A christmas swap....

Once upon a times, way, way back in the depths of October-ish time I decided to join in a Christmas ornament swap hence the badge in the side bar. I've never joined in with a swap before but you all seem to have so much fun I thought why not. So, I joined in the Christmas swap organised by Andrea of Indigo Blue.

'cos Christmas is coming'

I was duly assigned a swap partner who liked blues and golds. Quick panic - those aren't colours I naturally put together. Deep breath - meet the challenge head on and you know it was good to work with something different. I suppose that's the point of a challenge you climb out of your safe little bubble of colour coordinating belief and try someone elses way. Think a little differently, look at things a little differently and that can be quite creatively energising. Time passes and the deadline approaches and my swap partner had to drop out due to family pressures, which I hope are resolved now. In steps Andrea as my swap partner and saves the day and wow did she.. Another quick panic 'cos she can really sew... but just look..

A box with little packages...tucked inside. Didn't Pandora get into trouble this way?

See Incy, I needn't have worried about being on Santa's naughty list I mean look what was inside the parcel.

..and there's more tucked inside

There was a cute little felt ornament with sequins with a beaded ribbon top,

and this recipe book and gingerbread hearts to hang on the tree.

My son fancies having a go at making the pasty recipes inside. I quite like the sound of a 'Figgy 'obbin myself. Sounds like a mthyical creature that lurks in wait for unwary travellers doesn't it 'Ah! Beware the figgy 'obbin - he do walk abroad this night....' but no - apparently 'figgy' is cornish for raisins and an 'obbin is what he rest of us might know as a 'Duff' - so a suet pudding really. And I thought they spoke English in Cornwall (well, almost anyway)

We usually put a pine garland above the archway in the living room and the children are going to help me hang the gingerbread hearts there when they finish school on Friday. I like the cinnamon sticks and the Indigo Blue key ring, which is now attached to my car keys and the badge which Rosie has attached to her school bag.

Inside this gorgeous little bag

was the ornament that Andrea made for me... it's absolutely perfect for me ..how did she know.

I love things that reflect light and this design is just so effective.. Rosie calls it the 'flapper girl' and when you see it hanging on the tree you can see what she means... dancing little beaded braid..

And it doesn't end there. Inside the box was yet another parcel marked as breakable and inside was this

It's a glass bauble with a swirly glitter design on it. It sparkles, it glitters, it reflects and it is really quite a beautiful thing. Can you see the different colours in the glass.

All in all just look at the 'treasure' in that box.

and with the cinnamon sticks in amongst the package it even smelled of Christmas.

Thank you Andrea - for organising the swap in the first place and then for being my swap partner. I feel quite spoiled. I only ever have a christmas tree decorated with ornaments that I've made, the children have made or are special because they've been gifts or are memories of some special place or time and now I have some very special additions to our tree. A way of remembering our new 'bloggy' friendship and my first swap.

Comments

[Kitty]

So now you've done one swap, will you do more? I hope so. Your parcel from Andrea was lovely - such pretty things. And you can't beat the smell of cinnamon at Christmas, can you? I love it.

x

[x vInTaGe VioLeT x]

wow - you lucky thing! love the glass bauble - how exciting unwrapping all those little presents!

[Ali]

Fabulous swap things... Lucky you!

[JuliaB]

ahhhh lovely!!! I particularly like the dangly spangly one!! x

[maria]

What a lovley parcel of goodies. Swaps are great when all goes well!