Secret Santa Swap and My House, My Home swap

My lovely partner in Chooky's Secret Santa swap was Lyn from New Zealand.  This was the lovely gift I opened from Lyn on Christmas morning, so it was perfect to use to set our xmas table -

It's beautiful Lyn - thankyou so much. I love it.  Lyn also added an extra gift which I forgot to take a photo of before I started this post, so will show you next time.  Thankyou for being such a lovely, generous partner.

My partner to send to was Caroline from The Netherlands -

And this was what I had made for her. One of Michelle's gorgeous star decorations, and this little wallhanging - loved the different decorations and with the variegated thread it really made them stand out. I also added one of Keryn's cute little reindeers. Thanks Chooky for once again hosting this wonderful swap.

And for our final gift in Mrs Martin's My House, My Home swap - the theme being Christmas -  this was what I received from Kerrie -

So beautifully stitched. Now Kerrie broke a bone in her hand, so was unable to put it together, so she very kindly sent me all the bits to finish it off.  Look at that very cute snowman fabric - love it - and very "me".

And I had been eyeing of this beautiful Christmas bauble in lovely wools from Hatched and Patched and Kerrie had sent me not only the pattern, but all the lovely wools to make it. Can't wait.

And she had also included a beautiful handmade felt card and a little bell decoration which went beautifully on my tree of handmade decorations.

Thankyou so much Kerrie for my gorgeous gifts and for being a lovely and generous swap partner throughout the year.  Cheryl

Merry Christmas

I spent a wonderful Saturday a couple of weeks ago with two lovely friends - Shez and Keryn (even hubbies came). We met up in Maldon -

with the main purpose of our visit being the Christmas Shop. Think these two were up to no good here. We had a wonderful time and I may have bought a "few" things, plus some fabric over the road at the patchwork shop - it was only $15 a metre, so how could I say no to that.  I hope we can do it again.

Thankyou to all of you for being such lovely, supportive blogging friends and may you all have a happy and safe Christmas.

Cheryl

Santa Sack Swap part 2 and FHFS

After showing you the beautiful gifts I received from Carol in the Santa Sack swap I thought you might like to see what I made for Carol -

First off was this cute little stitchery from The Birdhouse.

And I also made Carol a little "No Peeking" stocking (Marg Low design) and a bon bon with choccies of course.

A Christmas tea towel

A felt candlemat with a xmas candle, and popped them all inside a bag I made using a FignBerry xmas stitchery on the front. Know Carol enjoyed her gifts and I had fun making them for her. Thankyou to Cheryll for organising another fun Santa Sack swap and thankyou to Carol for being a lovely partner.

Now in our Friends Having Fun swap it has been wonderful having a parcel to open each morning with my brekky.  These are some of the other lovely gifts Christine has been spoiling me with -

This very cute snowman waterball decoration. He looks very at home on my tree.

And a beautiful xmas candle holder - love my candles.

And two yummy pieces of Anii Downs xmas fabric and matching DMC threads. Loving my gifts, thankyou so much Christine. Cheryl

Santa Sack Swap

My lovely partner in Cheryll's Santa Sack swap was Carol from www.thepatchcraft.blogspot.com.au.  It was lovely as I had actually gotten to meet Carol earlier in the year at a class so we organised to hand our gifts over in person when we caught up again in October.

Mmm how gorgeous does this chocolate tree look?  And I can tell you it was just as yummy to eat.  It came on a lovely  Christmas plate WITH this beautiful stitched mat.

And Carol obviously knew that I love snowmen as she had stitched this most gorgeous snowman cushion for me - just love it

Love redwork and Carol had stitched this beautiful stitchery for me which she had framed. Fits in perfectly at my place

And look at this wonderful sewing bag with matching pincushion. Very handy for my Thursday night sewing group to keep my current project in.

Very spoilt I was. Carol had also made this gorgeous gingie (another favourite) tea towel and a very handy food throw. 

And this most gorgeous snowman bag (love it too) filled with so many lovely things - notebook, notepad, bookmark, tissue cover and tissues (had been wanting one of these for my handbag) and a very cute cross stitched reindeer on a teenie tiny hanger.

