Swaptastic!

A while ago I took part in a magazine swap that Cotton Strudel organised. It was the first swap I ever took part in and I must say that Sarah my swap partner, made it an absolute pleasure. The parcel of bounty that arrived on my doorstep was wonderful and most cheering to receive at the end of a week that had been horrible in the extreme back before we went on holiday.

This is Flopsy my bunny wearing the gorgeous hat that Sarah made for me and indulging in tea and magazines that Sarah included in my parcel. (There were also some chocolates but they didn’t quite make it to the photoshoot. Somehow the yummy handmade organic loveliness disappeared into thin air!)

Another addition to my parcel were these divine little teas on the right and a bag of sugar cubes especially for tea. Whilst we in England may be known for our love, nay insatiable need for tea you in America have certainly taken it to a whole new level and I love it! My only concern now is when to drink my charming little boxes. Somehow I don’t seem to be able to find a special enough time for them. I am thinking I might save them for when proper Winter is here and I need properly saving with a little ray of sunshine!

The magazines provided perfect commute reading. I delved into the world of American alternative women including how to be a bride yet shop indie!Learnt how to create individual items for my home out of basic Ikea furniture and an article of a pair of brothers that are taking old buildings in North West America and rejuvenating them sympathetically. Discovered how to embellish my life in a multitude of ways. And finally drooled over Interweave knits where projects both beyond my ability spur me to do better and items within reach caused me to shiver with excitement.  I think that Sarah may very well have started a somewhat interesting addiction in me for American magazines. Why is it that foreign magazines are always so much more interesting than anything you can get locally. This collection is already well thumbed and creased from travelling with me and many a happy hour was spent on the quilt in my garden brooding over them and creating plans in my head.

These cupcakes on the left, fairy cakes as we call them in England are certainly going to be making their way to my table at some point. Proof that floral needn’t mean insipid. The shawl on the right has brought me back to the page over and over again. Filmy and floaty it puts me in mind of ballerinas for some reason. I adore it and am trying to work up the courage to actually attempt it.