More Christmas Fun

What a great day it was when I received my package of wonderful gifts from Jo at Labor of Love. We have come to know one another as our "French Sister" because we both love all things French so much! We both participated in her sister's (biological - lol), the amazing Mary Ann from Follow Your Bliss, Vintage Christmas Stocking Swap. The above picture shows the stocking that Jo created for me. And what better place to hang it then my large Eiffel tower that is wrapped in Holiday lights and garland. I LOVE it!

I actually started to cry when I began to open all of the gifts. I knew that she had included packages for my girls as well, and it just touched me so much. Jo really put a lot of love into these gifts and it just meant the world to me.

I have been wanting one of Jo's paper Eiffel towers for a long time. Imagine how thrilled I was to get my very own. I love the colors and it is something that I can keep out all year long. And you know that I will. The bottom slides open and inside there was a CD of old French tunes. I have been looking on the net for one, so this was just too cool!

I just adore this stocking. The fabric feels so good and I just love the pattern. My favorite is toile, so this couldn't be any more perfect for me.

I love this cup and saucer. They were filled with all sorts of yummy goodies to fill the soul.

So many wonderful things, and no way to write about them all. She spoiled me rotten!

The silver Eiffel tower is a candle that Mary Ann got. Thanks Mary Ann! The great thing about it is that it filled my package with a wonderful scent. So wonderful, actually, because it smelled just like my Grandma Betty's perfume. I just held the beautiful shawl to my nose and breathed it in for some time.

You can see some of the gifts that were in my daughter's boxes in this pic. Not all of them though, they took so many items before I could even get a picture. It was just so special for them. When I brought that huge box inside and told them there was a gift for them as well, their little faces were overcome with magic.

This is the stocking the I sent to Jo. She said that she loved natural linen, and this fabric was just too perfect. It was vintage fabric that belonged to my mom and all of the other items for it just fell into her lap. The trim on top is actually three separate pieces of vintage yummies sewn all together. The only thing that isn't vintage is the Santa. I found him on line and he is on fabric which matched perfectly.

This shows all of the goodies that I sent to Jo. I hope she loved it all as much as I loved mine. I just wanted to make her soul smile. She deserves all of the best.

If you want to see some wonderful pictures of my goodies, be sure to check out Jo's blog. She has an amazing talent with a camera and she also shows my Eiffel tower in more detail with the drawer sliding out.

A big thanks to Jo for spoiling my daughter's and I so much. I just loved everything and I will treasure it all for life. Jo is a beautiful person and friend though, as well as Mary Ann who I thank for hosting this wonderful swap.

I don't know if I will be able to post again before Christmas, but if not I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, or whatever Holiday you are celebrating. May God bless you and bring you much happiness in 2009. Thank you for visiting me, and I look forward to meeting more of you and continuing the wonderful friendships I have made through my blogging and swapping experiences. Take care!

Rhonda...

A Holiday Swap For A Cause

Yes, we all know that I love to participate in swaps. But what could be better then a swap that actually helps a good cause as well? That is exactly what Jenni from My Happy Little Life had in mind when she hosted My Favorite Holiday Things Swap for Charity. In order to participate in the swap, one had to make a donation to The Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation which has been a big help for Jenni's little girl, who was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy when she was only a few months old.



So, naturally it felt good to donate to a cause. But, I also had a perfect swap partner. One that understood my total obsession with The Twilight book series. When I found out that Gina from Simple Pleasures would be sending her package to me, I crossed my fingers and made a wish that I would get a t-shirt from her site that makes Twilight t-shirts. Well, for those of you that know the story, she definitely has something in common with Edward, because she read my mind.

Yippee! I got a Twilighter shirt. I just finished the third book in the series, today. I must get to the store to buy the fourth and final one. And then, I will be sad like Bella in the second book, because I will have an empty hole in my heart where Edward once was, lol.

I especially liked the card that Gina enclosed, because it contained a list of some of her favorite holiday things, and the reasons why. I needed some cookie cutters for when my family makes our yearly cookies for Santa. And, we all love cocoa, so the Candy Cane Cocoa is perfect and now I don't have to run to the store for more. And thirdly, she included a box of Life Savors that you can always find in time for the holidays. These are special because my father in law, who sadly passed away many years ago, used to give these to everyone each year. It is like a special hello for my husband. He was so excited when he saw that those were included and opened them right up.

Gina sent me other yummy goodies as well, and I am really happy with how much of her heart she put into it all. Thank you so much Gina, for my wonderful swap package, and thanks also to Jenni for hosting this swap and educating us all about children's heart conditions. It was great to give to a cause, and I think it is inspiring for others who hosts swaps to think of doing the same thing.

Merry Christmas!

Rhonda...

