Presents sent and a surprise received and I was an angel!

Two of my dear friends had birthdays in December so not only did they receive birthday gifts but also Christmas gifts at the same time! First up...........

Carol R. in the U.K. I stitched Carol a design by Pine Mountain Designs called "Friendship is the Sweetest Flower". I found some fabric in my stash that I really liked and changed the colors the chart called for to coordinate with the fabric and finished it into a pinkeep. I also sent Carol some of her favorite chocolate. She mentioned in one of our chats that she loves midnight milky ways so I sent those. Here's a pic of her birthday package:


For her Christmas gift I choose a CCN design from this year's JCS ornament issue and finished it as a pinkeep. I also sent a fat quarter and a scissor sack. (I meant to also take a picture of the back of the pinkeep as I put my initials and Carol's and the year 2008 with snowflakes, but I forgot.) Here is a pic of her Christmas package:


Kath in New Zealand loves Shepherd's Bush! So I just had to stitch her something SB for her birthday. I wasn't sure if Kath already had this pattern but even if she did I didn't think she had it as a floss tag and knew she'd be tickled (which she was). I stitched "Keep a Happy Heart" for her. I attached some crescent colors as well, another favorite of Kath's and some of my favorite soap from Bath and Body Works called Cherry Blossom. Here are some pics:



For Christmas, I stitched up "Noel" by Trail Creek Farms and finished it as a pinkeep. I sent along a fat quarter and some of my favorite candy..Andes peppermint thins..absolutely scrumptious! Here is a pic:


Both Carol and Kath loved their packages and I was so happy they arrived safe and sound and they are so pleased...I enjoyed stitching those treasures for them!

Then I was very happily surprised by the mailman on Christmas Eve. I got a lovely parcel from Irmeli in Finland, who I meant when I stitched for her in the HoE Christmas exchange. I was so surprised to receive a lovely sewn red heart and Finnish chocolate! The heart is on our Christmas tree and will then be kept out since Valentine's Day is right around the corner. The chocolate was absolutely delicious! Irmeli also sent a lovely postcard with a picture of her hometown and it is so beautiful...an absolutely gorgeous place..I was ready to hop a plane! LOL

Here are some pics: (The wording on the chocolate is kinda hard to read but it is in Finnish and means Merry Christmas in English.)






Thanks so much Irmeli. You are such a sweetheart!

I was an angel stitcher on the HoE blog for the Christmas ornament exchange. Gwen's partner has mailed her ornament to Gwen but it hasn't surfaced yet..it is somewhere in the mail system so I stepped in and stitched up a LK design from the Tiny Tidings XIII leaflet. I sent Gwen some overdyed threads, a fat quarter and some yummy Peppermint Joys that I found this winter that I just love! Here are some pics:



I am so glad you like your package Gwen..enjoy!

Christmas Round on F&S

Karen D. and I were exchange partners for the Christmas Round on the Fair & Square Blog. Karen stitched me Heartfelt Harvey by Imaginating, Inc. from Just Cross Stitch's 2008 ornament issue. I love snowmen so Karen stitched the perfect square for me! Thanks so much Karen!

Here's a pic:


I stitched Karen Jolly Holiday from Lizzie Kate's Tiny Tidings XIII. Here is a pic:

PIF (Paying It Forward)

I signed up on Carol's blog for her PIF (paying if forward) so now I need to stitch for 3 people.

If you are unfamiliar on how the PIF works..here are the rules:

1. If you want to sign up, just leave a comment here telling me you want to sign up.

2. I will send you something stitched/handmade within the year of 2009.

3. You will need to post a note similar to this on your blog and recruit three members to also send gifts to - thus, it is PIF (Pay It Forward).. if you sign up, you have to post on your blog and take sign ups.

Let the fun begin!

HoE Christmas Ornament Received

I received my Christmas ornament from Sharon C. on the HoE blog. Sharon stitched me a design taken from Sisters & Best Friends-Buddies. I love snowmen so I can leave this out past Christmas and enjoy it.

Sharon also sent some goodies. Below are some pics of my package.

Thanks so much Sharon. I love my ornament and the goodies too!

Ornament Exchange on the HoE blog arrives in Finland!

I got a lovely e-mail from Irmeli P. in Finland that my Christmas ornament exchange arrived to her safe and sound and she is overjoyed by the whole package which made my day!

The ornament I decided to stitch for her was from the 2008 JCS ornament issue by Country Cottage Needleworks. I chose this design because Irmeli loves snowmen, the color blue and she loves CCN! So this was simply the perfect design for her and she can leave it out way past Christmas and enjoy it.

I also sent her a reindeer scissor fob that I stitched up as she also likes reindeer. I also included some fabric cuts, a scissor sack, threads and material. Here are some pics of what I sent Irmeli.





Glad you loved your package Irmeli!

