Swap Deadline Soon...

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mats By One Of Our Talented Participants

  ATTENTION SWAP PARTICIPANTS: A quick reminder that our March Madness Mug Mat Swap deadline is fast approaching. 

All mug mats (and gifts) are to be mailed, shipped, passenger pigeoned or pony expressed to your swap partner by Friday, March 17th. If you have any questions, or issues, please contact me.

 

I'll be sharing photos (next week, after I know they've been received by the recipients) of all the mug mat swap items as they've been shared with me by the participants. I'm giving you a sneak peek of mats that I got from one of the participants! 

 

I can say that all the mats (and extra goodies) I've seen so far are so cool. I know that everyone who's making and sending out their mats are going to love what they get!

Make sure you send photos to me of your mats and swap gifts, please, so I know you've finished yours. I'll make sure your name is in the drawing for one of two mug mats gift sets I've put together for two lucky swap participants. Drawing winners will be announced on Saturday.

Swap Participants - Last Call...

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mats

 

Last call for participants in our  

March Madness Mug Mat Swap!!

If you're interested in joining us (or if I missed your earlier message and your name doesn't appear in my list) for our mug mat swap, please let me know by Friday, Feb. 10th. You can send an email to me HERE. (Just click on the word "here" to send me a message.) Please be sure to put "Mug Mat Swap" in the subject line.

To date, these are the names of the people I know of that want to participate:

• Terry G - Goatldi
• Danice G - Homespun Hannah blog
• Mary Ann M - Newark, OH
• Jody A - tja
• Lyn S - Australia
• Nancy S - Nancy Matters blog
• Gloria M 
• Noreen H - auntmeanie
• Sherry E - Createology blog
• Lucy G - The Farmer's Attic blog
• Toni S - Sewing In CT 

If you're participating and haven't yet given me your address, please send me a note when you can. It will help me when I assign partners. Although I'll post the names (as shown here) for the swap, all contact information will only be shared between partners. (ie. Partner A will know Partner B's information and vice versa. I won't share that information with other participants - or openly here.) I'll share this information so that you can contact each other to find out favorite colors, themes, etc.

Remember, I'll participate in the swap only if we have an odd number of partners, however, I'm going to make up two swap kits of my own and will have a drawing for two names from the group after we complete our swap.

All swap packages must be mailed by March 17th, and I ask that each of you photograph your mat before you send your package off to your partner. (More on that later.) Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact me. 

I'll assign partners on Saturday, February 11th, and will post the partner list that day. I'll then send an email to each of you to share your partner's contact information. I'll also set timelines for contact, creation of your mug mat, and mailing in your emails.

Remember, there's still time if you want to join in. I know this is going to be fun!

Prepping Labels...

Brynwood Needleworks - Labels In My Vintage Tin

We had our Open House yesterday, so I was away from home most of the afternoon. When I got home (to a sparkling clean abode!), I decided to do some prep work for my bag projects. In addition to setting up my d-ring tabs for my next batch of Grab & Go Clutches, I had some label prepping to do, too.

This is how I store them (until I have too many to put fit). I use a vintage English Huntley & Palmer children's biscuit tin that I've had for decades. The froggy on the lid is from "The Wind In The Willows", one of my favorite childhood stories. I even have a vintage copy of the book, which I would have shown you, but it's already packed to go to the farm.

Brynwood Needleworks - Prepping Labels

Even my label setup is production style now. I start with my woven labels from CustomCoutureLabelCo on Etsy. (In fact, I just placed another order with them.) Then I take long 1.25" strips of natural cork. I make the strips from scraps leftover from making bags, wallets and my other cork pieces.

I use a glue stick to secure the labels - centered on the width of the strip(s) - and about .75" apart, lengthwise. Once they're glued down to the strips, I set my machine to make tiny stitches and sew each one to the cork. I cut them apart when I'm finished and into the tin they go!

Today, I'll cut the pieces and assemble the parts to make new Grab & Go Clutches. Once they're finished, I'll list them up in my shop.

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mats

Just a reminder that there's still time to sign up for our March Mug Mat Swap. You can read about it HERE. I've put together a list of those who have already signed up, and we've have a nice group so far. There's always room for more, so if you'd like to join in, just email me using the link in my right side bar. Be sure to put "Mug Mat Swap" in the subject line so I don't miss it.
 

Mug Mat Swap Information...

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mat Ideas

Thanks for your response to the Mug Mat Swap I proposed yesterday. We will definitely do the swap, and based on your responses, it will be in March. March 17th (St. Patrick's Day) will be the mailing deadline.

