Friday, September 20, 2013

Wee Needle Book Swap: VMQG - LMQG

While in London, England for the Fat Quarterly Retreat in July, I had so much fun with some new friends from the London Modern Quilt Guild who were staying in the same hotel as me. Late nights in the lounge after retreat classes and dinner were a hoot - these girls were very entertaining!  I can't remember exactly who suggested it (probably at 1:00 a.m. after many glasses of wine), but we cooked up a little trans-Atlantic swap between their guild and mine, the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild.

We discussed swaps we'd already done in the past with other MQG's that included pouches, tote bags and pin cushions. Due to expensive international postage we figured the items should be small and light. Needle books became the obvious choice; no one had swapped them before and they are definitely small and light! Because many of the LMQG members are not on flickr and don't blog, we figured the easiest way to do this swap was to keep it "blind".   Everyone will avoid the stress of trying to make the perfect thing for an assigned partner and simply make a cute needle book, wrap it in brown paper and send it off!

pinwheel needlebook by Poppyprint

We've got well over 50 people in total participating!  All of us will have a sweet handmade needle book from a fellow MQG member in time for our Christmas meetings. Fun!

pinwheel needlebook by Poppyprint

I made the one you see pictured here yesterday with some of my Briar Rose "Two-fers" from another project and some Essex yard dyed linen in Flax that I purchased here.  The luscious felted wool inside is hand dyed by my local friends at Wool Penny Rugs.

pinwheel needlebook by Poppyprint

I just love that tiny fabric covered button (also a scrap of Briar Rose) - sometimes a little detail like that can take a simple project to the next level of special, along with the hand-embroidered border around the front and back pinwheels.  I am hoping these details will distract the recipient from the fact that the lining strawberry print is upside down. Ahem.  Linen does not fair well with unpicking a 1/4" seam (can you say fray?).  I knew it would be risky, so I had to leave it and I'm okay with that.

pinwheel needlebook by Poppyprint

This swap happened very casually and just because I happened to be visiting with a group of super fun fellow MQG members. Are you a MQG member who will be traveling or visiting another MQG somewhere in the world? Why not suggest a swap? It's a great way to forge connections and friendships between Modern quilters and it doesn't have to be complicated, expensive or onerous.  We'll take photos at our December meetings so we can share pictures of swappers with their needle books and see who received our work over in London and vice versa! 

(p.s. The VMQG is a large and enthusiastic swapping guild. We have several more swappers signed up than London does, but that's okay because the extra people will swap "in-house". That means about 10 locals will swap amongst themselves rather than be left out of the fun)

25 comments:

Kelly said...

Love this Krista and hope I get it in the swap. Those upside down strawberry's are a unique design feature ;-)

Shevvy said...

The strawberries really made me laugh. Not at you obviously, but your honesty and not unpicking. Love it.

Annabella said...

What a great idea for a swap. This needlecase is just so beautiful...is it completely weird that my favourite part is how the hand stitching goes out at the corners?

Svetlana said...

what a gorgeous little needle book. I love all the pretty little touches you added, the button, tiny pinwheels, oh and that hand stitching, perfect!!!!

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Ooo lovely :) I am making mine this weekend - can't wait to see who will get mine and whose I will get in return!!!

Patty said...

These are adorable. I think you should make several more and have an IG sale. I guarantee I would buy at least 2 for Xmas presents. Really. xoxo

Lise-Lotte said...

I actually really like the strawberries that way. they are always upside down and all around when you look down on them growing in the garden..
Lise-Lotte
partygreen.ca

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Right, I am moving to London!

Katy Cameron said...

Very cute :o)

Leanne said...

It is cute! I will suggest to the EMQG that we should propose a swap with Vancouver.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for organizing this fab swap Krista. Look forward to making mine., Yours is lovely.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for organizing this fab swap Krista. Look forward to making mine., Yours is lovely.

Kay said...

Great needle book, I really like that you did it with Briar Rose.

Charlotte said...

that's so cute! Love the briar rose :-D

Elsa said...

Your needle book is so sweet and love
the strawberry print ~ I didn't even notice it was upside down. I love Briar Rose and swaps too!

Debbie said...

SO sweet!

Catherine said...

I love your needle book-the little button just finishes it off perfectly

Rene' said...

This is great Krista and I love how you always add those extra touches to a project. Definitely takes it to an added level of special. Our guild has never swapped with another guild but hope we can in the future. Fun idea.

Sonia said...

Such a cute needlebook - I love it. And the strawberry print is the perfect way up for those sat on the other side of the table whilst you're sat around sewing ;) x

Nova said...

cutest swap ever!

treewytch said...

That's the cutest needle book. I can't wait to see them all when they arrive

Dianne said...

You always make such beautiful things. So carefully thought out and embellished to the perfect degree. Lucky the quilter who receives this!

Live a Colorful Life said...

Your attention to detail always makes things so extra special.

tusen said...

It is so pretty, I love the little details and I'd totally think the strawberries are upside down on purpose.

elnorac said...

This is soooo sweet! And such meticulous work...