Exchanges ~ Gahh!

I love exchanges. It is so exciting creating something special and mailing it off! It is especially fun when your project turns out perfect. The worst thing about exchanges is being a stitching blogger and not being able to post pictures or chat about what you are stitching! I'm in the middle of a rash of exchange stitching so I can only rarely post. Grump! So...I decided I'd share one of my favorite exchange finishes today.

I repeat, this is an old finish!

This is from an EMS sachet exchange I did last year-before I began blogging. The exchange was recipient's choice and mine chose "cute bears." Well, the cutest bear I know is Margaret Sherry's Archie Bear from the UK's Cross Stitcher Magazine. So, I stitched Archie "Thinking of You" (sitting on a log) from the December 2005 issue. On the back of the sachet, I stitched a little part of the Archie design "Head Over Heels" (ladybugs and butterflies) from the July 2005 issue, and stitched our EMS screen names and the date. I loved the way this sachet turned out. I used the selvage edge for the hem and tied it up with a white bow. I really, really wanted to keep it for myself but I sent it off to Linda from Stargazer's Haven.

I have a couple of questions & such from recent comments to answer...

Someone mentioned putting the eyelet through the stitching on the floss ring tag I made...yes, I did, although I put a dab of Fray Stop on where I cut the hole through. Regarding the rings; in the USA, Wal-Mart carries colored book rings. They are stocked with the office/school supplies with such things as push pins.

Several people have commented and emailed regarding how I finished the cube. Vonna has great finishing instructions on her blog The Twisted Stitcher. I followed those and it was super easy! And the bow? I googled "how to make a bow" and it came up with several links to crafts sites and Youtube videos. After watching a few videos that bow was simple to make, as well!