One of the highlights of our party is the Secret Santa gifts. We get our partner assigned to us a couple months ahead of time with a list of their likes and dislikes, and what they might love to receive. And like every year last minute sewing happens...even with the lengthy heads up!
My partner requested some sort of bag...and my heart sunk! I don't make bags, I'm no good at it and given the choice I run the other way!! After thinking long and hard I decided I could never do a 'bag' justice and opted for a wall hanging instead. Because...who doesn't love a wall hanging full of fun and rainbows?!
This was my opportunity to do some paper piecing, use rainbow fabric and make a pattern I've had on my list. And secretly I was thinking it would make up for not making a bag! The pattern is from Quiet Play. I love her patterns just a lot!
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| 19" x 19" Wreath of Feathers |
Each feather has 24 pieces and took me nearly half an hour for each one.
This was a very tedious process, but one I really did enjoy! Once I finished a feather I was so excited to figure out the next one...twelve times!
Hows that for a pretty little wreath? This pattern requires a tad bit of curve piecing AKA Drunkards Path. After all the paper piecing, that was a breeze! It all came together and I was pretty pleased with it.
I quilted pebbles in the center using Aurifil # 2021 Natural White. The four corners have 1/4" straight lines and the rest is 1/2" straight lines. I wanted the quilting to radiate out like rays of sunshine.
And I like it! The front is Kona White and the back is Alison Glass 'Artifact'.
Adding my usual hanging method on the back (hanging a mini quilt) finished it off and let me move on to a couple other gifts to add to the booty!
My partner also suggested a scissor pouch. That I can make. This would be my second one and I knew it was in my realm of expertise! This pattern is by S.O.T.A.K Handmade and is a free pattern! If I can...you can!
I personalized it with my partners initial using another Quiet Play pattern. I did have to reduce the letter to 75% in order for it to fit on the pouch.
Cute lining, perfect zipper construction, amazing 'K' and it fits a big pair of scissors too!
And lastly, I made a mason jar pincushion. Also a free pattern and simply simple to make. I did switch out the candy in the picture for red and green M&M's just to make it a bit more holiday-ish!
All in all it was a successful bunch of goodies! However...I felt a little concerned early on when I was making these things for my partner. I had the feeling she wasn't going to show up. My intuition was right. What it meant was I no longer had a partner to give my gift to and someone else wasn't going to receive a gift from her. It was a let down and I felt terrible. Life happens and we sometimes cannot follow through with some commitments. I hope my partner is doing well and I wish her the best. Mostly I felt bad for Janet. She didn't get a Secret Santa gift. In the end, I gave her the gifts I made. They weren't specifically made for her and the 'K' is not a 'J', but I made the with love and hope that she will enjoy them none-the-less.
I was the lucky partner of Jenny! (@tennjenny on IG) I've been in awe of her skills for as long as I've known her.
I couldn't believe it when she handed the gift to me...I knew it would be amazing even before I opened it!
Gorgeous! My favorite colors! This basket is going to be perfect for my hand sewing. It has three sections, one of which is outfitted with a big pin cushion.
It was filled with pretty purple fabric. I'm ready for the Pantone Color of the Year 2018 - Ultra Violet now! And lovely geometric Washi tape too!
Jenny also made this amazing tray for me. It was filled with candy...I did not eat it all...yet! I'm not sure if it'll be my treasure box, candy box or filled with tools of the trade. What ever it's used for it'll be used.
Thank you Jenny for the beautiful gifts! I have always wanted a TennJenny creation! Also...thanks for sneaking behind my back and getting feedback from my daughter! I couldn't believe all the amazing gifts that were exchanged. Talk about talent!
Are you having special Secret Santa gift giving this year?! Do you feel pressure when deciding what to make?
LINKING:
TGIFF
Hi Jayne,
ReplyDeleteWOW - what an amazing wall hanging you created. Those feathers!! And the quilting!!! It really looks gorgeous, and I would have been thrilled to receive it. The extra goodies are so neat, too. The scissors pouch is so sweet. That's too darn bad the person had to drop out (and didn't let anyone know!). The stuff you received from Jenny is fabulous! It looks like boiled wool?? The basket looks so handy, and the colors are just perfect. ~smile~ Roseanne
I really enjoyed making the feather quilt and in the end, everyone was happy with what they received. I do wish our partner would have contacted someone so it wasn’t so awkward! The gifts I received made me so so happy! The outside is linen and it’s just perfect!
