Sunday, December 28, 2008

Playing Secret Santa...

We held a Secret Santa swap this year on my stitching list. Here are the items I sent playing Santa to Roberta...

We were supposed to handmake an item and then send along any little things we wanted. I did not upwrap the one gift for the photo since it had been nicely wrapped at a little shop up north. Roberta has chickens and roosters in her kitchen so when I found a set of chicken teaspoons, I knew they had to be included. I also sent along holiday hankies and a Christmas tree hanger as Roberta is a stitcher and quilter. I knew she could find the perfect project to use this hanger for.

My handmade part of the gift was a crazy quilt stocking doorhanger. I used a different ribbon or trim on each seam that we all handsewn on which you can see if you enlarge the photo by clicking on it.

The velvet ribbon hanger is attached with a vintage looking button.

My own Secret Santa was Clare who spoiled me with a box of goodies from England. There was a fabric bird which is now nestled in my Christmas tree at Cranberry Cottage. I use birds on that tree. She also gave me a wooden toadstool which is on the bookshelves at the cottage. Further, there were two fat quarters which already have a use that I will share one day soon, Santa tealights, bookmark calendar, notecards and a chocolate tree.

The handmade gift is this lovely pillow. She used my favorite kind of linen ~ hand dyed and spotted linen. I love it so much and it is going to make a lovely way to welcome spring in my displays in the house when I put my Christmas things away. I am looking forward to using it and will treasure it always. Thank you so much Clare!

17 comments:

Nancy said...

Hi Heidi,
Your gifts you made and received were so pretty. That little hanger is really cute and the stocking is so you. Very nice.
The little bird Clare sent you would be really cute on the tree at the cottage. Everything you
received is just really nice.
Love you, Mom

Susan in SC said...

What a beautiful stocking you made. I love the pillow you rec'd as well. What a fun swap you had!

Linda said...

Heidi, what lovely gifts you gave and received. The stocking you stitched was so beautiful...I did enlarge it and loved seeing all the details. Your pillow is the sweetest...hugs, Linda

DonnaTN said...

Secret Santa can be so much fun. You gave and received some lovely things. I love the fun trims you put on the stocking.

Brigitte said...

The stocking you made for Roberta is so so beautiful! With all the little lovely details it's really very special. And so is the pillow you received from Hazel. So beautifully stitched and finished. What an exchange!

mainely stitching said...

Everything looks so nice, Heidi! :D

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

You girls sure treated each other sweetly. Gifts are extra special when they are handmade!!

xoxo
Becky

Sonja said...

You ladies from the stitching list are doing some great jobs! I love the stocking you made Heidi! Tomorrow I will be of for a holliday, so I won't be blogging for a while. Have a happy oudejaarsavond and off course a happy new year!

Beatrice said...

Such lovely gifts sent and received. You are a stitching machine I think. All of you things are so pretty.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Carolien said...

I totally agree with Beatrice. Never met such a nice sewing machine in my life though ... :)
The stocking is perfect!

Hugs, Carolien

Tracy said...

Treats all around, Heidi...lovely! Looking forward to sharing more creativity with you in the New Year...happy crafting! ((HUGS))

Rhonda said...

Heidi
I really like that crazy quilt stocking. I made new stockings this year and they looked nice but they were made of felt, and when you put things in a felt stocking, they don't slide down so it is hard to get all the goodies in them.
So I am planning on making another round of stockings and yours really interest me.

I have oodles of Christmas fabric and I really prefer making things like crazy quilts instead of precise piecing.
Did you line yours?
I think I will line mine so they are smooth inside and easier to fill.

Margaret said...

Such pretty exchanges Heidi. You can see that a lot of care went into these gifts.

Wishing you and DH a safe & fun New Year's Eve. Don't set off too many fireworks - it's foggy enough already outside.(LOL) We actually don't do fireworks at all. May 2009 be a very happy and healthy year for you both.

hugs, Margaret

faerieeva said...

So lovely! Did I miss something or did the blog picture change?

angelasweby said...

Heidi,
What a beautiful stocking you quilted for Roberta. I bet that will become a real favourite and be brought out year after year. The other little gifts are so thoughtful as are the lovely presents you received from Clare. Wasn't this just a lovely Christmas treat for us all.
Hugs, Angela

Joni said...

The CQ stocking is fabulous! Roberta is so very lucky to be on the receiving end of that swap!

The gifts you received from Clare are so very pretty and so very Heidi-ish. Good job, Clare, and lucky Heidi.

Solstitches said...

Beautiful gifts both given and received.
I absolutely love the crazy quilted stocking. It is gorgeous as is the little pillow Clare made for you.