Secret Santa Gifts

Oh don't you just love Secret Santa exchanges?  It was my favorite part of Christmas at the office, and......since I no longer work......I now miss out on that.  But Debi Huntsman in my MAMA group hosted a swap this year and I was so excited to participate!  The swap was to create a handmade embellished bag and fill it with Christmas goodies that must include an ornament and a sweet. For my bag I created a purse and embellished it with vintage lace, doilies and flowers and a little jeweled star. 

Here is the stash of goodies that I included.  My sweet was the candy cane heart that is created by melting two candy canes together and adding melted white chocolate.  Pinterest has so many wonderful Christmas sweets ideas like this one!  I LOVE Pinterest!

My girlfriend Lorraine and I created these little mini bags our of scrapbook paper. We added this little origami tree.  This bag is filled with Trader Joe's Peppermint Truffles - amazing! 

 My handmade ornament was this Christmas Shoe. Sorry it's hard to see - it is packaged in a clear bag.  And the little glass glitter reindeer is one of my favorite finds this year - I had to buy a few for myself too!

I made a Christmas Cracker out of a toilet paper roll.  This one is filled with lace and ribbons.  Melanie was the recipient of this package.

Happy Holidays to you and your family - I hope that you all have a Secret Santa in your future!

Linking with Pink Saturday.

Lacey Cuff

I'm still on a sewing spree!  Here is a lace cuff that I made for my partner, Thespa, in the Marie Antoinette Mail Art group.  My good buddy Lorraine hosted this swap, and the challenge was to create a bracelet out of lace and fabric and vintage goodies. My cuff was created with a special wool felt and some vintage lace. I love making the folded rosettes with all different kinds of ribbons and fabrics, and for this piece I used one make out of a twill ribbon to anchor it in the middle.  It is surrounded by a lace rosette and a felt rosette.

My favorite part about MAMA swaps is that it challenges me to try new things.  My sewing machine was downright dusty before this, and now I have regained my confidence that I know how to use the thing and am sewing more cuffs, purses and other accessories.  It's a blast!

A very happy Pink Saturday to the wonderful link party participants - you have really been so sweet with all of your comments and have inspired me to keep up this blogging thing.  Thanks so very much for your visits!