SQT Secret Santa Swap...

This year I played along in the Secret Santa Swap in the on-line Small Quilt Talk group.  I hadn't joined in on this particular swap before and when I was given the name of who I was sending to I had a moment, just a moment, of intimidation...a long-time member with a fantastic sense of nonsense, I mean humour - in her likes/dislikes she stated no puce or zebra stripes! Only Jane! I decided to do stitcheries in quilt-as-you-go hexies for hanging decorations so the rummage for designs began.  Now she has a band of bears that run to mischief when she isn't looking but the bear line drawings I found weren't "quite right". I have a couple of patterns with lovely bears I could have embroidered but they weren't at all Christmassy and I'd by now decided I wanted Christmassy...then a light bulb moment....rummage, rummage, rummage, found it! Michelle Ridgeway's Christmas pattern with drawings of Aussie birds/animals...I love Michelle's drawings...there wasn't a koala (not a bear) so I chose two of my favourites and a kangaroo because, well, going to America so I figured a kangaroo would be recognised...the wombat and blue wren were a bit maybe, maybe not, in the recognition stakes but I love wombats and blue wrens...

I added a couple of other bits - you'll notice everything was "flat" to make it easier for posting...

and gave the envelope to the care of the Post Office Elves and crossed my fingers and toes they'd deliver it in time for the Christmas Eve group opening event...they did...well done on that one Postie Elves getting it there on time.

Then...I waited for the Postie Elves to deliver into my post office box...and waited...and waited...and then we finished work for the year and it still hadn't arrived and I had to go back to the house where my furniture lives - 220kms due east so hardly a quick trip to check if there was mail...I had to wait until I swapped towns again and came back west after Boxing Day...I was very excited to find a red parcel locker key in my post office box!!!!  I took one look at the return address and knew I was a very lucky swapper indeed...it had come a loooonnngggg way...all the way from...Belgium!

And how sweet is this...Christa waited for me to be able to open before she opened what she received...and boy was I spoilt...

Ooohh...multiple surprises!...

Worth the wait is an understatement...a lovely wee tree runner, bear claw variation mug rug, cute pinwheel hanging cushion, christmas stickers, a lovely L'Occtaine travel sized set and Real Belgian Chocolates! handmade by Christa's chocolatier friends (and they are delicious!).  I sat in wonder at each item for a looonnnnggg time.  I love it all.

Happy Stitching...