DeleteYour "wreath" is absolutely stunning. I love it and Jenny's gifts are fabulous too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful mini quilt, Jayne. It was fun following your work on it via Instagram. Funny how we get these intuitive insights sometimes; I hope your swap partner is OK as well. I also would not be able to do a bag justice, and I know that the person who received your work must be appreciative of you. And what awesome items you received! Sounds like a great evening.
ReplyDeleteYour feathers are just incredible, even though they weren't meant for her I am sure that Janet loved them. x
ReplyDeleteOH my goodness! I'm gonna have to learn how to do those feathers....24 pieces! It looks fabulous (as always) and I'm sure your partner loved it, and all her other goodies. You received some fabulous gifts as well. The party sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteThe mini you made is BEAUTIFUL! Even though your and Janet's partner couldn't show up, but I'm sure Janet loved that mini. Over the top awesome! And those are some pretty cool scores you got yourself from Jenny :)
ReplyDeleteI was pretty spoiled by Jenny! She couldn’t have picked better things for me…both in design and colors! I think Janet loved the feather mini. I’m just glad that everyone received a gift in the end. This party is one of the highlights of the year and we all look forward to the fun and games!
DeleteWow ... Such beautiful makes ! This mini quilt is just like you and is a perfect gift.
ReplyDeleteI thinking giving your passel of beautifully made goodies to Janet was exactly perfect! THAT's why you didn't make a bag...the mini was destined for Janet. And what a mini, indeed! Wow, those feathers coulda knocked me over with, well, you know :)
ReplyDeleteWow, she really missed out by not being there and receiving your treasures you made. Beautiful, lucky Janet! And you really got lucky with what you received, what's not to love about those lovelies!
ReplyDeleteWow..all the things here are lovely...love...
ReplyDeleteYou did an amazing job on your gift. Too bad, she didn't show up to receive it. The gifts you received are wonderful. Love the colours.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful Jayne! I love those little feathers. Janet is one lucky person!!
ReplyDeleteGreat little mini Jayne, your partner is very lucky. I love that backing fabric! And what a haul you came away with, they are great gifts and very handy. Thanks so much for including the link to your mini quilt hanging tutorial - very timely!
ReplyDeleteWow- love the wreath with your original borders. Very nice, and I'm sure Janet loves it. What a bummer for the K person not to be there to get her personalized scissors pouch. :(
ReplyDeleteLove the gifties you made and received. Good job going with the flow! There’s always 'one' to put a kink in things.
ReplyDeleteI love both the gift you gave and the gift you received! I am sorry that your original partner did not participate but it looks like both you and your new swap partner both were happy with your gifts.
ReplyDeleteLove all the work that went into the wonderful gifts you made. A shame about your partner but how lucky there was someone to give them too.
ReplyDeleteThe gifts yo received were delightful. beautifully made. You are very lucky.
Those feathers are fantastic. Look at those little quills!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic gift! Love the quilt and your cool scissor pouch.
ReplyDeleteFabulous paper pieced leaves, and I love the scissor pouch! What a cool idea to have a gift exchange where all the gifts are handmade. :-)
ReplyDeleteA rainbow colored wall hanging? Well, I have the best one and no one can steal it from me cause it has my name on it :-D
ReplyDeleteI do love the gorgeous paper-pieced leaves. And the letter K is the best!!! Your gifts are terrific too. All in all a perfect party for all.
The gifts you created were so lovely and the mini is beautiful in every detail. I am sorry your partner didn't show up. As I was reading your post I was thinking you could give them to Janet, and you did!! Enjoy your gifts from Jenny, they are wonderful!
ReplyDelete-Soma
Wow. What a let down when your partner didn't show! She may have not completed her project for you and was too embarrassed to show up. I was once in a gift-swapping sort of thing but you made a gift for someone but the gift you received was from someone else. I thought that was kind of dumb. Some people made items that were over the top and others made meagre nothings. I can't believe you spent so much time on your gifts. This would put me off secret santa. Glad you made the best of it.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun and gorgeous gifts you made (and received!)... I'm glad your makes went to a good home, even if the initial was not accurate. That rainbow feather mini quilt is just so gorgeous--I think it was probably a pretty amazingly awesome consolation prize! <3
ReplyDeleteWow, you really put a lot into your gifts. I bet Janet doesn't feel too bad about the letter - after all, K is right next to J, isn't it?
ReplyDelete