2009 Dear Jane Siggie Swap

I received my blocks from the 2009 Dear Jane Siggie Swap. If you don't know what a siggie swap is, it is a signature block swap. Each person sews a specified block for each person that signed up for the swap. For this one, I made 79 of the same block. I then signed the center block with my name, city, state, and country. The blocks are mailed to the swap hostess. After receiving blocks from everyone, she sorts them so everyone receives one block created by each person.

I love receiving the package in the mail and then looking and touching each one. You cannot look at a block without wondering about the person that created it.

I received blocks from as close as the next city over and as far away as Australia. The creativity in these simple blocks is astounding. My favorites where the ones the used a stamp that represented their state. Such a simple idea, but so effective.

If you have never participated in a quilt block swap, I recommend that you do. Do a little research to make sure that the organizer has done a swap with success in the past. Do not hesitate to email the organizer and ask how many swaps they have organized. Remember, organizing and participating in are very different.

Also, have patience. It always takes longer to receive the packages than what is stated in the swap instructions, but life happens. Sometimes the hostess decides to wait for a few people that are late in sending their blocks. Sometimes the turn-around is too ambitious. Sorting all of the blocks is a very time consuming process and then you have to package and mail. Don't even get me started on shipping international. The hostess deserves all the respect in the world! (Thank you giggles2. I hope you know how much your work is appreciated!)

I am working on a map that marks the location of everyone that participated in the swap. I am halfway done. When I complete it, I'll post the link. It is interesting how a swap can cross seas and bridge language barriers. (Okay, that was a bit sappy, but it is neat!)

Going Green Never Tasted so Good - Candy Wrapper Purses

While on vacation, we stopped at the M&M store which featured Candy Wrapper Purses. The purses were made from M&M wrappers. They were very nice looking, but they were a bit expensive for me. My mom then reminded me that when I was young we would make chains from our of candy wrappers, which is the base part of the purses.

I started looking around on the internet and found several sites for making these purses. First, let me mention that there is a site called Save the World Designs that sells these purses and other fashion accessories made from recycles items, but if you would like to make your own, here is where you can find out how.

• Wrapper Purses - Has step-by-step pictures for creating a purse using potato chip wrappers.
• eHow - High-level instructions but there are several links on the side to other ideas.
• Purse Project - Contains a lot of pictures for different ideas and instruction for making a purse from cigarette packs (Keep our roadsides clean!).
• Nahui Ollin demo video:

• Starburst Chain Tutorial - slower, step by step instructions for making the base chain.

You don't have to ruin your diet to make one of these purses. I plan to pick up wrappers and bags (that aren't too gross) from the roadsides and in the park during my walks.