Saturday, October 17, 2009

Still On Cloud 9 over My First Exchange

What a week! After being sick last week, this week I had 2 huge midterm exams. I was completely overloaded this week. Has anyone else been forced to take statistics? Wow! That is an intense class!

But now here it is Saturday morning...the exams are behind me. Cuddle Bug is curled up on the couch watching Miffy and Friends on PBS and LadyBug is upstairs taking her mid-morning nap. The floors - that shamefully have been neglected for 2 weeks - have been swept and vacuumed. No more stale Cheerios on the rug under the table for LadyBug to be stuffing into her mouth when I turn my back for a split second (did I mention she's "crawling" now...it's really more of a butt scoot but she's very good at it). Now I can exhale.

Ahhhhhhhh.

So now I can mention that I am still absolutely living on cloud 9 over my exchange from Ranae! That was one of the most fun things I have done in a long time! Milling over charts, picking out just the right thing to stitch and deciding how to finish it. Picking out fun things to keep the exchange piece company in the box during it's travels. It was an absolute blast! And then there's the excitement, the anticipation of finding a box on your doorstep! Oh my gosh...it is fantastic!!!

Of course I forgot to get a picture of my piece before I taped the box shut. Wouldn't you know? It wouldn't have been right if my first exchange went perfectly. So I had to make at least one amateur mistake, right?! So there you go, no picture. But fortunately Ranae took a wonderful picture and has kindly given me permission to post it to my blog.



This is part of Tanya's Quaker Boo freebie she posted last year. I have wanted to do this one since she posted it. I went back and forth over this and a Bent Creek design. I really wanted to do this chart, but I couldn't decide if it's poor exchange etiquette to use a freebie chart or not. It was my favorite since I thought it would make the most interesting finish, so I went for it anyway. Anyone want to set me straight on this? Anyway, I did the large octagon motif over 2. Then I stitched 4 slightly varied versions of the pumpkin motif over 1 and hung those from the bottom 4 corners of the octagon. I put mine and Ranae's initials on the back along with the year. My pillow ornament finishing wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But Ranae didn't seem to mind.

Ranae, thank you so much for offering to exchange with me! I had so much fun doing this with you! You are wonderful! My flatfold from you is gracing my living room window sill, and I seriously can't help but smile every time I see it!

Hugs for Ranae and all the amazing stitchers out there who continue to inspire and support me in my stitching adventures :)

18 comments:

BeckySC said...

Kim, you have every right to be excited! You did an amazing job for your very first exchange....and if you had not told anyone..they would NEVER know it was your first :) You came up with a very unique piece!
GREAT work :)

Daffycat said...

I admired this on Ranae's blog. It's a perfect exchange item. I see nothing wrong with using a freebie pattern in an exchange, especially when they are finished as nicely as this!

Exchanges are a little addictive. Are you planning another soon?

Tanya Willis Anderson said...

Love it!!!

Tanya

Brigitte said...

Good to hear that you are feeling well again.
You can be very proud of your first exchnage piece. It's terrific and I *love* the finishing idea. Very creative.

Cheryl said...

Oh i love this Kim! Its so unique, i love all the pumpkins hanging at the bottom! Great job!

Kathy A. said...

You have done a wonderful job on your first exchange! A freebie pattern is certainly usable and finishing it so spectacularly makes it even more special. Do I get the feeling that more exchanges are in your future?

Ranae said...

Let me set people straight on this exchange.... it was perfect.
I think it is fantastic when freebies are used and esp. out of our own stash.
Thanks! right back at ya for doing it with me as well.
(((hugs)))

Tommye said...

I think the idea of a personal exchange is a great idea. Yours is lovely. Great job.

BTW, I love Statistics...but then I'm a little weird. :)

tjbdesgins
http:stitchingandbeading.blogspot.com

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

Darling, darling, darling! You did FABULOUS!

staci said...

Love your exchange piece! The finishing is so creative! You really did an awesome job on your exchange!!!

Michele B. said...

Oh my goodness, how spectacular! You have the soul of a designer in you. Can't wait to see what you do next!

Susimac said...

Its lovely, I love how you have finished it, what a great exchange, your partner is soooo lucky.

Aussie Stitcher said...

Your exchange piece looks wonderful, well done. I have not participated in exchanges either, time restraints and I do not mix LOL.

Michelle said...

Beautiful finish!! I love the piece you stitched for your exchange - it's so original, and Tanya's freebie was a perfect choice!

Rachel V said...

Fabulous work, Kim! I love how creatively you finished it. :)

Arthemise said...

Wow, that looks great!

Kim said...

Just had to say Hello to another Kim B. :0)

Happy Sewing

Cindy said...

Using freebies chart for an exchange is perfectly alright to me :)

That was a great and beautiful piece of work, Kim. Congrats for your first and wonderful exchange. I think you will get addicted to more exchanges. :D