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theserialgardener

MNF March Make-It-Yourself Swap

10 years ago

Here it is, the March MNF (Making New Friends) Swap! This time around, we're going to be showing off our handiwork to one another, whatever it is we like to do in addition to gardening! So, whether you quilt, make candles, knit, press leaves, make fudge, or paint rocks, this is your chance to gift someone with a small sample of what it is that you do. Please make sure you read through ALL of this posting before joining, we're going to be on a time schedule, and there are some things I need to know before pairing people up.

Here's our timeline:

February 15th: Last day to sign up

February 16th: Partners should be announced

March 5th: Final Deadline to send out our packages. Packages may be mailed out any time before this.

Package Requirements: A minimum of 3 packs of seeds, and a sample of your handiwork. This can be anything as long as it is something you've made. If you'd like to include something more, go for it, that'll be up to you.

Because we're trading handmade items, we need to talk about allergies. As most of you know by now, I have 3 cats. Chances are, if I sew something, some cat hair is going to get sewn in and make the journey to my partners house, and that would not be a good thing if they were allergic to cats. So, here's what I need to know when you sign up. First, let me know if you have pets, and what they are. Also let me know if you or someone living with you is a smoker. Also let me know if you might be sending some type of food which might contain gluten, nuts, etc. Next. list any allergies you might have such as allergies to pet dander, gluten, smoke, types of food, and whatever else you think might be good to let me know about. Use this format to let me know your information:

Name: Dan

Pets: 3 cats

Smoker: No

Allergies: None

I know it's a lot to ask, but I'd rather have everyone receive a package they can enjoy, and I'm sure you all feel the same way.

So, having said all of that, let the March Mayhem begin!

Comments (102)

  • 10 years ago

    that dragonfly looks great!


    Lisa, thanks for sharing those pics! I watched 3 hours of Property Brothers today here in a hotel, I really enjoy seeing how things can be changed in a house!

  • 10 years ago

    Dan, we love watching property brothers. Lol

    You may have noticed I used the backside of you're quilted pad you sent as a background of the pic. Love that pad.

    Good luck on your appointment. Watch out for the bad drivers on your trip back. Margo

  • 10 years ago

    Lisa, redoing your kitchen is difficult...you cant do so much, have an excuse to eat out :o) and such...We did it about 4-5 years and it was SOOOO worth it. I know you know this, but it's sometimes difficult to remember when you're going thru it! :)

    Margo, that is great news!
    Dan, thinking of you often and hope the lung Dr. appt comes soon and can help you get better!

    Have a great day everyone!

  • 10 years ago

    Margo, yes indeed, I recognized that fabric...lol! Using quilted batting makes my quilting projects go much easier, and I have more time to design and make quilt tops!

    I saw a sleep specialist this morning and feel like we're starting on a good track with my horrible sleep patterns. I've yet to see the lung doctor, but that should be happening soon. I hope so, anyway! I'm going to have to go in for some sleep tests, with and without a CPAP machine, to see if having one of my own would be worth it. I'll do whatever it takes to get my active life back!

    There was an overnight snowstorm here where I went to see the sleep specialist, so I've decided to stay another night and let the road crews clean up the roads before I get on them. I don't like the thought of having an accident, who needs that?

    You all take care!

  • 10 years ago

    Dan, better safe than sorry.

    Really hope you the the CPAP machine. My hubby has had one for several years and feels crappy the next day if he doesn't use it. When we were visiting the kids in Texas this past weekend, I took my 2 year old grandson in to wake papa forgetting he had the machine on. I thought he was going to get upset but hubby whipped it off in time to assure him he wasn't a scary man. Lol

    Have a fun day and safe trip back. Margo

  • 10 years ago

    Dan depending on your insurance make sure it's prior authorized. When I worked for a sleep doctor there is steps you need to take in order for it to be covered!! Also if you need a cpap and you have Medicare lots of rules!! Hope you get to feeling better!

  • 10 years ago

    wild haired mavens Connie I got your package in the mail today. hope you enjoy it

  • 10 years ago

    Dan, sounds like things might just be on the upswing for you now. It is so frustrating what we have to go through sometime before doctors find the answers.

    We had a warmer day here but unfortunately, I didn't get to go out in it. I worked for another work associate and spent the sunny day in the store. At least we were busy so that made it fun.

    I am going to finish up my project tomorrow and hopefully have my package off by Monday. I will let you all know when I get that mission accomplished.

    Margo

  • 10 years ago

    Faye, We just back from Philadelphia and my son is now recovering from his back surgery. He is happy to be home! I came home to your wonderful package. I love the beautiful hand made card with stickers for me to personalize it and the awesome selection of seeds, many were on my wish list! Thank you, Thank you!!!! I also received recipe cards, flag stickers and Tennessee Vol Pen, super cute! I love everything and appreciate it! What a great welcome home! Have a great week! Amy

  • 10 years ago

    I mailed my package to Erica. I have the DC # but it's in the car so will get it tomorrow. Delivery is expected on Thursday so we shall see.

