The Santa Sack Swap 2014...

Yes I'm still catching up with blog posting and this post I will show the gifts that I received in the Santa Sack Swap. My partner was Christine from MacDonald's Patch blogspot, and I was lucky enough to meet Christine during Let's Get Stitched, last year in Melbourne.
In this swap we had to make a sack, stocking or bag and then fill this with 5 gifts...the rule being that the majority of the gifts should be handmade. Christine certainly spoiled me!

The first thing I saw when I opened the post bag was the bag...the fabrics used were beautiful and I especially loved the Christmas elves and fairies on the panel insert...gorgeous! 

The next parcel revealed...

A sweet little tote bag with a beautifully embroidered panel on the front, in which were threads,and coordinating fat quarters. The little tin with a reindeer on the lid opened to reveal a little stitchery kit, complete with fabric, needle and thread. So cute!

The next parcel revealed...

A lovely apron and tea towel set...and the fabric that I had loved in the Santa sack bag was also used to make this set. I was rapt!

The next parcel revealed...

A beautiful Wall Hanging and hanger. Christine designed this herself and it is so poignant...I love it!

The next parcel was unwrapped...

And inside was a table runner made with some more beautiful fabrics. Christine also included a beautiful red textured candle on a sweet little glass stand...just perfect!

And one more parcel to unwrap...

Christine made these 2 beautiful decorations for me...the stitching is exquisite and the beading and the star button add that bling factor to them...absolutely beautiful!
I was certain spoiled by Christine! Thank you again Christine for all these beautiful gifts; I will treasure them all!
Thank you also to Cheryll for organising this swap each year.
(My family now ask me if they notice something handmade that they haven't seen before, ' That's nice/lovely/beautiful. Did you make that or did you get it in a swap?' The answer is usually the latter! lol)

Despatches...

Alison, my partner in the Santa Sack swap, today  received the parcel that I sent her...

So here are the parcels that I sent Alison; I can't show you what is in them just yet because Alison is resisting temptation and waiting until Christmas day to open them. I don't want to spoil her surprise! lol

But I can show you the sack that I made for those parcels...

I had wanted to try out something I had seen done with 2 hexagon shapes and I decided that that time was when I was making this sack for the swap...

I used the templates from a 'framed hexagons' kit and cut out the 2 different sized hexagons. Then it's just a matter of placing the smaller one on the larger, but with the corners of the smaller one, lying halfway along the sides of the larger one. Then just fold the corners of the larger one over the smaller one and stitch in place...and a star shape emerges. Then I just stitched these motifs to the sack.

I also sent another parcel away...now I wonder where these items will end up? lol
One hand-made and one bought decoration (because I couldn't resist it!)

A pincushion and some novelty fabrics, featuring fruit and vegetables...

The back of the pack looks like plastic bags of real beans and bananas! Just like what the supermarkets sometimes have.

So these, and, with some other 'stuff' as well, are now on their way...somewhere.

Parcels dispatched and parcels delivered...

The Christmas swaps in Blogland Season are in full swing...

Satu, in Finland, has opened the small parcel (the decoration/ornament) on the first day of Advent...yes the self-proclaimed Grand Duchess of Hexagonia has been 'at it again'! lol (I do love working with them!) 

I haven't always remembered to take a photo of the goodies wrapped up, before I sent them, but I did remember before I put these parcels in the Santa Sack, I made for that swap...and these are on their way to Alison in Victoria...

Then on Wednesday, the postie brought me some postbags and a postpac box and inside the bag were these...

These parcels came all the way from Nicky in New Zealand; Chookyblue's Swap!!! And that means there is a little parcel that I could open straight away...it's the one with the gift tag...

And here is the lovely ornament that Nicky made for me. The photo didn't show the true colours; Nicky had 'stalked' my blog for a while and had discovered that I love purple and the bauble is actually purple and very beautiful! I love it! And the rest of those items in the photo are now under the Christmas tree...

Well you're probably thinking that I have received quite enough goodies for one person...but no. Remember I mentioned that the postie brought a postpac box? Here it is, and it's full of parcels too!

These gifts are from Alison who was my partner in Cheryll's Santa Sack Swap...
I will start opening these when Alison receives my parcel...(see above)

Yesterday I received yet another parcel; the Kris Kringle Swap organised by Jodie the Haby Goddess...Suzanne from Sydney made this beautiful decoration for me...

 Close up of Santa...

 As well as a lovely stitchery on the front, Suzanne sewed a design on the back as well.

 Suzanne didn't include an email or blog address with her parcel so it looks like I will have to send my thank you by snail mail :-) .