Craft Swaps, my new addiction

If you are a fan of crafts you must run to check out www.craftster.com (tagline, no tea cozies without irony).  Under the 'Community' drop down menu you will find areas for different crafts, such as sewing, fibre arts, glass, paper crafts, needlework, jewelry.  In each area people post pictures of their latest creations, comment on them, have discussions, share tutorials.  It's great to cruise the pictures and admire, and be inspired (or intimidated).

But wait there's more!  Once you've been a member for a month you can sign up to participate in a craft swap.

That's right, I said CRAFT SWAP!

Swaps are organized either on a content theme (The Dr. Who swap) or a craft theme (embroidery hoops).  Fill out a questionaire and send it to the organizer, who approves you to participate, then you get matched to someone, receive some information about what they really like, make up an item or package (swap will have guidelines for number/size of items) and mail it off!  Next thing you know YOU will receive a magical package from a crafty stranger.

My first swap ------  Hoopla Swap (embroidery or cross stitch left framed in the hoop)

This swap was done with a signup chain (person b makes for a, c makes for b, etc) rather than partners.  You give a list of content themes you might like a hoop on and the next person in the chain picks one and makes you a hoop.

I chose someone's theme 'street art/graffiti inspired.'  I noticed another of her themes was 60s french films.  This made me think of some graffiti I had take a photo of in kensington market a couple years ago, a stylish woman's face in black, white and red.

Here's the original photo which I glued to the back of the finished hoop to show my inspiration.

I printed the photo in the right size, traced the shape, transfered it to my cross stitch fabric, and worked from there.  It was my first free flow xstitch (no pattern) and I found it challenging but also a lot of fun and very unique and rewarding. 

I was thrilled with the result.  It was hard to send it off but I did.  The recipient posted a picture to the 'swap gallery' and said she loved it!

I then received an adorable hoop made on my theme of 'cute monsters' from someone in Alberta.  My monster is adorable and I love it!!

You know how with some drugs it only takes one time to be addicted?  Well craft swapping is like that!!!  At least for me, since I'm a big geek.

I signed up for a second time in the chain, and this time I chose someone's theme of 'greek mythology,' because it seemed like not my normal sort of thing and a challenge.  I emailed with the woman I would make it for and she told me that the story of Arachne was one of her favourites.  Arachne was a weaver turned into a spider.

I used some nice off white fabric I had and started with a spider.  Then came the loom, and the idea to make a loon and then stitch on the weaving in the loom, actually weaving the threads a little.  To add some sparkle I broke out the metallic rainbow thread I hadn't tried yet.  It was devilish to work with but is pretty thread.  The design was still looking plain so I looped the thread off the loom and stitched Arachne along the bottom.  It's not as good as my graffiti hoop but still unique and interesting I think.

The woman who received it said she loved it (though you know these craftster types, they're all so dang nice).

I'm waiting on my second hoop to arrive.  This one is on my robots theme!!

Now that I have successfully completed my first swap (proved reliable on the sending) I am approved for up to 5 swaps at a time.  I've already signed up for four that start soon: Golden Age of Cinema Swap,  Anything Goes Embroidery Swap, 80's movies Swap, and Whedonverse Swap (think Firefly and Buffy!).

If anyone wants to do a personal one on one craft swap just hit me up, I am totally up for it.