YOE=WOW

I received my box from my partner Missy B. I will tell I feel sorry for all you who didn't have her as partner I was so moved she sent a little box with quotes, that someone would take the time to do such a beautiful thing, I love devotionals. The little glitter house is to die for. I can hardly wait to make some myself as soon as I figure out how to do the snow. The magnets are to cute my grand daughter and I are fighting over them she loves magnets.
Yes the box that my treasures are sitting if for my partner I hope she likes it. I didn't use any glitter just lots of white yarn and thread. I can hardly wait to see how she likes it.

I can hardly wait to hear what the next theme will be.
Until Later
Holly

Dressed for Winter giveaway!

I decided that this little swap needed to have a swappy giveaway!!!

Given the theme of the swap, I thought this lovely snowflake would be perfect :

Leave a comment and I'll draw a winner next Saturday!

sneak peek

What do you get when you take some of this:




and add some of this?



You get a variety of ornaments....but I can't tell you WHAT they are, you'll just have to wait and see!

better late than never......

My camera wasnt working at the time of the swap, but I have to show off December's goodies from Kerry....She did a beautiful job....to the point where her ornaments look like something you would buy in a store....She also made me the most beautiful red neck warmer....I have worn it several times and I get all kinds of compliments. Have I said that red is one of my favorite colors? It rocks.....I dont have a picture of it on so just use your imagination and think stunning....ok, not me, the neckwarmer......









Just so you know, the cat wasnt part of my elf package.....he is mine, and a terrible pest when I take pictures....Thanks again Kerry! You are a talent girl.....

OOOHH... It's Cold Outside!!!

Here in Texas it has turned REALLY cold!!! To still have snow on the ground in places, when the snow fell 4 days ago is very unusual.
Cold weather calls for soup ....... so dinner last night included soup:-)
I have a recipe for Creamy Butternut Soup, that I found many years ago when I was just married ...... it still rates as my all time favorite soup ...... creamy, yummy and easy.
Here's the recipe - why don't you give it a try!!!

CREAMY BUTTERNUT SOUP
- 40ml butter
- 1 medium onion - chopped
- Pinch of cumin
- 300ml chicken stock
- 2lbs butternut - peeled and cut into cubes
- 15ml lemon juice
- 125ml cream

- Melt butter, add chopped onions and saute until soft
- Add cumin, and cook while stirring continually for 30 sec
- Add butternut and chicken stock to pot
- Bring to the boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 mins or until butternut is soft
- Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and cream
- Blend in a blender until soup is smooth
- Serve with crusty French Bread
- ENJOY!!!

Hope you're all having fun creating some snowy creations for our swap - I know I am!!!
Keep warm and keep crafting:-)

Dressed for winter......

I stumbled across this today while looking for inspiration. I adore vintage postcards with enchanted themes.......this one seemed appropriate to share......

a wee little gnome, coming home from a day's labor, eager to get into his little snow covered house and sit by the fire.......

I wonder if he has some German hot cocoa waiting or perhaps some gluehwine instead? hmmmmm

Partners assigned!

Greetings to all you swappers...

Just making sure everyone got their email today telling them who their partner is for the swap!

Get those creative juices flowing and make something amazing! Feel free to post winter related recipes, ornament ideas, etc. here....and to share sneak peeks!!!!

Please remember to ship your package out NO LATER than February 19th and to use delivery confirmation!

Thanks Val!!!

I just wanted to say thanks to Val who has been an awesome host throughout the year with this task of keeping us swapping and organizing and angeling at times.. I appreciate all the hard work you put in .. It's the awesome swappers here and your wonderful hostess skills that had me come back for another round.  

I also want to say thanks to all who I got the privilege to swap with.. I treasure all the things you sent, and truly appreciate them.  I did my best to post everything, but it's been hectic the last few months so I probably missed a couple posts.. Im not sure everyone posted what I sent so here is a little catch up.. 

This is what i got from my lovely partner in the Nov Swap:

This is what I sent for the Dec swap:

This is the lovely package I got for the Dec swap:

Thanks to everyone!! All the swappers were generous, thoughtful, and talented!! I am looking forward for another fun filled year of ornaments :-)

December package from Niki

Niki's elf package to me came in the mail today. She was my partner in December but hurt her arm and couldn't create anything. She sent me some fun traveling gnome fabric in place of an ornament.
I'm thinking it will be turned into a travel bag (appropriate?....) or a tote bag.


and since gnomes never travel alone, she included some other goodies too:
a couple teeny spools of ribbon, some scraping stuff, a FQ of pretty fabric, some post it notes and a wee flashlite....oh, and chocolates.....yum!



Thanks Niki!

Dressed For Winter Ornament Swap....

Snow is such an enchanting gift of nature! I love how Mother Nature cloaks the land with snow like Little Red's cape, but only in white instead of red.

I kept going round and round about how to 'dress' something for winter...the way Mother Nature does.

I played around on google....I found snowshoe rabbits, Arctic Fox, polar bears, snow leopards and snow owls...all perfectly enchanting creatures...dressed for winter.
I found enchanting cottages with thick snowy roof tops, snowflake fairies, snow fairies and snow pixies.
I found Jack Frost and snowmen/women/ babies. So many ideas!

Here is what we are swapping:

1 beautifully crafted hand made ornament:
The ornament needs to be "dressed for winter's glory." Only 1 ornament is required.

3 "tuck ins" to round out your package.
Use your partner's profile here and keep in mind that the swaps I host are supposed to be long on creativity...NOT CASH. Consider hand making your tuck ins, I know I will!

Try using soft colors of winter like whites, soft blues, pinks. Don't forget LOTS of glitter! If you crochet, using soft fluffy yarns or yarns with a shimmery thread in it should do the trick. Put on your thinking hats and try a new medium!

And please remember to lovingly create an ornament you would find hard to part with.

Your partner's list of 10 goodies is a great place to start with tuck ins. Other ideas are:
recipes for favorite winter treats or comfort foods
a package of hot cocoa or tea
maybe some bath salts to soak frosted toes...
stash stuff...bits of ribbon and trim, baubles and buttons


If you are not part of my Year of Enchantment II and want to join this ornament swap please leave a comment and email me the following at valpowery(at)yahoo(dot)com:

1. your name and address
2. your blog address (you must have a regularly updated blog)
3. 10 little things you adore

Sign up deadline is January 7th at midnight.

International players are welcome.
Shipping deadline to mail out to your partner is no later than February 19th which gives you plenty of time to create and mail out your package.

If you do not follow through on your commitment, you will not be allowed to play here again so PLEASE don't sign up unless you have the time and resources to commit to the creation and mailing of your package.

People always ask how much a swap should cost. Again, my swaps are all about creativity, not cash!
If you must have a dollar amount, I would suggest keeping your package to $5.00 before shipping cost.

Share a recipe, link to a favorite winter themed movie, show a sneak peek of what you are creating!