    Did a leap day run (fast walk for us) tonight and the weather was perfect. It was 2.9 miles. 50 degrees at race time and the wind had died down. I had actually overdressed. After the last one being in 8 degree weather, I wanted to be prepared.

    Hope everyone's week is off to a good start. Margo.

  • 10 years ago

    Margo -- Congratulations on the run. I'll be keeping an eye out for the package!

  • 10 years ago

    Margo -- I received your fantastic pack tonight. Thank you so much!

    Margo sent seeds, a journal, handmade beaded necklace, and handmade plant markers. Using numbers on the markers is a fantastic way to be able to reuse them. What do you use to stamp into the metal?

    I'm heading to bed now, but I'll try to get pictures posted tomorrow.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Lisa, package was mailed this morning. Tracking number: 9505511080716063310498. It should arrive on Saturday March 5, 2016. Hope you like it.

  • 10 years ago

    I didn't get a chance to post a pic yesterday, but here are the lovely items that Margo sent: Two hand colored cards, a handmade beaded necklace, 3 hand stamped plant markers, seeds and a journal.

    Thanks again, Margo! I loved it all!

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Gardengirl, My kitchen project is complete and I will work on getting your package out for Mon. or Tues.

    Lisa

    Margo, the cards are well done!

  • 10 years ago

    Lisa, you must be relieved to have the kitchen done and have order back in your life. How nice to have a brand new kitchen designed the way you want it!


    Margo, those cards are so pretty and professional looking.

  • 10 years ago

    Sorry for the delay Tammy but I will get your package mailed out on Monday. My car is in the shop getting checked out :( my power steering is making a fabulous annoying noise!!

  • 10 years ago

    Linda, your package is on the way.

    Also, I got your lovely pack, she sent me a beautiful quilted coffee mug ring and mat, socute. She also sent a live spearmint plant, lovely seeds too.

  • 10 years ago

    $2300 to fix my car really?? Power steering pump and gear box. Bummer! Hope everyone else is having a better weekend!

  • 10 years ago

    Linda Ruzicka, your box will be going out tomorrow morning! I hope you like what's in it..... :)


  • 10 years ago

    I had a wonderful surprise in mailbox on saturday. It was my package from Emily. She sent me a jar of sugar and lemon hand scrub, 3 packs of seeds and two hand made dish towels. They were wrapped beautifully but I opened them to share a picture. Thank you Emily, what a nice handmade gift!

  • 10 years ago

    Okay kiddo, you're dc# is 9505 5000 0584 6067 0000 19.

  • 10 years ago

    Emily, I mailed your package today. The tracking number is 9505511001586068319245. I hope you like what I made.

    Lisa

  • 10 years ago

    Cheryl, Sorry for your bad luck hopefully things will get better for you. I will be praying for ya. I am going to mail your box out tomorrow. I have been sick and not feeling well so I am sorry I didn't get it out sooner but this flu bug has about got me down. I will post a tracking number for ya.

  • 10 years ago

    That's okay. I mailed out your package yesterday. Here's the tracking number:

    9505 5000 2663 6067 0008 59

  • 10 years ago

    Tasha- your box is finally on its way and should be there Thursday. I tried a couple of other things and just didn't like how they were turning out so it was back to my original idea.

    Tracking # is 9505510020896068353759

    Dawn

  • 10 years ago

    I forgot to post that Tasha's box made it here. She made cute little planters with baby plants in them. They had a rough trip from TN so after they perk up a bit I'll post a picture. Thank you Tasha!

  • 10 years ago

    Dawn, I'm sorry the plants hard a rough trip. I hope they perk up soon. Your seeds that I forgot to put in the box (not sure how I managed that) are on their way.

  • 10 years ago

    Tasha, no problems on the plants! Two of them are looking great now but the poor little flat leafed one is still a bit sad. Do you know the names of the names of the plants?

  • 10 years ago

    Cheryl just got back from the post office here is the tracking number #9505 5115 0681 6069 0801 59. It should be there friday they said. Hope you enjoy all of it. I tried to pack it best I could so hopefully it arrives safely.

  • 10 years ago

    Dawn the names are string of pearls- the one with the little round leaves, watch chain - the upright one, and calico kitten- the one with the flat pinkish leaves aka sad plant.

  • 10 years ago

    Tasha- they're looking so much better! Even sad plant... You should've seen him yesterday :(

    Tasha used yogurt containers that were painted and decorated with lace/fabric? I'm not sure what to call it but they are cute!

  • 10 years ago

    Oh my the one is really sad. I still sorry it didn't deal with the trip very well. Meet me know if it doesn't make it I will send you another one.

  • 10 years ago

    I received Lisa's amazing package today. She is really talented and generous. She made me a bird themed wooden wall art, simple, elegant, and beautiful. The picture really doesn't do it justice. She also made me a bird themed pillow case. She added in five packets of seeds. I am really looking forward to growing these. Finally, she added in a wedding favor from her daughter's wedding containing some lovely white citrus lotion.


    Thank you so much Lisa! I love everything.


