#Stitching Santa Reveals

Tags

crochet, Gifts, goodies, handmade, Handmake, kidsilk, Knitting, lace yarn, local crochet cottons, mohair, stitching santa, swaps

Before I start the new year, 2016, I just want to pop back to 2015 for a brief moment.

During the Holidays, the #Stitching Santa Swap took place.  I got to send a package to Sewchet, what a fabulous time I had putting her package together, and trying to include goodies that are local yet still to be loved in a far away country.  As all the packages had now made their way, I can show you a bit more.

These are the items I included into Sewchet’s package.

A cute pincushion, a magnet to show off our beautiful sunsets, local crochet cottons and hooks.

A little wooden angel, handcrafted from recycled materials, some of my favourite sweets, and I found these 2 stunning teacloths, from India, that I added a little crochet border to.

I could not resist the big red bag, I have some of them as well, in other colours too.  They are so versatile for market days and storage. And a few other goodies, sewing needles and local printed ribbon.

But I must tell you about the HUGE surprise I got a few days before Christmas.  My Stitching Santa package arrived just in time for Christmas.  I did open the package, but not the gifts inside, and put them under the tree until Christmas eve, which is the day we normally open gifts.

I, actually myself and my doggie, got gifts and goodies from the very kind and dear Mollie and Claire.  I was totally surprised and completely loved all of it.  I have been following Claire and Mollie for a while, and I absolutely love her blog, as I get to see her part of the world, and what she and Mollie and her family and friends get up to.  I have never been to Britain, and get to see parts of it this way.

We were totally spoiled.

A package for Miekie and lots for me.

I got an Owlie project bag, that is ready for use already.  Beautiful, gorgeously soft green lace yarn, and soft grey kidsilk mohair that Claire gifted me from her stash, so beautiful.  Also the cutest buttons, sock needles that is so pretty and colourful, which I don’t have.  Yummy chocolates, that survived the postal delivery and was enjoyed by all, and two cutest ever coasters, that is now on my desk at the office to keep it cheerful all year round.

Miekie loves her treats, and are spoiled with a treat or a snack each time she was a good girl.

Thank you Claire, and Mollie, for your most lovely Santa Package and making our holidays such a very special one.

 

ps:  Miekie (the little black dog) had 7 teeth out on New Years Eve, and are currently wishing for her treats, but as she has stitches, I am saving some for a bit later, as soon as she is healed up a bit. Here she is at the vet, hours after the surgery, that went very well.  Thank you to all the staff and surgeons at Park Vet Sunward Park that took such good care of her.

 

 

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Swap goodies #stitchingsanta Blog Christmas Gift Swap!

Tags

buddy, crochet, Gifts, Handmake, Happy Holidays, swap goodies, swaps

#crochet/knitting Santa Swap

Dear Swap Buddy,

I was just wondering if you would like to see what I have packed into your #crochet/knitting Santa Swap.

I will give you a little peep today, how about that?

Ho ho ho! Its on its way to you!!

 

#stitchingsanta Blog Christmas Gift Swap!

Tags

crochet, Holiday Swap, Holidays, Merry Christmas, Santa, Secret Santa, swaps

#crochet/knitting Santa Swap

This is actually supposed to be a Secret, and I hope the photos I share with you is not to big a reveal of what is being done here to prepare a Santa Package for a super swap buddy.

I joined Sewchet for a wonderful Holiday / Christmas swap!

I have been having such a good time looking for gifts and goodies for my buddy.  I have quite a few already, and have found some really amazing items (imported from India) that I am sharing with her.

As soon as the package has reached my secret buddy, I will reveal more, but for now the photos are just sneak peaks.

Swap Time!!

Tags

beaded gifts, buddy, cookies, Knitting, local gifts, socks, swap buddy, swap goodies, swaps, sweets, yarns

Its that time again, and I have a package to send to a Buddy, all the way across the big ocean.

This was an amazing swap, as my buddy is the most interesting knitter.  I did very dark socks for her, as she likes darker colours.  This was hard to knit at night, but I did finish and had time to knit other goodies for her as well.

And I had lots of fun shopping for her, for all kinds to knitting gifts and goodies.

So its finding its way to her, and I hope it arrives soon enough, and that we loves her socks.

Summer days………

Tags

African Expressions, Aran wool, buddy, Curry Cup, cushion cover, daughter, Ellispark, embroidery, Emirates Park, Enchanted, fireworks, Johannesburg sunset, Lions, madelinetosh, Rugby, silverspun, socks, Winners, yarncakes, yarns

Summer in Johannesburg is in full swing.  We hardly had much of a Spring to enjoy, days are already hot and long and sunny. Normally we would have had lots of rain by now, but this year the rain is late.

Hot summer days did mean less knitting and crafting.  I have been working on the odd project though.  I finished the embroidered front cover piece for a small cushion, and now I can start the construction of the pillow case itself.

I also finished the very dark purple socks for a swap buddy, and they are making their way across the ocean to their new home.

And I even caked some yarns for future projects.

So when I am not crafting, what am I doing?  Of course, the obvious would be yarn shopping.  I got a few very pretty local skeins, and these “Enchanted” skeins from African Expressions are really living up to their name.  Also got a 400g ball of Aran with Wool for a small blanket for the cooler Fall days.

And then, like many a South African, we love our Rugby.  I have been supporting the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup and watching games on television.  Plus I spoiled my daughter and got us tickets to the Curry Cup Final in Johannesburg, with our regional team, The Lions, playing with “home ground advantage” and winning the Cup.  This was her first live match, and attending a Final is always so much better. I loved the fireworks that went off each time a goal was scored.

ps:  I have been good, and even cast on the blanket last night.

