Swapping Fun

I recently joined a few swap groups on Flickr. You know, just cuz I need another excuse to sew. I joined the Pretty {little} Pouch Swap a little while ago and had a bit of fun deciding what kind of pouch to make and what fabrics to use.

 

This is what I came up with.  Nothing too fancy or complicated.  Some Heather Bailey fabric, some pleats, some hand stitching, a green zip.  Really, I guess it's not the simplest pouch out there. 

There's also a surprise inside for my partner.  Hope she likes it.

I also joined the Scrappy Swap so I could put some of my hoarded scraps to good use.  The thing that really got me to join the group was not the receiving of new scraps, but the making of something useful from the scraps I already have!  I loved being able to piece together something I had never made before.

Can't show the whole thing cuz then I might give something away and this is a secret swap after all.

And, in non swap items, I am hoping to make D a fall/spring coat.  Something a little thicker than what she has now and something that will last longer than just one season.
I think I have settled on using the bikes on grey, but the husband wasn't sure right away about the bikes.  He wasn't sure if he wanted D walking around covered in bikes.  Really?
I think it'd be cute and unique.

What I can't decide now is whether to use the yellow minky or the brown fleece for the inside.  Any thoughts?