Santa Sack Swap 2014

I had the pleasure of swapping with Shez of Enjoying Life.  And for the first time ever, it was a swap with someone I'd actually been blessed with meeting face to face - what fun that was Shez!!  (Psssttt .... Can't wait to see you again in March!!!)

First up, the items she blessed me with ...

Since we've both previously received/have sacks and stockings we decided we'd make a bag each and she made this gorgeous little bag to hold the rest in.

A set of her darling kitchen towels (t'was my one request - can you blame me?!!! *wink*) 

 A darling 'Life is Beautiful' stitchery wall hanger which works perfectly with the pink walls we have in our bedroom (oh, yes, I still share a bedroom with my little one *smiles*)

A beautiful necklace that I've already worn out twice. I don't normally wear silver-toned jewellery but this is just gorgeous - and not heavy in the least!!

A fun little snowman to hang up next Christmas season

Such a charming face ...

And a Christmas mug with some yummy drinks and candy canes to warm my belly

Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful!!!  Me was muchly blessed!!! ... Oh, and she also blessed my daughter with a delightful book and a few little sweeties (both which elicited some delighted cries!!).

Though I seemed to have forgotten to take a photo of the items I sent to Shez, she shared a photo of them on FB and her blog, so I thought I'd borrow one with everything in it to share here ...

• A bag which combined an extended version of the 'Tis The Season' bag with one of Jenny Reynold's free stitchery patterns; 
• A gorgeously soft cream scarf using a new-to-me stitch 'broomstick lace' (pattern link can be found HERE); 
• A necklace made with blue river stones (I believe ... can't quite remember, it was so long ago I bought them); 
• Some gorgeous 'French lavendar' scented soap made by one of my favourite handmade soap makers up here in Darwin 'Sari soap' (she's online HERE);
• A set of two darling little doilies (pattern found in an old 1980s crochet magazine I was lovingly gifted by one of my old music teachers recently; and
• A couple of lovely thick (I have two layers between the fabric sandwich - one of heat resistant Insul-Bright  and one of a normal quilt batting) pot holders.  The first uses a paper pieced (my first) Circle of Geese quilt block (I can't remember where I downloaded my pattern from but you can find a pattern HERE on the Craftsy platform).  The second was a Snowman block, minus his arms, eyes and buttons, for which I followed Lori Holt's directions, shared on her IG account  (directions began from this post).
• The sweeties you must always have (in my opinion, lol) in a swap - this time, malteasers and a large candy cane).
• And I wrapped the gifties (apart from the bag) in fat quarters of Shez's favourite Christmas fabric range by Annela Hoey, Cherry Christmas ... so 5 FQs with ribbon & ric rac to secure.

I've participated in this swap the past two (I think) years and enjoyed putting together the presents immensely ... though I must admit that my studies (I've been doing a Cert III in Education support which I should complete in April ... potentially followed by a Cert IV) got in the way of getting this swap together early enough to send on the appointed day.  Thankfully I managed to get it in the post and it arrived the day before unwrapping so phew!! BOY did the Lord answer my heartfelt prayers that week!!!!!!! ... I do so hope I will be able to participate again this year - it is such a fun swap to be a part of!!