Send a little love

 

 

 

I joined in recently with another great swap arranged by Tracy from Mad About Bags blog.   A parcel to be sent and received by Valentines Day.

Something heart shaped or themed

Something deliciously edible

Something handmade

Something red

 

I was partnered with Sandra from Mason Mumblings blog.  A new to me blogger and a fellow Kiwi.  I received a beautiful package of treats.  Sandra sent me a lovely zippered pouch.  The chocolate will be demolished in no time (I love that it's dark chocolate, as no one else will want to eat it but me, so I won't have to hide it).  The DIY pin cushion is such a great idea and I can't wait to make it.  Also sent was a heart shaped cookie cutter, hand cream, buttons and a pendant.

This is the second time I have joined in with Tracy's "Send a little love" swap - a great time of year to receive some treats as Mr H and I don't really celebrate Valentines day.  We give each other cards but the rest of the day is all about wee Tom and his Birthday.

I always love putting together swap parcels and I hope Sandra enjoys her parcel.  I sent cream and red cotton tea towels, a crocheted (bought at a craft fair) face cloth, heart shaped soap, heart printed fabric, washi tape, chocolates and a heart pendant that I made.  I wish I had remembered to photograph it before I wrapped it all up!

If you haven't joined in with a blog swap yet, give it a go - you don't have to be a blogger to join in.  You get to "meet" some really lovely people and it is always nice to get happy mail instead of bills.

Thank you to Tracy for organising this swap and to Sandra for being such a lovely swap partner.

The Travelling Linen Stash has returned!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look what landed on my doorstep last week................The Travelling Linen Stash!

 

I sent the Travelling Linen Stash off on it's New Zealand Tour in October 2013.  1 year and 3 months later it has found it's way back.

 

Jam packed with all sorts of goodies - tea towels, table cloths, doilies, pillowcases, aprons, napkins tea cosies and even some pieces of retro and vintage fabrics.

The plan is to send it off to Australia next.  I will be in touch with those who signed up to make sure your addresses are still correct (a lot can happen in 1 year and 3 months) and make sure you still wish to participate.  To keep postage low I may look at sending off a couple of smaller packages - would be keen to know your thoughts on this or if you have an alternative idea.

I looking forward to having a good sort through.  Some of the stash will make it's way into my linen stash (I love the tea cosies) and the rest will be wash, pressed and sent on it's merry way.

If you are in Australia and wish to sign up, drop me an email with your address details to:

 

 alittlebitcountrynz (at) gmail (dot) com

 

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

 

*I will put my stash of linen that I am keen to swap into a travelling box and post it off to the first name on the list.

 

*For every item you remove from the box you will need to replace it with something.

 

*All items need to be clean.  And of course stain and hole free.  As with a lot of retro and vintage items there are sometimes age spots etc.  Some people don't mind this.  Just make sure you pin a note to your item so future swappers are aware.

 

*You need to be happy about paying the outgoing postage to the next person.  I will compile the recipient list so the next person to receive the Stash is as near to you as possible.

 

If everyone is still happy to go ahead - The Travelling Linen Stash will once again be on it's way!

 

Thank you to all the lovely ladies who participated in this swap - I hope you found some great vintage and retro linen to treasure.  xo

 

 

 

 

 

A cracker of a Christmas swap

I joined in with two swaps for the festive season.  I love these bloggy swaps - and it's always good to get some Happy Mail.

Tracy from the blog Mad About Bags hosted a Christmas Cracker Swap.  I was partnered up with Kimberley from Creative Chaos.  We had a good laugh about this as we have been partnered up for so many swaps.

Below is what I put together for Kimberley.

I filled the inside of the cracker with Chocolates and some Christmas craft pegs and wrapped it up with a Jamie Oliver tea towel (I know from her blog posts that she loves Jamie Oliver and tea towels).

Using the other tea towel I made up a parcel of treats that included a felted stocking decoration that I made, ginger biscuits, tissues, a wooden bird decoration, Christmas peg bunting and a recipe for fudge that I love to make.  I decorated the cracker and parcel with a artificial pohutukawa stem (native New Zealand flower) and mesh flower.  I hope she loved it, as I much as I enjoyed putting her Christmas Cracker and treats together.

Below is what Kimberley sent to me.  She knows me well and put together a really lovely cracker.

I love the reindeer decoration and heart magnets.  I'm thinking a girlie tea party with friends may be in order so I can put to good use the cup cake cases, mini flags and straws.  The stationery and stamps are sweet.....I will be hiding those as Bell has been eyeing them up!

 

 

Thank you Kimberley for being such a great swap partner (again!).  Even with the busy festive season it is always really nice to make time to do a couple of swaps.

 

Did you join in with any over December?

 

Do you know of any good ones out there in blog land at the moment that would be fun to join in with?

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Cracker swap

The weekend has begun  And it's a long one too!  I've just watched "Breakfast at Tiffany's" for the first time and loved it.  I always enjoy easing into a weekend with a good Friday night movie.

Here is another great swap to get into the swing of the very fast approaching festive season.  Head over to Tracy's blog Mad about Bags for her Cracker Swap.  Click here to read the details and to sign up.

