A Crochet Swap!

HELLO! Hello there, it is LOVELY to see you! Been ages hasn't it? Too long. I hope you've all been splendido while I've been away? I'm sure you've been fantastico! We're not long back from our fantastic holiday in Spain, visiting my Mum and Dad. It feels like we've been away for a month, when actually, it's only been a couple of weeks. We had a wonderful time, and packed so much in. And we were very, very lucky, unusually so, because our time in Spain happened to coincide with a Tornado, and Tropical scale downpours. We fully understood just how blessed we were to have such weather in Spain.

Thank you so, so much for all your lovely comments on my Little Squares Scarf. Each one has been read, digested, and appreciated, and the "have a great holiday" wishes too, thank you! What fantastic comments to come home to! You're all my scrumdiddlyumptious darlings! Thank you, thank you, thank you! And a big hug too, as I'm feeling ever so happy and smiley!

Before I launch into all the busyness of our holiday, and a few piccies, there's the long-lost crochet swap I have to share with you. I'd be very surprised if you remembered this post, from June 30th, showing you all the gifts I made for my partner in a crochet swap. My partner was Melanie, from A country Dream. Back in June, I sent off my parcel, with all its goodies. Unfortunately for Melanie, the crochet swap happened just when she came down with Swine Flue, which then led to other complications, so poor Melanie had a tough few months, and was unable to to send me her gifts. The week before we left for our holiday, two weeks ago, (that extremely busy week where I felt like I was running round like a headless chicken, trying to keep up with blogging, trying to work, trying to keep up with the house and all those duties), Melanie sent me her parcel of things she made. So just to remind you of what I sent her, to re-set the scene of the crochet swap, so-to-speak, here's a few photos of my goodies I made and bought, and how they were wrapped, primped and preened for sending off.

Everything was wrapped in this spotty tissue paper and stripy string I'm in love with, popped in a basket, on which I sewed a flower I crocheted, and wrapped again in gift wrap, nestled in a box, and sent off recorded delivery, to arrive safe and sound at Melanie's.

I didn't crochet the corsage myself, but I did spend a long time making the necklace, (it's fiddly stuff, that crochet thread). And the mug? Well, I like to think noone can resist a spotty mug.

The crochet heart garland I did make, and I tell you, they're addictive! The link for the pattern, is in the link to the post I did back in June about this swap, that link is at the beginning of this post. The Lavender heart sachet tied in neatly with the hearts I crocheted, and the Butterfly box was for Melanie's bit'n'bobs, which I know we all have.

And now I've done that little reminder, I am going to do the big reveal on Melanie's gifts!

I have no "unwrapping" shots to show you, as everything simply emerged from this pretty bag. Starting with these egg cosies, which are really very sweet don't you think? It's tempting to have four boiled eggs all at once, just so I can use them all at the same time. I'm sure that between the two of us, Hugo and I can manage two boiled eggs each, all presented in their woolly hats.

I love the red and white combo in these granny squares, it's a stunning combination, and makes for a fab bag. Would make a nice blanket too, don't you think?

Pink and white are a lovely combination too. Lots of goodies to keep me warm and cosy, and feeling pretty.

Talking of being cosy, we have in the photo above, the perfect ingredients for a cosy night in by the fire!

In the excitement of opening all my gifts, and looking at them, I quickly read the inscription in the cookery book, above. For a nano second, I thought the beautiful was for me, but then sense quickly took over. You see, I'm not Melanie's daughter, and it's been a very long time since I was 23. It wasn't my Birthday either. Still, I do like the idea of being a beautiful daughter, who wouldn't hey?!!!

I wonder who the beautiful daughter is?

I do like the cosy theme to Melanie's package, so timely, because although I have been refusing to admit it to myself, we have been getting some Autumnal weather the last few days. Do you like the dashing wrist warmer Melanie made, in the above photo? Splendido I say! Melanie has been so very generous with all her gifts, and her time, making all these things, I'm a very fortunate swap partner, thank you so much Melanie, they're all wonderful gifts!

Well, I am now going to make myself a hot brew and sit infront of the fire, nursing the stinking cold I've managed to catch. The type of gift I can always do without. I have so much to show you, lots of non holiday stuff I hasten to add! Though I did take some vibrant photos for you, you may well need your sunglasses for those. It's lovely to be back and into the swing of things again, lovely to see you. I'll be back tomorrow, make sure you have your sunglasses to hand. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Jacqueline]

It's nice to have you back, glad to hear you had a nice holiday, and look forward to seeing your sunny, bright photos.

[Beth]

Welcome back, Vanessa. You were missed!

