#Stitchingsanta2017

Tags

Gifts, goodies, Handmade Bears, stitching santa, swap, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps 2017

My Stitchingsanta2017 goodies are all wrapped up and have left, winging its way across the big pond to its new home.

I hope I am sending early enough, as I don’t want it to be late.  🙂

Here are some of the goodies I packed, since I am pretty sure she would not know it is for her, and its still a secret to where my package is heading.

The bamboo item is similar to a needle holder, but from bamboo, as she is a very talented artist and I made it from bamboo for her to store some of her precious and special brushes in it.  I hope she likes it.

Stitchingsanta2017

Stitchingsanta2017

For the rest of the goodies I will let my buddy receive and reveal all.

Happy holidays to all.  🙂

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Heritage

Tags

lovelocal, proudlysa, proudlysaswap, proudlyswap2017, swap, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps2017

In 2 weeks’ time, we here in SA will be celebrating our Heritage.  We have Heritage Day, and it is one of the most enjoyable days and times in the year.

We all get to celebrate our own and unique Heritage.

This year I have joined the #proudlysaswap2017.  I had the most amazing fun putting a package together for my swap buddy.  We especially focused on all things local and proudly SA.  What we love about SA and our heritage.

My package is all put together and ready to go.  I will only be able to show more of the contents in a few weeks, as we will only open the packages and parcels on Heritage Day.

But here is a sneak peak!!

12 Days of Christmas Swap

Tags

festive season, Happy Holidays, Holiday Swap, swap, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps2016

The ladies in South Africa were planning a local swap, for the 12 days of Christmas.  I asked to join in and was so happy to still be in time for the swap and the buddy draw.

What fun! 12 little gifts, one to open each day before Christmas.  It is the best fun to be able to get gifts for your buddy,  as you don’t have to keep to just one or two.  You can knit and create and make a whole 12 off.

Some of the items I bought, and shopped around for, and some I got to make specially for her.  She had hinted for a teacozy for her teapot, and while I was at it, I  also made teamug warmers and coffee warmers.  The stitchmarkers was just as much fun to make, I could play around so nicely.

Swap Package 2

Swap Package 2

Swap Package 2

Swap Package 2

Swap Package 2

Swap Package 2

Swap Package 2

Swap Package 2

Blues Swap Package 2Blanket Progress

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

In return I received this stunning box of packages all the way from Melkbosstrand in SA, thanks to the very talented Pinkhairgirl.  Yes, she really has the brightest and colourful pink hair.  She excelled at stalking and surprised me each day with something that meant the world to me.  Even Miekie got in on the action, and was spoiled with doggie treats and a bandana.  Just look how cute she looked during the holidays.

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

12 Days of Christmas

I loved the soap and shell I received, it is very special, and off course, a stunning mug and tea. This mug features all my loves in one.  My favourite colour, my favourite season, and snow, and sheep.  You just can not ask for more.  It has been used a LOT this holidays.

Finland Swap

Tags

chocolates, fingerless mittens, finland, mittens, Moomin, needle case, socks, stitch markers, stitchmarkers, swap, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps2016, treats, yarn

Earlier in the year, I got the opportunity to swap with a buddy all the way in stunning Finland.  And what a super swap it was.

My package quickly made its way to Birgit in Finland.  I made socks for her, and they were the perfect fit.

Then the wait began.  By now you all know that my post here can be slow at times, and once again it seems to have been the case.  The darling Birgit was really worried, but I assured her all the time not to worry, it will arrive eventually.

And it did.  Unfortunately by the time the package arrived, Birgit had already sent a second package and they both arrived at the same time.

I was so very happy to receive these stunning gifts and goodies.  Gorgeous socks, my favourite yellow mittens, and a stunning pair of fingerless mittens, with beads and lace detail.  So pretty, I am looking forward to winter to show them all off.

Love from Finland

Love from Finland

Love from Finland

I got yarn, that I have already caked, stitch markers, a Moomin tin, chocolates, stationery and a notebook, the cutest needle holder, so much to mention.

Love from Finland

Love from Finland

Love from Finland

Love from Finland

Love from Finland

Love from Finland

Love from Finland

Yes, I have already caked the yarn and will be looking for a pretty idea soon to knit myself a pretty something with real handdyed yarn from Finland.

12 Days of Christmas

Tags

12 days of christmas, Gifts, goodies, Happy Holidays, Holiday Swap, Holidays, swap, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps2016

Santa came early.  My package for the 12 Days of Christmas swap has arrived, and I am super excited.

