FROM OUR AUSTRALIAN FRIEND JEAN

Oh just look at the fabulous wrapping fabric -and do I spy a page of Cairns news through the fabric??

Yes I do... yeeeeeeh!! -a quick catch -up on Cairns news.

I happen to know that Jean is an expert card maker, and I suspect she has made this beautiful card
Jean, this is stunning, a Xmas Compendium .. check out the neatest `stem stitch' on the word, N O E L , and the `O' has tiny beads interwoven .
This is gorgeous, all the different fabrics you have chosen, work soooo well-every time I look , I see something else -the wee pocket to hold stamps (or that is what I am going to use it for)
And a dear little gift tag is so sweet.
I am going to use mine immediately, I have bits of paper, cards, lists and stamps , tags etc all over my house, and at last I have something to keep all my Xmas things together -
Jean, thank you -I love it.
Actually I am stressing, as despite NZPO assurances, Jean DOES not have her parcel yet, and neither does my son Phillip, (who also lives in Queensland) and I met the deadline of getting his away before the 30th November -at great expense, as that was a large box of goodies.

Thanks Jennie for the bonbon, my husband like the idea of putting lollies in it, I will be leaving it out every xmas for him to find. What a lovely folder Jean has made us, it was a real treat this morning. You two ladies have put a lot of work into your gift, thanks so much, Marian from down south.

On the 3rd day of xmas

I opened my parcel in bed at 6.30 this morning !!!! and what a lovely surprise but no I didn,t eat the lollies for breakfast Thank you so much Jennie looking forward to the next one Love Amah (Edna )

Michelle! Wow! What a great gift. All year I can think of you and this time with my sisters in craft. How did you not only think of twelve different months but also made twelve of them. Thank you. Alison

Love the moving pictures, looks very professional. Marion (Nelson) xx

WHAT A CRACKER XMAS SWAP

Punctuated by the fabulous gift I unwrapped today from Jennie in sunny Nelson!
Jennie I love the concept of your home made cracker filled with goodies! Thank you! Quite right, you shouldn't be thinking you are not creative.... :) I love it! Debbie in Tauranga

On the Third Day of Christmas

My swap partner, Michelle sent to me....

a fabulously wrapped in wallpaper (girl after my own heart) parcel with a cute wooden reindeer tag.....


an amazing calender in ring binder form of which she has scrap booked each page!!! Wow Michelle, what a cool idea.... and you did 12 of them...!!!!


I love it, and sadly for me so does my daughter, she has already written our birthdays in it and one of her social engagements!!!!

Really looking forward to using it very, very soon!


Thank you so much!!!

Rachaelxo

CLEVER JENNIE

Well, Jennie, I am not only blown away, but I am soooooooooooooo impressed.

A little about my Dear Friend from Nelson, for years and years, Jennie has always said `I am not creative, I can't do things.'... and so it went on.

Wrong, wrong -just look girls at this innovative, and beautifully crafted fabric BON-BON

This says it all -yes Jens the tags etc take forever
and.............. the wrapping

oooooooh--- what is inside ?

This beautiful fabric BON BON

Gorgeous fabric, in hues of grey, with a little beetle sewn and all tied with black bows

Yeeeeeeeeeeh!!! and inside - a selection of sweets (for the Diet)

Jennie this is awesome, and a fabulous idea, I somehow think it is one that many of the girls may copy, what a neat gift or for the Christmas table.

I love it and thank you

Just love the handmade bell, such a lovely idea and delivered by santa personally! And he gets to stay with me too :) I feel very spoilt. Thank you Adrienne so much.

On the Second Day of Christmas

Adrienne from Kaikoura sent to us.....

a star spangle wrapped parcel


and inside were two beautiful Christmas decorations.....


a beautifully made fabric bell (same fabric as my tablecloth hee hee!) and a hand painted ceramic Santa!!!


whipped away and hung on the tree before I could even blink!!!

Thank you so much Adrienne, I am getting a lovely collection of Christmas ornaments done by you!!!

Hope you join in next year too!!!!

Rachaelxo

CUTE AS A BUTTON!

Marion I dashed blurry eyed out the door this morning at the crack of dawn - but before I left I opened your gift. I have always wanted to be the owner of some button jewellery! You are inspired doing different colours - mine is in delightful shades of autumn. Thank you!

