Pincushion Swap

I know Carina has received her package for the pincushion swap, because she left me lovely feedback, so it's safe for me to post pictures without spoiling the surprise.

These are my first pincushions and they were so much fun to make (once I got started.) The hedgehog is made around a polished stone, and he has a nice weight to him. The cup is tiny, and handthrown by someone named "Suz," and was a thriftshop find. My kids noticed right away that it looked like a little cup of coffee, and that was exactly what I was going for.

I like swaps. I like the challenge of creating something I haven't made before, or showing off something I do well. I like putting together packages for someone else. Working on a deadline is also good for me, and something I am working to improve on. Time is often in short supply at my house, and I'm sort of disorganized by nature, so that's another real challenge. But that's another thing I like about swaps, and about having my own blog to feed--it forces me to FIND time to make things, which I enjoy, but otherwise might not otherwise take the time to do.

I almost swore off swaps entirely after someone severely ding-ed me in Swap-bot feedback for being late with this package (above) for a bookmark swap. I was late, but I included a note of apology/explanation and tried to make it a particularly nice package, but she was still unhappy and exaggerated about just how late I was. Ironically it was someone who had poor feedback herself for sending inappropriate things or not sending anything at all on several occasions. I hate having imperfect feedback. I feel like I'm marked with a scarlet letter---maybe "T" for tardy? Sigh. I decided to suck it up and deal with it, and just work harder at getting things out on time. I've met some really wonderful people through swaps, and I wouldn't want to give that up.