The Time is Ticking Away Fast As I Think About Christmas

A friend and I went shopping today and I couldn't help browsing through the Christmas shop. I picked up the first gift for my downstream partner - I want one too. I've been thinking about an item to knit her and have a couple of things in mind. Time is really slipping up on me and I must get busy. Santa's helper should always be on time.

A little diversion from knitting

Before I started knitting, I kept my hands occupied with origami.
I made an 'origamic architecture' pop-up card for my swap partner!

Surprised

Well, Kasia and Maryanne, you have gone and done it now. You have successfully matched me with a partner who is able to surprise. DH and I were out yesterday running our usual Tuesday errands, which includes picking up the mail in town. He comes walking out of the postal place with a big box and says "this is for you". I was amazed. Nobody every sends me anything. So, I did what any self respecting, excited woman would do, I ripped right into it and couldn't stop giggling.

Here is what my partner sent to me.

Thanks Partner, whoever you are!!!!!

Another Sneak Peek

It could be this:

Or, it could be this:

And it could be for you!

So how well is the secret really kept?

So here I am, trying to figure out how I can work on my xmas swap knitting and my everyday xmas knitting. I am still cruising through the possible candidates for my upstream partner, and I realize that the secret of the stole pattern I am working on is designed by one of our swap members. I am not knitting the stole for my downstream swap partner, but I could be.
I think my downstream partner has figured out which one I am, but I haven't had very much contact with my upstream partner....so I remain clueless. Unfortunately this means that she could be clueless about my tastes, and send me a knitted gold lame garter belt or some such. By the way, EXNAY on the garter belt idea....no stockings required in Hawaii.

Krista for Christmas

I just finished her, blocked her, wrapped her carefully. Don't worry - the colour in the picture is all wrong. The green is more olive and quite nice.

I hope my partner will like it ....

A tease

Who is this for, I wonder?

Could this be yours????

well I finished another project for my Pal... and working on another one for her... : ) will post pic of it when I get it done... Here is a Pic of what I just finished... Could this be what Santa will deliver to you ? A nice loving Heart washcloth for you....

International partners...

How many of you are paired up with someone outside of your country? How much extra shipping time are you going to give yourself?

Gift Idea

I'm thinking of making this bag for my swap pal - I've been wanting to make it, and this is a wonderful excuse to do it! It's the Christmas Rose Gift Bag from Handknit Holidays. And of course I can then fill it with goodies. I haven't heard too much from my downstream pal, so I'm not sure what those goodies will be. On the other hand - I have the most terrific upstream pal!!!!!! I'm so excited to have such a great pal!

Look what Santa Sent

These wonderful "furry friends" arrived care of UPS yesterday. No they are not for me but for my four dogs and one cat. My wonderful swap pal "J" and I have been emailing each other, and she has been reading my blog and decided to send my "fur babies" a pre-holiday treat. Each of the dogs toys has a squeaky center and the kitty's parrot is filled with cat nip. Could this girl be more thoughtful, I don't think so. I can't thank her enough, what a sweet and caring person she is. "J" and I have been emailing each other and it's as if we have known each other forever, we share so much in common, I am looking forward to getting to know her much better when the swap is finished.

How to keep a secret swap secret

Well, I must say it's harder than I thought to keep the swap secret. First of all, the most common salutation here would be:
Aloha Xmas Swap Partner!

So I have to stop myself every time I go to write to my swap partner.

I think I have also really thrown a wrench in the xmas plans of my upstream partner. Living in Hawaii does make it difficult to find appropriate knitted gifts, afterall....what would I do with a scarf?

It will be fun to learn more about my upstream partners traditions, and I am trying not to give away too many of mine to my downstream partner.

I think the fact that we put up an artificial palm tree with lights and ornaments might just let the cat out of the bag.

Has anyone out there guessed who their upstream partners are? I have absolutely no idea about mine.

Upstream partner - failed email delivery.

Hi - I had a failed email delivery messsage after trying to contact my upstream partner. If she's reading this, please could you email me again, and I'll try replying again. Thanks ;-)

Knitted item for your pal

Hi

Just wondered what people are knitting/crafting for their pal? At the moment, I've no idea what to make!

Inspiration gladly welcomed.

Thanks

Hello everyone! I have been contacted by both of my partners. I have already gotten one gift but not sure what to make yet. Well that's my update. Have fun everyone!

Hi everyone. I have just contacted my pal and I have been contacted of my secret pal last week. I have been away in a week and now I am on again. I will later write about how we celebrate Christmas. Irene from Denmark. http://denblyviol.blogspot.com

Hello!

