The packages are GREAT!  I love the Olive name board.  I'm going to have to borrow that idea for my DD.

Everyone's packages are wonderful!  I'm impressed with the creativity flowing through your veins.

I know that I've been taking notes with all the swap packages so far for Christmas gifts.  I found an old wooden recipe box at a thrift store and it needs some new cards.  I'm also thinking about making napkins now for Christmas - applique is a great idea!  I've made magnets for my MIL with cartoon drawings of everyone in the family and I LOVE the magnets with the designs on them.  I'm going to have to steal that idea too!

Katz:  You mentioned Laura Ingalls Wilder...Did you know that Little House is my fav?  I am so jealous!

I think grandmas are just better at everything!  I tried very hard with my embroidered dish towel that I made for Katz but when I received the one she made for me I realized what quality was.  That's ok.  Katz is the type of person to appreciate the fact that someone made it for her!   

I'm sorry this post took so long.  I tried for a couple hours last night to get it to post but my computer/internet service/craftster (pick one) was not cooperating last night.



Here is my FUN swap package from Krazy4Katz!  On the left you see the fairy pillow that she made for my DD for Christmas.  DD was there when I opened the package and when she saw the pillow she grabbed it, told me she needed it, and then took it into her room.  On the right is the cat ornament she made out of beeswax and it smells yummy!  In the middle you can see the 4 dishcloths, 2 doilies, and the flower pillow she crocheted for me.  The dish towel in the middle is embroidered with an applesauce recipe (which I will be trying) and the towel is oversized!  I love it!  The doilies will be displayed throughout my home and so will the ornament and pillow. 



Here's a close-up of the applesauce embroidery.  Didn't she do a FANTASTIC job??



Here are a few of the items on display in my kitchen.  You'll have to excuse the fire extinguisher being in the picture.  I find it's more effective to have it out in the open on the opposite end of the kitchen in case of a grease fire.  (We learned a tiny lesson once while making German pancakes.) 



My DD could barely stand the fact that I needed to take pictures of her pillow!



Here's an action shot of my new applesauce dish towel.



Katz:  I don't know why you don't like this doily.  I love it!



Do you see the little hearts in the center of the doily?  How cute!



This pillow looks like it was made out of wool yarn.  It is so sweet with the flower on it and it is very comfy.   It is sitting on my shelf in my kitchen.

Thank you so much Katz!  I love everything and had a blast crafting with you! 

We do have a gallery, for more than a week now!

Katz:  As I was driving home today I wondered if my package had arrived.  By the time I got home and saw my angel DD and our cute 8 month old foster son my mind was fixed on playing with them.  My DH was watching football  (I am a football season widow ) and forgot to mention to me that a much anticipated package HAD arrived.  I did not know it was here until I looked up on our entertainment center and saw a box.  I stared at it wondering what my DH had ordered from online and it hit me...I was expecting a box!  I jumped up, ran over to the entertainment center and as I took it down I asked my DH if my package had arrived!  He says, "Oh, yes.  I forgot."  (He usually is very attentive and has always been a sweet husband.  He just gets in the zone when his favorite team is playing.  I can't complain though.  He changes 95% of all the diapers, willingly. ) 

My DD saw me with the package and started asking me if it was for her.  She remembers the first and only other swap I ever did and the fact that she received goodies in it.  She stood by me while I tried to rip off the tape.  I was too excited to go to the kitchen and get a knife to cut the tape so it took me a little longer to get it opened. I absolutely LOVE everything and DD tried to claim it all for herself!  I took pictures but haven't cropped them in Photoshop yet.  I hope to get that done tomorrow and then post them.  You really did spoil me!  Thank you so much.  Since you crochet I was really hoping you were going to crochet dishcloths and doilies for me.  I have to tell you how great your embroidery on the dishtowel turned out too.  I'm embarrassed with the one I sent you now.  I'm totally a beginner with embroidery.  I love the crocheted wool pillow with the flower on it.  It's in my kitchen along with the black doily and the beeswax kitty (which smells so good).  I saw the beeswax ornaments on your blog!  My DH and I made candles and other little figures for Summer Solstice a couple years ago with a bunch of people.  I hadn't thought about making ornaments.   DD got her Christmas present early since she was there when I opened the box and REALLY wanted it!  She took it into her room before I read the card that said it was for her.  She told me "I need it."  I took a picture of where I am putting some of the things in my kitchen.  I am looking for the perfect spot for the red doily. 

Well, I'm tired and need to get to bed.  I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Thanks Rira for setting me up with a FANTASTIC partner!!!

What an awful school!  There's a great book called Teaching With Love And Logic that needs to be given to the school board so they can retrain their teachers!  If my child had an awful teacher I would wind up being a volunteer room mom so I could monitor what was going on.

I'm excited to hear someone else has sent their package.  Pretty soon there will be 3 swap packages in the gallery! 

Katz:  I hope you are feeling much better since your Dr. gave you the ok to do whatever you want ... minus the dishes!  I have been writing down recipes from your blog and drooled over the beans!  I love beans but my DH does not like anything with beans or lentils.  I LOVE lentils.  I've added your blog to my bloglist because I so enjoy reading it.  I hope you are able to get some happy crafting done now that you are back on your feet. 

rira, I think I love you! Thank you so much for the extension. I really didn't anticipate having such a hellacious month

Uh...you just had a baby!

Only one will involve the use of my stash of campaign signs.
And nope, I'm not shrinking them. (But I am getting a giggle imagining myself trying to stuff them in my oven....)

Oh, come on.  If you were truly crafty you'd figure out a way!

Now that Hurricane Hanna has scooted away ( really more of a rain even then wind) I can trot to the post office tomorrow and mail off my swap package... !!!

 

so excited.  So Excited.  SO EXCITED!