Chooky's Secret Santa Swap 2009

Again this year, Super Elf, Chooky, organized a Secret Santa swap. I had so much fun last year I had to sign up again. My santa was Rebecca from Homestead Quilting.As you can see from this picture I got a beautiful calander of Australian Flowers. Everyone loves pics of great flowers - especially us in the USA that are in cold rainy/snowy areas and are pouring over our seed catologs dreaming of warmer weather and our gardens. And if you read this post,you can see I also recieved 2 stunning -hand embroidered items- an adorable candy cane holder and the ornament. But never did I think I would get the so very lovely table runner. It's a thing of obsolute beauty. Thank you - thank you- thank you Rebecca- I just love it. it's almost too pretty to have on the table. But rest assured that on Jan 7th- when the last of Christmas is put away after Kings Day- it will be the center piece of my table. I will have to try and get a pic of the quilting which is just amazing.

Rebecca thank you so much for being my Santa and spoiling me so and Chooky- thank you for all your hard work in getting all of us together again for a wonderful swap- please add me for next year.





With all the hustle and bustle of making jellies, jams- salsas and prettys to go into baskets for neighbors, friends and family, I almost didn't make any roll out cookies. Wednesday night I just knew I would be so mad at myself if I didn't take my copper cookie cutters and use them. For as long as I can remember, my mom used them with us kids at Christmas time and since they were given to me 20 years ago I have used them faithfully every year. How can I kill a tradition, I ask you? So after much digging in the garage they appeared.





I've added to them over the years- and they only seem to get used at Christmas even though there are plenty that are not of the a Christmas theme. One day I hope to split them and give some to both of my children......

Secret Santa Swap :)

Chooky ran a Secret Santa swap again this year. THANK YOU CHOOKY!!! My package arrived today. Rebecca from Homestead Quilting was my Santa and just look at the two lovelies I was allowed to open. Sad to say we don't have our tree up yet. Maybe Sunday. But the ornament is hanging by my desk here bringing a smile everytime I see it. The candy canes and holder are now hanging on my bedroom door. The candy is still sealed. I'll wait to open and share that with the family. Gota find my pretty candy bowl.








I have this lovely to open Christmas morning ( if I can last that long ) Thanks Rebecca - I love everything ( well that I could open )





Moose is so tired watching all the work going on here with the holidays coming.





Christmas Troubles is quilted and bound and hanging on the wall over the microwave. Once I get my kitchen tree up it will be so cute.







I found some extra blocks from last years mystery and decided to make ds a wall hanging. I really need to pay attention more as I have one hst turned the wrong
way :( and it's a;; quilted and bound.

Chookyblue's Secret Santa Swap

Frist, I'd like to thank Odette for being my Santa. She sent so many lovely and fun goodies it's going to take a few pictures to show them all off. First we have a lovely appliqued towel. The cutest scissor holder and pincushion. She made them all.



Marshmellows !! Chile marshmellows are not as sweet as the ones here in the US a very nice change. Those I shared with the family. I just adore this little oragami box. SO interesting and fun. Odette you should do a tutorial on them for blogland :) Also in this pic is a hot pad shaped like an ornament.




And there's still more, lovely bath flakes, a heavenly smelling sachet- chocolate ( i hid that ) and a stitchery kit.



I know we were supposed to wait till Christmas but starting today with my daughter's 19th bday, everyone being off of work and school starting Tuesday. I wanted this box to be for me. Some Christmas carols playing, relaxing with a glass of wine and not rushing.

I'd like to thank Odette again for such a wonderful package and a big thank you to Chookyblue for organizing a Christmas swap for over 150 with way less drama than we did on a little group. Please remember me next year when you do it again. This was defiantly alot of fun.

It's begining to look alot like Christmas

The best part about sewing bindings on quilts imho is that you need to clean off the sewing area so the quilt can lay on the table. And since yesterday was spent baking, it's still clean :) What a concept!!



The other night I finished the bindings on the pineapple blossom quilts. The blue one was given to my friend and she was speachless. I love that when you give a quilt they had no idea they were getting they can't speak.LOL and I finished this one for DD's BF. I figured she'd put it in the nice gift bag we have for it, but no. She and her kitty had to "test it out". Both approve *VBG*



On one of my yahoo groups we did a secret santa exchange.
Lookie at all the goodies. A new quilt book, thangles, Marti Mitchel stripper templates ( perfect for jelly rolls ) patterns, fabric, a hot pad in my fav color blue a tin that shows all the GS uniforms, a yummy 3 scent candle. And for those that read my 360 blog- a PEEP Puzzle-roflmao! Peeps Wars rock! My secret santa spoiled me rotten. Thanks Judy




The ornament went right on the tree:)


The drama of one person not getting their box has kinda put a damper on the whole thing. I hope none of that happens on Chookyblue's swap. Who's swap box I'm opening tomorrow (Sat) I was going to do it today but the teens are off of school- they're calling for snow...yeah ! They can bake some cookies and make themselves useful :)