A Christmas Cracker Swap

The first swap I ever did was with Carolyn from Magpie-Pixie. It was last year and it was a Christmas Cracker swap. The best part of that swap was that Carolyn and I became very good friends and I also became friends with Sherry from Esprit d Art. Both of these amazing women have really touched my life. This year, Carolyn did the swap again, so of course I wanted to take part. And now I have a new friend. My partner was Trish from The Tattered Rose. Oh my goodness, do we have a lot in common!


Look at all of the wonderful goodies that Trish sent my way. This isn't even all of it, because the chocolate she sent me got eaten right up.

The cracker itself was wrapped in beautiful Christmas fabric, and the artful girl that was attached is so beautiful. She reminds me of the tradition of Saint Lucia. I just love her and all of her little details.

Trish sent me lots of wonderful vintage ephemera, my favorite and other vintage goodies as well. Just wonderful!

I found out that Trish is very, very thoughtful. She knew that I loved British robins. They're my favorite bird. She found this wonderful vintage postcard that a thoughtful person sent as a Christmas wish back in 1911. I let out a huge gasp as soon as I saw it. I love all of my goodies from Trish, but I'll tell you what, she could have sent nothing at all except for this postcard, and I would have been thrilled!

I love doing swaps and meeting such wonderful people. A big thanks to Trish, for doing such an amazing job. We live four hours from one another, and hopefully in the spring will be able to hook up for a day of fun. Here's to a wonderful new friendship! Thank you also to my dear friend Carolyn, for not only hosting this swap, but for bringing so much joy, support, and wonderful friendship into my life.

Have a great day and a very Merry Christmas!

Rhonda...

This Is A Christmas Tree

This is an email that I recently received:

This is a Christmas tree.

This is a Christmas Tree

This is a Christmas Tree

This is a Christmas Tree

This is a Christmas Tree

This is a Christmas Tree

This is a Christmas Tree

And these are Christmas Trees also
These are NOT Holiday Trees
They are not Hanukkah bushes
They are not Allah plants
They are Christmas trees!

Say it... CHRISTmas , CHRISTmas , CHRISTmas

Yes CHRISTmas

- not Holiday

We are not celebrating the birth of a Holiday

We are Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ
So I would like to say to each and every one of you

Have a Very Merry CHRISTMAS

I have really been thinking a lot about this topic. I got into a habit of saying, "Happy Holidays" to be "politically correct", but now I think things are just getting more and more overboard in our country.

I respect people, period. I don't care about your color, faith, nationality, sexual orientation, political views, etc. You are my friend because of how you treat me and what is in your heart. The world is so full of hate, and it is just so, so sad.

Right now, I am celebrating CHRISTmas. The birth of Christ, and I teach my children to know that this is what it is all about. Not Santa coming down the chimney to give them more stuff that they really don't need. And, it is what so many people are celebrating right now. Um, watch the commercials on the television....

My point is, why should someone take offence to me saying, "Merry Christmas". It is a gesture from the heart, and means nothing but good things. If someone tells me, "Happy Hanuka" or "Happy Kwanzaa" back, well that is okay too. Why can't people just make the comment that is true to them, and people just answer back what is true to them, and everyone just take it as a nice gesture, which is what it is???

It is odd, the looks that I get, when I am at the store, or wherever, and I say, "Thanks, Merry Christmas". We have all fallen so used to "not" saying what could be "politically incorrect" that we ourselves who celebrate Christmas are shocked by the statement. It's just so, so sad.

Well, I am going with my heart, and saying what is true to me. And that is...

Merry Christmas

I can only imagine the replies I might get from this post. But please people, don't read into it and get yourself all into some "politically correct" frenzy. Just listen to my heart, and follow with yours.

Rhonda...

My Gift For Priscilla

I am really proud of this gift that I made for Priscilla, my partner from the Vintage Ephemera Swap. I chat about it in the post below this one.

This is a vintage earring that I added as a tree topper. The tree is covered in mica flakes.

I also added this vintage trim that I recently found at one of my favorite antique shops.

I have been using a lot of these tiny coat hangers in my work lately. I love the uniqueness that they add to a piece and I just purchased some more to use on Holiday gifts.

Hope you enjoyed looking at my gift and get some inspiration from it! Have a great weekend!

Rhonda...

Swap Goodies From Priscilla

I could never have enough ephemera! Love, love, love the stuff! I was thrilled to find the group Vintage Ephemera Swap on flickr. It has brought me new friends and made old friendships stronger. For the Vintage Christmas swap, I was lucky enough to be paired up with my good friend Priscilla from Sweet Remembrance. She was one of my first blog friends and has a wonderful heart, and does beautiful work. Check her out, she has another blog and a fantastic shop as well.

So, here are my wonderful goodies from Priscilla .....

I love this handmade ornament! I also love those little bottle brush trees.

My parents and grandparents are from Niagara Falls, so I really liked this item.

I love this Vintage tree as well. It just has such a good feel to it. I am so lucky to have had Priscilla for my partner! Thank you so very much Priscilla, for everything and have a wonderful Christmas! God bless us, everyone!

Rhonda...