Mel's Own Place: mail

Showing posts with label mail. Show all posts

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Secret Sister Package

11:08 PM | Posted by Mel

Yeah!! I got a FUN package on my door step yesterday!!

It is from my Fabric Lovers Secret Sister Swap.

I L O V E these delicious colorful fabrics!! A half yard of each!

This charming apron is my very first apron!!!! I know aprons are a big thing right now and I do love them, but I've never made one, purchased one or have been gifted one until now!! I was sooooo excited!!

It has three handy pockets and is trimmed in red ric rac!! Doesn't get any better!

Well, unless you add CHOCOLATE, a table runner pattern, a darling handbag sized calendar and thread!!

Oh, I'm a lucky gal!!

tHanKs!!

Labels: apron, chocolate, fabric, February, mail, notions, Secret Sister, swap | 5 comments

More Orange FUN!

1:26 PM | Posted by Mel

Part One of my OP winnings from Natalie of School of Crafts (a great blog by the by!) A delightful collection of six fat quarters from Sew Mama Sew! These juicy FQs arrived two days ago (shipped directly from Sew Mama Sew). Urban was excited to, he said "YEAH!! We won them?? I love them!!" I've taught him well the virtues of color and cotton!

Part Two of my OP winnings came yesterday - I got this darling ensemble! A very useful apron, it has three compartments, I'm thinking one for scissors, one for threats and one for CHOCOLATE!! And a matching towel, to wipe up the melty chocolate! (NO WAY, I'm NOT going to use the towel, except as a decoration to my studio!) ThAnkS Natalie!! No, it hasn't gone unnoticed to me that this duo is from the very SAME fabric I used to make TESSA's Market Bag out of! Hmmm, it may be a while more before Tessa gets her prize!

Labels: apron, fat quarter, giveaway, mail, orange, tea towel, win | 7 comments

Friday, February 27, 2009

Birds, Birds, Birds!

9:39 AM | Posted by Mel

These are the beautiful birds I got in the Birds of Change Swap I participated in. I sent in 5 of my own design and these are what I received in return. I think they are all so very creative and beautiful! ThAnk yOu to the five artists who made the birdies I received!! (I will post their names later!) Thanks to Regina of Creative Kismet for the organizing and swapping the flock of feathered friends!!

Labels: art, bird, creative, exchange, mail, swap | 11 comments

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A Day of Pictures!!

11:43 PM | Posted by Mel

My secret sister from last quarter, Tina and agreed to swap 3 Spring Cottages - these are what Tina sent me!! Don't they exude springy happiness?? I love them! Oh, and she even offered to make a triangle for my Dear Jane quilt!! How nice is that? Thanks so much Tina!! I love it all!!

So while I was on a girl's weekend a few weeks ago, my sis in law, Michelle caught the quilting bug!!! NO I didn't twist her arm, she did it of her own free will knowing that it can be quite consuming.

She picked up some real fun fabrics for table runners, basket liners and in true quilter fashion, she bought fabric FOR NO REASON AT ALL!! She's a natural!

She's seen all my cute cottages I've been swapping and thought she'd give them a try. She followed Nanette's great tutorial and whipped up six wonderful cottages!! She gave three to me, and kept three for herself. Didn't she do a great job??

I spent a wonderful day in my studio today!

Urban played pretty well while I sewed and we watched Lion King and the Muppet Movie.

Ironically, none of the pictures I have to show you on this post are from today's sewing! I think you'll enjoy them just the same!

This past holiday weekend I had the opportunity to sew and sew and sew!! My sister's in law and I set up 'shop' up at my mother in law's basement and had three full days of bliss!!

I worked on my Calendar Quilt Challenge. I thought it would be fun to applique a primitive flower to the top of the strip panel I have thus far. I also scalloped the bottom of a set of strips and appliqued them in place. I did this twice because I didn't like the fabric I had appliqued them to the first time. I'm happy with it now (as pictured). I think I'm caught up to the end of February.

