Covert Robin

If you are looking for the April Showers Blog Hop Giveaway it is HERE

When Rachael@ imagine gnats posted about Covert Robin signups. I just could not help myself, I had to try it! I am so happy I did. Thank you Rachael and all the others who put this great swap together.

Theresa Seykora @ Around The Home Adventures was my Covert Robin and I still cannot believe the amazing gifts. I have tried to look at her online presence but she has no blog I can find. So I will say this here! She is wonderful, thoughtful and very talented. I feel very honored to be on the receiving end. I look at the items and instantly "Happy". Thank you Theresa! I have already used my new library bag and everyone here loved your GS cookies. I should have hid those!

If you know my crazy household, you know my refrigerator is covered in school calendars, photographs, and art created by my children from over the last 27 years. I always need magnets (how did she find that out)? They match her other gifts - that happy fabric with the tiny little flowers. They are awesome! Of course the magnets were put into use out of the box.

I love this beautiful pincushion! Theresa could not have made me a more fitting item!

I really enjoyed reading all of my send partner Patty @ Lemon Lane Cottage blog posts. She is such a talented artist! While I was trying to get clues, I fell in love with all the beautiful things she creates. Patty also has the most amazing flower garden. But I could not send her flowers, they would be dead by the time they arrived. Paint a flower pot? No, it would get broke in the mail! What to do? Go to Pinterest and see what she pins. I found lots of things there (she is also a great pinner)! I decided on a large makeup pouch and Easter egg potholders that she had pinned. Learning about Patty was a great adventure and I really enjoyed it. The making part was really nerve racking especially since she is a real artist. She sent an email that she liked her gifts and the potholders were already in her kitchen. I jumped for joy, what a relief.

Large Pouch:
Fabrics: Outside: Pattern 16070, oh deer! By MoMo, Moda. Inside: Another Iota, Robert Kaufman

I chose the outside fabrics because they remind me of where I live. The colors are happy and cheerful. I hand-stitched around the top with a red cotton Perle. And made a zipper pull with a tree pendant.

Post Office Rates

The robin eggs never made it past the post office! When I went to mail my pretty package the Postmaster told me it would cost $11.80 due to increase in weight rates, he recommended repackaging it into the postal service box at $5.60, a $6.20 difference. He helped me get everything packed and sealed up again but the robin eggs didn't fit! For his helpfulness and cost saving idea I gave them to the Postmaster. I surrender from now on I will be using the USPS boxes and bags to mail within the United States.

The Easter Egg Pot Holders - Patty had pinned these on Pinterest

Tutorial & Pattern: Miss Mary Sewing Classes just follow the Pin

Fabric: Choe's Closet 30s Playtime by Moda, won from Red Pepper Quilts last year on my birthday. The prints looked just perfect for Patty.

The Covert Robin was one of the best swaps I have ever done! I would do it again next week if they had it. So I am in for next year. Inspiration and ideas galore are available at the Imagine Gnats link up! Create and be unique,Lisa