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mat Ideas

I thought I'd share more images of some of my mug mats to inspire you to think about how you'd like to make yours. I love making mine with scrappy, coordinating fabrics, and then I add vintage laces, printed tapes, or other trims. I avoid buttons in the main section of the mat so that the recipient won't have to worry about cups tipping over because of the uneven surface.

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mat Ideas

I also like to incorporate portions of stitching or quilt blocks. I also do surface sewing to hold the layers together (I always have three layers...top, batting and back). I've been asked if I intend to share a tutorial on my technique. The answer is yes!

In fact, if you go to the top of my blog page, you'll find a "Free BW Patterns & Tutorials" button up there. Click on that, and then you can scroll down for two different tutorials. (Click on the name of the item, not the photo.)

One is for a photo tute I posted to my Flickr page showing my favorite technique for creating my mats. If you click on the first photograph, you'll not only see the photo, you'll also be able to read my instructions under the photo's captions.

The second tutorial is also a Flickr photo tutorial for my "White Wing Dove Mug Mat", and it includes the template to make the dove shape. (Both are free tutorials, so you're welcome to them, whether or not you join our Mug Mat Swap - but I hope you will!).

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mat Ideas

 

You can even choose one of your favorite fabrics and showcase the fabric on part or all of the front of your mat.

Now that it's certain that we're going to do a swap, here are a few housekeeping items as we move toward our exchange date. These are things I'd like you to think about:

• I will need your name, address and email information to correspond with you outside the blog, and to transmit your partner's information to you. I may post partner lists on the blog, but not your private information. It will not be shared with anyone except your swap partner.
• What's your favorite color or theme? Your swap partner will need an idea of what you like to make your custom mat. When I assign you to your partner, I will share that information with them, and their information with you.
• Yes, you may add a few goodies to your package when you ship the mat. If you want to share a local candy, or something that represents where you live, that would be nice. Nothing expensive, please. These are just little things...a tea bag of your favorite tea, a postcard from your state, or a treat. You'll need to make sure that whatever you include doesn't "leak" onto your mat, so separate ziploc bags are a safe precaution. You could choose to include a notion or two that you especially love...vintage buttons, ribbon... You get the idea.
• Remember, you're committing to send a mug mat to your assigned partner. It would be sad (and not nice) if your partner sent a mug mat to you, but they didn't get one in return.
• I'll ask that you each take a photograph of your swap packages before you send them out, and then email them to me. Once everyone has their package in the mail, I'll do a wrap up post here on my blog. I think it will be fun for everyone to see all the beautiful creations I know are going to be made.

Sign Up Deadline will be February 1st. You have plenty of time yet to decide to participate, and I'll assign swap partners the first week in February.

I'm going to make a few mats of my own, and once our Swap is complete, I'm going to take the names of all the participants and draw one or two names to receive mats and gifts from me. So, please email me or comment on this or yesterday's post if you'd like to get in on the Swap. I'm catching everyone's notes, and replying to all of them to acknowledge your addition to the roster. 

This will be so much fun! Of course, the more, the merrier! I look forward to seeing all the cool mats that are created for our event.

 

Time For A Swap...

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mats

I've been thinking about this for some time. I realized we haven't done anything fun together in a while.

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mat

You've seen these mug mats before on my blog. Some were made as gifts. Some were made for clients. Some I may still be using here at Brynwood.

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mat

We haven't had a swap in a while, and I love making mug mats. How about you? Would you like to participate in a Brynwood-hosted Mug Mat Swap? You don't have to live in the US to be included. I'll match you to someone who lives near you to help avoid costly shipping fees.

Brynwood Needleworks - Mug Mat

If you'd like to participate, you can send an email to me dliljegren(at)brynwoodneedleworks(dot)com - or you can leave a comment on this post., and I'll add you to my informal list.

I haven't chosen a date, yet, but I'm thinking that a Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's day deadline could be fun. I would match you to a partner; all of whom will agree to follow through on their word to make and mail a mug mat to their partner by the deadline date.

In the event we end up with an odd number of participants, I'll join in the swap. If we have an even number of participants, I'll draw a name from all the participants and give one lucky person a mug mat I'll make especially for them.

Let's start by commenting to this post (make sure I have a way to reach you through your comment!!), or send me an email, just so I can gauge interest. Also share your thoughts about a deadline date. I'll see if I notice a common thread.

I'll write another post to you with the deadline date, and a little questionnaire that every participant will complete, so I can choose your perfect match. (Sounds a bit like FarmersOnly.com. LOL) If you want a specific object; have a favorite color; theme, stuff like that, I'd like to be able to accommodate you. It will just help you to receive or create that best possible mug mat for your swap partner.

So...Are you in? Please leave a comment below, including a way to reach you. I think this could be great fun! I hope you do, too!

Someone, Please Pinch Me...