All about Traveling Packages

Tags

Alberta, buddy, Canada, chocolates, coffee cozies, fridge magnets, koolaid, Massachusetts, mugrugs, Old Bay, post cards, puppy snips, sock yarn, stitch markers, swap goodies, swaps

Traveling Packages and Mail Delivery Services.

Both of these make me smile, albeit for totally different reasons.

Receiving packages is always great, and I love the surprises when receiving a package with international stamps on.  The gifts and goodies are gorgeous, and so cute.  Always something new and interesting and not what I have seen before.

The other reason why I smile, is the Mail Delivery Services, which at times can be pretty slow.  Outgoing mail always seem to wing their way pretty quickly.  But the incoming mail has a will and a way of their own.

One to these was a package that “strayed”.  It was mailed to me from Massachusetts in February 2015, and arrived at my home in October 2015.   Yes, 8 Months later!!   I don’t know where this package traveled to, and where it visited before it finally got to me, but the surprise of receiving it was awesome.  In the package was sweets and chocolates, that were still in a perfect condition.  The chocolates were even already eaten, and were so good. Can not wait to try the Old Bay Seasoning.  Have been wanting this for a while, we don’t have it in SA.

My other package, coming from Alberta in Canada, took a little less time, about 3 months, which I suppose is a lot faster!

And again, what stunning lovely gifts.  Adorable Hiya Hiya goodies.  Now I also sport my own little Puppy Snips.  Are they cute or what?  And coffee / tea cozies in a typical Canadian pattern.  Wow, they are going to get amazing comments when I use them in the winter.  Even a MugRug all the way from Mexico.  I love it, and think its very special.

This is the joy of swapping with buddies from far away countries.  Even when a packages takes a bit longer, you are always surprised with the best little treasures ever.

New on my Needles

Tags

autumn, buddy, cables, Knitting, on my needles, scarf, socks

It is time for the next socks on my needles.  I have started a pair of really dark deep purple socks for a swap.  These are a bit very dark, and I must admit I mostly knit them during daylight.

And to make up for when I cannot work on the socks, I have started a scarf in these stunning Autumn Colours, either to wear when its a bit cool and rainy here, or ready for wear next year in the colder winter months.

Looking forward to seeing how this yarn is going to knit up.  I am loving the colours it is producing already.

Springtime in Johannesburg

Tags

apple, buddy, daughter, flowers, gerberas, lavender, needle pebble, pincushion, pixel socks, pixel stitch, socks, Springtime, swaps

It is Springtime in Johannesburg!  We are having the most amazing weather, and on my way to work this morning, I was siting in the usual morning traffic, I notices that the temperature was already 17 degrees C at 07h30. A promise for a great day.

Some colour is blooming around my home, my lavender plants are having a beautiful time and are looking pretty already.  My colleagues at the office spoiled me with the prettiest potted Gerbera, which brightens up every day.

I (Finally) finished the second sock of the pair of Pixel Socks I was knitting for my daughter.  It is about time.  She might wear them next winter.  🙂  Although we could have a cold day here and there during the summer that they will be handy for.  This was a first for me, and I learned a lot about knitting with two different colour yarns.  I will be making some more of these socks, and I hope they go faster.

I decided to add a zipper to the small green bag I knitted for a swap buddy.  I think it works better and you can keep your goodies safely stored.

And of course, my LYS is also feeling the great Spring days, and spoiled us with a lot of new goodies in the store.  I was really impressed with these new sewing and darning needle holders, and after a few minutes of serious contemplation, bought a whole handful.  Not to mention the new pincushion that I simply had to have.  Way to cute!

A Little bit of Everything

Tags

buddy, cross stitch, cushion cover, daughter, embroidery, Knitting, notions, pixel socks, socks, swaps

I have been busy with a little bit of this, that, and everything inbetween.

The Pixel Socks for my daughter is coming along very nicely now, and I only have a few more inches to go before the cuff and cast off.

Then I had a very quick swap, with included a little something handmade and knitting notions.  This was loads of fun, as I visited my LYS on the day they were unpacking new goodies.  So my swap buddy got the latest in needles and needle cases, and a row counter.  I also got her some stitch markers, and other local goodies, like one of my favourite magazines, and of course, sweeties.  I made some goodies that presents the upcoming seasons, Teatowel with Fall colours, and potholders for the Winter Festive Season.

We had a chilly weekend, and it was the perfect excuse to relax again with some embroidery.

And as usual, what would a knitter be without more socks in the future.  I have a buddy to knit for, and she really loves dark or bright colours.  I found this really nice, very deep dark purple, for socks, of course.  And I knitted her a little bag in the meantime, I think it needs a little zipper to close it.

Swap package to Canada

Tags

African Expressions, beaded gifts, beaded sheep, crochet, handmade buttons, Knitting, sugar spoon, swap goodies, yarns

I could not share these with you before, as I was working on a swap package for a buddy in Canada, and since she knew I was her buddy, I needed to keep the goodies under wraps until the package winged its way across the big blue ocean all the way to Canada.

I kept the package kind of South African, in order to give her a taste of things here and what we do and love.

The washcloths and potholders are all 100% pure / raw cotton.  The washmitten is Raw Cotton, and I use it at home as well.  It is just lovely.

I could not resist some beaded items, and when I came across the little beaded sheep, I just knew it was meant for her.  We all know how much we love our sheepy friends, thanks to their lovely woolies they share with us.

The yarn is our local produced African Expressions, that I love to use just as much.  And I just had to share some of my favourite chocolates with her.