Saturday, December 17, 2016

A Surprise Gift...For Me!

In my last post I shared what I made for my Secret Santa partner.  This time I'll share what my partner made for me!  Squeal!!

With our swap we fill out a form on what we like from favorite designers, colors, pouches, pillows, minis, even if we want something for year round or holiday themed.  I am sure I am no help at all when I fill out the form for past and present partners.  It isn't often I get presents of the quilt kind, and I get very excited when it's time to exchange those gifts!  I love anything...everything...all things!  This last one, I did say 'year round'...but boy oh boy! I'm so glad Leigh Ann ignored that part!



Holy Happy Holidays!!  When I opened the box and saw it was a tree skirt I did squeal a little bit!  I was so excited, happy and thrilled.  I have been wanting to make a new tree skirt for several years, but you know how it is to put something off.  Leigh Ann nailed it and made the exact perfect gift.  And how about those fun Cotton + Steel fabrics?!  


Me and Leigh Ann...you can see I'm thrilled!  I think she was relieved about that!  It was just the right gift!

And who wouldn't want chocolate?



I was also super excited when I saw the Wefty Weaving Needles!!  Something else I've wanted.  If you are on Instagram, you know there are some pretty amazing fabric weaving going on!  I cannot wait to jump in and give this new technique a run for its money!

There is also the Dirty Santa fun to talk about.  Dirty Santa is always a big hit at our Holiday party.  Each person brings a yard of fabric in any combination.  The first person picks a wrapped package, and the next person can steal any previous bundle or choose to pick another package.  Let me tell you, I get attached to fabric quickly and when my bundles were taken...it was heartbreaking!  Seriously, it didn't matter which fabric I ended up with, they were all amazing.    

But lucky me and not really a big surprise, I landed this stack of Moda Solids.  I'm sure I can get about 17 quilts from this...LOL!!



Lastly, I wanted to share my Christmas Village with you!  It makes it out of the box every three or four years.  I think mostly I'm too lazy to put it up every single year!  

I discovered yesterday that this village was made in 1990!  I'll do the math for you...that was 26 years ago!  Some of you probably aren't even that old (and now I dated myself big time)! I'm not sure how I was able to make these houses with a newborn and a four-year-old underfoot!



You have your Church with stained glass windows and a bell, a Store front which I'm going to say is a fabric store, and a School House.



You have to have a Carriage House! The Tudor House has Santa wedged in the chimney. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure he is magic and will make it down the chimney when the time is right!  And perhaps the most iconic of a Christmas Village is the Victorian House.  

My little trip down memory lane!  It isn't hard to become sentimental and nostalgic this time of the year.  These tiny houses are a reminder of so many memories!

22 comments :

  1. Darling tree skirt! We have a guild swap tomorrow and I'm anxious to see what I get!

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    1. I was really happy she didn’t pay attention to my wish list! I do love the tree skirt! I’m sure whatever you receive it will be amazing…half the fun is the anticipation of the party and gift exchanging!

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  2. I made the same houses!! I painted mine different colours than yours and I am glad to have a year established, + or -, in my mind as I can't remember when I did them. I have just started setting the village up again after a 10 year rest. Amazing! I have never seen them anywhere else.

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    1. You are kidding me?! I didn’t know anyone else had them! I’m really happy I set mine up this year, it doesn’t make many appearances and it is always special when they do. You make me curious as to what color you painted your houses!! Happily your little village is going to be out of the box this year.

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  3. P.S. We must have shopped in the same stores because I have that little nativity scene as well! Crazy!
    Merry Christmas from Christine from Ontario

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  4. So that was the noise I heard way up here-you squealing over the tree skirt, LOL
    You made those houses, wow!! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. That was my squeal! Making a new tree skirt has been on my list, but something that is easily put off for another time! Now I don’t have to think about it anymore! The houses were kits, but painting and assembly was all me!

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  5. Pretty tree skirt.Enjoy your goodies,anyone is so cute!

    Merry Christmas!

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  6. So fantastic to see your exchange gifts, that fabric bundle and the village. Whenever I get the Christmas decorations out I smile remembering the family and friends who gifted them to me or helped me make them.

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    1. Isn’t it fun to pull out the decorations and have such amazing memories of them?! I think that is part of the lure of continuing to decorate for the holidays every year…for me!

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  7. you're so funny! I felt like I won all that loot! And by the way, I'm plenty old to remember 26 years ago lol. I still think that sounds like just yesterday and am shocked it was 26 years ago. Good gosh.
    Fun to see you holding the skirt too, altho I think you might have at least tied it around your tiny waist and twirled for us! LeeAnna

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  8. How fun! The tree skirt is beautiful, and your village is so sweet and sentimental! The little shop is, of course, a fabric store! With a fabulous end of year sale on all the teensy tiny little bolts of fabric, too :)

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    1. It is a fun tree skirt and happily replaced my funky one! LOL! Yes, my fabric shop has a killer year end sale going on right now!

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  9. What a cute tree skirt--with such great fabric. I'd say you hit the jackpot with all your goodies :) And your sweet little village is adorable--definitely deserves a showing every so often. Merry Christmas to all of you!

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  10. what a lovely tree skirt. your houses are wonderful. have a great weekend

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  11. I love that tree skirt, the fabrics are so bright and colorful!

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  12. I love your Christmas village - so glorious it seems a shame it doesn't make an appearance every year! The tree skirt is amazing - lucky you!

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  13. Amazing tree skirt! You got a great gift. I've heard about the weaving needles, but don't really know what they do. Looking forward to seeing what you create.

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  14. Lucky you, Jayne! That would look quite nice under MY tree, too. Good thing it wasn't included in your Dirty Santa Swap!

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  15. The tree skirt is lovely and what a wonderful item to have made for you! :)

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  16. Lovely tree skirt, how wonderful Leigh Ann chose the perfect gift. Lucky again with your bundle, beautiful colours. Your Christmas village is beautiful, I would take it out every year and you made it? I am so impressed.

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  17. Hi Jayne! Your Christmas village is amazing! Made by yourself and setting it up for Christmas is surely fantastic tradition! You got also beautiful Christmas presents! Merry Christmas! x Teje

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