Have a wonderful weekend, wherever in the world you are.  I have a list as long as my arm to tick off.......Mr H thinks he is in for a relaxing few days off............huh!  Little does he know!

Happy weekending! xo

"Send us Christmas" Swap

I know.........(insert eye rolls).  Don't panic - there is still plenty of time till Christmas.  But you know how much I love Christmas and a good swap to go with it.

Kimberley over at Creative Chaos is putting together a Christmas Swap.  Click on this link here to take you through to Kimberley's blog so you can read all the details of the swap and to sign up.  I will be, so don't be shy.

Just to let you know - sign ups close November 10th and parcels must be sent off by

December 10th at the latest.

This is open worldwide - you can let Kimberley know if you would like to post internationally or locally (where possible).

 

 

Go on!  Sign up, you know you want to!

 

 

 

 

A little bit of colour

We are into the first week of the school holidays here and it has been a really relaxing and enjoyable first few days (touchwood / crosses self).  May it continue into week two.

The grey and cold has set in but there have been a few colourful treats around these parts.....

50% off Orla Kiely, couldn't say no.  Scored this beautiful tin - and it's huge!  I love her homeware's but once the prices are converted into NZ dollars her items are a tad on the expensive side so I like to keep an eye out for sales - my friend L always messages me when she spots one.

I joined in with Miriam from Create Hope Inspire for her Little Bit of Colour swap.  I was sent a parcel of treats from Kimberley of Creative Chaos - I'm hoping my recipient has received her goodies.  Kimberley and I had a good laugh about this as we always seem to get partnered up, I'm not complaining as she always sends such amazing things.  Thank you Kimberley! xo

The knitted dishcloth now sits under my Coffee Pot, it's too pretty to wash dishes with.

And I found more of the Forest Glade vintage Crown Lynn Dinner Set......13 pieces!  I saved a search on Trademe and  a couple of days later these turned up.  About 30 minutes after I pushed the BUY NOW button, Mr H was having "a moment" in the kitchen over all my crockery and thinks I need to start collecting something that doesn't take up so much room.  Bloody cheek!  He hasn't seen these yet as he is away.  I'm going to set the dinner table with the set tomorrow night.  Can't wait to see his face as he never misses anything, ha!

Flowers picked up with the groceries, for the mantelpiece and table.  Love a little bit of pretty colour about the house.

Have a great week!

In the post box

This is most definitely the year of the swap!  I'm loving joining in with all the different swaps that are about and my latest one was a stationery swap organised by Lisa over at Sprouting Creative Wings. 

Not a lot comes by post these days, I tend to have my bills sent via email, so to wander out and find a package addressed to me is always a welcome treat.

My swap partner was Kimberley from Creative Chaos who I know well.  We have been swap partners before so it was easy to put something together for her.

My swap parcel from Kimberley included lots of lovely Cath Kidston items that I love - note cards, paper, writing set and a jam jar label kit that will come in handy.  I love the journal and other bits (yay for washi tape) included in my parcel.  Thank you Kimberley for once again being so very generous with your gifts xo

When putting together Kimberley's swap parcel I went for lots of bright colours.  She is studying at the moment and with winter here too I thought it would be a cheerful pick me up.  Below is what I sent, journal, notepads, doily stamp set, washi tape, pen and a selection of Isla and Olive cards.

I have this colour swap to package up and send out next.  I have loved collecting for this one and I'm aiming to get it sent out on time!

 

Thank you Lisa for organising such a great swap!

 

 

 

Winter slice and a vintage recipe swap

I recently joined in with Butter and Buntings vintage recipe swap.  I was partnered up with Mezz from Mezz Makes Stuff - she is an avid lover of retro too, so I think we were a good match.

The recipe I sent Mezz was for a Winter Slice from one of my favourite old school cookbooks called Gran's Kitchen.

I made it over the weekend for afternoon tea, but it is really good as a lunch box filler and can be enjoyed hot or cold.  You can change your fillings to suit and is great to have as a standby recipe for using up and leftovers.

Winter slice

You will need:

3 bacon rashers
1 large potato
1 large onion
1 cup cauliflower
3 eggs
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup oil
1 cup milk
1 cup tasty cheese, grated
Salt and pepper

Method:

Dice bacon and fry.  Peel, chop and steam vegetables.
In a separate bowl, beat eggs and lightly stir in flour, baking powder and oil until smooth.  Add milk, vegetables, bacon, cheese and seasoning, and mix to combine.
Pour into greased baking dish and place in oven for 30 minutes at 190C.


Another part of the vintage swap was to send a few kitchen goodies.  I wrote my recipe on the back of a piece of retro wallpaper and included a table cloth, serviettes, wooden spoon and enamel cup.

Mezz put together a beautiful assortment of retro tea towels and assorted cards. And the recipes for Simplicity Chocolate Cake and Easy Peasy Christmas Eggnog (can't wait to try this!!) were written on pages from Little Golden Books.

 

 

Also included was a copy of the Hundreds and Thousands magazine that Mezz is a part of.  It's a great little magazine celebrating all things handmade.

 

Thank you Mezz for my lovely parcel and Taz from Butter and Buntings for organising such a fun swap!