Bartering is SOOOOO Underrated

I don't know if you've ever exchanged with anyone, but I really think that bartering is underrated.  We should all try it more often if we're able to.  One of my oldest daughter's friends babysits every other weekend for a couple with 2 little boys in exchange for weekly piano lessons.  One of my daughters would like to do the same thing, only with guitar lessons.  We're working on that.  I've certainly trading babysitting services with friends over the years myself. 

Once I made living room curtains for a friend of mine in exchange for a crib.  She was done with it, I needed one, and she didn't know how to sew.  We were both thrilled with the exchange and both felt that we were taking advantage of each other.  In my opinion that is a sign of a good barter. 

More recently I've been doing some sewing for my friend Shelly.  In exchange she lets me come make cards at her house for free (Actually she will even make them for me if I want--which I have done on occasion; however, I like the social aspect of going to her home with a group of ladies for a couple hours).  About 5 or 6 times a year she does a Saturday morning card making session--and she provides EVERYTHING!!!  You go home with about 15 beautiful handmade cards of various styles and varieties, without having to buy all the stamps, punches, paper, etc.  She already has it, which makes my hubby happy that I don't have additional stamping stuff in my already too cramped sewing room.

This past weekend she had a card day and here are the cute cards we made.

I recently made a LR pillow for her, and am now moving on to some pillows for her youngest daughter's bedroom.

So if you haven't bartered for goods or services I encourage you to find someone you'd like to trade with.  I'm sure you'll both be pleased with the end result.