Saturday, August 22, 2009

2009 HUG SWAP!!!

SWAP SIGN UP CLOSED NOW!!




It's the day to share what Vicki from Tozz's Corner and I (Jenny of Elefantz) have been planning for months! We held off this swap until after I moved, then Vicki broke her wrist, then our theme of Roses for the swap ended up being the theme for Helen Stubbings Angel swap...it seemed that for a while there the swap was not going to happen. But finally we can announce it! \o/

Welcome to the 2009 HUG SWAP!!

The main purpose of this swap is to make it a beautiful but inexpensive swap, especially for those who are unable to participate in other swaps due to postage costs overseas or due to items being large or heavy (also expensive to post). This swap is a size that can be posted in a mid-size envelope - much cheaper posting within countries and overseas, as it can post as a letter.
There are a few rules to this swap.
1. You must post your partner 2 items - a Mug Hug, and a Mug Mat. They can lay flat when packed, and fit in a medium sized envelope.
2. You must not post anything else in the parcel! This is very important. Remember, many people cannot afford to add extra items or pay large postage so this way no-one feels bad if they cannot add extra items.
3. Do NOT sign up for this swap if you do not think you can get the items made and posted by September 25th. We are aiming for an October 5th delivery date.
4. You must show the HUG SWAP button on your blog. Simply cut and paste the button photo from the top of this post, save it to your computer, upload it to your blog THEN link it to either mine or Vicki's blog.

You have until September 4th to email myself or Vicki and sign up! :-) You must give a valid email address, home address, phone number and your real name along with a link to your active blog. These will be kept confidential - they will only be shared with Vicki and I, and your swap partner.

On the draw date Vicki or I will email you at your nominated email address and once you have replied to that email we can confirm your involvement and you and your partner's name will be up on both our blogs in the participators list under the Hug Swap 2009 button.
So sign up, start sewing and have fun!
The pattern on the Mug Mat is the Number 6 Block of Vicki's On My Heart BOMs and can be downloaded HERE from her blog.

My Mug Hug design is HERE to download.

NOTE: You do not have to use our designs for your Mug Hug and Mug Mat, you can use anything you like, but please stay with the theme of HUGS.
~~~~~
To help those who may not have made anything like this before I thought I'd do a short tutorial on the Mug Hug I designed. :-)

1. My fabric background was 3 3/4 in x 9 in. I spray basted a piece of wadding (you could use fusible Pellon or similar) to the back after I had traced the design in the centre. Once you have done that you can do the embroidery.

2. Trim the wadding from the sides...

3. Pin the ribbon lengths to the side of the embroidery...then stitch in place (you can see the stitching on the final mug hug photo)

4. Cut a piece of backing fabric slightly larger than the mug hug front. Lay the right sides of the backing and the mug hug together, making sure the ribbons are kept well away from the edges, and stitch a 1/4 in seam around, leaving a small opening to turn through. Trim the corners, and cut back any overhang of the backing fabric, then pull the mug hug through the opening to the right side.

5. Slip stitch the opening closed, and press.

6. Now dress your mug! :-)