I have also gotten in contact with both upstream and downstream partners .And they both seems like very nice people. I have carefully planed what to give to my partner and hope she will be happy. Christmas is just the best time of year-and This swap was a great idea of Kaisa and Maryann-thank you so much for doing this-I am having so much fun making my partner the nicest parcel possible.


My blog

it works!!!

I've been in touch with both of my partners, so it I know what I have to do next couple of weeks.. Loads of knitting and looking for some nice goodies, and as well answering mails.. Looking forward to get to know both of my partners better.

Annemieke

HELLO ALL!!

I've been contacted and I have made contact!!

I've already found my gift for the tree and know what I'll get for something to knit from. But I'm not sure what something to knit with is!! A pattern??? Needles?? Will someone give me some help please! Also what is something for the soul. Maybe a sweet book.. I have to rethink what I'll make for my pal since reading her blog and finding that she doesn't really like that kind of thing! :-( Gotta keep my thinking cap on!!

Have fun everyone!

Is it Christmas yet.... : )

I have contacted my secret Pal and my secret Pal sending to me has contacted me as well.... I am really looking forward to the exchange... Christmas is such a wonderful time of year for giving.... and my favorite time of the year.

up and down

stream partners,have been in contact and have been contacted.I bought the first little gift fo my partners kit today while I was at the store!!A little velvet bag to put some small trinkets in.

Sleigh Bells Ring.....Are You Listening?

I think I'm more excited about this swap than any that I've done before. I sssoooo love Christmas!!! I've made contact with my down stream, and I've heard from my upstream a couple of times. This is going to be FUN!!! Back to shopping..........

Pals contacted

Hi All

I've finally contacted both my upstream and downstream pals.

Looking forward to this swap and getting excited about Christmas.

Have a good weekend everyone!

What to do?

I think I was one the earliest to contact my spoilee - Sunday morning in Europe. I left two comments on her blog and wrote her an email. But she does not answer in any way. Nothing to find on her blog except one sentence about her spoilee ... so I don't know if she got my email. Perhaps it landed in her spamfile but than there is no use to write again. And I don't want to be intrusive and pushy but that is just how I feel asking her a fourh time.

Sounds funny? So what shall I do?

Secret Pals sent and received!

I worked so hard to be stealthy, creating a new email address and everything else, only to be thwarted by the 'smart' email-bot who added my name to my secret email address. Okay, so I should have gone in to preferences first and turned all that stuff off but I was sooooo excited. So the rest of you now have a chance not to make my mistake.....

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

I've heard from the person sending to me, and I've made contact with whom I'm sending too. She hasn't responded yet though, that she's heard from me.

I am SO EXCITED about this swap! I've had my thinking cap on for knitted ideas. I LOVE that tissue box cover - it's something different!

Happy crafting everyone!

Swap Pal

I have contacted my giftee and she has responded. I haven't heard from she-who-received-my-name --- so please, if it's you and you're reading this, drop me a line - even an anonymous posting at my blog ..., ok?! Happy gifting, all!

Looking forward to playing Santa

I have been in touch with both my upstream and downstream partners. My downstream partner sounds like a great girl and we are now having email conversations, it feels as if I have known her for ages, I am really looking forward to getting to know her better after the swap. Thank you both for putting together such a wonderful swap and letting us all meet fellow knitters around the world.

Wanted to share

I am so excited that we are now official to start.. I have been working on all kinds of things for my Partner and I have contacted her.. I wanted to share this that I have started. It is Not finished yet.... But when it is done it will be a Tissue Box cover.... I hope my Pal will Like it..

Contact has been made!

Hello All! I have made contact with my spoilee and have just responded to my spoiler! I can't wait to get started. I have the scarf pattern picked out and will get the yarn this weekend and start collecting gifts to send along as well.
Happy Knitting to All!

It Is a Go

I have heard from my Santa several times, she is very nice! I have dropped a line to my giftee...

Hello to swap partner

I too have drop a little note of intro to my partner. I haven't heard back yet. But I too have viewed her great blog, it was really helpful for swap ideas.
As of yet I haven't heard from my secret pal, but the week is still full.

Now comes the hard part choosing a pattern!!
Elizabeth

I have just enabled the anonymous posting on my blog so hopefully my swap partner will post on my blog too. I have "spoken" to the person sending to me but I have not had a response from the person I am sending to. I have checked her blog tho and have a good idea of what I am sending. I am just a bit puzzled as to what to make her! Must get thinking cap on.....

emailed my pal

I have emailed my pal to let her know I have her name,let the fun begin!!