Markets and swaps...

These 2 things have been to the fore in my life lately and what a lot of fun they have been...

The week before last I was able to post off my Advent Swap items to Cheryl and today I got my box of goodies for Advent from Cheryl; 25 parcels! Now I just have to be patient until Saturday, December 1. From that day I'm able to open one little parcel a day and then for the 25th, there is a special parcel to open! It's like being a child again and it was just as much fun finding/making/buying items for Cheryl :-)

I was actually at the Post Office when I remembered I hadn't taken a photo of the little pile of parcels for Cheryl...so I used my phone to take the photo below...

 The next photo shows my lot of Advent goodies...

Last Friday I posted a parcel to Shez for the OASS (Once a season Swap) for Summer. I again had lots of fun putting together items that represent summer. I had bought some 'tropical fruit' scented handmade soap, which I popped in, some charm squares with a summer theme, some fabric labels in citrus colours and I made an apron and used scraps of fabric from that to make a hexie motif to put on a teatowel. Oh and I also popped in some Guilian chocolate shells...very beachlike! lol

I have some other swaps that must be posted by this Friday ..no photos of them yet as they have to remain secret just that bit longer :-) Now about those markets...

There are so many Christmas Markets around at the moment but one can't get to them all I find! But a friend did email me a flyer for the Markets at Karuna Hospice here in Brisbane. This wonderful place only receives about 50% of its funds from the Government and the much of the rest is made up by the efforts of the group of ladies who make the most exquisite gifts for the markets which are held on 2 days each November. DH and I went last Friday afternoon. The items for sale were absolutely beautiful and, as well, there was one room filled with Christmas cakes and other baking, as well as jams, preserves etc and all beautifully packaged and presented. It was very crowded inside, so I didn't attempt to take photos inside but took photos outside...

The gardens are beautiful at Karuna...

This is where we lined up to pay for our purchases... mine have to be a secret for a bit longer...

DH had a little rest while I shopped...

On the way out of Karuna, we stopped to talk to a friend of mine who was on 'meet and greet duty' at the gate. I noticed that the lady who had been selling raffle tickets inside, was now standing near my friend. I asked DH if he had bought a ticket...he hadn't, so I urged him to buy one :-) Yesterday I got a phone call from Karuna saying that our ticket had won first prize! We picked it up today and they are so beautiful!

Pearls! And they are a blue/purple colour...in other words, my colour!!! lol

(And DH came second in the golf comp on Sunday and won a Christmas ham!!)

On Saturday, I had put my name down to help at the Christmas Markets at our church. First I worked on the parish craft stall, then after a few hours there I went to the table/counter to be the cashier for food and drink sales. Time flew and it was also lots of fun!

This is part of the parish craft stall

People also pay to have a stall

The courtyard area...through the doors is the hall which was filled with stalls..

Some stalls beside the halll

Another view of the courtyard; right at the back is the parish BBQ stall which did a roaring trade...

Some of the stalls in the hall...

Another view of the stalls in the hall :-)

Lynn and Beryl (who was hiding) on the left are 2 stallholders who also go to the Stafford Heights' Markets

So that's just some of the things that I've 'got up to' lately :-)