Pincushion swap. Part 1

For some time I haven't updated you, my dear reader with what happens now. So, it's spring finally here in Latvia as well! Sun is shining and weather get's better day by day.  Just before these warm and nice days I signed up for a pincushion swap hosted by Bea. Yes, I have took a part of this kind of swap earlier (this is my current pincushion). Different from previous swap - this lasts for 3 months. Each month we are supposed to send a pincushion for other person. So here you go my April swap.

I received lovely purple pincushion from Laila (Norway). She sent me a local chocolate but it couldn't wait for taking photos so I ate it  :) Pincushion is small, but I love it. Probably because of colors and perfect embroidery. Laila, if you read this, Thank you SO MUCH! I love it! 

And here is a picture of pincushion (and some other goodies) I sent to my partner Turid (Norway). She posted some more photos in her blog here.

Hopefully I will manage to sew a pincushion to my next partner soon and keep you updated more frequently!  Meanwhile, have a great weekend! 

Let's buy a sewing machine!

Those who are reading my blog for a  longer time may remember that I was sewing this and that two years ago. Last year I put all my attention to other hobbies, but desire to sew is not vanished.

My currant sewing machine

As we all need some motivation time after time to do something new, I have made a decision! As soon as one more tie from my Etsy shop will go to a new home, I will buy a new sewing machine!
Earlier I have had some custom made sets with bow ties, but as soon as I get my new machine, I plan to increase offer in the shop with some brand new items! Sounds like a plan!
Now I have made this public speech, so I have no other option as fulfill it!  :)

www.etsy.com/shop/akwiinas

Have a great week everyone!

5 questions to Baiba

I am not used to featured posts, but I really want to share with you my discovery - Baiba and her Etsy shop BabitoKids.
I met Baiba via Etsy School and I was so happy to see all those colorful and cheerful kid hats she sew! I decided to ask her some questions and share them with you.
psss.. Can you spot her hat models from shop in her photo with her kids?

- How did you start to sew? Do you like any other crafts too?
Actually I sew already from school times. My father was sewing clothes for me when I was a kid and later obviousy I start to sew what I like by myself. My memories are - I open suitcase with old fashion, but in the same time stylish fabric pieces from my grandmother and start to sew dresses, skirts and other garment pieces. My school graduation dress also was handmade by me.
About other crafts, I have second Etsy shop - PetalGirly :))) I also like to knit, but it takes too much time to knit something.

- How did you went to newborn and kid hat sewing?
I have 3 kids and I love jersey fabric to sew for them. I started with hats, for my little ones and that's how become the shop. They love to try them on and they wear my hats in everyday!

- What inspires you most?
Fabric, colors, fashion and good reviews about by crafts in local markets and Etsy.


- What are 3 things you can't live without?
Kisses for goodnight from my kids and husband, coffee in the morning and hobbies (craft, sport and trips).

- If you could meet one person, dead or live, who would you like to meet?
I would like to meet my friends more often, than I do!

In Baibas shop BabitoKids you can find slouch beanies, pilot hats, balaclava and different kind of hats for kids from new born to already bigger ones. 

Thanks Baiba for this mini interview!

All photos are made by Baiba

Sweet pouch from Pouch swap

Lately has happen so much, I even don't know where to start...
So - Last week I received such a wonderful package, which was a pouch from SarcasticQuilter filled with sweets. Some of you already saw a picture in my Instagram, what I got, but here goes for everyone - a post about what I received from my Sweet pouch swap partner!

This is such a great and big pouch in light purple color with an amazing quilt! You can see in photo below how accurate a zip is sewn and part of quilt. I even can't imagine how long time took all this work! Anyway it is inspiring and while I am ill I would like to try a simple version of some quilts. Thanks Becky for a inspiring pouch! :) 

Becky filled the pouch with tasty sweets and sweets for my sewing projects - three different kinds of cherry fabrics and zip and cherry ribbon (Becky added in note that I should use them to make a pouch. Challenge accepted! )

What would be a Sweet pouch swap if not a lot of sweets! This time I would say that I got one of the most strangest sweets I have ever tasted. Hot Tamales are chewy candies which at first tastes like a regular cinnamon candies, but after a moment you realize how hot [not sure it's the right word, but close enough] they are!  

Becky included postcards for my postcard collection and a foot sack for my little brother. Foot sack reminded me my college years when it was top trend in school breaks. Rudolph says big thanks to Becky ;) 

Don't miss new photos from my daily life in my Instagram - http://instagram.com/aqwiinas Than more followers I have, than more photos are there!

