It's never too late for Christmas presents!

This week we came back home from our long winter vacation.  And I was very happy to find the package from my "Secret Santa" Julianne! My mom received it while we were travelling  and she did not want to open it and tell what was incise. And I was very excited to open it!

Julianne, thank you very much for such a beautiful pinkeep. I love these little kittens in mugs. I was going to stitch all of them for my kitchen. So, it's a good start for me! And I love all the presents that you sent to me!

(my little son already stole stickers with cats :)

Nia, thanks for the coordination and your help! It's my first cross-stitch exchange, but it's not last!

Christmas Exchange 2013: Debbie’s gift from Ysa in the Dominican Republic.

Thank you so much, Ysa, for 2 beautiful parcels that were full of lovely goodies. Although it took a long time to reach me, it was worth the wait!

As you can see from this photo, my parcels contained two cute pieces of Christmas fabric, some sparkly mounting ‘paper’, a Christmas stocking set (which needs to be made up), beautiful Christmas cord and a lot of shiny, sparkly goodies like sequins, beads, pompoms and buttons.

My favourite items, of course, are the set of 4 beautiful coasters, which my daughters helped me to unwrap. They are so useful and are beautifully stitched. I haven’t seen anything like them before.

Once again a huge ‘Thank you’ to Ysa! I am sure you were worried that your parcels had gotten lost along the way. I’m so glad they weren't.

With love,

My Christmas Exchange for Natalya

 

2013 Christmas exchange update!

Hello ladies!
I'm catching up on our Christmas exchange, please, let me know if there's any information missing on the list below:

Parcels received: 15/18
. Valma - Received :)
. Olli - Received :)
. Angel - Received :)
. Anne Fraser - Received :)
. Heather - Received :)
. Gislene - Received :)
. Judith - Received :)
. Noni - Received :)
. Rita - Received :)
. Lentochka - Received :)
. Maria Ysabel - Received :)
. Jules - Received :)
. Natalya - Received :)
. Amber - Received :)
. Camille returned to sender =(
. Debra Vermeulen - Received :)
. Julianne - Received :)
. Cucki note: Cucki was away during Christmas, she went home in January and there was no exchange on the mailbox yet. But, she had to travel again so maybe there's news.. we will wait until she returns ;)

Camille and Debbie, still nothing on your mailbox??? =(
Two months after Christmas.. it's too long...
By now we can reveal that Ysa sent to Debbie and Lentochka sent to Camille. Ladies, please, confirm your sent packages, do you have any tracking number? Can you get any info with your post office?

Note: Lentochka's parcel was returned to sender. I wrote to Camille, now we will have to wait for her feedback and try to find out what happened =/
Note 2: Debbie has received Ysa's parcel :)

My lovely gifts!!!

I have great joy!!!)) Natasha from Russia gave me extraordinarily beautiful embroidered decoration with funny story! Lovely and neat work!

But how many different wonderful gifts was sending! Here and retro otkrytochku as childhood with good wishes, and a set of embroidery, fabrics and pieces of Christmas, and beautiful buttons with interesting chips!

Many thanks to Natasha for this beauty, for the wonderful gifts and a fabulous holiday!!!

Nia, thank you so much for organizing the exchange of magic!!!

Form Netherlands to Brazil

Its Christmas time here in Brazil! And I'm soooo happy, because I love christmas!!!

Ok, I know its january, but... who cares? This january turned december now! Lol

Angèle sent me soooo cute things... I loved them all!

Thank you, Angèle!!! Thank you, Nia!!!

Kisses, kisses!

Gislene

2013 Christmas exchange update

Problem nº1:
Well, I try to keep track on our exchange but not everyone helps.. I asked everyone to let me know when a package is sent or received, some of you forget to do it :p I can check it here, it's true. But it's much quicker and easier to read your email, update my list and it's done! When people don't write, I need to check post by post, if it's up to date or not...
It would really help a lot if everyone would follow the rules..

Problem nº2:
I noticed not everyone wrote back to their partner... REALLY???
Come on ladies, if you receive a gift, you should write to your friend and say thanks. Being nice, being polite, it's on the rules too but you shouldn't need someone to tell you such thing!! Come on... think a little and write back to your secret Santa!!

Yes, I'm here to manage the group and pull your ears when it's needed too :p

Parcels posted: 18/18
All parcels posted!

