All kinds of goodies - coming and going

So, have you all wondered what exactly was in the Mystery Gift Basket for Stitchers that Charlotte won on this blog last week?

Charlotte is one of those gals who has done just about every form of stitching out there (and is pretty good at all of them, too!) but she predominantly knits and spins. Yes, she spins her own yarn!! I tweaked the contents of the basket a little (just a little) to add some items very specific to Charlotte and her interests.

This is what she's getting:
Included in this pile of goodies are a baseball cap designed especially for a knitter, 2 fridge magnets (both about knitting), a 2012 pocket date book with a stitching quote on the cover, a plaque about stitching, 2 mini-counted cross stitch kits and a plaque I made specifically for Charlotte as a spinner! I hope she likes her prize!!

(I was prepared to specifically customize the contents to go along with the special interests of any stitcher when the winner was chosen.)

x . . . x . . . x . . . x . . . x . . . x

I, too love to receive gifts in the mail so I was thrilled the other day to get a package from my swap partner from a craft forum I participate in. The swap theme this time was "Fall." Here's a pic of the beautiful hand knit scarf Monica made for me:

Isn't it pretty? (Soft, too!)

I can't wait for the next swap. The theme for the next one is Christmas ornaments. We have different partners for each swap and most of us know quite a bit about our swap partners so the gifts are almost always designed to suit the recipients interests and style. I'm already giving my contribution there much thought.

I'm proud to belong to www.CraftBuddy.com and I miss chatting with my friends if I don't stop by often. We chat about our craft work, our family, friends, and life in general. Stop by and check us out there. You just might find a place you'd enjoy hanging out, too.

I have met some fantastic crafty friends online. Do you participate in any forums out there? What are your favorite sites?

Guest Blogger, Fred - Thrifty Finds !

My friend, Fred, is our Guest Blogger today, lending a post while I'm away:


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Everyone is looking for fun stuff to do in a tight economy. If this is the case for you, don’t forget your local thrift store.


I have heard of many a crafter finding a prize at a thrift store. Expect the unexpected when you go. Not only are there great used items there, but you are bound to find brand new items at a great bargain as well.


With the recent interest in going green and recycling, what better place to go? If you like to embellish clothes, you are all set with racks and racks to choose from. Picture frames, art and other home décor items are readily available. Furniture ready to be restored (or made more funky) is waiting to be picked up. Jars, vases, pitchers, glasses, etc ready for that little embellishment that you have to offer.


Besides all the crafty items ready for you to pick up, going to a thrift store is just plain fun. Take your kids or grandkids there for a different shopping experience than they are used to.


For a fun little shopping trip that will be sure to provide a bargain or unexpected inspiration, go check out your thrift store and you’ll be helping out the community while you do it!


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Thanks, Fred !!


Fred is the webmaster at CraftBuddy.com, a social gathering place for crafters of all skill levels in all sorts of crafty endeavors. Those who join and participate in CraftBuddy are truly a circle of friends as evidenced by the friendly banter that fills the various forum threads there on a daily basis. Look for a long in-depth post here about Craft Buddy in August. In the meantime, why not stop over and check them out for yourself. Here's a short-cut to get your there!