Christmas Gifts Received

I received several wonderful handmade items and craft books for Christmas this year and I thought I'd share them with you.  As you can tell from the bookmarks, I've already picked out some projects to make from the books!

First up:

Amy Butler's Style Stitches

The Beader's Bible by Dorothy Wood
My newest want-to-do hobby!

Simple Glass Beading by Dorothy Wood

 Now, to the handmade items!  First, is a make-up bag my stepmother made.  She even used some of that fusible vinyl on it so it would stay nice and be easy to clean!  Isn't it pretty with all the embroidery on it?

Next, are some bobby pins that oldest dear daughter beaded and gave to me.  They look really nice when I wear my hair up in a French twist, which I do frequently!

I thought that this scarf was very interesting.  One of my husband's co-workers made it and gave it to me.  It's quite simple, but very clever.  All it has are multiple types of yarn knotted together intermittently--no knitting, no crocheting!  The various yarns are simply lined up together and about every 12" they are knotted together.

Finally, this wasn't really a Christmas gift, but a very nice beginning to the holidays.  At the beginning of November, my local American Sewing Guild chapter held a drawing for a gift basket for all of the Shop Hop participants who went to all the shops.  Guess who won????!  Yes!  It is truly a terrific basket, filled with donations from the various shops who were in the hop.  It also included three very, very generous gift cards to sewing stores!!!!!!!  I was SO surprised and pleased.