Mug Rug Swap

I signed up to participate in a Mug Rug Swap through quiltinggallery.com back in January.  Each participant was a assigned a partner to swap two mug rugs based on a design provided by the facilitator.  The deadline for mailing mug rugs to assigned partners is this month, mid-March.  I mailed out my mug rugs on Saturday, so I'm a little ahead of schedule-yeah!   The mug rugs have a bird theme and were designed by Amanda Weatherill from The Patchsmith.  (Check out her blog:  thepatchsmith.blogspot.com for ideas and tutorials).  Anyway, here is what my partner will receive in the mail in the next few days.

The first entitled:  Two Owls 

 The second entitled:  Winter Birdhouse

While these were fun to make, I probably wouldn't have chosen these designs for myself.  I love nature and birds, particularly owls, but am more inclined to make things geared toward interior aesthetics, such as coffee pots and cups, teapots--that sort of thing.  I chose to participate, however, because I wanted to stretch beyond what I would normally do and connect with more quilters.  I do believe I've accomplished that, and I've now made another friend to share quilting and sewing ideas.  

If you've ever contemplated participating in a Swap - be it mug rugs, mini quilts, pincushions or whatever- yet haven't actually done so, it is a great way to connect with others while learning new skills or keeping your skills in tact.  Give it a try!

Have you participated in a Swap?  If so, what kind?  What was your experience?  Did you enjoy it or not and why? 

Now on to my next project.  I'll be back soon.