[Cath W]

Yay! You're back! It must have been lovely in sunny Spain, but nothing beats an English Autumn - can't wait to be crocheting by the kitchen woodburner again.
:)

[Primrose Patch]

Hi Vanessa,lovely to have you back, I have missed your wonderful uplifting posts. Looking forward to the holiday pics, my sunglasses are poised and ready. Denise xx

[Kate Bruning]

I missed you - It is a wonderful thing that you went to Spain, but sooo much better to have you back. I am still waking up at the moment so I will leave all of the profound revelations I had while you were away until tomorrow. xxooxxooxx

[Pipany]

Lovely yo see you back Vanessa. gorgeous thigs here as ever/ Look forward to more soon xx

[Steph]

Lovely crochet swap gifts, and welcome back ..looking forward to some Spanish pictures - I have a crochet giveaway for my 100th post if you fancy popping by.

[Heather]

welcome back, I've missed your blogging :)
Glad to hear that you had a good time away.
xxxxx

[gill]

glad you had a lovely holiday but i must say it is good to have you back - looking forward to seeing your holiday pics !!
gill xx

[Isabelle (France)]

Aaahhhh ENFIN :o)! Welcome back!!!
Isabelle

[Jennyff]

I kept checking to see if you were back and here you are at last - good. Welcome home, I like your gifts, like having you around again.

[Hen]

Ah, Vaness, you're back, phew, it's been too long (she adds selfishly!) Will message you soon, much to chat about but it's late now after my debauched night of roast beef, Cadbury's Caramel, red wine (lots of) and the scary "Waking the Dead", in front of our second open fire of the season. Meanwhile, I want, nay need, the necklace you sent to the v fortunate Melanie. That would definitely have perked me up through the swine flu!
Adios!
Hen x

[Charlene]

Lovely to have you back :) I have missed you :) I can't wait to see all your holiday pics. Did you get a pic of the tornado? My husband is an avid weather nut and would love to see :)

Lovely crocheted package - am feeling miffed that I missed out on this swap - I obviously don't read the right blogs - haha!

Lots going on here... in the process of doing that MOVE I told you about... ugh!

[Laura]

Beautiful presents - I'd say you both gifted each other very nicely!

Glad you had a good rest in Spain. Can't wait to hear/see more about it!

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

Good to have you back!! Welcome home!
Beautiful things, both the things you gave and the things you recieved. Lovely idea, this "swap thing"!
Looking forward to your next post!
Anna-Karin xxx

[Simone]

Lovely swaps! Good to have you back! I am looking forward to seeing holiday pics! x

[Petit Filoux]

Oh it's great to have you back! Welcome home! can't wait to see some of your photos, I absolutely LOOOOOVE Spain, one of my favourite countries ever x

[Mojca]

I discovered your blog a couple of months ago and I love it! I missed your writing when you were away, it's good to have you back. Please feel free to stop by my blog anytime - i started it last week and I promise, it will get more colourful (i.e. will have pics) soon!

http://angelsandblossoms.blogspot.com/

I'm looking forward to your holiday photos!

[melanie]

So pleased you like your goodies Vanessa. Oh, about the book, silly me in my rush to get the parcel off to you, well, I put the wrong recipe book in your package! I do have two of the same book, one I bought, then one my mam bought later for me, not knowing that I already had a copy of the book, and I thought, well, I'll pop the spare one in the package, Vnaessa will like it, but I have popped the one my mam bought me in the package! I honestly had no idea that I did this, and I am so sorry about the mix up, please forgive my error. xxx

[The Curious Cat]

oooo what wonderful things and I love the wrapping too! xxx

[Julie]

lovely to have you back, seems like ages! Glad you had a good time, looking forward to the sunny posts, but thought your swap goodies were lovely. Fascinating to imagine the lives of previous recipients of books isn't it - wonder what the Beatutiful Daughter cooked and who for ? x

[melissa]

So glad to see you back! I've been checking in everyday.

[penny]

Hooray you're back! I've missed you! Looking forward to reading about your holiday, x

[Helen Lambert]

Welcome back V...I have missed you and all your colour!! cant wait to see what you got up to!

[Heather]

Welcome home, Vanessa, you've been greatly missed. What gorgeous parcels have been swapped between you and Melanie. Looking forward to seeing photos from Spain. Best wishes, Heather

[Vanessa Cabban]

Thank you so much Heather, you're so lovely!
Just finished doing a post about Flamenco dresses!
Love Vanessa xxx

On 29 Sep 2009, at 21:08, [email protected] wrote:

[Erica K]

I did miss you! :) It's funny, I went through the list of blogs I read each day, stopping by yours even though I knew you weren't 'home'... But this last week I've had visitors, and I missed your arrival altogether!

Thanks for sharing your goodies...

[LV Handbags]

Your blog is so perfect that I can find many useful imformation, thank you very much! Can you continually offer something about that in the future?
by LV Handbags

[mbt womens sandals]

what wonderful things and I love the wrapping too!