My Mug Mat Swap package arrived from Elizabeth S. in Australia yesterday. It was a hefty envelope, so I knew there was more than a mug mat inside. As I opened the packages, you could have knocked me over with a feather!

Inside, I found a new apron (I LOVE aprons!!!), a box of Tin Tans (they're scrumptious!) and an incredible assortment of other gifts.
Elizabeth told me about herself in a wonderfully written letter, and then she explained some of the contents of my package.

She sent a souvenir spoon from Melbourne, Australia...

as well as a souvenir pin...

and acorns that she knit from wool she'd spun herself (I could cry!).

There were three pieces of Australian fabric.

One with Aussie animals, birds and amphibians (goannas, which are lizards; emus; kookaburras; kangaroos and more!).
Another features beautiful flowers (you can see it in the photo above showing all three fabrics) , and the last is the fabric she used in my mug mat. It has acorns all over a leafy background (swoon).
I absolutely LOVE the mug mat! All my favorite things...acorns, laces, and beautiful fabrics.

Thank you, Elizabeth. I can see that I seriously under-gifted you in our exchange! Your generosity has left me humbled, full of gratitude and the desire to send more surprises your way. You can expect another package in the near future that will make for a more equitable swap.

A New Friend...

Do you remember last week when I put a note on the end of one of my blog posts trying to answer a contact from Ann here? I wasn't able to get a reply to her until she saw my note and added my email address to her online address book. Then, she wrote to me again and we were finally able to make contact with each other.

She told me that she doesn't have a blog, but regularly read mine and felt motivated to send a "little gift" to me. She saw that I love pincushions and wanted to make one especially for me!

Her package arrived yesterday and to say I was "excited" would be an understatement. The notecard she included explained how she decided on certain elements - but said that all were chosen with me and my interests in mind.
I now have a new mouse in the studio to keep "Cheerful" (Susan Pilloto's creation) company. Look closely, and you'll see acorn buttons and charms, scissors, a cup and saucer with a teeny, tiny spoon, chocolate, miniature bolts of fabric, a tiny sewing machine, a thimble, and much, much more.

I see something new every time I look at this sweet creation. The pincushion is actually the Brynwood Acorn Ornament (which you can download from my "Tutorial/Patterns" link right under my header! Of course, Ann personalized the acorn with "Love to Quilt". (She noticed! lol)
There are crystals, sprinkles, details all the way around this sweet mouse. Ann is a real artist, and I'm convinced that none of her choices were random.
Ann doesn't have a blog, but she creates one-of-a-kind items for friends, family and occasionally for sale. If you're interested in contacting her to commission an item, please let me know and I'll have her contact you.

I didn't get home from a day trip yesterday in time to photograph Miss Sweet Mouse (that's what I've decided to name her) before I lost my "photo light". I apologize to Ann for using these flash photos. I'm going to rephotograph this incredible gift again today to have better pictures that show off all of Miss Sweet Mouse's details.

Ann, my (new) friend - I really can't tell you how much I love this generous and most unexpected gift. You really are an incredible artist, and I appreciate all the time, energy and creativity that went into conceiving and executing this piece. I'll treasure it always....always. Thank you again. I'm humbled beyond words.
I wanted to let you know that I've started receiving notes from the gals participating in the Mug Mat Swap. If you're part of the swap group, you can join my Flickr group and upload photos of your mat into the album. All you have to do is join the group, place your photos on your desktop and then go to the "Upload Photos" link and choose them from your desktop when Flickr asks which photos you want to share. I think you need to upload them into your own photo feed first and then choose them to "Add to Group".

If you haven't used Flickr before, it's really intuitive to navigate and use their site. If you have problems and want me to just upload photos for you, I'm happy to do that, but "brynwoodneedleworks" will appear under your photo, instead of your Flickr user name. If you have questions, please feel free to send me an email and I'll try to walk you through uploading the photos yourself.

Anyway...here's the link (click on this) to go to the album, see what others have created and to share your mat, too.

I hope you're all having fun. I know I am. Mine will go to my partner by Saturday. Can't wait to see everyone else's creations, too!

Joyful Stitching, friends!!

Potpourri Post (And A Winner)...

Today's post is a little of everything.

Hence, "potpourri". (Clever, right?)