WOW, WOW - Check this out girls!!

Marian, Marian, how do you do it??

Marian is my cousin's friend from Dunedin and last year she was in the swap, and we will all remember her button necklace (2008)

Beautifully packaged and a dear little tag
I am blown away, at what this wee package revealed , yet another of her button craft
Absolutely gorgeous, and I am wearing mine today.
Absolutely love it , people so admire these - they think I make them , so I have to `fess'
Clever Marian, as I sort of pressured her into doing the swap again, (the numbers game), I knew she was very, very busy - so a huge thank you.
Just awesome!!!
Sorry this post is late, I was up early, but no Internet Connection, an hour later with Telecom, and I am thankfully up and running again -stressed to the max...

Hi Marian,

Thank you so much for the little bracelet, how did you know blue is a colour that I wear very often?? I shall be taking it to my sewing group to show off. I love it!

Christmas wishes,

Marion (Nelson)

Thank You

Hi Julie
What a lovely heart thank you so much. It is going to work tomorrow for show and tell as I did not take it in today, and my description did not do it justice. I have it hanging over the fireplace.
Hazel

I AM IN AWE....

The talent out there is amazing. Julie, I just love the heart you made for us. I don't do lots of embroidery, cross stitch is about my limit! You are very clever indeed! I too have it hanging up in our lounge already and will admire it for Christmases to come. Thank you so much. Deb in Tauranga.

"On the first day of Christmas

my true love, I mean my swap partner, I mean me, sent to me......"

the most fabulous gift ever,

wrapped in vintage dress making paper.......


enclosed in pink tissue paper....

was the most incredible brooch ever, made from hand dyed vintage linens and doilies and finished with a hand dyed vintage silk millinery flower....


stunning!! Thank you so much Rachael, I mean me!!!

Hope you like this ladies.....:)

No1

Hi ya! At 6.52am I opened Rachaels lovely antique flower pin. Thank you, thankyou. Will definately be wearing it on Xmas day! Love the way Rachael followed the theme through with the wrapping paper of the pattern sheet. Well done.

Wow! Amazing! I have the perfect spot for my heart above my mantel piece!

I was very excited this morning, and proud of myself for managing to last until I was 'allowed' to open my first present. Thanks Julie, very clever! - Medge

Hi everyone, Thanks so much for the lovely heart Julie, it is hanging up in my lounge, wasn't it exciting this morning opening the very first present, Marian Knight

JULIE -THIS IS BEAUTIFUL

Julie (from Kaitereteri) - what do we all say??

This is simply exquisite.

Look at the gorgeous bag, beautifully embellished with tasteful ribbon .

Oh -what can be inside?

I can't wait -in fact I was awake at 6.30am

This card was inside Julie's box , and the word express how we all feel -yes it is very special.
Yeeeeeeeeeeh!! I have opened the bag -oh my goodness - this beautifully stitched Christmas Heart - look at the immaculate stitching , especially the words -my stitching is never as neat as this - I am so impressed .
The colours are just lovely

Julie -thank you so much -this beautiful gift will take pride of place in my home for many Christmas's to come

Special Hugs

Liz
Rachael will be posting for Group 2, but it may not be today

PHOTOS FROM NELSON

Marion and Junko have asked me to put these photos on the Blog, and you can see why...
Special times for the family, as Marion has her beautiful daughter-in-law and grandchildren currently living with her.
Just look at the concentration on Chloe's face

Julian is a Pilot for Armavia Airlines (Armenia), and cannot be home until February,
Junko supervsisng , and obviously Grandma taking the photos -Alec -you look as if you are enjoying this

Do I spy any of the Christmas decorations that you purchased in Armenia hanging on the tree??

Hello again from Nelson. Almost time to get into those beautiful little parcels that are now under my tree. Yesterday Chloe, my granddaughter, put up the tree and decorated it almost on her own with a little help from her brother Alec and her mother Junko (group 2). It sits in my window overlooking a public walk-way and so twinkles away at night for all the passer-bys to see.

All the parcels have been carefully laid out below the tree looking very enticing!!! The children are most impressed with how many gifts their mother and I have, and are wondering how come we are allowed to start opening before Christmas. No doubt we will be getting some help.

