From California to Australia: Sweet pouch swap

Since Dee has received the pouch I made for her, now I can show it off!  In our initial emailing, Dee said she liked bright colors, like red and turquoise, and paisley, so I chose a bright paisley fabric from Hart's and used some red silk upholstery fabric from FabMo.  

The lining fabric is an over-sized shadow dot (also from Hart's).  It seemed perfect for a someone who likes red and turquoise, no?

The button detail is actually two buttons, sewn together.  I couldn't believe how well they fit together!

And, of course, the sweets. Since we live in the SF Bay Area, I had to include some local favorites: TCHO and Ghirardelli.  The Justin's Peanut Butter cups aren't from CA (CO instead), but are tasty enough that it doesn't even matter where they're from.

Dee reports that she liked her sweet pouch, which is great, and I was just happy the customs officials let it pass through!  (All I could picture was some guy in his office, chowing down on Dee's chocolates and chucking the pouch in the trash...)  Even though it was a little worrying to be choosing fabrics for someone I don't know too well, it was also loads of fun....hopefully, I can be involved with the official version the next time it's held!  Thanks again, Dee and Samantha!

Crashing the "Sweet Pouch Swap" party

Even though I wasn't quick enough to get in on the *very* exclusive official Sweet Pouch Swap this time around, my friend Samantha acted as match-maker and coordinated Dee and I to swap pouches and sweets anyhow!  Unsanctioned sweet sending, guerrilla pouch swapping, pouch party crashing, whatever it is, today I received the very lovely and very sweet pouch from Dee all the way from Australia.  It was torture to have to ride my bike the whole mile home from the post office, staring at the package in my basket, before I could rip into it.   But it was well worth the wait!

Yellow and blue!  My favorite colors!  See how nicely it coordinates with the color of my sewing room?  It is destined to be a sewing tools pouch (which is timely since I need my other pouch back for school supplies!).  The pouch is quite spacious, and I was fortunate enough to have received it just filled with Australian goodies:

I may or may not have already eaten one (or possibly two) pieces before taking this photo :)  So many sweets AND a cute felt flower pin, too.  Wow!  Many thanks (and hugs!) to Dee; she put together such a beautiful and thoughtful package.  

Once I hear that she's received my sweets and pouch, I'll reveal what I sent to her!  So much fun!