GROUP 1 -DAY 12

It goes without saying that I `lost' the plot with Day 12 - sincere apologies Mary,  but trying to get to the computer in hot Cairns with a house full of people has been difficult.
Your Bauble,  Mary is incredible ,  a plain gold Xmas bauble has this amazing beaded embellishment attached, the detail from the top and then the beaded FRINGE  is fabulous - I confess the children have put it on the tree.
I too would like to thank every single participant - each year brings new people, and in turn new ideas,  new craft and new talents,   as Julie said it is humbling when you think of the logistics,  12  `things' to make,  12 items dispatched, and then our `box' arrives with 12 beautifully made gifts from 12 awesome women who are prepared to share and give..... very special.
Thank you Wendy, Miranda and Hazel for once again organizing  and coordinating  2012 swap,  I know it is not easy ,  but you three do an amazing job.

Luv from Liz

Thank You

Hi Ladies
A huge thank you to everybody from Group 1 who has created the most amazing gifts. Have really enjoyed the anticipation each morning as I have opened each one. You are all very talented.
And also a big thank you to Liz & Julie who have been adding all the information to the Blog. I don't comment very much but do have a look & enjoy seeing what everybody is receiving.
All the best to everyone for 2013.
Karen (Auckland)

Last Gifts From Group 2

 Hi Fellow Craft Swappers
 Wow Christmas Day has come and gone and if you are like Allan and I you will be having a very quiet day today. Nelson is living up to it's name and we are having some very, very warm days and nights.

I need to say a very BIG sorry to Jamie, Rachel, Lisa and Alison for not posting their gifts on the appropriate days but with an unexpected trip to Christchurch for a funeral and a couple of other hiccups I just couldn't get to the camera and computer.

Jamies gift was on Day 9 and a beautiful decoration in the prettiest green, mauve and bright pink felt. A little silver heart ties the green scarf on. Just lovely and a big thankyou Jamie.

Day 10 was an incredible looking santa made from  a tube. He was red and had big black boots. Inside were three cute little bee faces, two with bows and one with a santa hat!!!!! They are attached to metal sticks and already have a place in the big tub where our lime tree grows. Thankyou so much Rachel they really are very cute and you are very clever.

Lisa made our gift for Day 10 and it is a canvas panel which she has framed with a lovely blue paper. The top can be opened at the back and has velcro dot fasteners. There are also two pegs attached to the back so it can be hung. Such clever ideas!!  On the front is a blank outline of a ladies body and on the opposite side Lisa has drawn on clothes and hair. Very "cool".
Thanks Lisa for your gift.

Our last gift for this year was from Alison and another "wow".
Alison wows us every year with her amazing talents.
This face mask sitting on a wee stand must have taken the patience of a saint.
It is tiny with teeny weeny beads for detail.
The red feathers have shaped pieces of paper
attached and these have small red bead on the ends.
The mask is tied on with a small black ribbon.
A real wow Alison and thankyou very much for your great gift.


Well that's it for another year and again thankyou to all of you for my amazing gifts. It is always very humbling to get gifts from people that I haven't met and that have spent precious moments making them.
 I hope that the new year will be a very happy and safe one for you all.  Luv from Julie  xoxo                                                                         

                                                                                 

Happy Xmas Everyone

Hi , A big thank you to everyone for all the lovely gifts I have received this year.  There sure is some talent out there !!!:) :)  Rod (husband) and I have been camping and have really enjoyed having a treat every day to open.   Thanks again and hope every one has a great xmas and an unforgetable new year.Alison in Tauranga.

Merry Christmas

Hi everyone

For the first time since I was a child, I have helped my little boy put some goodies out for Santa and his reindeer to eat - in the hope that he's behaved well enough for Santa to stop by and leave a surprise!  He and I have thoroughly enjoyed the last couple of weeks, opening a gift carefully made by one of you, after our breakfast.  Thank you so much, all your gifts are just delightful.  Some Isaac has carefully hung on our Christmas tree for us to admire, other I will make full use of or admire somewhere else in our home.  Through your time, creativity and generosity he's been able to learn the value of making things with your own hands and giving to others.

