we're praying for a white xmas

Today begins my countdown to Christmas and is the first day we begin opening our gifts for the 12 Days of Xmas Exchange! For the next 12 days, all the players will open a new gift. I'm sure I'll get around to showing you at least some of them, but you can see all of the gifts from both groups on the blog as they are unveiled in all their glory. This is my very favorite swap of the year and it really lets you experience Christmas as a kid again! I mean, imagine getting a new gift every day from someone who really gets you and knows intuitively the kinds of gifts you'll treasure. This year I was #1 so everyone in my group opened their gift from me today.

Artsy clutch purses from Amy Karol's fabulous book. The pattern for the clutches is perfect: simple and versatile. I hand embroidered each one and used almost entirely vintage or recycled materials for all the purses, which I feel particularly good about (gold star for me). Each clutch is different depending on each lady's taste, but these are a few I managed to to get pics of. Since there are 13 of us in each group, we all have a lucky #13 gift from Lelainia to open on the day our gift is given. I was looking forward to showing off her wonderful gift when I realized that I can't show it yet or it will ruin the surprise for the other girls. Such a bummer, for you I mean ;-)

All the Christmas crafting, especially here and here has me crazy to make stuff. I loved Amy's (or was it Amanda's?) idea for gift books from the kids. I've been wanting to make some of these for a while so I used it as an excuse to shop for some new papers.

I'll have the kids write stories and embellish for the Grandparents--surprise!--and the rest will be for fun.

I'd also like to make something like this (although you know mine will be much more garish) for the apartment and maybe these. Plus a few of these trees to start a little collection. Our mantel is rather lovely at the moment...

...but a few more handmade decorations here and there would make things even more festive. I've planned to thoroughly enjoy every bit of this particular Christmas and savor the true Christmas-like weather for once. I'd like to do really do things up big this year, but with only 12 more days until Christmas, I'm running out of time. I guess it's the same every year. Looks like the cold weather doesn't do much to draw out the holidays a little longer for you, does it? Oh, well. This weekend's forecast: lows in the lower 20s and some rain. Snow flurries, please??

Comments

[pilar]

I love your clutch! I was just tickled when I opened up your package and found one of your purses! Thank you so very much! xoxoxoxo