A couple of months ago, while working on some crafts at home, an idea came to me to put together a craft swap. At that time, I was into making wooden pendants and was also in search of inspiration for making handmade accessories. So I thought, why not organize a handmade accessory swap! I’ve joined swaps before but have never put together one, so I immediately contacted one of my craft friends and asked if she thought it was a good idea and if she knew of people who would join. Excitedly, she said she loved it and that she knew of some friends who would be very interested. So that same afternoon, I wrote down swap guidelines, took a photo that I could use to promote it on the blog and on instagram and the next day announced it.
I had a solid number of eight participants, I randomly matched each with two others for whom they will create accessories.
I really didn’t know what to expect but I did tell them all to be creative and to make friends with each other. I even told them to follow each others’ instagram feeds and post their works in progress so we could get excited together and encourage one another. I really wanted to inspire and be inspired, as well as make better friends over a fun, artsy project.
Turns out, these ladies who joined my little craft swap are all brilliant, friendly and generous people! I was totally blown away by how much effort they put into each of the pieces they made.
The ones I received were from Cristine of Happy Handmade (@happy_handmade), somebody I have never seen in person but who I can consider a good friend, and Kim who I met at the Hey Kessy Craft Gathering last August and the owner of online handcrafted jewelry store called Pulseras (@pulserasbykim). Cristine made me a very cute and colorful thread friendship bracelet that says “Create,” which reminds me so much of my childhood when I made my own accessories all the time. While Kim made me a brass bangle that says “Carlos and Veronica” and two additional lace bracelets which are bestsellers in her online store.
I loved the pieces I got from these two ladies, but what I loved even more were the touching notes they wrote with their packages. So thoughtful and personal! It made me so grateful to have met them and be able to share my love for crafts with them.
The others had made beautiful and original pieces as well!
Elisa Choi (@harmonythoughts), a very talented painter, hand painted metal washers with acrylic.
Rosie Medalla (@rosieapplesauce) made adorable thread friendship bracelets embellished with pompoms.
Mich of Momiji Crafts (@momijicrafts) created bohemian beaded bracelets.
Marryl (@marrylerojo), a mommy crafter based all the way in Cebu made these intricate bangles out of wire and beads.
Osean of another online shop called Craftquitec (@craftquitec ) sent an assortment of pretty bracelets and hair accessories (She sent me some goodies too!).
Finally, I, of course, made more of my wooden geometric pendants but this time, used colored wax cord and added some wooden and metal beads.
Organizing this craft swap and taking part in it was really fun. I thought it would be difficult at first, but everybody was flexible and really gave their best so I had no problems at all. And the best thing was, I really felt like I had made new friends. I’ll most definitely organize another one in the future!
So thank you again to the seven talented ladies who joined the swap! You all did an amazing job and I look forward to making crafts with you again. Keep creating and inspiring others to create!
…Perhaps a new year swap next? 😉
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