On the seventh day of Christmas

Eileen from Auckland gave to us....

a tissue wrapped parcel with glittery stars and tag....



and inside surrounded by Christmas sprinkles was a beautiful Christmas stocking with a snowman design, all hand stitched and beaded......

beautiful, just beautifully done....



we have a snowman theme going in group 2!!!

Thank you so much Eileen!

Rachaelxo

On the sixth day of Christmas.....

Jean from Nelson gave to us.......

a bright Christmasy wrapped parcel with a cute Santa tag.....



and inside is the most fabulous fabric door hanger decoration.... a snowman wearing a scarf and hat....... finished with bells tinkling at the bottom!

yet another gift so beautifully made!



Thank you so much Jean.... I wish I had the camera ready when my daughter saw it... the look on her face was sheer wonder!!

Rachaelxo

On the fifth day of Christmas

Paula from Nelson gave to us......

a sweet little parcel........



containing the dearest little snowy white pin cushion. Beautifully made, tiny little flowers with stitched stems and leaves and a pretty blue ribbon. Perfection!!



Thank you so much Paula, I really love this.....

also sorry for the delay in posting, I was really busy sewing yesterday and within about 5 minutes of opening your parcel it had pins in it!!!

Rachaelxo

THANK YOU TO ME

Just look at this fabulous wrapping - yes things have come to this (plain brown paper) -actually I copied this idea from Miranda last year

Oh , and the dear little gift tag -now isn't that the sweetest little gift tag ever???
For those of you that know me and have been to my house - I have them hanging on doors, dresser handles and wherever .....
Constructed of Vintage Lace (stolen from Rachael) and various ribbons and beads
Thank you so much me
BUT
also thank you to Jean H in Nelson, she has sent me -oh my Goodness - they are gorgeous -wow -that is so clever (wink wink) in case you have them too

Not sure what happened to Group 2's Post yesterday, I know Rachael is frantically busy, wrapping Trade Me parcels, getting ready to go to Hamilton today, and then to New Plymouth tomorrow to Fleet wood Mac, will check and may have to do the two groups my self over the next couple of days.
GOOD NEWS
Jean (Cairns)has her parcel, and so does Phillip, he told me the post stamp is 24th Nov: and they got theirs yesterday -so much for 10-15 days!!!!!

STRESS STRESS STRESS

Jean, I feel sick that you did not get this in time, however I have just received an email from Phillip and his big box arrived today. (almost a month later)
I think in future , we need to get any Australian mail away at least a month before , I know..... I can hear you all saying - the 31st OCT deadline may sound early , but the sorting, co-ordinating and Australian deadlines needs to be considered ... just something to think about, as our Nelson girls, who are doing it next year, won't want any extra hassles.
I am just home from a fabulous Xmas evening (where I live ) wine, BBQ'd mussels, prawns, scallops etc yeeeeeeeeeh!!

Got it from Cairns :):):)

Hi swapper friends yes my parcel arrived I was so pleased I was imagining not being able to look at the blog until well who knows when :0 ) There is a postal strike in Queensland but this got through . Thank you I will digest my pressies later. Have sorta finished work but will be going in early tomorrow morning to finish what I just couldn't get through today. Cheers Jean

Day 6 and another fantastic gift. This time from Paula. Thank you very much. I am rapt! I really , really need this lovely pincushion. I make mostly small things, so have a small craft bag that my stuff goes in, and up till now nowhere to put pins without getting attached. Thanks again Paula.

AMAH (EDNA) How do you do it??

Oh Amah, how can you X-stitch so neatly ? -amazing.

Love this so tasteful bag, and the tag beautifully stamped

But what is in the bag I wonder?
OK, I come and visit and there has never been any evidence of secret squirrel stitching , especially 12 of these beautifully stitched little framed pictures.
This is simply exquisite, and look at the small stitch count.
What is incredible, Amah (Edna) is 80+, and how special is this, I need magnifiers binoculars -in fact every aid available etc to stitch as small as this.
I love my litel picture - a huge thank you, and I have the perfect spot for it.

I have been very spoilt this morning as I also received a little gift from Paula in Nelson -WOW - can't show you (wink wink) as I suspect that is what Group 2 may have received -fabulous and thank you

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Wow! Wow! Wow! I only just started opening my pressies yesterday (work has been crazy busy! & bringing it home) and have just got on the blog tonight. Look at all the fantastic gifts that have been created! Amazing & oh sooo exciting!!!

A huge Thank you so far to:

Rachael: love the broach! can't believe you just whipped them up, and yes, can just imagine it a little worn on the edges! Thank you!!

Adrianne: What a gorgeous wee bell (love it)and decoration! I have them hanging in our lounge. Thank you!!

Michelle: All that work, just amazing and what a brilliant idea! Can't wait to use mine too!! Thank you!!

Alison: Oh my gosh! I cant believe the detail, they are just the cutest little couple! Thank you!!

As you can see our cat was most intrigued by the new couple in the house :-)

Cant wait until tomorrow! Finished work today, so can relax and enjoy the rest of the swap as normal, yay!!

Love Vicki

xox

4th day of xmas

Well what a very pleasant surprise today Thank you Jean your gift will be very useful
love from edna ( Mum) wonder what tomorrow will bring ???

Oh my gosh you guys have to see the amazing snow couple that we in group two got today. wow!
Your eye sight and your patience must be out of this world.
Michelle Nelson

On the fourth day of Christmas

my swap partner Alison from Tauranga sent to us.....

a very elegant white box, dressed in red ribbon and stars........


inside, nestled in a bed of white tissue and sparkly stars was......

snow peg people!!!! Mr and Mrs Snow!!!!


Alison I am totally in awe of these creations.... the detail is amazing....


Mr Snow, has a tiny KNITTED hat and earmuffs (maybe Mrs Snow nags him!) He has a tiny carrot nose. He has a red woolly scarf and is a holding a Christmas wreath.

Mrs Snow has a white hat which is very elegant, decorated with tiny beads, a bow and a sparkly flower. She has a KNITTED scarf and a red cape. She is holding a gift (wooden) wrapped with a green bow.

All I can say Alison is that these are perfection and you must have an incredibly steady hand!!!

Thank you so much

Rachaelxo

NOEL, NOEL, NOEEL, NOEEELLLLLLL.......!

And what did Santa's little elf have for us today. Something delightful to complete your every Xmas, a compendium and a gorgeous card (all the way from Cairns) - WOW! Jean thank you so much, you clearly spent a lot of time on your gifts. The detail and your colour choices are exceptional. I too shall use mine immediately, finally somewhere to store (and find) Xmas cards to post out each year. Debbie in Tauranga

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!