sewn on with red thread criss crossing across the card. (the fabric was ironed on to interfacing before it was cut out, just to make it easier and to make them sturdier)

but then i ran out of the fabric hearts, so i made a few different ones with these super cool swirly patterned felt hearts.




they all have the same back "happy valentine's day" in the sweetheart font, and then "may it be full of love and creativity" in a cute script font with hearts. the writing was supposed to be red, but my printer apparently hates red! so they turned out sorta purplish, which was okay.