From me and my family, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.  (Debbie in Tauranga)

GROUP 1 - DAY 11

Fabulous wrapping in corrugated cardboard , beautiful ribbon and tag - we have all sat around the table as I opened our gift - there is a lot of interest from the family

My daughter-in-law has examined this beautiful gift with avid interest,  she immediately said Wendy has made the larger  beads with `paper' and when you look closely you can see the tiny twirled strips .
This awesome  scissor keeper  is from Wendy - another very talented `crafter' - ,  but the interesting thing about this gift is Wendy has cleverly made this as a necklace as the little part that holds the scissors is detachable. A duel purpose gift .
She has also included a pair of scissors !

 Thank you so much - this is just fabulous

GROUP 1 -DAY 10

Two Days to go - hard to believe - I am sitting here typing in the heat - you will all know that today's gift was from me- something quite different for me to make .
I have to be honest and tell you that my `friend' spent many hours cutting up the cardboard  and shapes  - I hope you like them

GROUP 1 - DAY 9

Posting from the Tropical Cairns - hence this is one day late
Karen - I had no idea that machine sewing was just one of your many talents -- Karen is a work colleague of mine and hails from Auckland
Nicely wrapped with a `home made gift tag' - another small, soft parcel.
Wow!!   I have never seen one of these - and my `bling' was immediately  taken out of the travel plastic bag I had a huge audience this morning,  everyone fascinated with the entire concept,   my DIL actually opened this.


Anyway - this beautifully made little drawstring bag is no ordinary bag, inside are all these little compartments for rings etc  - simply fabulous Karen and thank you so much

Hi Fellow Swappers especially those in Group 2.     Just a quick note to say that I'm unable to put up a post for the next couple of days as sadly Allan's cousin has passed away and we are off to Christchurch early tomorrow morning for some time with the family. I will do a catch up on Sunday unless someone out there would like to put up a couple of photos and a comment on day 9 and 10. Not that hard to do!!!!
Luv Julie.

Group 2 Day 8

 Well the day has come when I have to apologise a thousand times over to our next three swappers. We have an adorable spoodle, Tess, well she was adorable but not so sure now!!!!!!l I excitedly put my christmas swap parcels under the tree when they arrived and then went off to do some chores. I came back into the living area to see a very happy Tess unwrapping some of them. I yelled, waved my arms and growled and couldn't believe what she had just done. Paula I'm sooooo sorry and I know Tess is to because I've left the parcels under the tree and she now just sits and looks but doesn't touch.
Paula's parcel was wrapped in silver crepe paper and tied with a silver ribbon.  Inside was a little cannister all wrapped up in green felt and embellished with white stitching. So lovely and so beautifully made.  The card has a wee message on it; 
 "This wee container can be used to store those pesky things you have in your handbag- mints, antacids, tic tacs, parking meter money or take it with you when you visit fellow crafters to put your waste threads."
So useful and so lovely.  Thankyou Paula.
Cheers Julie.

GROUP 1 -DAY 8

Our `Miranda' is full of surprises,  in fact she never ceases to amaze me with her versatility

I used to work with Miranda,  who constantly proclaims that she  isn't crafty - well Miranda - I didn't know you could sew on a machine:)

From Nelson today we have this soft, squishy parcel, tastefully wrapped with a pretty tag .
Inside reveals this lovely Summery Bag ,  beautifully sewn - mine is a floral design on a white background , lined with a  contrasting fabric.
I am delighted with this as it is going to Cairns with me tomorrow.

I see my gift to be so useful - it is light and easy to pack.
Talking of Cairns,  I have the remaining parcels packed and will hopefully `post' from my tropical holiday home - tomorrow will be much later as we have to be at the airport at 5am!!!!!

Group 2 Day 7

 I'm not sure where yesterday went and just didn't get anywhere near the computer, sorry.

 Our day 7 gift was from Linda and so christmassy with green and gold paper and red ribbon. Inside was a stunning decoration in hues of pink, mauve, blues and pearl. Linda has designed a fish from the different coloured sequins and he has a silver bead eye.  Very lovely, thankyou Linda.