Friday, September 5, 2014

Swap Happy

I recently participated in a couple of wonderful swaps.  Now that August is behind us, I can share what was exchanged.

The first swap was a “Sister” swap hosted by Michele.  She did a great job keeping us "on tract" through the summer.  I believe this was the third year for this exchange.  We were given our secret sister information and were allowed to cyber stalk her over the summer, getting ideas and creating something special just for her. 

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My sister was Kathy at Qreative Quilts.  Kathy was a bit difficult to stalk as she keeps her information hidden.  Winking smile  I was only able to gleam that she loves the color yellow and is a Seahawk fan!!!!  As well, she is an excellent paper piecer.  This is what I made for her.  I was glad to find out that she enjoys cooking.

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My sister, Dora, then sent me an exciting package.  Everything was wrapped so beautifully.

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Inside these pretty packages I found an amazing table runner.  I have always love FMQ and Dora did a stunning job on this piece. 

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Just look at those fabulous feathers!!!!  I love everything about this piece – the color, the size and the design.  
As well, these other great goodies were included in the package – coffee from Santa Fe, a cute sewing kit, great measuring tape and wonderful little bunny scissors.  Having lost my embroidery scissors recently, I was really thrilled to get these.   I would say that Dora did a great job of stalking me over the summer.

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You can see the other swaps by checking out the linky party at Quilts from My Crayon Box.

Another group that I have been a member of for a few years was our Sewing With Friends.  Our July/August swap project was for a kitchen item.  Mhairi (no blog) made me this wonderful apron. 

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I love the chicken theme and just look at the corners of this apron.  They are potholders!  Isn’t that a great idea?  No more searching for potholders when you need to remove that dish from the oven. She also added some extra little goodies which included a really cute chicken themed quilt pattern.

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Now for a good kitchen blooper.  I was making a brioche to make a blackberry bread pudding.  I put my dough in for the first rise in a lidded container and went to visit my mom.  When I returned home I found that my dough had blown its lid…..all the way into the next room.  It must have been quite an explosion as the dough blew all the way up the cupboards and onto the high ceiling.   (The recipe for the brioche can be found at http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Basic-Brioche-351237.

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But……all’s well that ends well and the bread pudding was incredible and we baked it in the wood burning oven.

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26 comments:

  1. You received such nice items as were the ones you made! I have to ask what brand of yeast you used? Bread looks fabulous!

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  2. Oh my word! You have a word burning oven! That is SO NEAT! I cooked in them once or twice growing up as our family often visited out of the way cabins heated by those old wood burning stoves with ovens on the side for cooking as well as a stove top. I am so impressed.

    Also, That apron from your swap partner is the neatest thing right down to the built in pot holders. You are a lucky lady.

    P.S. thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.

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  3. Oh, what a mess to clean up! I'm glad it turned out OK in the end.

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  4. What a riot! Sorry for your mess.
    I really like that apron too

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  5. Lovely swap treats. But that explosion...unbelievable!

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  6. Such gorgeous swap gifts.. You were spoilt..

    Oh No!! What a mess to come home too but the Bread Pudding does look delicious..

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  7. Lovely gifts sent and received. I can't stop giggling over the dough explosion. Do you have a cat? I'll bet if you did and you had a nanny cam, the video would have gone viral! :o) That's a gorgeous loaf of brioche!

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  8. What fantastic swap items! I love the apron with the potholders built in. I've never seen such a thing, but what an awesome idea. Your bread looks absolutely perfect. Even if some of it was on the ceiling. LOL!

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  9. I've never heard of the secret sister swap but it looks like a fun one. Do you do machine embroidery? I noticed a couple of the gifts you have your cyber sister is embroidered.

    You also received some nice gifts. Blog buddies are best :)

    Enjoy your weekend.

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  10. What fun swaps. Love the hot pads in the apron idea.
    Funny kitchen blooper. The bread looks oh so yummy.

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  11. Holy explosion Batman!!!! I'm sure glad you weren't standing there when that thing went BOOM! It looks like it was delicious :) You certainly hit the jackpot with your swap sisters too! I agree with you - those feathers are gorgeous! And that has to be the most ingenious apron EVER!

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  12. Oh such great goodies you receive. I'm glad you enjoyed the swap.

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  13. Oh my goodness, I almost fell off my chair over the bread explosion! It sure came out good though, I'm drooling on my keyboard!

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  14. Dora sent you such a lovely runner.... I love those feathers!

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  15. Great items given and received. What a fun idea to put the pot holders in the corners of the apron!

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  16. Great swap items you made and the tablerunner Dora made is adorable. Love the apron and the potholders in the corners is a fantastic idea.
    That sure was an explosion and I laughed so hard-sorry! Glad it worked out despite that mishap.

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  17. What fun swaps! And cooking with a wood burning stove certainly sounds interesting. Sorry the dough blew its lid, clean up is never fun! Have a happy day!

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  18. What a wonderful swap, Mary! I like the idea of stalking each other to find out what they like ;>) The apron is perfect. I can't tell you how many times I've used the corner of one of mine and wished it was a potholder. Thanks for my snort for the day! Too funny, but you got a gorgeous loaf from it! Maybe visit your mom more often (wink).
    Cheers!

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  19. Your swap is awesome! Oh my word! So much for earthquakes when you've got your own rumblings there. Too funny!

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  20. How fun! And, what a worry with your bread and to end up looking so beautiful!

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  21. Great shots of the brioche blowing its lid (and wouldn't we all liked to have had some?). Fun to see all your swaps and the goodies you received and sent. A productive summer!

    Elizabeth

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  22. Such lovely swap gifts, Mary!! I love the table runner:)

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  23. I don't know what happened. I missed this post completely! What a fun swaps you are in. Lots of yummy goodies you received. I love that table runner too. What a lot of quilting on it - Enjoy Nat

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  24. Love the kitchen blooper photo! The feathers on the table runner are truly stunning! Swaps can be so much fun and it looks like all yours were.

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  25. Oh dear on the brioche. So glad the food turned out good anyway...and what lovely gifts you received from your swaps.

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  26. Would you post your recipe for the brioche that you used? Thanks in advance, Richard in Charlotte, NC, USA.

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