And it all came in this wonderful Hatched and Patched bag

Thankyou so much Carol. I love all my gorgeous gifts and I will love getting the Christmas ones out each year to enjoy. Cheryl

FHFSwap

I am a member of a lovely group of friends and at the moment we are in the throws of opening a lovely parcel each day for the 12 days leading up to Christmas.  Lovely Christine is my partner and she has been spoiling me rotten -

How gorgeous are these skating snowmen?  Such a beautiful decoration, thankyou Christine. As a snowman lover (think Christine might know me pretty well) - it's perfect and will be a lovely addition to my tree with handmade decorations from friends.

Day 2 was this lovely xmas dip bowl and  matching knife.

Ooh look what Day 3 bought - this most handsome fellow and a box of snowmen chocolates  - yum. Way too cute to eat, but I'll force myself.

He looks very at home with his friends.

Day 4 was these two beautiful coat hangers - how yummy in gorgeous French General fabric.

Day 5 already today and another wonderful parcel. How gorgeous is this bag, filled with candy canes.

But there was more - these cute little Christmas tree pegs

And something I hadn't seen before - how cute is this?  A kit in a tin. Comes with the pattern and fabric and thread to complete.

Love my gifts Christine. Thankyou so much. Can't wait for tomorrow. Cheryl

Christmas is Coming

Anyone would think that Christmas is coming with some lovely parcels being delivered to my door -

This gorgeous decoration is from Marina. I had been admiring them over on her blog so was thrilled when one of them was delivered to me. My favourite tree is the one I have with my lovely handmade decorations on it - most from friends.  So this will be a wonderful addition, thankyou so much Marina.

This gorgeous one is also being added to my tree. As well as snowmen, I love gingerbread men, so was thrilled when this gorgeous one arrived from another special friend, Michelle -

Isn't he gorgeous?  Thankyou so much to two lovely friends.

And talking of friends Barb and I have done a one on one Christmas swap for the last 2 or 3 years and this year was no exception. My wonderful parcel arrived last week, and I did for one minute think about leaving it until Christmas day to open, but Barb always puts together the most amazing parcel for me and I really wanted to enjoy it over the days leading up to Christmas -

Barb knows how much I love snowmen - how spoilt am I?  Isn't this cushion just gorgeous. Just love it Barb, so thankyou so very much. Think it will be staying out all year. But there was more -

Loved this most gorgeous bag as well - gorgeous colors and gorgeous stitchery in such a pretty variegated thread.

And lots of lovely goodies inside - some beautiful soap, sewing accessories and a very cute snowman hanger - have got just the project to use this for. Also some yummy shortbreads.

And Barb and I both love beautiful tins and boxes - I have a lovely collection from Barb, and this one is no exception.  Filled with yummy lollies and chocolates. Notice I havn't showed you a photo of the contents on the grounds it may incriminate me lol.  Barb I love my gorgeous gifts - thankyou so much for spoiling me as always.

 

I have more lovely gifts to show you. My wonderful gifts from Kerrie, my partner in Mrs Martin's "My House, My Home" swap arrived today. And yesterday we were able to start opening our gifts in our FHFS. One every day leading up til Christmas - how lovely is that. Cheryl

A weekend of Spoiling

After our wonderful weekend last weekend , my spoiling continued.  Shez and I enjoy many fun days out and about. We always have the best time and have become very firm friends. On our return from our weekend she presented with this most wonderful Christmas parcel -

How gorgeous are these snowman baubles (no Michelle you can't have them lol) and the cutest gingie salt and pepper shakers.  Shez knows me too well. I just love them

But if you thought that was wonderful there was more. Shez knew that I love Jim Shore's beautiful Christmas pieces and this was what she bought for me when she and Cheryll were checking out the Christmas shop in Maldon. Isn't it just exquisite, and I'm sorry I've chopped her head off but the other photo was too far away and you just had to see the beautiful detail.  Shez it is just beautiful - I can't stop looking and admiring. I just love it and will treasure it always - thankyou so much dear friend.