Parcels received: 11/18
. Valma - Received :)
. Olli - Received :)
. Angel - Received :)
. Anne Fraser - Received :)
. Heather - Received :)
. Gislene - Received :) Updated 17.01.2014
. Judith - Received :)
. Noni - Received :)
. Rita
. Lentochka
. Cucki
. Maria Ysabel - Received :)
. Jules - Received :)
. Natalya
. Amber - Received :)
. Camille
. Debra Vermeulen
. Julianne - Received :)

Anyone missing on the list??
Who else has received their secret Santa's gift?

Secret Santa from Canada to Dominican Republic

I received my secret Santa's package from Amber from Canada...  Just look such the beautiful things that she sent me.: Mini-stocking ornaments for my christmas tree, stocking ornment to stitch, christmas stickers, ribbon, christmas threads and a beautiful christmas card with gentle words that I will keep in my heart:

But the most beautiful was this ornament: A lovely MS  christmas cat  stitched by her... So cute, so beautiful, thanks so much Amber... I really liked everything.

Secret Santa from Germany to France

Hello ladies

Sometimes things that we definitely can't explain happen...and this exchange is one of those things !
We really don't understand why it took sooooooo long for a parcel to leave Germany and reach France !
I thought my parcel was coming from the other side of the world...not from some hundreds kilometres...
Judith...you should have come & bring me yourself your gifts, you'd have arrived earlier =D
And you would have had a very huge hug from me to correctly thank you =D

Look girls at how I've been spoiled !

Isn't that basket amazing ? =)
I love it !
It will remain on my table with the winter decorations until the spring one appear =)
Incredible stitching and sewing
Thank you so very much again sweet Judith. You've brightened my day.

I wish you all a very happy new year
May 2014 bring lot's of joy & love to you all...and lot's of MS stitches =D

Hugs from France and a very special one to Judith
Valérie

Secret Santa from Ireland to Australia

Merry Christmas!!

I have now received my Exchange Gift in our Christmas Exchange.  This lovely package arrived in my mailbox on Christmas Eve (perfect timing) and was from Heather in Ireland.

I was truly spoilt by Heather as she also included in the package some lovely Dragon Floss hand dyed threads from Polstitches, gorgeous Santa ribbon, gold ribbon, bell pull hangers and a pack of pink spotted aida as well as a.... Margaret Sherry kitty cross stitch kit - "Purr-turbed". 

This is my first Margaret Sherry kit... I know it seems strange given how much I love her designs, but all the designs I have in my stash are from the UK cross stitch magazines.  Thank you Heather, I absolutely love the exchange gift you sent me and Santa will be on our Christmas tree every year from now on!

Thank you Nia for hosting another fantastic exchange and for hosting this wonderful blog and friendship group.

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and I wish you all the best for the New Year!

Hugs
Stitching Noni

From Noni to Olli ♥Christmas Excange♥

My waiting time is over, a surprise parcel has arrived! My Secret Santa is Noni. She spoiled me with nice things (see pictures), it all says Merry Chrismas! The Christmas card hangs on a cord with the other cards, the banner on the wall, the wooden board between the fir branches on the front door and the green bird in my improvised Christmas tree.

Noni, thank you!

Christmas exchange update!

Hi ladies!
Well, now things are going slow but going! We have to be patient and wait.. wait.. wait for the mail to arrive, is like waiting for Santa to come :) hehehe

Parcels posted: 17/18
. Valma - Posted!
. Olli - Posted!
. Angel - Posted!
. Anne Fraser - Posted!
. Heather - Posted!
. Gislene - Posted!
. Judith - Posted! (no photo)
. Noni - Posted!
. Rita - Posted!
. Lentochka - Posted!
. Cucki - Posted!
. Maria Ysabel - Posted!
. Jules - Posted!
. Natalya - Posted!
. Amber - Posted!
. Camille - Posted!
. Debra Vermeulen - Posted!
. Julianne - behind but working on it


Parcels received: 7/18
. Valma
. Olli
. Angel - Received :)
. Anne Fraser - Received :)
. Heather - Received :)
. Gislene
. Judith - Received :)
. Noni
. Rita
. Lentochka
. Cucki
. Maria Ysabel
. Jules - Received :)
. Natalya
. Amber - Received :)
. Camille
. Debra Vermeulen
. Julianne - Received :)

Lovely Christmas Exchange from Cucki

Thank you very much Cucki for the wonderful exchange items.  I love it all!!!!!  I had a giggle because when it came I opened it and put the ornament in my tree and put the scissors near my stitching and got it all organized then realized I should have taken a pic! LOL  So i gathered it all together again and took a picture of all your goodies!   Thanks again to  you and also to Nia for organizing this wonderful exchange!  :)  Merry Christmas everyone!! 

