Day Nine of the Christmas Advent Swap

Mittens for kittens, how adorable.

My day had an early start with grocery shopping, but there was still time to open my present. I usually go shopping on a Saturday so we can go to the 9.00 am service at Church. I was just too tired yesterday, so I had to go this morning. I was at the supermarket by 7.45 am, not too bad. Had a busy day in the garden, so sorry Mrs HMM I've "borrowed" your pictures for today. I will do better tomorrow.....

My present to her was an embroidered decoration for her tree featuring a penguin and the initial of her first name.........

E is for.........

Well, I've had a soak in the bath to ease some of those aching muscles and I'm sure I'll sleep well tonight.   TTFN Mrs SFP XX

Day 8 of the Christmas Advent Swap

Phew, this blogging every day is good, but exhausting. I wonder how many excited swappers there are around the world that get to open a present a day for 25 days?

Today I received a lovely cross stitched Christmas picture in a fresh white frame. Isn't this pretty.

Pretty Christmas picture.

My present to Mrs HMM was a lavender heart filled with lavender from our garden and some cute Christmas tissues just in case she needs to blow her nose.

I'm off to write the fortnightly menu and grocery list after spending until 9.00 pm this evening weeding the garden. Daylight saving is good, but you need to know when to say no. I think I'll sleep well tonight.

TTFN  Mrs SFP XX

Day 7 of the Advent Swap

Things have been a little bit busy and as I work on a Friday I didn't quite have time to blog yesterday. I always feel like I've done a days work before I get to my paid job. By the time I sort myself, sort the kids and the animals, feed the chooks and water the greenhouse I'm off to work for a rest LOL.

Day 7's present were 2 cute little knitted hats in green and pink:

2 cute little knitted hats in pretty colours.

I had to borrow Mrs HMM's picture of my gift to her as I mislaid my picture:

The cup was filled with yummy gummy lollies- she's lucky I love her so much, or I would have eaten them all!

 

Day 6 of the Christmas Advent Swap

It's become part of the routine now....I get up, make breakfast, find the present of the day and make my way to my craft room. I fire up the computer to see if Mrs HMM is up and if she's blogged my gift yet. Or I ring her and see if she loves my gift as much as I love hers to me. I think today's gifts were win wins on both part.

Here is the cutest little decoration for me. Apparently it was going to be a card, but there was too much work in it not to celebrate it. 

What a wee cutie!!

Here's my gift to her- red and white bunting:

Bunting- too nice just to save for Christmas.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow after work as we're planning another craft catch up. We were given our lovely foodie gift bags from work and there's some Christmas mince pies just begging to be shared over a cuppa and some craft.

TTFN Mrs SFP XXX

Christmas Advent Swap Day Five

Oooh I was very spoil today- 3 gorgeous little hand knit stockings from Mrs HMM. Knitted on 4 ply wool- that's sisterly love for you.

Three cute little Christmas stockings.

Very sweet on the tree.

Here is what I gave Mrs HMM- a linen tea towel on which I'd added patchwork squares to the corners. The idea is for her to wrap up any WIPs in to keep them clean and together.

I'm making progress on my Christmas garland. I probably won't have it finished in time for this Christmas, but it's ticking along. It's so nice to be making time to craft for myself and to spend time in the garden. Balance is an underestimated concept.

Growing bag of Gingerbread goodies.

 Back tomorrow with day 6...TTFN  Mrs SFP XX

Christmas Advent Swap Day Four

It's definitely more fun getting out of bed in the morning knowing there will be a present to be opened. I'm still feeling like death warmed up with a nasty cold, but I managed to get a few hours of sleep last night.
It's funny Mrs HMM and I tend to frequent the same shops, but I hadn't seen these gorgeous wee ladies on my travels:

Cute little Russian doll tree decorations, aren't I lucky!!

Six cute little faces looking out from the tree at me- last year it was kittens LOL.

One of five of our kitten ornaments from last year- 2 are now living in Mrs HMMs tree......

Sweet felt decorations which were a WIP for a couple of years and now complete.

 

 

I'm off to read my book in the bath and try and feel better. Can't wait for tomorrow!!
TTFN Mrs SFP XX

It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas and day Three.

I've been awake most of the night and up since 4.45 am with a painfully sore throat and runny nose. Drat, just the wrong time of the year not to be feeling 100%!!

However, all was made a lot better with opening day 3 of the Advent Swap from Mrs HMM. Look at the gorgeous lavender bag she made me. I have a bit of a thing for the Eiffel Tower, not sure why, and she cross stitched this on the front and stuffed it full of very aromatic lavender. It's a wonder she didn't here the squeal of delight at her house.......well she might have if I actually had a voice this morning. I'm loving this Advent swap....a lot!!

Gorgeous hand embroidered lavender bag...ooh la la.

I managed to drag my feeling sorry for myself body around yesterday and got the Christmas decorations up. This year Mrs HMM and I purchased new trees on a 2 for 1 deal, but they are huge!! Luckily I have a lot of decorations to go on it. As part of the family Christmas tradition I buy the boys a special Hallmark collectible decoration each year. Although if they ever leave home, I don't know if I could let them take them with them. They're boys, so they might be with us for a few more years. 

Here's some pictures of Christmas at our house:

Tree before.......

Ta da....tree afterwards.

Close up of the tree.

Some favourite decorations on a shelf.

Advent calender- non chocolate.

Advent stockings- finally found a use for some of that Christmas fabric I keep buying from Spotlight on special LOL.