Dandelion pouch

My last sewing project till this is a pouch for Sweet Pouch swap hosted by Alyce from blossomheartquilt. Now is time to share what I made as my partner Becky from sarcasticquilter has received it and I can't spoil anymore. So - what was it?

Fat quarters fabric swaps results!

Let me show you, what I got in my last received package!

Guess what - who could send me delicious Australian sweets and beautiful fabrics, if not my partner from And sew we craft organised Fabric swap!

Please, meet Emma from Perth! She doesn't have a blog, but she has talent to find wonderful pins (look here: pinterest.com/jowori) and really beautiful fabric quarters! Here I share what fabrics I received, but soon I will show you what I will sew for the next Sweet Pouch swap!

One of goals of 2013

In 2013 I have decided to try out a lot of new things. I have wrote about them here: My 2013 And now I would like to give a little feedback about one of these goals.

So in the beginning of this year I decided to learn something about embroidery. I remember sewing classes in  elementary school but since that I have forgot like everything of that...

Feedback about last swaps

This year has bring me some new hobbies. One of them is swaps. I already wrote about pouch swap (here and here) and pin cushion swap (here and here). I didn't wrote it earlier, but I took part in Covert Robin swap as well. Let me share with you what I got and little bit about what I sent.

Pin cushion received!

You already saw pincushion I sent to my partner in Little Pin cushion swap, so today I will show you goodies  received yesterday.
I was wondering why it took so long to arrive, but when I got package in safety bag and custom stamps, so no wonder anymore :)
So, I got a package with wonderful pin cushion! I really can't call it little, because it's pretty big! And colorful! :) I like it very much!

There was a day....

There was a day when I signed for my first swap. Then was second and third swap. Now I have sweets from USA (read about that here) and deadline for sending out another gift. Last Friday was last day to ship out Little Pin cushions for swap hosted by Sweet Little Things.  So let me share what I have done...

This time I really wanted to make some special pin cushion. I have no idea how to make those amazing quilts, so I had to find something else. Pinterest was my friend again and there I found idea which was worth trying!

Sweet pouch arrived!

Good news! After a long waiting, my sweet pouch arrived yesterday! I knew that it should be here, in Latvia at this weekend, because my partner Erin contacted me earlier so I tried to be calm all this time. Since  a moment when I got my huge package at the post office, I couldn't stay calm anymore! :) Here is a photo-story what I got!

Sewing a envelope clutch

Last week I read an article in see kate sew about sew a long - Kate has prepared a envelope clutch pattern. I was a little bit late with this, but still decided to take a part of this because I planned to visit one 8 years young lady in my family and haven't got any gift yet. Click here to see how it went... 

Pouch swap

 I have signed to some very interesting project for first time - Sweet pouch swap! I heard about this kind of swaps for first time but I had no doubt that I'm in! A few days ago I received email from swap's host with my partners details so I spent wonderful weekend sewing and preparing sweets. Actually, this weekend was pretty full because on Friday I started to sew pouch, then I went to meet my friends and after a great bowling and billiard games I came back to home to sew pouch till 3:30 AM. How crazy it sounds? :)
Next morning I woke up early and saw flowers I haven't seen since I was a little kid - ice flowers!
Here are some sneaky peaky photos are here:

DIY getras

Pēdējā laikā ir modē DIY lietas - Do It Yourself jeb Dari To Pats! Padomu pilns internets, vienu no tām apspēlēju arī es: Otreiz pārstrādātās Getras
 Materiāli: Džemperis (savu pirku Seconhand veikaliņā pa 1Ls);
                Platās mežģīnes (audumu bāzē - 0.98Ls/m);
                Diegi un šķēres, ideja!

Darba gaita: Sākam ar džempera piedurkņu nogriešanu. Iesaku pārliecināties pirms ķeršanās pie griešanas darbiem, vai piedurknē var iebāzt kāju- ne pa stingru, ne pārlieku vaļīgi.

Man vieglāk bija uzvilkt nogriezto piedurkni uz kājas vajadzīgajā augstumā, pielikt klāt mežģīni un tik šūt klāt. Es izmantoju caurspīdīgo neilona diegu, bet tas jau protams atkarīgs no pārējiem materiāliem. 

Tā kā piedurkne uzvelkot uz kājas tik pastiepta, tad iesaku arī mežģīni mērīt uz kājas. Labāk nogriezt bišku vairāk kā vajag, nevis pēc tam domāt, ko nu iesākt?

Manai mežģīnei bija jauka robota maliņa, tad nu arī getras tapa ar šādu robotu maliņu augšpusē. Ar zābakiem kājās, pat nemaz nevar redzēt džempera piedurkni. Viss ir atkarīgs no mežģīnes - krāsas, raksta, biezuma.