Merry Christmas, My Super Smashing Lovely Poota Pals

One reads horror stories about the interweb and all the nasty people who frequent it, but I have to say, the vast majority of people I've 'met' on it have been just fabulous. Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware there are some not-so-nice people out there, and I've even encountered a few on forums (fora?) but for the most part, people have been great. I count myself very lucky to have made so many fantastic poota pals.

It has to be said that bloggers are particularly lovely. Especially the crafty and creative ones. Although having said that, the act of writing a blog is in itself very creative, is it not? Ergo, all Bloggers are, by definition, creative. Therefore they are all super, smashing and lovely. Well, the ones I 'know' are.

Just to prove my point, although there is no proof needed, read on...

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First up, I need to say a huge THANK YOU! to Sal of Sal's Snippets. She posted pictures on her blog, snapped from a vintage book of Christmassy crafts, and one in particular caught my eye. I admired them, and before I knew it, Sal had emailed and asked if I'd like her to photocopy the relevant pages for me. But not only did she photocopy the pages of the Santas I liked, she photocopied lots of other pages of delicious festive makes. And then she stuck in some extra loveliness too - a half metre of a fabric named 'Bolero' from The Alexander Henry fabric collection. The colours are so vibrant - I have plans for it already. She also put in a handmade card, and the most lovely peg you've ever seen. And then there were the papers - beautiful designs and colours. Thank you so much Sal - x - I was really touched. It was both kind and very generous of you. Of course I made a collage of the parcel contents:

Pretty, isn't it? If you don't know Sal's blog, go check it out. She is a one woman tourist board for the county of Devon, and posts the most wonderful pictures of local places and sights. She is also extremely creative.

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Now I need to say another huge THANK YOU! to the lovely (and talented) Gina. She ran a giveaway at her blog for a signed edition of a new childrens book entitled 'The Wishing Eel'. (Gina was asked to make an eel to promote the book. Not a 'real' eel obviously - you'd need a mummy eel and a daddy eel for that). As you know, we are a 'booky' family, so I entered ... and won! We will gloss over the fact that Trashy, in a fit of pique at my winning, called me a 'dirty rotten cheater pants'. I can only think the outburst was some sort of flashback to the sense of injustice shared by her 'penal colony ancestry', bless her. :-p

Anyway, Gina sent the book (beautifully wrapped in hand made/decorated paper) and other lovely bits: a handmade Christmas card, some postcards of some of the (gorgeous) illustrations in the book, a peg doll fairy and some chocolate. Yum!:

Thank you so much Gina - x - the children and I have read it a few times already, and it is a very welcome addition to our home library. The postcards of some of the book illustrations are so fantastic I may frame them.

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Would you believe that on the very same day Gina pronounced me the winner of her giveaway, Julia at Primrose Corner revealed I had won her giveaway too! I was on a roll that day! Julia sent the fantastic Melly & Me pattern for 'Hilda' which No.1 desperately wants, along with a lovely Christmas card, and a little parcel for the Wrinklets which contained yummy chocolate coins:

So, here's another huge THANK YOU! Julia - x - I will be sure to blog my version of Hilda once I've made her.

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And as if that weren't enough, a couple of days later, I found I'd won Andrea's giveaway at Indigo Blue :-O I felt a bit bad about all this winning - thank goodness I had a giveaway myself to redress the balance somewhat. Anyway, Andrea's parcel looked like this:

She sent the first issue of Sew Hip magazine which features (amongst other lovely things) a pattern to make a tote bag from a pillowcase. So Andrea included a fabulous cerise pillowcase - No.1 is going to love a tote made from that! Also in the parcel was a badge, a gorgeous felt fairy, some buttons and beads, a whole load of ribbons, an iron-on rose, a cute charm, a pincushion, and some fabric. Wow! The pincushion is now officially my 'upstairs' pincushion - the sewing machine is upstairs, but my pincushion is downstairs with my hand sewing stuff. Now I have one in both places I need one!:

THANK YOU! Andrea - x - it was a really great giveaway, and I love the contents of my parcel. I'll be sure to blog the pink bag when it's done.

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I want to say another huge THANK YOU! to my forum friend Steve and his partner Cath - xx. They know for what, and it's not just because he finds lots of pictures of George Clooney for me to drool over admire. I'm leaving it at that.

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I was over the moon to receive a very lovely card from the similarly very lovely Suzy:

You can't see from that picture, which isn't a good one, but it's a layered card, and personalised to the extent that all the gift labels bear names specific to our family (two labels look 'blank' because I blanked out No.1's and No.2's 'real' names). There are even presents with labels marked 'Georgie' and 'Herbie'!:

(I tried to upload that picture the 'right' way round about 10 times! Does anyone know why Blogger kept turning it on its side? I got incredibly hacked off!) Anyway, as you can see, the card is so clever, and I was really chuffed to receive it. I have long admired Suzy's cards, so to have a 'real' one is very pleasing (she's been in magazines doncha know, such is her prowess). THANK YOU Suzy - x - I'm so pleased to have 'met' you.

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Another large THANK YOU! goes to my forum friend Plausey. Clearing up at her parents' home, she discovered buttons, and what's more, she wondered if I'd like some. Do what?! Despite teasing from certain quarters, I am proud to reaffirm my love of buttons - in my humble opinion, they can be miniature works of art. Plausey sent me a parcel containing this lot:

Many of which are indeed little works of art:

*as with all my pictures, click to embiggen*

Aren't they scrummy? Thank you so much Plausey - x - lots of those will be just the right finishing touch to all kinds of crafty projects. Plausey also sent some wonderful 'pearl' beads, and a pretty clasp. Hmmm, how about a monkey in twinset and pearls?!

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And finally, the last huge THANK YOU! of today goes to Julia at Marmalade Kiss, for a parcel of loveliness:

There are a couple of sneaky peeks in there of the main 'thing' she sent - can you spot it? Along with it, she enclosed a beautiful lavender bag (a pyramid one) which is now in a drawer with my smalls - and I don't mean the kids. ;-) She sent a really lovely little denim pouch, lined in the fabric of the appliquéd flower - so stylish. She sent a beautiful handmade card, and a little bar of Marmalade soap. How intriguing - I haven't opened it yet, but will use it when my current Ginger & Fig bar has gone. And decorating the parcel was that stunning beaded fabric Christmas tree - which, because it's green, is now hanging on our pink and green Christmas tree!

So ... this 'main thing' then ... any ideas? Lauren, if you're reading this, you are going to be soooooo jealous:

Ha! How brilliant is that? My own Daniel Craig tea towel. Obviously I could never soil it by actually using it for something as menial as drying dishes, but I can look at it, and even give it the odd fondle now and again (hands up who suspected I would fondle oddly?!) And this is all because I posted that according to my stats, someone googled 'having a dream about Daniel Craig tea towel' and landed here. Thank you so much Julia - x - it was very kind of you; I don't remotely deserve it. I love it, it's brilliant!

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All these lovely things are but a drop in the ocean of the fantabulousness I have found amongst my poota pals. The friendships I have formed mean a great deal to me, and I thank each and every friend I have 'met' via the internet for their support, inspiration, help, laughs, generosity, advice, affection and especially for the saucy emails of scantily clad, handsome men which regularly find their way into my inbox.

Merry Christmas to everyone who reads the blog. Thank you for reading my twaddle. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas time - xxx - and that 2009 might smile upon us all.

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