Yes there really are angels around us every day.  Sometimes we don’t realize that they are friends that we already know.

Last year I was part of an online swap.  Over a 7-week period the group had the opportunity to choose 3 or more projects out of 7 to make for a fellow stitcher.

The theme of the swap was roses and it was fun to embroider the small projects.  I completed a needle case, small bag that could be used for threads or jewelry when traveling and a journal with cover.  The fun, quick projects were easy and I shipped them to a stitcher from Canada in October.

Unfortunately my ‘secret angel’ was not able to send me any projects.  I guess that there were a number of us whose ‘secret angel’ fell down on the job.  Our names were published on Hugs from Helen website.  The hand made gifts certainly would have been nice, but my reason for participating was to meet someone with similar interests from another country.

My friend and fellow quilt guild member, Diane was also a member of the Angel Swap.  She new that I was disappointed.  So she took it upon herself to become my ‘Secret Angel’.  Tonight at our guild’s board meeting she presented me with this collection of quilting must haves:  a ruler tote for a 6″x24″ ruler and small tote with pocket:

Tote and ruler tote

and

needle case, smaller tote and quilt tool caddy

Of course my cat Dusty had to check everything out.  It looks like she approves.

Thank you Diane.  You are a special friend!

Well my angel swap projects are finished and were sent to my secret “Angel”, Debbie, last month.  She has now posted them on her blog http://makinquilts.blogspot.com.   I particularly enjoy reading the ‘Thoughts for the Day’ that she published with every post.

The projects were so easy and fun to put together.   Pictured here from top to bottom:

journal with embroidered cover; needle case holder and pin cushion.

Participating in swaps is an interesting way to meet new quilters while sharing something that we both love.  Debbie is a neighbor to the north from Alberta Canada.  I’m hoping we’ll keep in touch through our blogs.

The anticipation is over.  Each year ‘the group’ exchanges names and completes a quilt to be finished by the next quilters’ weekend at Watson Homestead.  Last year we anonymously exchanged envelopes of fat quarters and background fabric.  What a surprise the finished quilts were this year for all of us!

Just to confuse the person receiving my envelope, I chose patriotic fabric rather than my favorite – fall colors.  The patriotic theme is a favorite of Lisa and whoever receives  patriotic fabric in one of our swaps, assumes that it must be from her. It worked!  My exchange partner, Ruth, had no idea that the quilt she was making was for me and not Lisa.

Patriotic Quilt made by Ruth

Ruth always adds a surprise to the quilts she makes as she likes to add blocks to the back of the quilt  -  making it reversible -  I actually received quilts!

Back of Patriotic Quilt

Both Ruth and I completely missed at guessing who was the owner of the quilt that we were making.  I was certain that I had received Pauline’s fabric collection of soft pastels.  Knowing that she really likes baskets, I decided to make a miniature basket quilt. (Brown Basket, Timbleberries Pint Size Traditions.)

We both discovered that it’s unwise to assume anything. In the workroom at the retreat, both Ruth and I pulled out our projects when Pauline and Lisa went out on a shop hop.  We wanted to put the finishing touches on them before our exchange that evening.

Imagine our surprise when I told Ruth that the patriotic fabric was mine.

The joke was on me, however, when Mae said,”Hey, that’s my fabric!”  as I pulled out by finished miniature.  Luckily she is a fan of baskets also.

My quilt for Mae

I didn’t make a mistake when I chose the pattern after all.  In addition to the fact that she likes baskets, Mae is a basket maker.

We all had quite a laugh as we shared our stories at our exchange that evening.

For our project next year, we will all use a fat quarter of Paisley Tan from the Blessings collection by Brannock & Patek, add our own fabric for a quit to be given to our exchange partner.  The colors of this piece are some of my favorite.  Can’t wait to see our finished quilts!

We all like to receive gifts, especially from those who share the same interests that we do.  I am always on the lookout for gift exchange items for fellow quilters.   I like to make things that are useful, easy to make and of course it has to be something that I’d like to have myself.

Participating in the Angel Swap is giving me some quick and easy patterns that may also be used as exchange gifts. So far the pieces are embroidered so they make good take-along projects that can be picked up when we decide to make an impromptu road trip.

One of the things we did this ‘official last weekend of summer’, was to take a short drive south of Syracuse.  (My husband is always looking for an excuse to take some pictures.) The countryside is very lush this year, probably because weve had a lot of rain during the summer.  It was such a relaxing way to spend the afternoon and also gave me the opportunity to work on a few projects.

I brought along the second and third projects for the Angel Swap:  inserts for the journal covers and needle cases.  The embroidery is so simple that I thought I’d make more than one.    I’m thinking of putting together my own journals by covering loose leaf binders.

On Tuesday a group of us got together to a day of sewing at the local library.  I brought along these projects and so far have finished one and a half inserts for the needle cases and three inserts for the journal covers.

I came across an online swap with other quilters  and decided it might be fun to give it a try.  Over the next seven weeks we will make and exchange at least 3 project with fellow quilter.  Quilters are participating  from all over the world.  It seems like a fun way to meet someone with similar interests. I am a “secret angel” for a stitcher from Canada and am looking forward to getting to know her through the swap.

The theme of this year’s swap is Roses. All the projects are small (like a needle case, scissor keeper, thread catcher etc.) and very in technique and difficulty.

The first project is a small embroidered bag that can be used as a gift bag or possibly a small tote for notions.