Hugs,
Wendy Jo

Christmas Exchange on the Crazy Exchange Received

Bianca in the Netherlands let me know she received the Christmas ornament I sent her for the exchange and she really likes it.

I stitched her a design from JBW's Christmas Keepsakes II and used Vikki Clayton silks that I received in an exchange and enjoyed using them. Here is a pic. (I had also sent her a scissor sack but forgot to include that in the pic. Should have had that second cup of coffee!)

Christmas Ornament Exchange on the Crazy Exchange Blog

I participated in a Christmas exchange and I received a lovely Christmas ornament yesterday from Teresa in Australia. I just love snowmen and Teresa couldn't have picked a better design to stitch for me. Teresa also sent a handmade card that is a decoration all on its own! I really love them both.

here are some pics:



Thanks so much Teresa.

Floss Tag Exchange on the HoE Blog

I have been busy working on some Christmas exchanges and gifts and have been slacking in the posting dept. on my blog.

I received a lovely floss tag from Marie P. and I absolutely love it. I already have my floss for my current project on it and am using my new scissors from Marie as well!! She sent me 2 fat quarters which I know I am going to find some good use for, plus needles, threads and buttons..she really sent some great treats!

Thanks so much Marie. I love my floss tag and goodies!!

Here are some pics:



I stitched for Shay T. and choose a design by Stitchy Kitty called Stitch and Bee Happy. The actual leaflet is called Lives to Stitch. I also included some goodies. Here are some pics:

A lovely gift from a dear friend and 2 exchanges

My dear friend, Carol R. sent me a little package "just because". I love the little pinkeep, stitched over one! Plus she made me a matching floss tag and sent me some of her thread drops, which have my name on them and on the reverse side are birds...very very beautiful. I tried to get a decent pic of the birds but not sure my camera is cooperating with me this morning!

Thanks so much Carol. I love my "just because" package. It made my day very bright!




I also received 2 exchanges from the Fair & Square blog. The first is from the Autumn Round. Heidi and I exchanged and here are pics. I stitched her Autumn Spots by The Trilogy.



The other exchange was the Thanksgiving Round and Darla and I exchanged. I stitched her Thanksgiving Spots by The Trilogy and she stitched me "I Am So Thankful" By Trail Creek Farms.



Thanks Heidi and Darla...I love my squares and can't wait to make them into pinkeeps.

Hooked on Exchange-Halloween Exchange

I participated in the halloween exchange on the HoE blog and I had Valerie in CA to stitch for. I decided to stitch Valerie a design by Homespun Elegance that was featured in the Just Cross Stitch October, 2006 issue in which they dedicated the entire issue to halloween.

I also included some patterns on Valerie's wishlist and some other goodies as well.

Here are some pics of what I all sent Valerie.



I received my halloween exchange yesterday from Sonda in Oregon and Sonda sent me a lovely Quaker pinkeep. The design is from Sampler Girl called "Quaker Boo". Sonda stitched it using Carrie's Creation's Halloween and DMC and stitched it on "bone" lugana! Sonda also stiched an adorable scissor fob as well! Then Sonda included some Peep's, Halloween socks, a cute Halloween message holder, package of tissues, and 2 pieces of fabric.

Thanks so much Sonda...I really love the entire package!

Here are some pics of my package:

Exchanges from The Netherlands and Malaysia

In the Crazy Exchange group we had an autumn exchange and Jacqueline from The Netherlands and I exchanged. I stitched her Heart in Hand's Pumpkins and finished it into a pinkeep. I also sent her a scissor sack. Here is a pic:

Jacqueline made me a lovely wall hanging and sent some lovely ribbon as well. Here are some pics:



In the Hooked on Exchanging group we had a Prairie Schooler exchange and I sent to Carolyn in Texas. I choose a design from Autumn Leaves and made it into a fob. I also sent Carolyn a pattern off her wishlist and some other goodies as well. Here are some pics:


Lillie from Malaysia had me and sent me a beautiful needlebook and some lovely goodies as well. Here are some pics:

Squares to share from Fair & Square Blog

I have a couple of pics to share from 2 rounds I recently participated in.

The first is from round #9. Janice M. stitched me a portion of a Loose Feathers chart by Blackbird Designs that Janice believes is called Strawberry Garden. She stitched it in my favorite color of red. I really love it and plan to make it into a pinkeep. Here is a pic:

I stitched Janice a design by The Trilogy called Four Seasons. Here is a pic:

I also participated in the Halloween round and had Karen R. in Australia as a partner. Karen stitched me a portion of When Witches go Riding” by Prairie Schooler, which I will make into a pinkeep. Then she stitched me a gorgeous fob by Blackbird Designs in the book of “Trix or Treats”. Here is a pic:

For Karen's squares I stitched Halloween Spots by The Trilogy. Here is a pic: