charlotte37830

Thank you everyone for the positive remarks that have been posted. I thank Owlvamp for starting this swap. I offered to help so she could have some time to get her strength back and we could continue with the swap.

The way I look at it even if I don't exactly like one of the charms, the quilt isn't for me. Maybe the child it is for will. If the child isn't old enough to know what something is on the charms, it is a learning opportunity. The only I Spy quilt I have made was for a 2 year old. I figured he may not know what each item is, but his mama can use it to teach him with. Example: This is a butterfly. This is green. How many lady bugs? 1, 2, etc. If I don't think it is suitable for a child's I Spy, I just add it to the scrap pile or it is cut down to four 2.5" squares for another project. As givio and Owlvamp said: Somebody has spent their time and money to share with me. Some can afford better some can afford less. As my mom would say: If somebody gives $1, but all they have is $2 then they have given more than the millionaire that gave $1,000.

I haven't joined other swaps because they have said no JoAnns, Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart. While I do buy from a quilting store on occasion, it isn't very often. I have 6 children and 9 grandbabies so there is always somebody that needs something. Swaps are a way for me to have a wide variety of fabrics without having to spend as much money.

If anybody is trying to decide if you want to join, please do. It really is a lot of fun. Choosing what fabric to use, cutting, mailing and then getting your charms in return. It is like Christmas getting to open the package and seeing all the different prints.

marybrace

I recently made an I SPY for a 2-year old. Her parents used sign language with her and she will sign rather than verbalize so this may help her be more verbal. Duplicate blocks? one went in the quilt and the other laminated so it can be used as a matching game....I was just asked if I would sell them a couple they could give their nieces for Christmas gifts. Unfortunately, I'm short on blocks right now...but searching my stash to see if I have the proper prints to join the new swap. Also, these aren't restricted to 2 year olds. I'm making one for my grandson who is 10, but using squares to represent his favorite things (more of a memory quilt).

charlotte37830

Marybrace, I hope you join us. I really like the idea of laminating blocks to use as a matching game. I may use that idea for my grandbabies quilts if you don't mind.

charlotte37830

I received packages from wendiq and sewbizgirl. Thanks for sending them in.

owlvamp

I also like the idea of laminating a square. I think that's so neat.thanks for sharing that and thanks everyone for being so understanding.

Hats off to Charlotte for her first swap and doing an awesome job. I hope more come and join and have fun!!

Susan Sendt

I am reading these recent posts and feeling a lot of love that has gone into these charms as well as the thoughts expressed. I am proud to be in a swap with people that care so much for others! God bless you all!!!

Library.Lil

I too have a swap addiction! I will likely have to sit this one out, as I have a one-week old. I may have some that didn't go into the last swap that could make up a set or two, I'll pm if that's the case. Otherwise, I think the November swap is more realistic for me. But I love seeing what people are sending and reading all the comments.

I know that I am never going to love 100% of what I receive, but I really like seeing what others pick out and having such a large variety to choose from. As for interpretation of "children's prints," I have been using the definition of anything that a child could identify, but not necessarily a print made only for children. Child really being anyone 10 or under. I also haven't been thinking too much of age, knowing that quilts last a long time, so even though a two year old might not know what a toaster is, a four or five year old will. But if I should be using a different definition, I will. I like seeing animals and objects that are more unusual. But I agree with whoever pointed out that I Spy quits are a great place for increasing vocabulary.

I really appreciate having a group of people to swap with and seeing all the different things we each pick out. Last swap was my first one with this group and I hope to continue for a long time to come!

givio

Anna, My grandmother had 8 children, all married, and tons of grand and great grandchildren. She had a tiny house by the time I knew her and in her living room she sat on the couch, with a card table in front of her, with piles of scraps on it making crazy quilt blocks. Even with all that family, the little quilts she made, stitched by hand, were for orphans, not us. My sisters and I would crawl under the table and sometimes she 'dropped' scraps and we picked them up and gave them back to her. When I was a young adult, I made quilts for birthdays, for weddings, for baby showers-- for family and friends. Recently, I took up the hobby again after a long time away from it. I'm a grandma now and I want to walk in my grandmother's footsteps. :-) I would like to start sewing quilts for orphans, but I haven't done it yet. Hope to one of these days though! So far I chose to give to a local pregnancy services group that helps un-wed mothers who have chosen not to abort their babies. We get a dresser and fill it with diapers, baby clothes, quilts!, etc. We give car seats, cribs, bottles and formula, etc. (If this type of thing interests you, I would imagine, there is a Catholic church in most areas that can direct a donor to where they can help in this manner, because Catholics strongly hope that babies don't get aborted and they want to help women who need help in this way.) Another thing I do is I save all my fabric trimmings, selvedges, threads, and scraps too small to be sewn. When I have enough, I use them to fill a doll body or animal body. I know polyester fiber fill would be softer, but I had the idea to use my clippings, so that's what I do. When I have a little pile of toys, I bring them to the local hospital. By the time my son was 4-years-old he had had 5 operations. He was given a toy one time-- I could bring some things from home for him to play with or do as he lay quietly in the hospital bed-- but he did like the little stuffed toy he got. Some people knit hats for the newborns at the hospital, but I make toys for the children ward... Here's a link for making quilts for kids in hospitals: http://quiltsforkids.danemcoweb.com/about/ I'm glad you have children and it's fun to hear about where your quilts go! :-)

catpawski

Pay day is Thursday so that will be my mailing day ...........now all I have to do is get all my squares packaged up and ready to mail.............Yes I am a I spy swapaholic...........and proud of it

romille

I just stumbled on an I Spy pattern yesterday... Perfect timing! I will have to go fabric hunting and then sign up.