Swapalicious update

I don't join a lot of swaps because (cough) I have a hard time making sewing commitments and honestly hate to let anyone down. But when the stars and moon line up to motivate me, and a swap calls my name and the timing is right... I do a swap now and then. You can always find a swap at Swap-Bot. When you're new at the web site, you have to find swaps that will allow "newbies" to swap (those who have no ratings), and I found two that interested me. The first was a vintage button swap. You would not believe how many vintage buttons I have... I once said to my auction-addict husband, "If you see any vintage sewing items, keep me in mind" and a week later he came home with a 3-foot high x 2 foot across moving box full of vintage buttons. Gulp. That was 10 years ago and I've probably used 2 dozen buttons of the thousands he brought home. (OK, honey - enough buttons now. Thanks!) So when I saw the vintage button swap open to newbies, I joined. The swap requirement - 10 vintage buttons sent in an envelope. Way to simple for me, of course. My swap partner liked cats, bright colors and cutesy stuff, so with the buttons, I sent a little hanging pouch to keep them in: The little "penny pocket" comes a free pattern from The Happy Zombie. Love that web site! I thought the recipient could use the pocket to hold her embroidery scissors. The second swap I joined on Swap-Botz was for a recyclable grocery bag/tote. The recipient loved vintage fabrics and natural colors, so I came up with this: It's a large tote - about 16 x 20. And oh look! I managed to use some more vintage buttons! The fabric for the tote body is a very heavy duty woven home-dec fabric, and the bottom is reinforced with the cotton overlay. The buttons are on straight, I promise!