Advent Swap Over For Another Year

This year over at Our Craft Forum I again participated in the Advent Swap.  I had the lovely Narelle send to me and over the 24 days leading to Xmas I received lots of lovely items.  Then on the 25th we opened our main present and I received this lovely table runner.

I then sent to Kim and on the 25th got to open this with some goodies inside.

A big thanks to Lyn for again hosting this.

SSCS Over For Another Year

For the second year I have participated in the SSCS.  This year I had the lovely Sonia send to me from {me} and my thoughts.  Just by the wrapping I knew I was in for something special and I was very right.

I absolutely love them all. 

Thank you very much.

I then sent to Sharon over at Lillabane Lane Creations and I sent her this Redwork stitchery,

and this decoration

I am already looking forward to joining again in 2014.

The Scientists Great Stocking Swap Complete

Well I hope you all have had a great Christmas, eaten lots and had fun with family, though some of you in other parts of the world are still celebrating, we are onto Boxing Day here in New Zealand.  Quiet here as Miss 17 is over in Australia for a holiday with my family over there, so just myself, hubby and Master 16.  I also started night duty so a bit quiet here for the next few days.

Over the next few days I have scheduled a couple of my Christmas swaps to be blogged about and here is the first of them

The Scientists Great Stocking Swap

Such an easy swap this was and I was lucky enough to have Sharon from Motherdragon's Musings from across the ditch in the land of Oz.

For this swap we had to swap a Christmas decoration, nibbles, something useful, smellies, something to play with and a tangerine or something that represents it and of cause a stocking

So off to Sharon I sent these gifts

 I forgot to add these into the photo

And I made this stocking for everything to go in

Then from Sharon I received this lovely stocking fill with gifts

 I don't know how, but she guessed one of my favorite past times.... completing word searches

A great swap completed and thank you Sharon for the gifts.

Merry Christmas From New Zealand

My Santa Sack Swap Gifts

Well we were allowed to open our gifts last week from our Santa Sack Swap partners.  I had the lovely Raewyn from Lovetostitch here in New Zealand as my partner and what lovely goodies I have received.

The lovely stocking it all came in

Nicely wrapped up, ready to tear into

And the lovely gift I have received.  The wall hanging was quickly put up in my lounge so everyone can see it when the come.

Thank you Raewyn. I love them all.

Also, thank you to Cheryll at Gone Stitchin for hosting this

Sheep Virtues 'Peace'

The third pattern called Peace in the Sheep Virtues series, designed by Little House Needleworks,

As with my others I still have the buttons to stitch on.

SSS Parcel Has Arrived ......YAY!!

My parcel has arrived. I know who it is from too, but will leave that as a surprise for everyone else.

I got some lovely gifts that will be used well and the dove decorations is already on my tree.

I would like to thank Suzanne from Coloradolady for again hosting this swap.

1 Xmas Item A Month ....... Better Late Than Never

Yes it is a few days late, but better late than not but here is my 1 Xmas Item a Month finish and I can say wow two months in a row I have posted about something.

This is the Santa Sack I made for my partner Raewyn which she has got now for the Santa Sack Swap.  I posted yesterday the stocking I got from her.

I also have sent this lovely table runner and coasters away for the Sew Swapit Secret Santa Swap I have also been in.

And this is what I received from my partner Minnie in the weekend

I Am Taking The Plunge.....

Yes I am taking the plunge and joining in on the 2014 NewFO Challenge Barbara is holding over at Cat Patches.  There are many things I want to start and this may be just the thing to get me going. 

So what is the NewFO Challenge all about?  Well go here and you will get all the details.

Now my list.  What do I want to start?  In no particular order at the moment:

A Christmas Tree Skirt

Celtic Christmas Cross Stitch

Guardian Angels Redwork Decorations

Santa Portrait Trio Redwork Cushion

Making Spirit Bright Wall Hanging

The Farmers Wife Quilt

A Table Runner called Candy Squares

A Charm Pack Table Topper

Tis The Season Quilt

Along with these bigger projects I also want to make:

12 Topped Handtowels

An Oven Mitt 

Cross Stitch Decorations

A Christmas Bunting

A lot of Christmas items you may see, but they have been on my hit list for a while now.

Now all there is left to do is to pick what to start first.

Santa Sack Swap Has Arrived

Last week I was lucky enough to receive my Santa Sack (or Stocking in this case) from Raewyn here in NZ.

Not long till opening day now.

Also here is one of the houses we saw on the way back from speedway in Palmerston North on Saturday night when we were down there for the wedding.  It was located in a some village called Ashurst.

The picture does not do it justice.