It’s swappin’ time, and there’s nothing like leaving it to the last minute, eh? You may recall me mentioning the Sweet & Sinister Swap? Well, the box is due to be mailed tomorrow. Want to see what I’m putting in the box to my partner, Ginny?
- I’ve had the BOO! banner for some time now – bought it from Nikki of WhiMSyLove, who custom-made it for me.
- The pumpkins I bought at the farmers’ market one recent Thursday, and I painted the stems with black nail polish to make them look a bit creepier.
- The licorice I’ve had in mind since the beginning (it’s considered “sinister” because there are 13 pieces – yeah, I know it’s a stretch).
- I made a pin from polymer clay – three white pumpkins with black stems, and each pumpkin has a “patch” from the Grayscale color scheme. I then antiqued, sanded & buffed it. It really didn’t come out like I envisioned, but it’s still ok.
- The card and tags I made in Paint Shop Pro, fiddling around with patterns, textures, fonts & effects. That’s always fun.
Now all that remains is to box it all up and put it in the mail. I hope my partner likes it. I’ve never done a swap like this, and frankly the more things I see in the flickr group, the more it drives home the point that my crafting style is very different than many of the people in this swap.
Lacking an appropriate segue, I’m going to just jump into showing you my husband‘s pants. This are very soft, very nicely-worn-in Wranglers that just happen to have a gaping hole in the knee. Or, at least, they were. This morning, after mulling over Eren’s skirt at This Vintage Chica, I took a seam ripper and a pair of scissors to Neil’s pants and repurposed them into this:
Because everybody knows I need another homemade skirt. 
It looks crooked, but that’s just the way I am standing. This is quite possibly the softest skirt I have ever worn. Neil broke it in for me over several years, and I think tonight after he dozes off, I may sneak into his closet and look for more pants I can steal recycle. Heh.
You may also have noticed that I got sucked in by the new Old Navy sweater commercial. Two nights ago, I was sitting on the couch with Neil watching TV and saying, “I like that sweater with the big pom-poms on it.” One evening later, I’m out renting The Ant Bully for Movie Night, and somehow I end up trying on sweaters and buying my first ever cup of $3.75 coffee (Oh, Decaf Tall Pumpkin Spice Latte. I think I love you. Call me.) The newly-crisp Fall air does something weird to me, but in a good, happy kind of way 
I’m going to be so busy this week, it isn’t even funny. A little bird has told me that the long-awaited Millefiori Story is going to be in my hot little hands very very soon. And that means I am going to be very very busy packing up those suckers and sending them on their way to eager clayheads everywhere.
That skirt is 10 kinds of awesome – what a great idea, and the sweater looks great! Tell me, I’ve been wondering – they’re calling them “Fair Isle,” are they made in China? I can’t imagine they’re actually Fair Isle knits. I call shenanigans!
Thanks! It’s a little baggy, but yo can’t beat the price 🙂 Oh, and the sweater? Made in China. And those pom-poms are starting to drive me crazy.
Your swap items look great and so does that skirt!!!! I love it!
Thanks! I hope I can snag another pair of beat up pants and make more 🙂
Your swap package looks fantastic–and I think the detail of the 13th piece of licorice is superb. Details like that are the things I love most.
I did not join the swap either, although I now regret it, because I was intimidated by all the projects I saw emerging. Now that I think about it, I should be ashamed of myself for feeling less than up to the challenge as new ideas and ways of doing things is just as important to a swap as following along with the crowd.
I was pretty intimidated myself, but I’m glad I did it. Next time, though, I am going to try and find a swap that is geared more toward a style that comes more naturally to me 🙂
what a great box of “stuff” for your swap. And i am in awe of your sewing talent – the best I could have done would be to make cut-off shorts! :O)
You know, actually, this was a very simple refashion. Just rip apart the legs, and sew them back together, and sew a hem. It’s essentially three straight lines. I’m looking at all of the pants in this house with new eyes now, LOL!
[…] at, and decorating my house with. Handmade things. The aesthetic is so different than that of the box I sent in, that I really hope my partner likes it. I didn’t get to make as many things as I had hoped […]
Acckkk! Your skirt is great!!! I told you it was easy peasy. Perfect! And thanks for the mention.
You were so right! And I really am looking at all of the pants in the house with new eyes now, LOL!
[…] loss, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t good news for my wardrobe. I know I just made one of these skirts, but there are differences. This one is a better fit, but the other one is […]
Hello it was an absolute pleasure to come across, and read your blog. You really have some interesting information that I will have to share with my wife. If your ever looking for fabrics Lauren & I would be more than willing to help. Just let us know. Have a great evening.
Josh & Lauren
http://www.trendyfabrics.com
Glad you enjoyed it – drop by anytime, and thanks for the link!