Last Minute Christmas Swapping

Hello there, How are we all? I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are having the most fabulous start to the New Year!

So before the craziness which is Christmas began, I took part in Lakota's 2012 Christmas Swap and I was lucky enough to be partnered with a Knitter of Wonders, Lucy who blogs over at 1940's Style For You! I honestly could not have been happier with the pairing as I have been a long time admirer of her wonderful knitting skills and her blog. So after a few emails a fair bit of Charity shop rummaging and a trip to the post office, parcels had been swapped, opened and enjoyed!

So what did Lucy send me, well take a look!

How beautiful is the wrapping, it certainly puts mine to shame and just look at that gorgeous paper!

Needless to say, it took me absolutely no time at all to rip the paper off beautiful though it was, to unearth the treasures within and WOW what treasures they were!

  1. An amazing copy of 'Practical Family Knitting Illustrated' from the 40s with most of the plates in colour!

2. A beautiful hand knitted Turban!

3. Chocolates! Coins, a Lindor Teddy and a box of Roses which got devoured before I had a chance to photograph em, yummy! (Proof that they existed can be found here!)

4/5. Hand cream, which went straight into my handbag so got missed from the picture and a delicious smelling Yankee candle which I also seem to have missed Ooops!

  6. A Cute Cottage Tin of Pins 

7. A fabulous Heart made with little bells 'Jingle all the Way'

8. A Keep Calm Notebook, perfect for all my New Years Resolutions!

Some of the gems inside 'Practical Family Knitting Illustrated' 

So many more things to be added to my to-knit list!

It's hard to choose a favourite, but I think the Beautiful hand knitted turban steals it, it has to be the neatest knitting I have ever seen, no wobbly stitches here, and is in the most lovely shade of blue yarn (not sure the photo does it justice) which is also lovely and soft and goes with my Debonaire Little Jumper a treat!

I love everything, and I was honestly blown away by the sheer thoughtfulness of the parcel, all I can say is THANK YOU Lucy, it's perfect in every way!

And here is what I sent to Lucy

1. 60s Bag with one of my knitted rose's 

2. Appliqué Christmas stocking, made with my own fair hand

3. A selection of knitting Patterns some from my stash and some from some thorough charity shop rummaging.

4. Fair isle slipper socks,  Sadly I can not confess to knitting them, they came with the below pinned to them from a charity shop and as far as I can tell have never been worn.

5. A flower Brooch, thanks to Lucy's post on the swap I now know it's a Gentian carved brooch, proof if it were needed that it has gone to a good home :)

6. A Couple of my Mums hand crocheted angels which (again I forgot to photograph) for the little Y's to adorn the tree.

Lastly but not leastly, I want to say big Thank You to Lakota for yet again organising a fabulous swap, it really was the perfect way to start Christmas!

Wendy x

A Little more Chrismas Swapping

So what was in that ever so tantalising parcel then...

Just look at that Beautiful handmade card!!

1. An Embroidered Christmas Apron. 2. A Shabby Chic Handbag. 3. A Bag of Lavender with some gorgeous Lip Balm (smells divine). 4. A Kath Kidiston NoteBook  5. A Piece of Lacey Trim! 6. An Embroidery Kit (with a butterfly!...eek!) 7.  An Embroidered Christmas Table Cloth (see below).

 The Christmas table cloth has found a very fitting home underneath the
tree with Christmas Ted to keep it company!

I love absolutely everything! I let out a serious squeal when I realised I had now my own Christmas pinny, I had toyed with the idea of making one, but with the move, I just didn't have the time to craft. I honestly was like a child in a party dress, I pranced about the house all evening refusing to take it off.

The Gorgeous tablecloth is the perfect fit under my little Christmas tree and it looks just lovely!

I am going to fashion a fabulous 1940s collar out of the lovely lace trim and I can't wait to start on the Embroidery it will look great in my new living room!

Here's what I sent to Shirl...

1. A Deco Style Necklace.  2. The Book 'What Every Woman Should Know: Life Lessons from the 1930's'.  3. Hand crocheted Christmas tree angels.  4. A 10x8 Print of a 30s Train Poster.  5. A Shell Mosaic Picture Frame.  6. Some Shabby Chic Fabric.

I must say I enjoyed an excuse to do a bit of charity shopping and I think I was very lucky with my finds! Such as the book which is packed full of fabulous advice and images from the 30's I highly recommend getting a copy if you can!