Best wishes to you all from

Marion

BEAUTIFUL, BEDECKED BAGS AND BOXES WITH BELLS AND BOWS

Just a few photos to show you the bag that Santa brought to the Auckland Girls' house

I know there were two very excited girls at my work place.

Group 1 had Red bags and Group 2 Silver

My tree, it seems to have taken hours to put together, I alwasy try and go for the uniform look, as I do admire the two colour, I started off last year with just Silver and White, but then what does one do with all the special decorations that have meaning and significance? so... I have used most this year, and although it is a tad haphazard -it is pretty and I am pleased with it
Hard to capture it at night with a basic camera

But look what Santa has left under the tree -amazing !!!

Happy Almost Christmas!!

My parcel has also arrived and it is packed up to go away for the holidays with me...except for parcels number 1 and 2 which I will have the utter delight of opening before I leave!

I am planning on having the most stress-less Christmas for a long time...just lots of relaxing and enjoying all the fun of being away from the endless washing, dishes and housework that consumes my day to day life leaving little or even worse NO time for crafting!

Am taking crafting bits away as well and will be doing some scrapbooking, I am making a photo album for our foster daughter Maringi to take with her when she leaves us in mid Jan to live with her Grandparents in Melbourne.

I will be posting from the library mostly as they have broadband and my family do not! I am soooo excited...tee hee!

Hugs to all of you very talented and most deserving ladies...catch you on the 14th!

Gail

Eek! my first blog!

With Debbies help (daughter in gift swap 1) I have arrived in the blog. Hope I can do it when I am all alone!
going away for Xmas AND TAKING ALL MY PRESENTS WITH ME Can't hardly wait. I feel like a little girl again. Bring it on :)

Santa has been early to Kaiteriteri!!!!!! Hope he'll come again.

Hooooray my parcel full of pressies has arrived at Kaiteriteri. Had to open the box and now roll on the 14th for the first unveiling. Thanks Liz. Luv Julie

Santa Has Definately Been to Tauranga!

Yes my mum Alison is right - Santa has been to Tauranga already and he found me on a rural delivery route - YAY! Now really bursting to see what delightful handmade gifts are hidden behind all the enticing wrapping paper.
Big thanks to Lizzie and her band of elves who have helped to orchestrate this Xmas Swap. I appreciate being a part of this whole experience with you all.
Debbie

My daughter tells fibs

If you read what Rachael wrote, she is delusional, - although she thinks she looks young and could pass for my grand daughter, she in fact is my daughter, with gray hair, except it is coloured:):) -don't worry girls, we always have this little thing going on, and I do want you all to know that the reason she is talented, is she inherited everything from ME :):)
Good one girls, this is better than checking Trade me
Liz

Hi Everyone I tried this the other day but guess what somehow managed to get it wrong. Liz I'm sooooo excited and just wish my parcel would arrive!!!!!!! We're on rural mail and this time of year everything seems to take a day or two more to reach us. I'm Miranda's mum and last year I needed to ring every morning to ask an excited Seini (granddaughter) what she and Miranda had unwrapped. It is such a wonderful idea and thankyou liz for setting this all up. As I was creating my pressies I kept thinking about the people that would get to unwrap them and hope that you all feel the warm fussies that were sewn in with every stitch, well nearly every stitch!! Off to do some Christmas shopping today and hope the stores all have their Christmas Carols playing. Luv Julie.

I'm Liz's extremely talented and fabulous granddaughter - Rachael.....

hope you girls in group 2 like pink and brown.....hee hee.....


and a little shameless and tacky self promotion.......





stuck with Christmas shopping, let me help......http://roseroom.co.nz/


will give you a 20% discount since we are all friends!!!!

hohoho

have fun!

Rachaelxo

From Nelson

Hello from Nelson. Safely back in this beautiful spot with my two parcels. Will give Junko hers later this morning when I have time to stop and relax!!!!
It was wonderful having the little break away and although I got to see all the little gifts, I am itching to break into mine to see what clever things all you crafty people have sent.

Christmas wishes to you all,
Marion

Hello All!

