Finish It Up Friday: Happy Mail and a Happy Pouch!

Howdy y'all! All the posts I tried to create the last couple of weeks have fallen flat as a flitter. It just wasn't working. Motivation to sit behind a computer and write blog posts has been low when it is so pretty outside! But then some happy mail came this week.

It all starts with a quilter. That's always how it starts, right? ;) This particular quilter is Svetlana over at s.o.t.a.k handmade. Svetlana is a fabulous pattern designer, quilter, and lately, fabric printer. She is probably best known for her unique pouches. Svetlana is one of those creators that has a distinct style - you can see a project and just know it's one of her creations. Anywho, after commenting on one of her posts, I got the surprise of her insisting on sending me some Clover Clips! I had never used them before and she had a box she wanted to send to a new home! :D

Quilters really are the nicest, most generous people in the world.

So later in the week, I got my happy mail. But there wasn't just the Clover Clips! There was also a charm pack (Marmalade by Bonnie and Camille) and a Sotak Kit! For those of you who don't know, a Sotak Kit is something Svetlana has put together so you can make your own pouch, Sotak-style! It includes all the fabric and odds and ends you need. Mine had waxed canvas, a linen for the lining, some of her printed fabric (!!!), a metal zipper, and the signature leather zipper pull. It also had instructions on how to make the pouch in a nifty little pamphlet.

I'm in love with her printed fabric!

My pouch making is pretty limited, but I dug right in and made this little beauty in no time! I had such fun working with new materials (waxed canvas is different but I love it!) and never felt lost in the instructions. And I got to use those new Clover Clips along the way!

This was my first time doing box corners on the bottom of a pouch, so it stands up on its own!

I know May is for Makers is past, but I believe wholeheartedly in cheering on our fellow makers all year around, so I wanted to shine the spotlight on Svetlana for being an awesome quilter/sewist and also for just being a lovely person. This bit of happy mail really turned my week around and got me at my sewing machine with happiness in my heart. And for that, I thank her with all the virtual hugs I can send her way! :)

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday and NTT!

*Note: I was not paid or given any compensation for this review. In fact, I wasn't even asked to give it! I just wanted to share an awesome product with fellow sewing buddies who may want to make pouches as well. :)