My Gift to Jennifer

If you have read my previous blog post you got a sneak peek at my Covert Round Robin gift. The secret is out now and Jennifer from http://findingmywayintexas.blogspot.com has openned her parcel.

I chose to make her a small little tote bag based on black and white fabrics becuase I read a post on her blog about a monogramed wall decor she made. So I hope I got the colour choices right! The bag is a scaled down pattern from Sentimental Stitches. here is a link to the pattern http://sentimentalstitches.net/free-stuff/schlep-bag/
That sized pattern made a big shopping bag or beach bag. So my squares where 4 1/2 inches, the triangles cross cut from 2 5 inch suares, while the handles were 7 inches long by about 1 and 1/2 inches.

The flower is very easy to do. First make a simple template of a petal, but leave the bottom long and straight at the bottom. See to the right side of next photo.
Next take a rectangle of fabric and fold it right sides together, on the wrong side draw 6 petal shapes. Then sew with a tight stitch around the heavy line twice. Cut out each petal about 1/8 of and inch from sewing line. Turn right side out. Slip stitch end shut. Then taking a large "crowbar" of a needle sew them together and put a button in the center and attach to bag.

Next came some more blog visiting to Jennifer, to get some inspiration for her "Crazy for you " mini wall hanging. She is a very talented photograher so I thought a vintage camera and some black and white photos might do the trick. However I am very aware that people have strong reactions to crazy patchwork, so I was nervous about making this for her. Here is the starting block with selected possible embellishments.

Then I got to work and stitched those seams. However I do not cover every seam, as I like to make wavy fronds and put curves in with lace and beads. I also like to have a selection of "big, medium, small and tiny" in the work to give it more interest. The big were the silk images, mediums were the lace and frond embriodery. Small was the rest, and tiny was the rose tucked behind an ear.
Here is some detailed photos.

I've left some blank spaces for Jennifer to add her own special beads, lace, buttons or special "broken but not out" jewellery.

Take some time to visit Jennifer and get to know this lovely lady, I know that you will like her as much as I do.

Love Karen

Shh its on its way, but the sender is still a secret!

I've been working on my Covert Round Robin Project.....so I have been busy!
First up was a little blog visiting so that I could get "in touch" with the person who will receive my swap gift...well actually it was a bit of detective work.  So that you get to share in the detective side of things, today's post will have clues as to who my gift is on its way to.
  I only hope that one of her cute journal covers comes my way!

But back to what I made...the first idea came quickly and was inspired by a recent home decor project that she made...this is it

 I hope she likes it!
Then because crazy patchwork is my thing...I made a tiny wall hanging to express both myself and hopefully something about her!
          However...not everybody likes crazy patchwork! 
So that's why I made the bag.
Here is the wall hanging. Pay attention because there are clues!

Unfortunately I didn't photograph the entire wall hanging as I was in a rush to get to the post office!
So have you guessed who is my swap partner???