One of my favorite parts of every Affaire are the creative swap exchanges. Every time I think the girls have outdone themselves and it couldn't possibly get any more incredible, they prove me wrong EVERY TIME! Since it was the holidays, I stretched myself as thin as you can get and joined in a bunch of the exchanges. SIX total! It was madness! I couldn't stop myself!
Every year I host an ornament exchange for those girls attending our holiday get together. It began when I attended Silver Bella years ago and has continued since then. We come up with some new colors each time but it has always stayed in the muted tones. I actually have a 6' tree that we put up in our family room that holds all these handmade treasures. It is my most favorite tree. The ladies created the most amazing ornaments ~ it makes me sigh with happiness. I made the sweet birdcage in the center continuing my obesssion with bleaching wee trees.
I also participated in Cheryl Stoneham's The Stockings Were Hung By The Chimney With Care Swap. We embellished a stocking in the color and theme of our partner and filled it with all things vintage and delicious. My girlie was Charlene Gray ~ it was such fun to spoil her.
I packaged all her goodies in an old vintage suitcase ~ you know the wrapping is almost as important as the contents!
Sherry Williams created a stocking for me. It was spectacular! She filled it with the most lovely treasures. My heart was seriously pounding when I opened it. The beautiful decorations on the front of the stocking are so special from the vintage tree, angel and gorgeous buttons and bling.
Terry Frias hosted a Comforts of Winter Glove and Sock Swap. Those tall socks you wear with boots are all the rage right now so we stichted and decorated like crazy women. My partner was Andrea Villarreal. I know she loves everything girlie so I had a vintage pillow case turned into a pouch with her initials to put her goodies in. Mine are in the first picture and hers to me are in the last. Funny, you could interchange what we made and not even know it. Our tastes are very similar!
Denise Hahn hosted a Winter Wonderland Globe Swap. We each purchased the same globe and decorated it in our own holiday style. We then participated in a lively swap where we picked a number and stole globes from each other. My globe went home with Andrea. I'm madly in love with these sweet Lefton figurines. Innocense and charm all in one. I ended up with the sweetest globe from Roxie that is all red, whites and sugarplum fabulousness.
Susan Shintaku hosted a Winter Wonderland Wreath Exchange. Tashia Jacques was my partner. Her favorite colors are blues and browns so I was a bit out of my comfort zone since you know I'm a pinkie girl. I think she was really happy though. She wanted bling and sparkle so that was my goal! I received a beautiful wreath from Shawn Street that actually lights up. All creams and natural goodness.
Lastly, I was in Cynthia Flores's I {Heart} Me a Bling Phone Cover Swap. My partner was Cindy Craine. I have to tell you that I have a secret crush on Cindy ~ I dare say I haven't met someone with as big a heart as she has. She is beyond darling ~ the real deal. I know she LOVES kittys and bling so I set about covering her case with everything shiny and fabulous (pictured below right). I packed her cover and a sweet kitty figurine in a vintage lingerie bag. The amazing cover she created for me is pictured on the top right. Could you just gasp? Believe it or not, I've been using it for a couple weeks now and it is still intact. That girl knows her E6000!
I had two very unexpected surprises involving handmade goodness at Winter Wonderland when Tara Wilson and the fabulous ladies in her A Winter's Snow Ornament Swap gifted me with one of their lovely holiday trees! Each of the 12 ladies made a cream toned ornament which they shipped to Tara. Tara then created these over the top holiday trees. She wired each one in place, made the sweet tree topper, laced each one with vintage beads and rhinstone and wrapped the bases in burlap and lace. They are beyond everything made with love.
Then as if that wasn't exciting enough, Andrea and her sweet Vintage Lace & Button Swap ladies gifted me with a HUGE assortment of laces, trims and buttons. These girls are so talented ~ vintage buttons placed in salt shakers, laces wrapped around cards, Suzette even wrapped her trims around a huge candy cane. It was amazing and I do believe I will be bathing in lacey goodness for years!
So much loveliness to bring home and place around in special places reminding me of our memorable time together. I am so blessed and grateful. . .
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Oh sweet Kim you did spoil me to the utmost degree!!!! My stocking is breath taking & beyond anything I could have imagined. The goodies you stuck in it were fabulous! But, I have to say the suitcase for it's packaging was the most clever, creative, thoughtful AMAZING thing I've ever seen. I was blessed to have you as a partner THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. I will treasure this 4 EVER! I have it hanging on the mantle in my bedroom. It's perfect! This was the perfect way to start the holidays! IT PUT ME BEHIND but, it was sooooooooooo worth it. Merry Christmas my dear & thank you for making it so special for all of us who attended your WINTER WONDERLAND!!!! HUGS! Charlene
Posted by: Charlene | December 20, 2012 at 05:21 PM