I can share this now...

I'm a member of a wonderful year long swap hosted by Linda at A Swap for All Seasons.  The swap is for 4" x 6" fabric banners...no glue allowed...all stitched together.  My kind of swap for sure.  Each month we will get one partner to send to & we'll receive a banner from a different partner.  For January I was lucky enough to send to Patty in Oz...she lives in Kansas & while I was tempted to do something with the Wizard of Oz...I decided that since the January banner would arrive late January or early February...I'd go with hearts & flowers. 

 

When I create just about anything, I pull out things from my stash that I think would work...then I have to have them laying around for awhile to see what inspires me the most.  Once I found this heart applique that's probably from the 1960s or 1970s...I knew I had found the focal point for this banner.  I hand stitched the applique to a piece of some 1970s era quilted fabric with the sweet Valentine's motif.  All the ribbon & lace & other trim I used was from my stash.  I need to confess...I have way over the legal limit of Valentine's fabric.  I didn't realize how much I had until I started pulling it out.  Oh well...fabric doesn't eat anything...so it can stick around.

 

I added that cute little rose applique to the heart....and sewed on some faux pearls & crystal beads for some texture & sparkle.  I love little details like that.

 

Of course, the back of the banner needed some love, too.  I made a little label so Patty would remember who created her banner...and you can't really see it here, but the heart charm says "Hand Made With Love".  I have enough of those to use throughout the year.

 

When Linda invited me to be part of this swap I knew it would be fun...and a bit of a challenge since 4" x 6" is pretty small.  So far I'm loving it...and we already have our partners for February...and I've pulled out another pile of fabric & trims for that one.  I'll post again after I receive my January banner...it won't be long now.  Be sure to visit Patty's blog to see the beautiful pix she took of her banner...I'm thrilled she liked it.