Seattle MQG Needlebook Swap

Last Saturday, we had our annual Seattle MQG holiday party, and part of that was a needlebook swap! The one I made was inspired by two I found online - a color blocked one made by Diana @dianavandeyar; and one shown in the DIY Needle Book Tutorial by Damjana @applegreencottage. I used solid scraps for the exterior, accenting with a little hand-stitching. I added two interior pockets, and felt pages, of course, to hold needles. Then I finished it off with leather lacing ties. It measured 4" x 5.5" when closed.

Diane, a member I met for the first time at the swap, received the needlebook I made. And then from Bridget, I received this darling needlebook, inspired by the How to Make a Sashiko Stitched Needle Book tutorial by Create Whimsy.

Bridget told me the main exterior fabric was off the free table at one of our guild meetings! I love all the hand-stitching. And there's even a pocket on the interior, which will be handy. I like it A LOT!

There was also some fun swag to celebrate the guild's 10th anniversary.... a cool commemorative pouch, a sticker, and a pin - which is already at home on my guild name tag. 

So that was a lot of fun! I'm glad I was able to attend, and also to participate in the swap. Good times!

Seattle MQG One-Hour Basket Swap

With the deadline quickly approaching, I knew it was time to buckle down and make a One-Hour Basket for my Seattle MQG swap partner, Rosie @rosiepelfrey. The pattern is from Kelly @kelbyews, and results in a fabric basket 10" x 6" x 7". In applying to participate in the swap, Rosie had given her favorite fabric designer as 'Kaffe or Anna Maria Horner,' three words describing her décor style as 'casual, cozy, eclectic;' and colors she was a fan of as 'oranges, greens, blues, violet/purples, pinks, neutrals.' All that helped me focus in on what to make for her. 

Not having much of her key designers' fabrics stashed, I ordered an Anna Maria Horner Brave 5" Charm Pack along with a half yard of Pruned, one of the fabrics in Anna Maria's Brave line. I was pretty sure that charm pack would contain at least some of each of the colors Rosie had specified.

It was the word 'eclectic' that I zoomed in on as I came up with a design for the basket. I cut a selection of charms into 2.5" squares, and used others to make HSTs, QSTs, etc. I placed them in a somewhat random layout for each side, scattering the pieced blocks throughout.

Below is a view of the basket interior with that Brave lining. I took Kelly's suggestion and used byAnnie's Soft and Stable for the backet's 'interfacing.' It gave the basket a soft but sturdy structure that I liked.

 

Rather than make fabric handles per the pattern, I used 1" cotton webbing. They also were sturdy, and stood up nicely. Plus I just like the look.

So that was fun. I really enjoyed working with those colorful floral fabrics that Anna Maria is known for. I sent the basket right off to Rosie, and she said it was lovely. So yay. Hoping she finds a fun way to put the basket to good use.