Secret Santa From Debbie V. for Julianne

I received a lovely package today from Debbie V.  in South Africa.

Thank you so much Debbie.  You put together a really lovely package for me.  The extras of the stickers and ornaments are so appreciated!

Here are a few pictures for all to admire:

Secret Santa and Amber's gift

Amber mentioned in her post that she was unable to get a good pic of the ribbon on the side of the ornie I made for her. Here is the picture I took before sending it along...

Secret Santa Gift from Jules!

I was snowed in on Monday, so I was delighted when I went down to the mailbox and found that my gift from our Christmas Exchange had arrived! A big thank you to Jules who sent me a beautiful ornament and a wonderful assortment of crafting goodies.

I have to confess, I'm snacking on the yummy chocolates as I post this...

Along with the adorable Margaret Sherry kitty, Jules included two packages of Lindt chocolates (so delicious!), fabric for a cross stitched table runner, embroidery floss, Christmas yarn, and 3 beautiful swatches of blue fabric.

I'm so eager to start crocheting with the yarn or stitching a pattern onto the table runner (I'm considering Margaret Sherry's Bauble Mice, if I can make them fit!) My camera isn't doing it justice, but all these wonderful goodies came in the beautiful box that Jules teased us with in her Secret Santa on its Way post. The box is beautiful and sparkly, not to mention sturdy, so I'll be saving it to keep Christmas decorations in over the years to come.

And now a closer look at the lovely ornament Jules stitched. Isn't it cute? There is also beautiful sparkly ribbon around the edges. I couldn't coax the camera into taking a good picture of that though.

Once again, a huge thank you to Jules for brightening my day with such a wonderful gift! Thank you! And thanks to Nia for keeping our exchanges running very smoothly all year round!

Warm wishes for a happy holiday season to all my Margaret Sherry loving friends!

Sincerely,

Christmas exchange update!

Hello ladies! Again, sorry for the delay, I wanted to update the group on Monday but just had the chance to do it today.. sorry ladies, I bet you are all anxious to know more about your parcels :) I hope the mail service won't let us down and everything will be delivered on time!!

Christmas exchange
. Valma - Posted!
. Olli - Posted!
. Angel - Posted!
. Anne Fraser - Posted!
. Heather - Posted! (no photo)
. Gislene - Posted!
. Judith - Posted! (no photo)
. Noni - Posted!
. Rita - Posted!
. Lentochka - Posted!
. Cucki - Posted!
. Maria Ysabel - Posted!
. Jules - Posted!
. Natalya - Posted!
. Amber - Posted!
. Camille - Posted!
. Debra Vermeulen - Posted!
. Julianne - behind but working on it
Parcels posted: 17/18
!!! All parcels have been posted except from Julianne, who had a problem with her stitched piece and had to start all over again. This was last week so I hope soon she will have more news to us :)

. Valma
. Olli
. Angel - Received :)
. Anne Fraser
. Heather
. Gislene
. Judith - Received :)
. Noni
. Rita
. Lentochka
. Cucki
. Maria Ysabel
. Jules - Received :)
. Natalya
. Amber - Received :)
. Camille
. Debra Vermeulen
. Julianne
Parcels received: 4/18


I hope you are all having fun!!! :D

Ooh la la! I got my Secret Santa gift!!

Merci Valma pour le cadeau! C'est magnifique!! Comment savez-vous que j'avais besoin de serviettes? LOL

*****

Valma was my Secret Santa for the Christmas Exchange! Here are some pics of what she sent all the way from France:

I am going to take my new calendar and the ornie to work tomorrow.

And for those of you who may be wondering about the question at the beginning of the post, I asked Valma how she knew I needed napkins, lol.

Thanks again so much Valma!

From Olli!

Hi everybody,

I think i am the  first lucky girl that got her secret santa parcel!
Because we are both from the Netherlands this package arrived quickly.
Olli made me this pretty stocking with a cute pattern i wanted to stitch sometime.
So sweet!
My kids are also very happy (including me, a chocolate addict}with the cute chocolates!
The fabric, little bells, threads and little card they are lovely!
Olli, thank you so much again for this pretty package!
Love it all very much.

Hopefully all packages will arrive before christmas this year!

hugs, Angele

Secret Santa is on its way....

I sure hope the person who receives this gift enjoys!

I sure had fun putting it all together!