    Dan, thank you so much for hosting. This was my first time in MNF, and I have really enjoyed myself.


  • 10 years ago

    Gardengirl, I'm happy to see your package made it. I hope you meant it when you said you liked birds. lol. The turquoise color should match with the greens and blues that you told me you have in your home.

    The bird pillow case started out as a full size pillow cover {18x18} for a sofa or deco pillow for a bed but I was on the phone talking while I was sewing and I finished it and realized that I had sewn the seam to the back side,.oooppppps! I didn't want to have to go back to the fabric store so I made another smaller out of what was left for fabric. I use that size pillow for relaxing watching tv.

    The bird wall art. I'll describe how I made it in case someone else is into simple wall art. I started out with a piece of maple{from my cabinets} that was about 11x11 inches square. I sanded and painted both sides and added a wall hanger to the back. I went to pintrest and found a bird outline that I liked and then enlarged it using my printer. I cut out the bird, stick and leaf shapes and then traced them onto another piece of wood. I used a scroll saw to cut them out, sanded the edges, spray painted them all black and attached them to the painted 11x11 piece of wood....Easy peasy!

    I am working on my Daughters wedding shower favors and thought I would toss one of those in as well. What do you think? is that a good favor for a wedding shower thank you? I wanted to do something that the ladies/girls could use.

    I'm going to head over and check out next months swap.

    Dan, do you want to see the completed cabinets? Oh, I mailed you the seeds that you were interested in the other day.

    Lisa

  • 10 years ago

    Lisa, that is a great recycling idea for your old cabinets. I really like bird and nature motifs so it is perfect for me.


    I do think it is a good wedding shower gift. I have actually never had any gift in any of the wedding showers I have gone to.


    I don't know about Dan, but I would love to see the completed cabinets!

  • 10 years ago

    Emily, those are parts from my new cabinets.

  • 10 years ago

    Oh, I thought you were reusing the old cabinets. I am glad that you had enough material left for the art. The colors are great and go with just about every room except my dining room which is burgundy.

  • 10 years ago

    you bet i want to see the new cabinets! I like how you recycled the old wood and made the bird art. if I had the right tools, I'd have to give that a try this summer!

  • 10 years ago

    My box from Linda arrived today, and the first thing I said after opening it was "Holy crap!" I couldn't believe everything she sent! Here's a picture of what she sent...

    Linda send handmade cards (5), handmade soaps (2), crocheted potholders (2), a card of butterfly stickers, and seeds, seeds, seeds, 13 packs of seeds! Wowza!

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Here's the new cabinets Dan and Emily. the new countertop has not come in yet and I have decided to wait on new appliances because my daughter decided that she's going to get married in 10 months. I also have to find some new deco items for the walls and counters.

    we made the new cabinets go to the ceiling. The kitchen looks so much bigger. My new phone doesn't take the greatest pics!

  • 10 years ago

    Very nice, Lisa. I really like the look of natural wood and maple is so pretty.

  • 10 years ago

    Dan sent me a wonderful box! It had a beautiful blue rose lap quilt, an extremely large assortment of seeds, a lined notebook with a butterfly cover for taking notes for my garden, a bag of mini snickers, truffles and an enormous lollipop! Everything I needed and wanted! Great job, Dan! I'll post a picture once I can pin down my daughter to post it!

  • 10 years ago

    Lisa, I'm liking those new cabinets!

    Have you thought about stenciling on the walls? You could stencil some ivy on the bottom of the blue areas pretty easily with stencils and acrylic paint. And it wouldn't take up any room on your counter tops! Once you've got the ivy painted in, you could go back and paint some ladybugs, butterflies, dragonflies, and maybe a rabbit or squirrel for added fun!

  • 10 years ago

    After catching up on who has sent and received their packages, we're just about done with this swap, and I must say, you all are a crafty bunch...lol!!! All but two packages have arrived at their new homes, and of those two, one is one its way. I've sent a message to Connie to see how things are going along with her, and hope to hear from her soon.

    Thank you all for all your hard work and making this a great swap!

    I won't be playing in the April swap because I've got a busy schedule of roadtrips and tests, but things ARE getting better, slowly! I've begun a couple of new drugs this weekend and they seem to be helping my mental processes, so now I can focus on my lungs and sleep apnea. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

  • 10 years ago

    I received my package. I got 5 seed pack, salt and pepper shakers, candy (yum!), and hand made seed envelopes. Thanks Tammy!!

    Some other good news I took my car to another mechanic and they said I don't need the repair. My power steering isn't leaking that bad. Yay!!!

  • 10 years ago

    Yayyy, and yayyyyyy!!!! That's good news Cheryl! Keep an on the car though, and be safe!

    Lastly, we just need to know is if Clipclop/Linda received a package from Mavens/Connie or not.

  • 10 years ago

    Okay, I just received word from Connie that she'd send Linda's package out and it had been received a while back.

    Remember to post when you mail a package, and when you receive one. It makes it easier for the current host, and we all get to share in the excitement as well. Thanks!

    This swap is now closed....