I also cut squares to do some hexagons (my first ever!) for Hexagon's of Hope. Check out the cause to help the Victorians who have been effected in Australian's horrible fires.

I also worked on some Happy Houses for a swap started by Lurline in Australia. Kathy is the hostess for the American gals. I still have to 'wonky' them by adding skewed borders all around each block, but it's a good start!

When we finally left the house at 7:30pm, I found a package from Nanette in the mail box!!! I had ordered a kit for her darling Mixed Bag because I love bags, and more importantly, I love the fabrics she puts into the kits!!!

I was so ecstatic to receive the delicious fabrics she sent!! I don't have time in my sewing schedule, but I WILL make this bag by next week for sure!!

True to Nanette's style, she added some extras! A lovely note on a darling birdie card, one of her famous and original Doll House Cottage pot holders, (follow the link to make your own!) some ric-rak for the top of the bag and a charming covered button, also for the bag. Thanks Nanette!! You are very generous!!

Thanks for hanging in there for this long post!

Have a CREATIVE day!!

Labels: americana, Australia, blog friend, Calendar Quilt 2009, cottage block, Dear Jane, exchange, Happy Houses, hexagon, in-laws, kit, mail, ric-rak, swap, tutorial, Urban, wonky | 14 comments

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Mail IN, Mail OUT

12:53 AM | Posted by Mel

Big mail day here!

This lovley loot is what I got from my Valentine swap partner, Karen

Yards of two valentine fabrics, three magazines (that I've not read!) CHOCOLATE some fun notions, a darling cup and saucer and some removable Velcro tabs for hanging stuff up on the wall - neat idea, can't wait to try them out!

Karen was worried what to send since this was her first swap ever, umm... I think she did FANTABULOUS!!!

ThAnKS KaREn!!

And this is what was sent out:

The reciepients of these packages are the winners from my Blog Makeover Party: Christine, Robyn, and Patti.

Alisa's will go out tomorrow as I just now found her address. Also tormorrow, Krista's cottage will be on it's way to Alaska!

And my box of birdies for my Birds of Change Exchange.

I worked on my Calendar Quilt Challenge, I'm so excited about that project! I have tons of strips and am going to use just the red, white and blue ones. (Well and tan, cream, beige . . .)

Labels: Calendar Quilt 2009, chocolate, fabric, giveaway, mail, swap, Valentine, win | 5 comments

Sunday, February 1, 2009

This and That

3:13 AM | Posted by Mel

Christine of Once Upon a Quilt is having a GIVEAWAY!! She will announce the winner on her birthday February 7th.

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This is what I got from my secret sister for January. It's a quilted Valentine's bag that held a box of CHOCOLATES and a kit to make a charming Valentine table runner! Very sweet!!

THANK YOU!!!

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These are my fabrics for Pat Sloan's Orange Project . I need to get some more 'range' in my oranges and pick just two other colors.

This project is so good for me since this year I am trying to be more creative instead of just following a pattern.

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I found a fun and easy tutorial for fabric covered magnets at JCasa Handmade's blog. There are numerous tutorials on her creative blog, but this one I could actually do with my son!

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Here are my feathered friends I made for Regina's Bird of Change Exchange.

I made five and will get five different ones back!

It's a glorfied version of a bird I came up with to use as gift toppers for my Christmas gifts as shown below.

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Here are some fabrics I picked up to make Market Bags by Portabello Pixie. I'm giving one away at my One World One Heart giveaway going on until February 11th. You can sign up HERE if you haven't already!

Be CREATVE!!

Labels: bird, exchange, fabric, gift topper, January, mail, market bag, OP, orange, Secret Sister, Sloan, swap, table runner, tutorial | 7 comments

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Fabirc, Gifts and a Basket

10:30 PM | Posted by Mel

Oh, I have lots of fun stuff to show you!