She also gave us some of her  beautiful relish and jam - note those gorgeous personalised labels.

Had you all been admiring this beautiful hamper over on Shez's blog? So had I - never dreaming it was for us.  So many yummy things inside, not to mention the beautiful basket. Mick's been sampling Shez (and me too lol). I've had to put the choc  mint sticks and mini plum puddings away for Christmas day.  I cannot thankyou enough for the most gorgeous gifts Shez. You've spoilt me way too much.

And this beautifully wrapped gift arrived from Lyn all the way from New Zealand. Lyn (www.stitchesfromthemainland.blogspot.com) was my secret partner in Chooky's Secret Santa swap. I was allowed to open the decoration - how beautiful is this pieced star decoration. Such small pieces and so beautifully pieced. I have my main parcel under the tree for opening Christmas Day. Thankyou so very much Lyn - I just love my beautiful decoration.

Woo hoo - this gorgeous little Santa's helper is flying in on Tuesday (with DD2 of course) for a week's visit. She informs me tonight that as he is crawling and pulling himself up on everything that anything low and within reach, including the Christmas tree, will have to be put away for the week.  Well that's 95% of my loungeroom. My granddaughters have always loved my xmas displays and I have never needed to put things up and away with them, Well little man we are going to have to have some serious discussions lol. Cheryl

More on our Wonderful Weekend

Apart from our wonderful Day of Play with Barb Smith from Theodora Cleave, the other part of the weekend that Shez and I were super excited about was that we were spending the rest of the weekend with Keryn from christmascreationsbykeryn.blogspot.com and her wonderful family.  Now Keryn and I go back quite a few years, but I hadn't seen her for some time, but one of the things we have in common is our love of Christmas so knew she would have all her wonderful Christmas treasures out for us to drool over.  Talk about VIP treatment - not the least of which was the most amazing food she had cooked for us and of course I took lots of photos of her beautiful Christmas pieces. 

This beautiful box of goodies greeted us on our beds - yummy individual Christmas cakes and some lovely choccies. Most of which are now gone I should add.

Now we promised Keryn we wouldn't show her beautiful xmas decorating before she did, but I know she has had a photo of some of her beautiful Jim Shore pieces on her blog already, so just thought I would sneak one little photo in.

We loved Keryn's cute sheep. Mick had nicknamed them Christmas, Easter, etc. As if they would ever make it to the dinner table.

The other treat she had planned for us was a wonderful visit to a Christmas shop. Who is this lovely crew out the front.

So much beautiful inspiration everywhere.

And to top off the most amazing weekend - coffee and cake with this beautiful view to take in.

And Keryn has opened her xmas gift so I can show you the little table centre I made for her. 
Thankyou dear friend for a weekend we will not forget in a hurry. Cheryl

Theodora Cleave's "A Day of Play" and a Weekend of Fun

Well Shez and I headed off nice and early on Saturday to Baxter for a Christmas workshop with Theodora Cleave.  Was lovely to meet up with Melody, Ondrea, Sue and Tracee as well.

                                                                       Hard at work

Lots of beautiful inspiration from Barb

Dozens of gorgeous samples for us to be inspired

Loved Barb's beautiful stockings.

I did do some work - some xmas tags, painted and decorated paper mache box (bottom left),  decorated canvas (bottom right). Bon bons are still a work in progress.

And of course it wouldn't be a workshop without a purchase or two as Karen from Mrs Martins Quilt Shop had a stand there.  Some of my favourite red fabrics, some more of Theodora Cleave's beautiful buttons and a couple of xmas patterns. Plenty to keep me busy here.

 

I was very spoilt over the weekend. How exciting - Shez handed over this beautiful box of goodies from Christine , my secret partner in our FHFswap.  Lots of gorgeous looking gifts inside, but I do have to try and restrain myself until the 14th December when the first one can be opened. Thankyou so much Christine - it all looks so inviting.

 

And we have had the VIP treatment from my gorgeous friend Keryn all weekend, and as well I have been thoroughly spoilt also by Shez, so will share all that next time.

Cheryl