Hi!
This is my first blog ever so am testing as well as letting you all know how excited I am to open my pressies - they look absolutely beautiful! I work with Liz (I'm the one who had to have her arm twisted, and I am sure Liz now regrets the decision as I am sure I was the last by a country mile to get my pressies finished and submitted!)BUT I did it, and now I know to start in June next year :oP
Counting down the days....
xxx Medge

Ho ho ho from Cairns

Ho ho ho from Cairns - No smellies this year ? :):):):) Christmas tree waiting patiently for pressies will take a photo when I can find the camera Cheers from Jean

Getting excited

Hi Lizzie and all christmas craft swappers.
Can't wait for parcel to arrive. I am very excited.
From Hazel

On The First Day Of Christmas ..........

Yes, this is what you have all been waiting for.... here we are hard at work -Marion did end up with a sore back, but all for the cause!!!!!!

Just look at Group 1, beautifully and neatly laid out -no room for error here. Clip boards, lists, double checking etc

Group 2 laid out on the guest bed, sort of neat, but not in the same league as Marion, who was in charge of Group 1 -yeah!!

Here you can see Marion's decorated foot, some little bits came off a parcel, and unbeknown to us, had attached themselves to Marion's foot, this is what I call the True Meaning of Christmas

A sample of the shambles. boxes piled up

And ......... here we are, finally the parcels are down the stairs, all ready for postage.

Phew... guess what we did when we came home from the Post office???

The Jacob's Creek Rose went down a treat!!!, but we figured we deserved it!!! (them )

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me Again :)

The creating continues! This is the gift I have made for my Mum for Xmas....so shhhhhh!

If you can't see the words in the middle 'black board' they are:

Tea + sympathy $4

Coffee + shoulder to cry on $5

Wine + putting the world right $9

Dinner Bed + Breakfast $25

The idea is to remind some of her friends that off loading all their dramas and complants to mum does have an emotional cost on her....heres hoping they get the point lol!

Love Gail.

Hi all from Gail :)

I'm begining to get excited now lol! I thought I would share with you all my latest crafting. This is from the endless 'stash' of projects that I have decided to get on with, as some of you may know I am a procrastonater extrodinare! So here are the door decorations I had done for my girls previously, made from mdf words and letters (I LOVE Spotlight lol) covered with paint and scrapping papers.

The letters stand for K-Kylie 5, J-Jamie 9 and M-Maringi 10 (our foster girl) at the same time I bought some to do for myself...and that was at the begining of the year....yesterday I decided that it was time to get moving on all the gorgeous things I had planned to do 'when I had time' and here are mine!

I think I am am going to be very busy as I have a wedding dress to sew (sorry girls not mine)which I have been putting in the too hard basket and I am planning to do some crafting most nights, fingers crossed for me lol!

THE DRAW

Well ... here is step 1 , and that is to draw our names to see what day our gifts are opened -we have been very careful where we placed the numbers, some are on the bottom, some are on the side -they have been attached with double sided tape, so no damage is done to your goodies

Group 1 is the `brown bowl'


Group 2 is the `green bowl'

I need to learn how to edit and place my photos properly , as these are all over the place, however they should give you an idea of `how it happens'

I am now off to do a mountain of ironing -yuk!!

Hi From Cairns

Well finally I have finished my project all wrapped and ready to put in the bag to post - A bit ambitious and a little time consuming :):) not quite as creative as last year but I have enjoyed the making :):) Um well now I must find the address Liz he he he

Jean

Hi everyone!
I was in last years swap which was so much fun! So yeat again can't wait until we start unwrapping our pressies this year!
Love Vicki

Hello. hope this works, looking forward to more updates,
Marion, Nelson

A PRACTICE FOR YOU

I want to share these special photos with you all, and to also give you a chance to have a `little practice' on `posting a comment'
I had my 6 yr old grand daughter to stay with me a couple of Saturdays ago , and on one of my many visits to Spotlight I found this modern day version of French Knitting -far cry from when I used to use wooden cotton reels and nails .

But before we embarked on French Knitting , I needed to felt.


Stella very keen to
play with Nana's wool -and have a go.
This is the dear child felting -
just look at her concentration, she produced a very nice piece of Red Merino felt -never too young to learn



The French Knitting was a HUGE SUCCESS, Stella likes crafting, and at Spotlight she took forever deciding what colour wool to use -finally a pretty pinky , lavender colour was chosen -very Stella -honestly she was HOOKED, I felt so proud of her efforts , she is a good girl and like her Mother and Nana, enjoys `fiddling'