More Wonderful Mail

When I got home from work today this little fellow was waiting for me ~ he was inside a box, patiently waiting for me to unpack him. I'm not sure where he came from (the return address was marked anonymous) but I'm pretty sure someone in blog land knows. He is the cutest Santa I've ever seen! I love his "ball of yarn" belly!

Thank you so much to the very nice person who sent him to me! Hmmmm...who could it be?

I participated in three swaps over the past couple weeks and look at all the scrumptious goodies I received!!

This swap was hosted by Linda at A Swap For All Seasons. Partners traded altered cabinet cards and other special gifts. The card I received was AMAZING! I love it so much! My swap partner was Susie at South City Hues. She spoiled me with so many wonderful things. The cabinet card & a tag that she made, embellishments & images, candy & cocoa, pretty earrings and a stamp that said "warm winter wishes" ~ that's what she stamped on the cabinet card too!

Here's the spot I've chosen for displaying the card.
Doesn't it look beautiful here!?

Susie also sent me this sweet little bird magnet made from a domino.
It's one of my favorite swap goodies!


The next swap was hosted by Char at The Pickled Pepper Patch. This time my swap partner was Mercy at The Stone House. Look at all these wonderful things! We had some rules to follow for this swap. We needed to send a wooden item (the sign & the bowl), textiles (3 towels), three ornies (stocking, star, snowman), light (beeswax candles), smell good stuff (melts) and one wild card item (rag doll). This one was great fun too ~ both the giving and the getting!

Here's a better look at the painted bowl ~ perfect in my dining room.

Swap #3 was hosted by Mary at The Gettysburg Homestead. Mary matched me up with Donna at Blu Rabbit Design. This swap had some rules too ~ I love guidance!! We had to get soemthing from the thrift store and re-do it. Give it new life. We had to send a recipe and we also did a wild card type item for this swap. My favorite part involved fabric. Early in the swap the partners exchanged one yard of fabric, we made soemthing out of it and then returned to the finsihed item to our partner. I can't wait for you to see what I got!

Here's the extra item I received....a pantry cake wrapped in cheesecloth.
Doesn't it look great tucked in my new wood bowl ~ works nicely with the star and candles too!
I love the "blessings" stamped fabric strip.

Here's another extra goodie ~ meet Mr. Snowman.
He's brought along his own jingle bell tree.

I love my new - old shelf. The paint color is a great match for my home. I'm not sure where it's going to hang yet ~ but I do know that my favorite little teapot will be displayed on it!

And now here's the fabric. I've had this candy cane print for a long time ~ never quite settled on what to make with it. Donna made these stockings for my grandbabies! The stitching trim on each one is different. Stockings are a perfect idea for this fabric!

What a special addition to my Christmas preparations this blog has been. It's so much fun to make things for new friends and who doesn't love getting "stuff" in the mail! Thanks so much to Linda, Char & Mary for playing hostess ~ it's so kind of you to organize all the fun! And thank you so much to Susie & Mercy & Donna. You blessed my heart ~ everything I received was so special and so right...like you really knew me! Thank you ~ really!
And oh yes, to my secret Santa....I love my new jolly old elf!

I know this was long ~ thanks for visiting!

And the stockings were hung.......with care!