First off, how do I look? I got a makeover!! Well my blog did anyway! I had won a free blog makeover, professionally done, from one of the giveaway sites I love! (Bloggy Giveaways)

Shera from Sweet N Simple Design did a wonderful job didn't she?? I wonder if she could do as well if she were to give the real me a makeover!!? If you love my new look, won't you please go over to Shera's and tell her so?

Second, and this may come as a nuisance, I've learned how to create collages with my pictures!! I will probably over use this knowledge, but please allow me to play!

And on we go . . .

Right before I left for my annual sis/mom-in-law retreat in sunny/warm St. George, I was surprised to see a package in my mail box.

I opened it up, and to my utter astonishment found a wristlet made from the feminine fat quarter I had sent to Sherri!! Isn't it a riot? Well, I knew just what I would use it for - my Bingo bag for the weekend!!

My dauber, iPod, gum and some chapstick fit perfectly and I sported it as I toured the casino. Boy did I look smart and sassy!

Now I use it to carry everything for my embroidery project I'm working on.

Sherri assured me she had enough fabric to make one for herself as well, THANKS SHERRI!

Here is some fabric I picked up while on my girl's trip. We went to five (?) quilt shops!!

There are a few pieces that I had purchased from Jane's shop, and I threw them in the collage as well.

What am I going to do with all this cotton? I'm going to GIVE some away during my MAKEOVER EVENT! Stay tuned for that! January 26th - 29th

My dear friend Cheryl (no blog) made me this awesome melon basket for Christmas. Notice the three dimensional braid on top of the handle? Wowsers! It was full of fun stuff, a book, gift card to a quilt shop, gift card to Barnes and Noble and homemade jams.

Cheryl is a very good and generous friend and I love her so much!

I hope you've had a chance to enter my giveaway for One World, One Heart giveaway and will come back during the MAKEOVER EVENT January 26 - 29!

(Check out my auto signature!)

Labels: basket weaving, blog friend, collage, fabric, in-laws, mail, makeover, quilt shop, unmetionable, weekend | 8 comments

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Mail!

10:15 PM | Posted by Mel

I got my last Secret Sister the other day and as before, it is WONDERFUL!!! Beautiful hand dyed yarn, funky fabric, Christmas fabric, batic fabric with metalic trees, thimble holder, hand quilting needles, machine needles, candy, and a quilt pattern! My secret sister for the last 3 months as ben Tina, THANKS TINA!!

Arriving today was a package from Pat Sloan! I won a giveaway on her blog!! My husband wouldn't let me open the wrapped gifts until Christmas, but the fabric was in a clear bag so I was able to play with it today! Fun prints right?? It's from her new collection Arabella. It's not even in stores yet, but I got some!!! I will post the rest of the gift after Christmas!

Labels: funky, mail, notions, Secret Sister | 3 comments

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Ruthie!!

5:23 AM | Posted by Mel

Hey everyone! I wanted to share with you a beautiful gift from Ruthie and her husband, Dan. While at Ruthie's blog, I had seen a post of some wonderful jars of pickled jalepenos. Ruthie's husband bottles his own to get the right texture and crunch. Well, I commented on how my husband would love the peppers and Ruthie quickly replied that she and her husband would be happy to send me a bottle!! I was excited and took her up on the offer! Well, when the peppers arrived, I was stunned at the pretty pickled peppers and their rich colors! They got a lot of red peppers in their harvest this year, so the bottle was a 'Christmas mix' of reds and greens. My husband is so excited to use them on his meats, but we have to wait one more month until they've set the recommended 3 months. Dan has it all down to a science!

Ruthie also sent a cottage block to swap! It's got darling stockings trimming the windows . . . how cute is that?? I love it and added it to the design wall where it can be at 'home' with the others! Since my computer is down, I don't have my normal list of blog friend's emails. One of the lost ones is Ruthie's, so I hope she will find out about this post and see that we've received the pepper package perfectly and that we are very THANKFUL that she and her husband shared their bounty.