~~~~~
I have stitched Vicki's angel design from her On My Heart blocks to the centre of a 6 in square, with the same wadding as the mug hug. The finished size will be a 5 1/2 in square mug mat.

~~~~~
This is the actual colour of my set...the top photos came up very pink for some reason.

I hope you'll join in with the swapping fun!!

Hugs
Jenny
xxxx

30 comments:

Kate/Massachusetts said...

Your stitching is so incredibly even and perfect!!! How do you do that??? I can only dream of someday being able to stitch like that!

Isabella said...

They are both just lovely Jenny.

Vickie said...

oh wow wow wow...once again you excel golly gosh all them teeny neato stitches well done girl...lovely design too...cheers Vickie

Allie said...

Oh boy - I am IN!

Terri said...

How pretty!! I'm in.....I'm usually scared to join swaps because things always happen that make me afaid of being late...but I think I need a hug! ;P
And what better way to get a hug than to give one!! ;>

Sew Useful Designs said...

Hello Jenny sweets!

I have just left a comment for Vicki saying 'Count me in!'!!!

Thank you for the tutorial sweetie!
I think it's a great idea to do an inexpensive swap, they are so great to do, but can be quite costly sometimes.

Thanks to both you and Vicki!
Hugs!
Vikki xoxoxo

Lisa said...

Count me in please....many thanks.. Lisa

Lisa said...

Hi Jenny, Hi tried to email you but it stayed on the same page..and an email option didnt come up so Ive just emailed Vicki... Thanks Lisa

Anonymous said...

Hey Jenny....How do you stitch that?
Its really great.


RITA

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Sweet P said...

Oooooo . . . what a neat idea for a swap. Count me in! I'm sending you my information.

Crispy said...

Very cute swap Jenny. I won't be participating but could I put a shout out on my blog or are you limiting this to followers on your's and Vicki's blogs?

Crispy

Judith Tetley said...

What a joy it is to see two very talented designers sharing their designs, skills and knowledge for the blogging community. We are lucky to have you both!
Sorry I have too much on my "to do" list to participate, but who knows...maybe next time.
Hugs..Judith
http://creativestudio10.blogspot.com

zigzago said...

Hi Jenny, can I participate too? I think this is a loveley swap. Going to mail you right now! Hugs, Renata.

Anonymous said...

Wow - very neat and so beautiful
Count me in.... emailing you now!
hugz xxx

Loralynn said...

What a lovely idea! I never know what I should send extra in a swap, so it will be nice not to have to worry about it. You can count me in on this!

Margot said...

What this beautiful handiwork!ginti

Fiber Babble said...

Oh, where to start? The patterns are adorable. Sweet. Perfect.

The instructions are clear and the photos were very helpful.

Making the swap for those two items only is very considerate - I know that even though I can usually afford to, I really stink at choosing the little extras for packages! The things that are sent to me are always SO much better than what I send! :-)

Finally - I'm totally bummed. I can't play this time around! It's all about the timing - I'm going on holiday; certainly it's not that I don't want to play!

When I return I'll make the set for myself and every day think of how generous you and Vicki are to your readers!!

Myra said...

What a lovely set, and wonderful swap Jenny!
Myself, I can't commit to anything right now, but I know the swap will work out well for you, Vicky, and all that join in... Enjoy! 8-)

AnGi said...

me gusto este swap
debo inscribirme en correo electrocico de alguna de ustedes 2 pero no pude localizarlo
yo te dejo mi correo electronico para obtener el tuyo y enviarte mis datos
anaysell(arroba)yahoo.com.mx
me llevo el logotipo y lo publico en mi rinconsito
besos

Anonymous said...

Oh I am sorry to say but I can not download your pattern can you please make it a PDF file also, please.

Hugs Eva

Wendyb said...

Hi Jenny,
any chance of joining in if you don't have a blog????

Sue said...

Oh Jenny, I love the "mug hug". I would love to sign up but I'm in about 101 swaps, boms and challenges at the minute and can't stretch to another thing. I'm sure everyone will have so much fun...I'm a little envious of course.

Kris Meares - Tag Along Teddies said...

Hey Jenny! OK, I promised myself that I would only sign up for ONE swap this year after running myself ragged last year when two deadlines coincided ... but a gal can NEVER have too many hugs, so ... COUNT ME IN!! Emailing you now! Bear Hugs! (see ... I'm already in the groove!!) KRIS

Kris Meares - Tag Along Teddies said...

Oh ... the ONE swap was to be the SSCS, so this is number two, hence the waffle! :0) Bear Hugs! KRIS

Marj said...

I would love to hoin the Hug Swap. I drink a cup of tea every morning. I think sending a hug to a fellow blogger is a fun idea. Count me in.

Angela said...

I want in on the fun! I will send you an email with my details in a few minutes! Thank you so much for hosting this!

Turtles In Northern Florida said...

I would love to join! COunt me in!

Unknown said...

Your stitchery is beautiful! I am interested in this swap!

hugz
Pam,

rockgranny said...

To swap or not to swap? - that is the question.
Or is it not?
Of course, I'll be in
Hugs

DAWNIE said...

Yes Please - I would like to participate in your swap. Such cute designs.