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Let's start with the "Endings" part of my post title. I don't think I remembered to share that I had once again joined Chookyblue for her Secret Santa Christmas Swap. This was the tenth year I'd played along with Chooky ...WOW! Doesn't time fly when you're having fun! This year I was pretty chuffed to find I would be sending to Raewyn in New Zealand. Raewyn & I met for a play date a couple of years ago when she was in the neighbourhood & we've chatted back & forth since. So ...my gifties to Raewyn were ...
... A Christmas ornament ... Or in this case, a set of mini patchwork stockings. I've made lots of these for myself & friends now ... They're fun to make & look great on the tree. Then for the main giftie ...
... A zippy lingerie pouch to keep her knickers safe when Raewyn travels ...
... And a matching monogrammed drawstring pouch for washing to be kept contained in Raewyn's bag, or somewhere to stash her sewing.
... And a Tag Along Teddies pattern & some Tilda fabrics for her to play with. Hope you enjoy your gifties, Raewyn! :0)
Now ... My partner remained a secret for much longer because ... Santa misplaced my parcel in his storeroom! Well ... Either that or he took quite a while to decide whether I belonged on the NAUGHTY or NICE list! Tee! Hee! Hee! However ... Santa finally believed me when I said I was a good girl (stop laughing, you lot!!) & my parcel arrived yesterday all the way from Norway ... No wonder it took a while to get here! :0) And my lovely secret swap partner was Laila ... & boy did she spoil me!
Isn't that paper cute!
First, the ornament ...
Isn't it pretty!
And signed by Laila to remind me who spoilt me in 2017. Then there was the main giftie ... & one advantage of my parcel arriving late was ... I didn't have to wait to open it! :0)
A beautifully made zippy pouch to hold special things ... I think I'll use it for special sewing projects. And inside Laila had included two little choclatey treats (which got popped straight into the fridge after being in our 32 degree summer heat), a takeaway drink cuff which will be handy for sewing coffee play dates & some pretty Tilda fabrics straight from the home of Tilda, Norway. :0) I especially love the teal background ... I treated myself to the same fabric on the cream background when I was on holiday ... Perfect! :0) Thank you so much for spoiling me Laila! And a huge thanks to Chookyblue for once again hosting this fun swap during a particularly busy & difficult time. It's lovely to have this swap to look forward to each year.
And speaking of looking forward to a yearly event ... To the "Beginning" mentioned in my title. A few of you lovely OPAM gals have been asking whether my GORGEOUS Partner-In-Crime Sweet Peg & I would be running OPAM again this year. Well ... It was a bit of a debate ... Our numbers have been dwindling as more people leave blogging behind to cross to what Chookyblue calls "The Dark Side" ... I.e. Facebook, Instagram etc & Sweet Peg & I have been aware of climbing postal costs ... But so many of you have told us how helpful you find OPAM to give you a bit of a nudge off the couch & into the sewing room. What to do!
We finally decided we'd run it again for 2018 ... But with a bit of a difference. This year we'll keep the monthly tally going & tell you all how many exciting finishes there are each month, but there won't be a prize draw. So ... OPAM will still be here to encourage us all to spend some time creatively, but there won't be prizes sent out ...though I AM working on a little idea that I'll share with you once I work it out.
So ... Sign up for OPAM 2018 will be towards the end of January, so make sure you stay tuned to our blogs for the sign up announcement.
Right ...now that Chookyblue is rolling her eyes at the length of my post, I'll sign off for today. I hope you're all having a wonderful, positive start to 2018 ... A positive attitude can make a huge difference, can't it?! :0) Til next time ...
BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS
12 comments:
What lovely gifts. It is such a fun swap to join in. I’m so pleased that you and Peg are running OPAM again. I don’t think it is about prizes, it is just the encouragement. Hopefully I will have lots of finishes this year.
Pleased your gifts finally arrived Kris.. you received lots of lovely goodies and you also make beautiful gifts for Raewyn.
Happy that your partner in crime Peg and you are running OPAM again this year. Like Janice said "it's not about a prize but the encouragement to have a finish each month"
Big thank you ladies. 😘😘
YIPPEE! OPAM continues. No prize needed to keep me motivated.
the two of you have been overly generous over the years. When I recently won, I was shocked at the package - I thought maybe it would be a skein of pretty floss. Oh my, I just this minute thought of a use for the fabric. Your gifts are wonderful, both coming and going. I know that Raewyn likes to travel about, so it's good to know she has a place to pack her knickers!!
What lovely gifts you sent Kris and lovley gfts you received - thank you, I did love my goodies so much, and yes the 'travel bags' have already been christened :-) So pleased to hear the you two lovelies are continuing on with OPAM... as the others say, the main thing is the motivation to keep the finishes coming each month (ahem, doesn't always work for me but it's great all the same!). Have a great day :-)
How nice are those prezzies....lucky you.......
bring on 2018 and I also had an idea!!!!!xxxxxxxxx
no eye rolling here just yet but wished I had made the next coffee before I started...........lol
Thanks so much for being part of the SSCS.......so pleased Santa finally decided to deliver the parcel he must of had too many drinks somewhere before your place......beautiful gifts both sent and received..........
Good to hear OPAM is going to keep running...
Hugz
Oh love the pressies in both directions! How special to get those Gilda fabrics from the actual home of Tilda!!! I think it's funny that you got the same pattern but different coloured background while away on hold too! Hooray for OPAM ......hmmmm, I actually forget about the prizes most months - toobusy making sure I email you both lol ...... and have a finish!!!!!
Big hugs xo
Lovely pressies all round.
Glad to hear Opam is a go for 2018. Thank you and thank you to Peggy, too.
Hi Kris.
I’m so Happy santa bring you the gifts at last. Maybe he took some days of enjoying the sun and warm weather..... Her there has been realy cold ,-20 C LOL
Glad you liked your gifts.
Enjoy your summertime,I have to get more wood to put in my woodstove... «baby it is cold to day» -20 C to day too....
Hugs from Laila
So glad you are continuing OPAM; I need that motivation even though I am often late in checking in.
Wow, what a way to catch up. I'm only weeks late. Your gifties are beautiful and I'm so glad that you're going to continue OPAM. I know I'm one of the slackers who is not so good at blog updating, but I also haven't been so good at swing this year.
I love seeing how OPAM inspires others.
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