A Secret Santa delivery from 'Across the Ditch'...

I found out this week that my Secret Santa in Chookyblue's SSCS this year is Michell from New Zealand. Yes a parcel arrived...always exciting!

Inside...

In this swap, participants send 2 parcels...a small one with a Christmas ornament and a larger parcel containing a handcrafted gift; the smaller parcel can be opened immediately but the other can't be opened until the traditional present opening day...for example, for some this is Christmas Eve, others it will be Christmas Day etc. 

This is what Michell had put in the smaller parcel...

Lots of lovely goodies! Another big thank you to Michell!!

Now also on Monday I found that Tonje in far off Norway had received the gifts that her Secret Santa ( me!!!) had sent her as she wrote a post on her blog. 

I had made the ornament after I made her main gift...it was a day or so before the posting deadline...so I was cutting it a  bit fine! Lol

It all started when early this year I pinned this ornament on Pinterest...the link went to a site that said the pattern was sold out...

I pinned it thinking I could make one just by going by the photo. But a few months ago the pattern became available...so I bought it. And then printed off the pattern pieces and cut them out of felt ready to assemble...

I enjoyed making the elf and it wasn't long before he was finished....and my elf looked like the photo!!! Lol

  And he went all the way to Norway, to his new home...my goodness, it's almost at the North Pole there and we know who lives there don't we??? Lol

Talking felt...

A little while ago, a friend told me about Jodie Carleton's blog Ric-Rac. When I visited this blog, I too, was entranced by the beautiful felt creations that Jodie makes. Jodie also wrote about one of the sources where she buys her felt from, so I followed the link and certainly liked what I saw on the site. 

You see, I had bought some felt locally just before that and really didn't like the quality at all!  My local knitting store had also had some bundles of felt cut in smallish squares but even though it was of excellent quality, the colours were a bit dull. So after a bit of deliberation, I decided to buy a few pieces from Winterwood . A week later, I unwrapped this parcel of beautiful quality felt. 

On the left is a bundle of hand dyed felt in the Christmas range. The white felt is commercially dyed. Both 'feel' beautiful 

Yesterday I got another parcel in the mail with 2 beautiful wrapped packages inside...

I'd opened one and then thought that it would be a good idea to take a photo showing the lovely snowflake design and the pretty ribbon decorated with some beading...

In the first package was this handsome fellow made of felt!

And in the second parcel was this very impressive felt dog!

I was Carol's  swap buddy in a Christmas ornament swap that we both signed up for... I feel very lucky to have been matched with Carol as I absolutely love these 2 felt decorations. I have a different swap buddy and will send the hexagon ornament, I made a while ago. Tomorrow is the deadline for posting for this swap, as well as another one I signed up for run through Elfster. The second one must remain a secret for a bit longer, but one clue is that it is surprisingly light and is going to its forever home in Canberra ! :-)