Decoration swap

In all the excitement of Christmas I forgot to show you what I sent to crafty Helen for our handmade Christmas decoration swap!! There was also a candle - but I didn't make that!

Don't forget to get involved in Blogvent hop over to cloebelle or cakes from Kim for some fun Christmas posts.

Christmas swap

Here is a few pictures of the wonderful gifts that arrive for me from Crafty Helen

All beautifully wrapped, I have put the hearts and my christmas list sign up already!! I have lit the candle as well and it smells lovely! Thank you so much I love all of my gifts

Hallloween swap

Look what arrived for me - all orange and black what could it be!!

The chocolate may already have been eaten!! A lot of time must of gone into the cardA lavender scented cat - he has to be one of my favourites!

Some pumpkin lights and witches brew and candy corn scented candles - I love it all and feel very lucky. Thank you so much Lucy - pop over and see her blog if you have a mo!

Stocking swap

Here is what I sent to the wonderful Tracey go check out her blog

I sent one of these flower brooches and the magnets below - inspired by Tracey's blog design

and then of course the stocking!

I also made a stocking for my sister clobelle as she just missed out of joining in the swap!

Halloween swap

Here is the parcel I sent to Lucy, I have heard from her to say it has arrived safely!!

Swap goodies!!

A wonderful parcel arrived for me, from my stocking swap, Melissa @ Miss sew and so thank you so much I love it all!! I really really want it to be Christmas now so I can hang my stocking up!

Parcels!

Firstly I apologise for the pictures- it is dark and I am using my phone to take the pictures!! I took part in the "no frills magazine swap" This lovely Canadian magazine arrived for me from pondside

My second parcel was from my sister - clobelle she had been just to late to join in the stocking swap so I suggested that we do a swap with each other and that was the last we spoke about it. This week a parcel arrived, no letter and no clue where it had come from until I spotted a little tag inside!! It is a beautiful quilted stocking - is it to earlier to hang it?

Some very big thank yous from me to you both

Maybe another little swap!!

Pop over to crafty Helen's blog to find this autumn/halloween swap!

Another swap

This is thanks to Jille really! Seen both of these on her blog and have decided I have to join them!! This is a no frills magazine swap thanks to troc broc and recup.

More swaps!!

I have joined the Christmas stocking swap over on Selina's blog and I'm very excited!!

Look what arrived for me .....(it may be seaside related!!)

I was very excited last night when I got home I had a little red slip popped through the letter box - a parcel waiting for me!! I was so excited I woke up early this morning and arrived at the post office just before 8am to collect my parcel!! Look at all the parcels - beautifully wrapped a swap from Jill , thank you :)

Some very yummy treats!

The most beautiful notebook, with a lovely cross stitch on the front (I promise I will take better pictures in the daytime with some decent light!) The first thing I do when I get to a beach is run to the sea to have a little paddle!! Also some bunting - we have both sent bunting, great minds hey!!

A fish ice cube tray and a lovely felt fish - I am going to find him the perfect little home!! I think that the ice cube tray will also be perfect for making little chocolate fishes!!

Look at it all!! I love love love love it all - opening it all up it felt like my birthday. This is my first swap and what a fantastic experience it has been. I have loved thinking of ideas of what to get and make and then getting the crafting going and then to receive a lovely parcel as well, I am one very happy girl!! I think I could become addicted to them very easily!!

After all the excitement in the morning I went into town and managed to pick up some wicker baskets and some lovely bedspreads, ready to be recycled into bunting and blankets I think! Then I came home and did a little baking!

This is my 3rd attempt at meringues this week - the other 2 didn't work. Completely forgot to take a picture of the when they were done, but they were successful!

Then a new recipe for a victoria sandwich had to be tested!! It worked perfectly with fresh cream and jam in the middle - now you may all know I am trying to be good and so my diet couldn't quite stretch to all that lovely cake so I took it to my parents - slight mishap in the car with the top sponge not wanting to sit on the bottom one any more!! All was ok though and I manage to piece it back together!!

Finally I used some of the mixture to make some cupcakes - have recently bought the cupcake boxes and really wanted to road test them!!

swap times!!!

The picture doesn't do them justice but these are my pitta bread pizzas - very yummy and very good on diet!! I also made pitta bread with courgettes, aubergine, celery, pepper in tomato sauce with a sprinkle of cheese on top - they were very yummy!! I am actually really enjoying making healthier meals at the moment!!

Any ways to the exciting bit - below is my swap items ready to be posted!!!

Bunting!

Sunny sunny day, perfect time to join crafty smiles I like to be beside the seaside swap. This is going to be my first swap and I cant wait - I already have ideas of what I want to do, and will be getting started shortly!

So today I went to Bristol with my parents. Purchased some more things ready for the camping trip! Really really cant wait! Then I came home to my little flat, put the bed away (I have a fold up bed - very little flat!) and got my table and sewing machine out and made some bunting. I apologise now for the amount of photos - I got a bit excited!!

First all the cutting - this took the longest!!

All stitched up and the points poked out!

All hung and ready to go!

These little labels were a gift from my sister for my birthday- first time I have used them!

And then finally in situ! They are there ready for you to see when you come in the door!! I love them and I am thinking I may take them on the camping trip to decorate the tent!