I want to start by sharing my latest project. I'm making another mug mat (surprised?), and these are some of the components. I've had so many things to share lately, that I hadn't shown anything sewn, stitched or crafted in a while. I didn't want you to think I was slacking off. Heaven's, no! I'll post this to my Mug Mats Flickr album when it's finished (not to be confused with the Mug Mat Swap album for all of the participants to post to).
I received my January artist trading card from Sandi McLean of Fun With Scrapbookin' (Maximum Embellishment). The theme was "White and Snow". Sandi captured it perfectly!
My photographs don't capture the magical finish she put on this card. First, the image is entrancing. I love the faces of these children. After she secured the image and the words "Winter Sky" to the card, she put a sparkly pebble finish over everything. It's just like ice! I'm not positive, but if memory serves me right, I think this is an embossing technique. Sandi, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

This card is gift from yet another talented ATC artist. I really love being a part of the Blissfull Swap group. These talented women really make the most beautiful creations to share with each other and me. Their interpretations of each theme are varied and all wonderful. I'm looking forward to continuing to participate with them. I want to let you know that if you're interested in joining the swap group, you can email Wendi through the Blissful blog (click here) to join.

Please say a prayer for our friend, Debbie of Mosaic Magpie. Her husband is in the hospital and extremely ill. I know she'll appreciate you having her and her husband in your thoughts. Thank you.
Finally, I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to my first Memory Lane Mondays party. I'll be continuing each month in 2011, and hope that more of you will be moved to contribute your stories. I'm also going to continue to have a drawing for contributors every month.

Start thinking now about a story from your past that you just have to share with your readers. Once you start thinking about it, there will be one that just continues to push to the front waiting to be written. Then, I hope you'll share it with the rest of us.

I had a drawing for the school book, "Five In The Family", choosing the winner from January's contributors. The winner is:

Donna
of
Conghaile Cottage

You can click here to read her contribution - and visit her blog. Her blog header makes me even want to consider living in snow again (ok, maybe I need to go lie down for a while until that urge goes away!) Congratulations, Donna! **Please email your address to me so I can send your book off to you.**

It's Swap Time...

It's Swap Time!!!

Here is the partner list:

Becky H. (Me and Mine) and Chris G. (no blog)
Carol D. (Serendipity) and Shirley C. (Shirley C)
Debbie H. (Mosaic Magpie) and Nancy S. (Nancy Matters)
DeeDee J. (DeeDee's Craftspot) and Sherry S. (Blessings From Her Nest)
Jane (Mamie Janes) and Patty (Shoefly Quilts)
Karen M. (Rabbits Eat Quilts) and Susan M. (Art of Mine)
Kat R. (Quilt Kat) and Lucy G. (The Farmer's Attic)
Laura Q. (Fun With This and That) and Mary Ann M. (Handcrafted by MA)
Margaret B. (The French Bear) and Angela G. (Sew Loquacious)
Tina Eudora (The White Swan) and Natalie G. (Tins and Treasures)
Nancy H. (Huggins Haven) and Patty C. (Hanging By A Thread)
Rett L. (The Gazebo House) and Sandy M. (Vintage Sandy)
Elizabeth S. (no blog) and Donna (Brynwood Needleworks)

You should have already received an email from me with your partner's address information and color preferences. If you haven't seen it, please check for it in your spam folder.

You can link to any of the participants who have blogs to say hello or get to know them better. I'm sure most of them can be reached through their blogs, but if you want or need their email address, just let me know and I'll share it with you.
I have created a special Flickr photo group to post images of your mats (click here to go to the group). When you have completed your mat, please post your photograph of it to the Flickr Mug Mat Swap Group by February 14th. If you don't have a blog, just take a photo and post it to the Flickr group.

Now, just a little more information:

• Mug Mats should measure 6.5" x 10.5" (They'll fit in a flat rate priority mail envelope.)
• Feel free to add a little something extra, if you'd like. (Chocolate, unless your partner is allergic, is always a good idea!)
• Add a note to tell your partner a little about yourself and where you live.
• Please have your mat mailed no later than February 14th. Earlier is better, especially if you're mailing out of the country because it takes longer to get there. (There are only a couple swap partners who live outside the US)
• Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all.
• MOST OF ALL...HAVE FUN!!! I love that you're all participating, and hope that your partner will become a new friend if you don't already know them.

If you need a refresher course, you can click here to see the tutorial again. I think that covers everything. Time to pull out your fabrics, trims, and embellishments, and let your creative juices flow! Thanks again to everyone for participating!

Mug Mat Tutorial...

I took all the photographs while I made the mug mat yesterday and put a photo tutorial together for you. (There are lots of pictures for this tutorial!)

The finished size of this mat is 6.5" wide by 12.5" long, but if you want to make a mat that will fit flat in a USPS Priority Flat Rate mailer, you should make it 6.5" x 10.5".
This is the finished mug mat and you can link here to see the entire "tute". Once you check it out and see how simple it really is, perhaps you'll join in the swap.

Just send me an email with your color preference and if you have one, your blog url. You don't need to have a blog to participate, either. I have a second list started for those of you who don't need to link to a blog. You have until February 1st to sign up. Hope you'll join us. The more, the merrier!