Shades of Sunshine Quiltie swap . . . winner(s)!

It took me some time to wrap up this quiltie swap even before I start swapping it out, because I had to choose a "most creative" entry. Yikes! You may (or may not) remember that in the call for this swap I wrote . . . . Challenge yourself to try something new with this colorful swap. The most creative set of quilties will be awarded a first prize packet of mixed media & fabric goodies hand-picked from my own stash that is sure to delight! : )

Well, I ended up choosing 2 participants with outstanding creative quilties, and I had quite a few more participants on my list that almost won! I was able to choose two participants this time because I happen to have an *extra* prize on hand. I recently decorated a Daily Window bag (backpack) as a sample for the company. They liked my work so much they asked if they could send another style for me to work on - my answer was yes! When I received the package last week there was not one, but two of the same bags inside! It was a mix up in sending and upon contacting the company they said they would send the correct bag they wanted me to design (an Urban Tote) and -- as far as the other two: "You are welcome to play with them (the 2 Daily Carry-Alls), or share them with another who may enjoy them. They are a fun bag because they can be used for so many different things…an outing with a couple of bottles of wine, a gym bag with a place for your water bottles, a diaper bag, a beach bag."

SO! Long story short, I am first going to award KARA KLEIN with a Daily Carry All Tote that she can art-up as well as use the clear window of the tote to pop-in her ever-changing array of beautiful art pieces! I fell in love with Kara's creative sunshine quilties when she sent them to me back in June. I loved the way she used words and told a story and featured bold geometric shapes to describe what summer means to her. The bold stamping with her first-ever alphabet set really grabs me design wise and also emotionally. Congratulations, Kara! Two of Kara's very creative quilties are below -- click on any photo for better detail.

And secondly, I want to award Kiki Finlayson with a lovely, creative pack of goodies from my own stash for her outstanding creative shades of sunshine quilties. Kiki titled her work Pacific Sunset and used so many different techniques and materials - beading, felting, quilting and more! Click on her name to read a bit more, and view two of her quilties below. Congratulations to both Kara and Kiki!

I will send the prizes out with your quilties . . . . . The physical swapping of the shades of sunshine will start soon -I will keep you posted. We had 24 participants including myself that finished the swap. One overseas package is still in transit and did not make it here on time, I am very sad to say. Quite a few people had to drop out this time too. But there are still a LOT of wonderful, bright, colourful and beautiful quilties here to swap with 24 of us, so I will get to work soon! Thanks so much for your participation. The shades of the forest quilties swap due 11/29/08 still has space as of this date: 9/22/08. If you have not joined yet, you are welcome to join ~ see the sign up PayPal button on the right. Thanks!

Shades of Sunshine Quilties: Kara Klein

I am in love with the shades of sunshine Quilties that Kara Klein has sent in already! Not due until September 20th, Kara wrote about the swaps and said "...they were all so fun that I just started and couldn't stop..." so . . . lucky us! We get some early inspiration for this swap!

Please click on any scan for more detail of Kara's great stitching, colors and stamping. When I asked Kara how she did the words, she said: "yes, rubber stamps, nothing special just the peg ones I use all the time with a few others mixed in (the largest ones are the very first alphabet set I ever bought)."

Kara also enclosed a note with her Quilties that described the process behind her journaled quilties . . . she told me her childhood best friend's mother recently passed away and she used to spend the summer vacations on the beach with them. Kara used these quilties to remember those wonderful times. She said they were very different for her -- but they worked! I love the feeling & emotion they hold.

This is what the back of Kara's quilties look like!
Thanks so much, Kara.

Row House Swap: Kara Klein

Kara Klein from Los Angeles, California created 2 sets of 5 little "Row Houses" using the template I made. Very cool! I have not made any myself yet, so it's really great to see how Kara's turned out. I predict we are going to get a lot of diversity with this swap and when you receive your swaps back you will have a wonderful collection! Click on Kara's houses for more detail.

Itty Bitty Collage swap: Kara Klein

Here are Kara Klein's bright summer themed Itty Bitty collages. Don't you just love the 'summer standard' of a child with a naked behind? : ) It is a pleasure for me to have Kara participate in my creative swaps . . . I believe she has been swapping art with me since 2004? Her artwork is always creative & colorful - I love it!


I am also going to show off the folder Kara created for me as a Hostess Gift because it is just as I described her artwork -creative & colourful! Click on any photo for more detail.

Shades of Spring/ Brown + Blue Quilties: Kara Klein

Kara Klein from Los Angeles, CA felt very inspired and went ahead and fullfilled ALL her creative swap requirements from now 'till September! I love Kara's style so it was nothing but pure pleasure to open the box with all of her swap pieces packed inside. This post shows off Kara's 4 shades of spring (brown & blue) quilties. You will notice there are shades of brown & blue AND other shades too! Great idea, nice stitching & wonderful labels. Thanks, Kara!

White Quilties! ~ Kara Klein

From Kara Klein in Los Angeles, CA we have received another set of quilties for the "Shades of White" swap - wow! I am lovin' this theme : ^ ) All of the entries so far are just fabulous. I was surprised that this quilties swap was the first of all the swaps I announced (last fall) to fill up. We now have 31 participants in this swap ~ a few people had to drop out . . . this happens, don't worry about it. Just let me know, as you have and it works out fine.

Anyway, Kara did an awesome job on her quilties; they are very beautiful and creative. There is a close up of two of her quilties to the left; click on the photo for even more detail. Below I will add a photo of all of Kara's shades of white quilties, front & back - plus a detail of possibly my favorite where I believe Kara did free motion sewing to stitch her teapot & her message. Thank you Kara; I always love having you in my swaps!

Kara Klein - 1st Valentine Ornaments in!

Just late last week, after returning from our vacation, I recieved my very FIRST Swap package for the new season from Kara Klein in Los Angeles, CA. All of the ornaments you see in this post were created by Kara - what variety, and what a delight it was to open her package! Kara decided to make TWO sets and sent in 6 valentine ornaments for this swap, due in my hands February 2nd - only aboout a month away! If you are participating in this swap here is a gentle reminder to start playing and thinking valentines- if you have not already.

An unfortunate turn of events for one of our participants, Beverly T. (a broken wrist - ouch!) means that I have one spot now open in the Valentine ornament swap ~ NOW FULL. You can read some of the swap details in the original post and then if you are interested in joining, please email me to see if the space is still open. Thanks and a Very Happy New Year -quite creative with lots of art involved- to everyone reading! yours very truly, Lenna.

A close up of one of Kara's ornaments - click on the photo below for more detail.


p.s. Kara so kindly made me a beautiful gift as a thanks for the swaps I host that she has enjoyed. Thank YOU so much, Kara! I just adore the little clay book you made for me - I can't help but share it, please see photos below.