Do you participate in Quilting, Sewing or Craft Exchanges?

I hope so and here’s why with some helpful tips to make your experience the very best ever.

Christmas in July Pincushion Exchange 2022

I am busy, busy, busy over here at http://www.PrettyPennyPrecuts.Etsy,com but I still make time to indulge in a Pincushion Exchange just about every six weeks. Why you say, because exchanges are fun! For me an exchange is a mystery surprise waiting to be discovered. Exchanges have a deadline and tease my maker creativity to come up with a new design. Plus, it’s so much fun to meet other makers with similar interests online.

Things to ponder before committing to an exchange or exchange group. *Be sure to read all the group rules. *Checkout the longevity of the exchange group you are interested in, who makes the partner selections and are you required to exchange internationally (postage can be very pricey and slows receipt of goods considerably). *How do you communicate with your exchange partner, and how often. *Where and when do you post photos of the fabulous exchange you received. *can you include “extras”? If yes is there a suggested dollar value limit?

I’ve included the note I send my new exchange partner. This may seem overboard to some of you, but after witnessing the disappointment a dear friend had with an exchange, these guidelines have served me perfectly. PS my stitching friends and I made sure our friend received a surprise exchange!

Hi Partner, Sew glad to be your pincushion exchange partner for the ____ here on Facebook.

I love this group!
I love these swaps and thank you for participating.

Here is a copy of the note I send partners.
I prefer receiving a few additional guidelines from you…let me know where your comfort lies.
I love direction and prefer you guide my pincushion make with hints like let’s go with the moderator’s suggestion of _____? Or your preference for Season, Color, Style, State or Region, Collector’s category and etc. I am good either way. These Pincushion projects allow me to design something specific and sometimes they become a design I can dazzle and surprise my monthly stitching group with.

My personal style is realistic, and I tend to decorate seasonally or with a Sewing Theme. These days I do more hand work and am passionate about wool appliqué. I love to collect vintage and antique sewing notions, tools and especially pincushions.

Do we Add extras to the exchange package? Yes or No. This keeps the Swap equitable (Group Moderator suggests a $10 limit, but honestly that’s difficult to stick to).

I like to agree on an approximate mailing date so our packages pass each other and arrive around the same time. Our due date from _____ is On or before _____.

I look forward to hearing from you!
My best, _____ Be sure to include your Snail Mail address and double check it so you don’t miss out on a fun exchange experience!

Signs of Spring Wool Appliqué Project

Signs of Spring is a completely die cut project that will get you stitching right away. Plenty of time to get this one stitched up and on display by Spring. If you are anywhere near the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum in Carrollton,Georgia join me for the class on Saturday February 5, 2022 from 10 AM – 2 PM. You can find Signs of Spring in my Etsy Shop. http://www.PrettyPennyPrecuts.Etsy.com

I have great step by step directions for Signs of Spring included with your purchase.

#prettypennyprecuts

#sqtm

Holiday Shipping Woes! Communicate and Show you Care.

If you are a merchant of any kind you know how frustrating Holiday Shipping can be. Here is how PrettyPennyPrecuts keeps customers returning to http://www.PrettyPennyPrecuts.Etsy.com COMMUNICATION! Yes, it may seem redundant to the messages customers already receive from Etsy, but never overlook the opportunity to CARE! Since PrettyPennyPrecuts is in the business of providing motifs for Wool Appliqué, we add this cute little freebie to packages. There are so many cute stickers available these days, you could do likewise for your small business. The printed portion was made with Avery’s free design program on their website.

Autumn is here!

PrettyPennyPrecuts (no spaces)on Facebook is my lovely group of wool appliqué stitchers. It’s become our tradition that we make Pumpkins in October and Acorns in November. These adorable wool crafty projects make for a fabulous display.

Midnight Pumpkin Stitch Along

Midnight Pumpkin Stitch Along with PrettyPennyPrecuts, virtual hosting by the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum

#prettypennyprecuts #sqtm #fall #DIY #autumn #pumpkin

I have just 8 kits left! Why not stitch one up? Midnight Pumpkin is a classic you can display all through the months of October and November. Great wool appliqué techniques including making a three part Pumpkin from two parts!

Suggested finish size 18″ x 14″

Fantasy Florals Needle Roll Wool Appliqué Update

Sew blessed to retreat to the lake with three close Stitching BFFs. Sue A shared her fabulous finish of our Fantasy Florals Needle Roll. Sue selected the Scottish souvenir plaid wool for hers.

