Greetings lovely friends & readers
Every year as Christmas approaches I plan to do a Giveaway & then time slips away on me. So this year I have decided to do it now (early) - so that I can allow time to post it anywhere in the world & it will arrive (hopefully) before Christmas.
I really enjoy my blog & the friendships I have made through this little corner of my world. I appreciate all of you that take the time to read my waffle ramblings, & especially those that leave me a comment. I have found nothing but kindness through all the folk I have "met" through this platform. So this simple little festive Giveaway is my way of saying Thank You to all of you ... if I could I would send you each a little parcel.
I have put together a small selection of festive bits & bobs, mostly handcrafted by me but some are purchased items. These will be posted to you beautifully giftwrapped & tied up with a tag.
I will post anywhere in the world - anyone may enter.
Here is what will be included in the parcel . . . . . .
A handmade Christmas Cracker (Tilda fabrics of course) filled with some gourmet choccies. This cracker can be untied & re-used for another gift, not thrown away like the store bought paper & plastic ones.
Two of my handknitted organic cotton washcloths & a knitted scrubbie in Christmas colours.
A gorgeous fragrant soap in a Tilda bag tied with a velvet ribbon & a snowflake charm
A rustic hanging (or sitting) wooden Christmas sign.
A set of 3 different sizes of my handmade wooden christmas tags.
A cotton towelling tea-towel or handtowel with a festive design.
I solemnly promise to remove any Ginger Cat hairs before posting the package & No Willie, I cannot include said Ginger Cat in the parcel when posting !! 😉
Please enter by leaving me a comment below. If you have any trouble getting your comment to publish then just email me at stitchedbyjulie@hotmail.com with your comment & I can copy & paste it.
Anyone may enter - I will post worldwide.
If you feel inclined, please tell me one thing you love about Christmas, but you don't have to share this - I am just nosey curious like that !
If your comment comes through as anonymous please remember to leave me your first name & country - eg ... Julie from New Zealand as I often get many anonymous comments.
The Mr will draw a name out of the teapot on Friday 22nd November so it gives me a month for the package to arrive at it's destination.
Last week I finished sewing 20 lined Christmas Stockings for my local Patchwork Store. She fills them with chocolates & donates to the Foodbank who put them in the boxes of families with children at Christmas time. I have another 10 cut out so am hoping I manage to finish these before the cut-off date on the 20th November. The store owner is hoping to reach 300 stockings again this year.
Some Christmas decorating began last week here at Threadbear HQ. I like to pull out the containers & unpack things into the lids as it helps to sort what-goes-where. It didn't take long for a certain ginger fairy to find the containers - a girl gets tired overseeing these things & has to have a nap along the way.
And some furry family members are just downright unhelpful !!! 😐
That's all for today dear friends - I have lots to share so I may do a series of catch up posts.
Wishing you all a wonderful rest-of-the-week,
With much love & friendship to you all,
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Lovely giveaway Julie. Love those cute little stocking. I can't pin it down to anyone thing i just love Christmas. :) :). Nice to see the furry helpers.
ReplyDeleteChristmas - I love the feeling of peace and calm when I am at home alone on Christmas Eve. After decades of shift work I really appreciate having the flexibility to get the last minute groceries first thing in the morning and the rest of the day pottering around doing the final Christmas jobs. I would be less than honest though if I didn't admit to often needing to use the day to put the final touches on Christmas gift sewing, always anxiously hoping to avoid any sewing machine malfunctions! Melanie from NZ
ReplyDeleteA beautiful festive post Julie!
ReplyDeleteIch freue mich darauf, dass nun die Vorweihnachtszeit mit vielen Vorbereitungen auf das Weihnachtsfest beginnen. Es ist eine schöne Zeit voller Spannung und Aufregung. Das Haus wird geschmückt, Geschenke werden vorbereitet. Die ganze Familie plant den Weihnachtstag, bei uns zu verbringen. Ja, ich liebe Weihnachten. Alles funkelt , glitzert und duftet besonders, Freude und Familie.
ReplyDeleteGerne hüpfe ich bei solch schönen Geschenken und Handarbeiten in den Lostopf.
Ich drücke dir die Daumen, dass du deine Strümpfe zum geplanten Termin beenden kannst und wünsche dir eine gute Zeit.
Herzliche Grüße aus einem kleinen Ort in Deutschland sendet Dir Petra
from google translate ....
DeleteI'm looking forward to the pre-Christmas season beginning with lots of preparations for Christmas. It's a beautiful time full of tension and excitement. The house is decorated, gifts are prepared. The whole family is planning to spend Christmas Day with us. Yes, I love Christmas. Everything sparkles, glitters and smells special, joy and family.
I would be happy to jump into the draw for such beautiful gifts and handicrafts.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you can finish your stockings on the planned date and I hope you have a good time.
Petra sends you warm greetings from a small town in Germany
Hi Julie!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful giveaway! I really enjoy time with family for Christmas and the beginning of the summer holidays! Hopefully some lovely time at the beach.
Jess.
Thank you , Julie. For the past years, I host a "Ladies Christmas Happy Hour," I invite friends, friends of my mother, and my daughter, and we spend an evening talking, laughing and just "being" with each other. I decorate the house, prepare an assortment of appetizers, serve wine, "Santaritas" (margaritas), and of course, a variety of desserts. This is my way to thank these varied women for their love and friendship during the past year, and hopefully make them feel special for the evening. I don't ask for anything to be brought, or exchanged. This is my Christmas celebration, and I look forward to doing it every year.
ReplyDeletePatricia USA
I love to see children happy faces at xmas.Its sad when they stop believing. your xmas goodies look beautiful. Ann from NSW
ReplyDeleteJulie you are so kind , in what you do a true giver .
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week hugs June.
