covert robin :: making, giving and receiving

phew.  that was a lot of fun.  my covert robin swap-mate was Jill from Made With Moxie and she is clearly very funny and she has kids so I thought she needed one of my ninja pillows…she said she likes it. 

 

I’ve also been dying to try making a coin change purse for a long time and the covert robin seemed the perfect chance to try something new, Jill seemed the kind of gal willing to receive a crappy gift made in the spirit of adventure.  I threw in some gum and stickers just in case.

and, it actually turned out great.  was easy and fun to make…coin change purses are the best!  the final step involves glue, which I basically didn’t believe would work, but it did.  I even followed up with Jill afterwards and yes, indeed it did arrive intact.  glue might just start making more of an appearance around here. the freezer paper stenciling on the front was for no good reason. just because.  I mean you know that ninja isn’t going to talk at all…somebody ought to say hello.

but the fun doesn’t end there! I received my amazing gift in the mail and it is awesome.  I was so excited because my mate Kelley at casa crafty managed to make things  a) practical b) beautiful c) unexpected and also d) artsy and inspiring.  wham-o, bam-o that is a one good delivery day for the u.s. postal service!

check it out!!

 

it’s the world’s most perfectly-sized laminated cloth toiletries bag and two embroidery hoops with embellished cameras! ah! so amazing!

let’s start with the toiletries bag, not only is it adorable but it is specifically sized to actually fit toiletries…how about that!  my hairbrushes fit and so does everything else.  I haven’t tried yet but I’m pretty sure that my travel hair dryer will have room.  and, just in time for my trip to the makerie retreat!  I am thrilled that I get to bring some covert robin mojo with me on that adventure and without a crazy hunt in my bag for everything I need.

now for the artsy fartsy part…the part that will soon grace the walls of my studio and make me smile everyday.  the camera embroidery. look at them…amazing.

I spend so much time with my camera…kneeling, setting up, re-shooting, angling, loving, hating…these little guys are the perfect whimsical friends.  and, quite cleverly, zipper fabric covers the back! could it get better?

look at her super cool embroidery skills.  I am in love.

the whole covert robin is nearly coming to an end and I already miss it.  swapping something handmade is like the perfect antidote to every trip I have ever taken to Target where I roll the aisles hoping to find something cute/useful, buy a dozen things and end up ultimately disappointed and disconnected.

I gave some stuff and I got some stuff and it all has a story that I will remember every time I look up from my sewing machine or take a trip with my laminated bag by my side or make another (gazillion) coin purse(s).  I can’t buy that feeling in Target.

I can only get that goodness from the handmade world.