Can you believe it's nearly December?

Poor advent calendar always looks a bit lonely for the first few days...

ATC Friday

It is sometimes remarkable to think about all the different themes on ATCs that I receive - I thought this particular selection showed that off well - I finished up three sets of cards with an aubergine theme, a gnome theme and a vintage dude theme.

ATC Tuesday

Here's another set of cards for a Pick a Theme swap - four different themes, plus a card for the hostess. Here, there was a bird theme, 

a moon with a quote theme, 

a shooting star or stars with a quote, 

and finally a whale or dolphin card.

The hostess card incorporated a gecko I know the hostess likes and a yellow flower which is either a sunflower, or as close to asunflower as I had in my stash...

ATC Friday

Two sets of cards where I was the second person to add something. 

Here I added a bit of map and a coffee pot stamp. 

And with these, I just added a couple of leaves.

ATC Tuesday

Here's a group of cards I made for a Pick-a-Theme Swap, where the players all choose their own theme and you make a personalised card. These were altered playing cards, as well, so we had a specific suit and number requested, along with the theme.  The card above was made for a vintage garden theme. 

This one was for a mushroom/gnome theme.

Here, it's a sun with a quote theme, I think. 

And finally, a zebra with a sunflower theme.

ATC Friday

Three more sets of cards where I was the last player (of three) to add something. 

ATC Tuesday

I joined a swap for ATCoins (these are like ATCs except they are round, but they are a similar size - 2.5" in diameter) with an "Under the Sea" theme.

Revisiting my Journal Quilt Project - the final Journal Quilt

Here's the last of the year of journal quilts - number 52. I did a very simple JQ this week, representing both the end of this project - my 40th birthday - and the beginning - my dad's shirts, which was what I used for the very first JQ I did. In this instance, I used a piece with the pocket still intact, and I intend to cut some bits from the cards I receive, to keep in the pocket. I enjoyed this project, but I was glad to have it finished!  Hard to believe that 10 years ago, I had time to sew nearly every day - what a luxury. Now the kids are growing up and I'm working full time again - I'm lucky to get time to do anything on the weekend, let alone in the week...And my big birthday looming isn't 40 but another one!

ATC Friday

These three sets of round robin cards are ones which I provided the starter for, and then two others worked on them. In this case, you often have no idea what direction the card will take, which is fun. 

Quilt back from the longarmer

So, here's a quilt top which has been knocking about for a while. I finally got around to passing it to my longarmer friend for quilting and...ta da!  Doesn't it look pretty?  Now I just need to bind it. When I have some time, ha ha.

ATC Tuesday

This was yet another different kind of swap  - a Pick a Theme swap in a way, as everyone you made a card for got a personalised card. The difference was, you didn't ask for a theme, you let the players decide what to make you, based on your profile on the swap site. So for my cards, I got a lot of things with text backgrounds, dragonflies, crows and ravens and so on, because that's the sort of thing it says I like in my profile. 

This person liked purple butterflies, so that was easy.

This person said they liked superheros, particularly Marvel.

This person like gnomes and novelty houses. 

This person liked tigers and the muppets, especially Gonzo.

This was a card for the hostess, who likes Alice in Wonderland and cards which open or move.

Revisiting my Journal Quilt Project, week 51

This week's journal quilt was obviously inspired by fireworks and Bonfire night. I think by this stage in the year, I was getting a little tired of the project and looking forward to it ending - one more week of the review to go!

ATC Friday

These round robin cards are ones where I was the third player - so all I have to do ("all", lol) is figure out how to finish the card.  The lizard cards I loved - some of the best ones I've received recently - and I didn't want to ruin them. So I stitched some interestingly textured yarn on them and stitched a border - they came out really well, I think.

These were a little easier to do as I wasn't as afraid that I'd wreck them. I added the washi tape at the top and a tea bag tag (which isn't fixed down, it swings). 

And with these, I just went for my go-to: a word. And a flower, in this case.