HoE Freebie Exchange

As usual, I'm lagging behind....I have needed to post several things to this blog but have been really busy doing other things so I will try to get this caught up today. Now, where was I....? Ah, yes...I see I haven't posted about the last exchange both sent and received. I did post to the HoE blog but never managed to get it up here so here we go.....

First, I want to share the wonderful package I received for the HoE Freebie Exchange from Mercy. She sent a beautifully stitched and finished pinkeep - my first one - using a design by one of my favorites, Barbara Ana. Mercy's stitches are perfect! She also sent some wonderful goodies - three zippered mesh bags (great for projects), a magnetic notepad, two skeins of DMC Variations floss, cherry blossom-scented lotion, a nail file, a beautiful piece of overdyed fabric and two new charts that I didn't have yet - "Joyful Summer" by Country Cottage Needleworks and "Hand Over the Coffee" by Barbara Ana. Here is a look at the entire package:

And here is a closer look at the pinkeep:

Mercy has much better pictures on her blog, including a close-up of the beautiful ribbon bow and silver heart at the top - take a peek!

AND....

The same day I received my freebie exchange from Mercy, I got my package for the exchange mailed off to my partner. It took several days longer to reach her than the 3-5 business days that the International Priority Mail was supposed to take, :o( but it could have been worse - at least it arrived in good shape. My partner for the exchange was Carol R and I stitched one of my own charts for her and used it to top a wooden box that I lined with black and white gingham. I saw on her blog a pinkeep she had made for herself that she was very pleased with so I tried to make something that would match or at least co-ordinate with it. It was the first time I had topped and lined a box and I was pleased with my first attempt but it certainly took longer to do than I had expected. Carol seemed very pleased with it - I hope she will enjoy using it.

She has much nicer pictures of it on her blog here. Hmmm...maybe I need a photography class....?