It is so much fun digging in the packaging snow, finding the packages.  Some really feel very interesting. I can not wait for the 13th when I get to open the first one.

My package is all the way from Melkbosstrand (Western Cape, South Africa) put together by the very interesting and very talented Sally Jane.  We all know her as the girl with the pink hair, and you can see what she and her family get up to here.  She has a wonderful podcast that is just amazing to watch.  Pop on over and enjoy.

Thank you so much Sally Jane, I am going to try very hard to be very good and open them on the 12 Days of Christmas, and only one per day.

🙂

 

 

#Stitching Santa 2016

Tags

#stitchingsanta, Holiday Swap, Santa, Secret Santa, stitching santa, stitching santa 2016, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps2016

It is nearly December!!   And Stitching Santa time again!

 

The good news is that I am again taking part in the #Stitchingsanta swap for 2016.  This lovely swap is organized by the very talented Sheila of Sewchet.  This is the third year of the swap, however only my second.  I had so much fun last year putting together a package for a friend (it just happened to be Sheila herself) and then receiving a package from MollieandClaire, a blogger I was already following and loving her blog.  Just today a colleague again commented on the pretty crocheted coasters on my desk.  (they were part of my gifts from Claire last year, and I have them on my desk to cheer me up each day.)

So I received my swap buddy a short while ago, and I immediately started stalking her.  What an amazing and interesting person she is.  I spent hours and days going over her blog to see what she is getting up to.  So much fun.  Then I had a pretty long list of ideas, and unfortunately had to cross some of the ideas off, as not everything I had in mind would be allowed via mail or customs.  🙂

I have already done my shopping.  I am including some of the favourite treats to share with her as well.  I did a little bit of sewing for her, I did not want to attempt a knitted project, as I want to get my package out well in time in order to get it winging its way across the big blue seas to her and arrive in time for Christmas.

Secret Santa Swap 2016

Secret Santa Swap 2016

Safe travels little South African Package!

Swap update

Tags

African Expressions, bag, beads, buttons, handmade buttons, project bags, ribbons, socks, south africa, stitch markers, stitchmarkers, swap buddy, swap goodies, swap package, swaps, swaps2016, yarn

The package I sent to Finland, made it safely.

I am happy that the socks I knitted for her, fits just right.  Now I can reveal the goodies.

I knitted these socks for her, in one of her favourite colours. And I included a SA handmade batik project bag for small projects.  African Expressions yarn, it is lovely and soft and knits up so well. Sweets and treats that are some of my favourites, and a handful of knitting goodies and notions, including stitch markers that I made myself.

Finland Swap Package

Finland Swap Package

 

Finland Swap Package

Finland Swap Package

Finland Swap Package

 

I have been knitting on goodies for another swap, and so my sweater and blanket has been slow going.  I will show the swap gifts a bit later, it is for a local SA swap, and I should be sending out very soon.

Also working on the #stitchingsanta swap package, and until that package has arrived safely at its new home, it will have to remain a secret until Christmas.  🙂

Soon I will be back to my sweater and blanket.

Summer Lovin’

Tags

blanket, cardigan, crochet, Gifts, granny squares, granny squares blanket, Knitting, local gifts, new project, on my needles, progress, socks, swap buddy, swap package, sweater, yarns

It definitely feels a lot like Summer here.  The gorgeous Spring days were a few and short lived.  It is already very warm and sunny most of the time.  I can hardly believe that it is October already.  This year has gone by so very quickly.

My package to my swap buddy in beautiful Finland is ready for mailing.  I was so happy to get to swap with someone from such a far away and beautiful country.  I had a lot of fun knitting for her, and getting all kinds of local gifts and goodies ready.  I will reveal the content to as soon as the package has reach its new home.

Finland Swap Package

Granny squares and blankets have been featured so much lately, I could no longer resist the temptation to also work on one.  I got myself the first lot of yarns, and since I love all shades of Blue, I decided on something with Blue and Gray with a bit of White.  Now I need to decide on the granny square pattern I want to use, and then I am on my way to my very own blanket.  Thank you to all the ladies for the great inspiration!

The Blues Blanket

And I decided to knit myself something for Summer as well.  This will be a light little sweater to wear on the odd cool day.  The yarn is a silk and cotton blend.  I mus admit it does not have much “give” in the knitting, but the bigger needles does create a nice drape.  Will keep it pretty plain and simple therefore.

Summer Tweed Sweater

 

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.