If you haven’t purchased my Fantasy Florals Needle Roll they are back in stock in my Etsy Shop. You can always add a message to me asking that I substitute the souvenir plaid “just like Sue’s.”

This is a great opportunity to talk about why I up cycle so many wools. Vintage wools allow more diversity in my designs, as often this is a wool or a plaid texture that we might not see again. Additionally, when compared to current or modern day milled wools these upcycled wools are of a more superior quality.

http://www.prettypennyprecuts.etsy.com

My terminology, for a souvenir wool, may not be an industry standard definition. What I am referring to, are beautiful skirt length yardage kits that one can buy or could buy while traveling in Europe. I have found unique skirt kits from England, Ireland, and Scotland. Often these were sold with matching thread, synthetic lining, a zipper, and a label.

Souvenir wools are certainly something to keep an eye out for while thrifting.

Fantasy Floras Needle Roll stitched by Sue A. Kit by Pretty Penny Precuts

Sea Turtle Wool Appliqué

My 2020 designs have been beach focused. We were blessed to visit and stay with friends Lynne and Steve in Flagler Beach in February while doing a Trunk Show and Class with the Racing Fingers Quilt Guild.

My first Sea Urtle design turned out pretty big.

Extra Large Sea Turtle

I redesigned the Sea Turtle for our Fun in the Sun stay at home and stitch Summer Camp with the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum. #sqtm

Sea Turtle deign #2 fits on a Fat Quarter

All this time I’ve had a “tiny” Sea Turtle on my mind and at least one cutout. I’ve actually started three Mini Sea Turtle Wool Appliqué or Wool and Cotton versions. I’d love to know your favorite! #prettypennyprecuts

Tiny Sea Turtle 1 (6”)

Tiny Sea Turtle 2 (7 1/2” x 6”)

Tiny Sea Turtle 3 (4 1/2” x 5 1/2”)

Happy Stitching! #prettypennyprecuts

http://www.prettypennyprecuts.etsy.com

Fun in the Sun Stay at Home and Stitch Summer Camp with the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum and Pretty Penny Precuts

I was honored to be asked to curate a series of wool appliqué projects for the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum in Carrollton, Georgia USA. A little back story…the SQTM has offered Quilt Camp for stitchers aged 9-18, four week long sessions with one on one mentors. Needless to say there Quilt Camp is very successful and feel honored to know many of the dedicated quilters that give so generously of their time and talent. Facing the necessity to cancel Quilt Camp for 2020 due to our current health crisis related to the COVID 19 Virus the SQTM Board contacted me. This was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up! I wanted to learn how to film stitching instruction for YouTube and these projects were perfect. Of course there is and was a learning curve. SQTM Board Member JoAnna Browning has done all the video editing. I’ve learned a lot and made plenty of mistakes but with one two week session behind us and half way through the second of four projects we are well on our way.

Fun in the Sun Stay at Home and Stitch Summer Camp with the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum and Pretty Penny Precuts offers four wool appliqué hand stitching projects for beginning to advanced stitchers ages 9-99. Project Kits are still available and you can catch up at your own pace with YouTube project codes. #sqtm #prettypennyprecuts

Project 1 Fun Pouch

Project 2 Sun and Sail

Project 3 Surf’s Up Truck

Project 4 Sea Turtle

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A Stitch in Time Quilt Show

Do you put yourself and your creative works “out there” for others to enjoy? That’s just what we did October 12-13, 2018 for our first ever Quilt Show Hosted by Evergreen Church Peachtree City and Evergreen Church Comfort Quilters. We traveled this journey with two local Quilt Guilds – Quilters Guild of the Southern Crescent and Common Threads Quilters Guild. We were blessed by 600 adults and 100 children visiting the show in two days. Volunteers stepped up from the organizations listed above and included family and friends. To God goes the glory for a very successful Community Outreach Event! I Challenge You! If we can do it you can do it! Share your works and passion for creating with others.

Sew in love with Fall

I am participating in the Rusty Crow Quilt Shop “Pumpkin Swap”. (Swap is closed, blocks were due by September 15.). My blocks were delivered to the shop this weekend. Whew, I always hold my breath when I mail my work. I stitched 12 of these 8 1/2” Pumpkin Blocks, kept one and will receive 11 blocks back from the swap. My block was designed using my Sizzix Dies. I am working on a series of things themed “Sew in love with Fall”. #sizzix #prettypennyprecuts