Very Vintage Christmas Swap

I recently participated in the Very Vintage Christmas Swap at Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly . I had participated in Heidi's Vintage Halloween Swap, so I was excited to sign up for her Christmas Swap. (She now has sign-ups available for a Vintage Valentine Swap - so go sign up now!).

I was paired up with the lovely Ms. Peacock in San Diego. She doesn't have a blog, or rather, she has a blog, but doesn't remember the address of it. I have greatly encouraged her to blog, blog, blog so you can all be privy to her absolute generosity and kind spirit.

I received my package today and I swear to you, it was one of the absolute nicest most thoughtful gifts I have ever received from practically anyone. It amazes me that a stranger from across the country can send me a gift that makes me tear up with joy because it is so completely perfect, yet my Grandmother will give me one of those "As Seen on TV" donut makers. It really is astonishing that someone can take the time to get to know you and really, really try to please you.

When I opened the package I was greeted by this fabulous sight. An absolutely fabulous huge handmade stocking. It is divine. Tanya had a very good friend of hers make it for me. Love, love, love it. Yes, it is on my front door for the photo, but fear not - that was only for lighting purposes.



Inside the front pocket was a sweet silver spoon engraved with the monogram "S". "S" is such a popular initial that I rarely ever find it. And, since my initials are "SS" - I am pretty much out of luck if I can't find my first or last initial!

Inside the stocking was a plethora of goodies including this old slide ruler. I told you she knew me, right?

Other fantastic goodies included a huge can of old fashioned hard candy just like we always had in the candy jar at my house when I was a kid, some Nutcracker tea, a box of vintage glass ornaments, a vintage poinsettia apron, a vintage poinsettia tablecloth and a sparkly glittery banner kit that reads HAPPY HOLIDAYS. That sounds like plenty, right?

But, wait! There's more!

When we signed up for the swap, we had to answer a few questions. One of those was "What craft would you like to try?" I answered felting because I see these fantastic creations on blogs that were felted with roving and I just think they are fantastic! I don't even have any idea what on earth you need to start or how you go about it, but those little felted bluebirds just call out to me..."Make me! Make me!"

So, what did my lovely swap partner send me?

Everything you need to felt! Can you believe how sweet she was to send me all this fabulosity?????? Three nice pieces of handmade felt, roving, a felting tool and a wonderful book chock full of felting projects. I am just in awe.

So, thank you Tanya, thank you so much!

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I'll leave you with a quick little project I made the other night. It took me about five whole minutes, but I really like it. I had purchased a box of very old Christmas Cards a few years ago. Usually I clip them on an old window frame or on a Christmas Tree shaped card holder that I have in the living room. We have a bay window that stretches across the width of the living room and it has a weird wall that sticks out above it. I was looking for something to fill up that space. 'Cause you can't have any blank wall space, ya know.

I sorted the cards by size, color and style so they were laid out big, small, big, etc. I used my trusty hole punch and punched two holes in each card - one on either side at the top. Then I strung a ribbon in and out of the holes until I had a ten foot banner. Very simple, indeed, but I like the look of it and how it fills up that weirdo wall. (Those are the curtains that I only put out at Christmas. They used to be our everyday curtains, but we got new ones several years ago. But they don't match the Christmas decorations, so I whip out the trusty old gingham curtains. Why am I telling you this? They probably look normal to you, but they look outdated to me since they are the "old" curtains.) I digress. But, what else is new?