Labels: blog friend, computer, cottage block, gifts, mail | 4 comments

Friday, December 5, 2008

Thanks Shari!!

3:30 PM | Posted by Mel

Christmas came from down under a couple of days ago! Shari agreed to swap cottages with me and sent a bunch of fun extras!!

First, Shari did a great job on the construction of the cottages! She was worried about her 1/4" but she needn't have! My son loved the one with the foxes sewng in the windows and said "Maybe you could hang this one on my wall in my bedroom!" Shari knows that I stay up real late and put a note with the blue night time cottage that read "Who is still awake this late at night?" Isn't that fun?

I have plagued Shari with questions about Australia and how they celebrate Christmas in the summer. The book she sent; Twelve Days of Christmas Australian style is so fun! I think it will become a favorite of our for years to come!

Take a look at these exquisite Japaneese fat quarters she sent! The patterns are beautiful with metalic accents. Mail goodies are so fun and I appreciate Shari swapping with me and for the extra goodness!! Happy holidays!

Labels: Australia, blog friend, books, Christmas, cottage block, fat quarter, mail, swap | 6 comments

Monday, November 24, 2008

Another Visitor!

11:37 PM | Posted by Mel

My mailbox must be quite comfy because I had another visitor in there today!

Candace from Squash House Quilts send me a most darling Christmas Cottage! It's so warm and cozy, notice the wreath hanging from the door! Seriously, click to see a larger view! While you've got it enlarged, take a look at her stationary. Candace enjoys fly fishing and aded a 'fly' to her note!

Candice also sent a darling bag she made as shown in the photo. I love the colors and the size! There is also a note pad for making shopping lists for fabric! I don't know how Christmas could be much better than the last couple of weeks!

Labels: bag, blog friend, chri, cottage block, mail | 7 comments

Happy Stuff

12:34 AM | Posted by Mel

Guess who was in my mailbox on Saturday? My fun blogger friend Jane! She and I arranged to swap Christmas Cottages and there it was, beautifully constructed in bright cheery colors! Jane also added a special treat in the form of two whimsical charm packs! What a gal - huh?

I also found my personalized stationary set I won from Natalie's Fall Soiree. Natalie posts about several entrepreneurial people who promote their web businesses by donating giveaways all during the month of November. My stationary set came from Mandy of Popsqually & Co. I was able to pick the colors, style and font for my stationary. Mandy also does announcements, personalized items, gift tags and more!

Labels: blog friend, charm pack, giveaway, mail, win | 3 comments

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I looked out the window and what did I see?

3:31 PM | Posted by Mel

A couple of packages, just for ME!!

Sherri's Christmas Cottage arrived safely! She even snuck in a charming Christmas Pot Holder! Don't you just love the colors?? Perfect Sherri, THANKS!! Of course I'll use the pot holder as a decoration in my studio as I am allergic to cooking!! ;)

This little, darling, soft, owlie is from Nikki at Whimsy Love . I won it in one of her giveaways! She has plenty more in her Esty shop! I have a lodge pole pine (fake) behind me when I am sewing and I put all the homemade ornaments I acquire through the years on that tree for a permanent display of my love for all things homemade!

I have become friends with a neat gal who does all the artsy stuff that I'm afraid to do. I live vicariously though Tessa and her blog: How to Make Art!!

She has a whimsical vibe she puts into her art that I love! Tessa is also 'walking' me (and everyone else who reads her blog) through the steps of creating 'art' type art. I snapped up a couple of prints from her Esty shop for my husband to give to me for Christmas and Tessa let me pick a print as a gift from her! In Tessa's Esty shop I also found a wonderful companion to some gifts I'm going to be giving this year to my friends who sew. I'm not going to show the present now, because some of my readers will be receiving the little gift for Christmas and I don't want to ruin the surprise! Thanks to Sherri, Nikki, and Tessa for making my day brighter!!

Labels: cottage block, gift, mail, owl, swap, win | 5 comments