When I realised that Shirl lived in Clacton and that she liked the 20s and 30's it gave me the perfect excuse to use my graphic design skills to recreate (ie draw over in illustrator) an old 30s train poster of her hometown.

My mum was kind enough to crochet me up some little angels for the parcel. Seriously I wish I had her skills with a crochet hook, she took no time to make these up and the crocheting is so delicate and tiny that I struggle even to see the hook!

Thank you again, Shirl, for taking the time to make up my fabulous parcel and also a big Thank You to Lakota for setting it all up!! It has been a lovely pre-Christmas treat to have something to open before the big day!

Wendy x

Christmas Swapping!

Eeek!!! How Exciting!!!!

I have just received a fabulous parcel from the lovely Shirl who blogs over at The White House all as part of 'The Festive Charity Swap' which was expertly organised by the remarkable Lakota - if you fancy a bit of inter-blog swapping then keep your eyes on her blog!

Doesn't it look enticing!!

I can't wait to open it, but I am being remarkably controlled and I am going to try and wait until I know that she has got hers (which I just need to pop in the post!) before I open it! Wish me luck with my resolve!! Thanks, Shirl!!!

I hope you all have great weekends! Fingers crossed (for the 3rd time now) we will finally get the internet installed on Saturday so it should be back to blogging normality, shortly! Hurrah!

Wendy x

Valentines Blog Swap!

Thanks to the wonderful Landgirl1980 for alerting me back in January to the 'Spread the Bloggy Love Swap' that was being organized by the lovely Jackie at Sew Special Bears.

I have often wanted to take part in these but have never been brave enough, this time I decided I would take the plunge and take part, and what a tonic to the gray days of winter, it has been, It gave me the much-needed motivation to get doing something rather than moping about, and eating too much chocolate!

So for the swap I was partnered up with Heather, of  The Patchwork Heart and I had a lot of fun reading her fabulous blog to work out what she would like in her valentines parcel, I have to say she made it very easy!! Especially as she had helpfully put a list of all the things she loves on her blog!



What Beautiful wrapping and look Butterfly's on the paper!!!

Now I have had to wait a fair few days gazing longingly at the wonderfully wrapped parcel. I am not the most patient of people so it was really a test of my resolve!! So after tearing the paper of excitedly this morning and squealing like a 5 year old at Christmas, I calmed down enough to take some photos so here is what the wonderful Heather sent to me.....

• Some delicious Lindor chocolates - must confess not many left!! Yummmm!
• A gorgeous trinket box filled with the most lovely pink sherbet scented tea lights, which will be perfect for my little glass lanterns!
• A Packet of Union Jack Napkins, which are so pretty I will find it hard to use them! I might have to frame one!
• A Beautiful handmade stuffed Heart which is now adorning my draws (Chest of, not my pants!)
• A gorgeous patchwork hanger which is hanging from my bedroom door as a daily reminder to " Cherish each precious day" Just Beautiful!

Thank you so, Much Heather I feel truly very lucky to have been partnered with someone who is so creative and who has been so generous! I love all of my valentines gifts it has certainly brightened up my February!

So, now that I know that Heather has opened her parcel I will show you all what I sent...

My bloggy swap offerings!

- A Shabby Chic Jewelry Hanger I made one of these for my Mum for Christmas, as she loved the one I had made for myself so much. Because it is so quick to make up I thought it would be great for the swap! A how to post to follow shortly!



Valentines Mug Hugger!

- Mug Warmers - Never have a cold cuppa again, I loved this mug warmer pattern so much that I decided to make a His and Hers version in Red and Pink and Blue and Pink. Download the free pattern here.

- Rose Brooch - I came up with this little flower by accident when I was re-teaching myself to knit: My free Rose knitting pattern!



Inspired by the 1940s Look Book!



- Shabby Chic Eye Mask - Just because there is nothing more lovely than having a long lie in! Made using my Audrey Eye mask pattern.
-A Felt Brooch - I fell in love with the little make-do and mend felt brooch on the front of Mike Brown's 1940s Look Book, so I decided to try to make up one for the swap.



And for the edible element A Big Gooey Box of Turkish Delight!

If you get the chance to take part in a blog swap I wholeheartedly recommend it as,

it is a lot of fun!!

Wendy x