Oh! Could'nt l have a ginger pussy~cat for just a few
ReplyDeletedays over Christmas...Bless! :)x
And goodness me Julie, what a lovely selection of
gifts, it'll cost you an arm and leg, if l won, and you'd
have to pay postage to me...up here in the North Pole...! :).
HeHe! Bless!x
I'm feeling quite Christmasy now....I usually wait until the
first of December, then l get going, first by building the
Christmas crib...and then on from there....and, my daughter
orders the calendars l need, the 'Godfather' one came this
morning, so l'm ready for 2025...! :).
⛄ 🔥 🎄 🎁 🧦 🔔 🎄🧑🎄🎅🎁 ⛄ 🔥 🎄 🎁 🧦 🔔 🎄
PS...
From Willie...Based in the North Pole....! :O).
I love the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. The songs the choir sings especially on Christmas Eve at the candle light service. The recipe for cookies that only get made at Christmas. The ornaments that have been handed down through generations, the neighbor hood Christmas party, the lighting of the Giant Christmas tree on the Green, where Frosty makes an appearance on a fire truck, awakening to grandchildren shouting..”it’s Christmas” very early, really early in the morning. The smiles on the shoppers, well there are some grumps, and the decorations in store windows and homes. The Birthday cake baked to honor the birth of the Saviour we celebrate. Oh, lastly all the beautiful creative gifts that people make and share. It’s a glorious time of the year.🍓Dotti in Connecticut
ReplyDeleteHow lovely and generous of you! I would be honored to take part in your giveaway!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I have 2 "helpful" little furry family members also.
Oh, what a fun bundle of goodies you have assembled, Julie! So generous. I would love to be entered to receive that holiday package from you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to include those stockings with food packages for families with wee ones. You have made so many, and have more to go? Very good of you to do that.
I am glad to see your holiday decorating is being supervised and aided by two such capable workers. LOL
I really enjoy reading your blog. You are so talented and generous. Love the cats, I have 2 an older gray lady and a younger calico. Penny from NY USA.
ReplyDeleteIt fascinates me how you can put together such beautiful goods with bits of this and that Julie. Each post is special - especially those near Christmas. We moved this year quite a way down country to be nearer family, and that is what will make Christmas and every day, extra special.. Thank you for your kindness to your readers.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet post. This melts my heart. Here in the US we have just had this horrid election season when we have been so divided more than ever before. We need to unite now as a people and try to do good in this world. If we remember the Reason for the Season, that of giving to others, it will help our own hearts to heal. We don't get happy by serving ourselves. The happiest of people are those who serve others. May we unite in giving our heart to our family, friends, and neighbors this season!
ReplyDeleteTish, Hi Julie just love the Christmas goodies. You are so organised getting things ready so early, but really good you have such helpful paws and whiskers to make sure the task is properly accomplished. Tish , UK.
ReplyDeleteOh, my, you have been so busy! And everything is SO pretty. You amaze me. I would love to be entered into this giveaway. Whoever wins will get a treasure trove!
ReplyDeleteOh what a lovely selection of goodies Julie, thanks for the chance to win them, your so generous, I actually got out some of my Christmas decorations to check them over, well the ones inside the house, I can't reach the ones in the garage, but yes a few eyes on snowmen needed hot gluing down hehehe. What a lovely thing the patchwork store lady does, and good on you for helping Julie, how cute are your stockings, I bet there will be a few people needing help this year. Thanks again Julie xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove the lights, cinnamon smells, greenery - everything! Especially family time; as everyone is so busy,, it gets harder to get together. Most of all - Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Thanks for such an amazing giveaway. Blessings . . .
ReplyDeleteWonderful post Julie, the little stockings you have made are great, I hope the shop gets the numbers they are wanting. Christmas is not a huge celebration here as I live with the Grinch (as you know) but I have started filling a Reverse Advent box collected by a church in Geelong. I think that is a great thing to do for Christmas. Would be more than happy to have the ginger helper come and stay for Christmas here!!
ReplyDeleteKia ora Julie
ReplyDeleteAlways so lovely and inspiring to read your blog. I check daily to see if you have posted on your blog.
I would like to enter the give-away.
I enjoy Christmas because to me it means uninterrupted family time.
Have a fabulous weekend
Nicky from Hawke's Bay
Those little stockings are such a great idea, I remember them from last year. I hope your friend gets to her 300.
ReplyDeleteLovely giveaway Julie,so generous. Well of course I would like to win, please!! Christmas to me is that midwinter celebration when the days are at their shortest and darkest - I am afraid a midsummer Christmas just doesn't read right haha. A lovely time to catch up with friends and family. xx
I just love Christmas for too many reasons. The Kiwi Christmas has taken a bit of adjusting, but I'm getting there.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie - Please Can you enter me in your giveaway? You know I would love anything made by you. I see your angel banner everytime I go into my sewing room which is every day. Sandy M, NY
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to Christmas now we will have been in the 'new' house for just over 12 months - i can finally get the decorations out that have not seen the light of day for years, what with packing up the house and selling, then renting...
ReplyDeleteI love the Christmas church services, particularly a midnight one...
Blessings
Maxine (just down the road)
Hello Julie, I'd love to go in to your draw. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a grouchy grinch at Christmas since I just can't have my family around, but I do love my hand made decorations. How cute are all those lovely stockings! you will be stockinged out by the end!
ReplyDeleteHugz
Fiona
Hello Julie .. thank you for the chance to enter your generous Giveaway. Anything you make is always so lovely. I always look forward to your posts & seeing what you get up to. Sarah USA xx
ReplyDeleteI love every single thing about Christmas & the holiday season - here we have white ones often & its just so special. Thank you for this wonderful kind & generous giveaway. Nicky from Lake Tahoe.
ReplyDeleteI love that my kids, who are in their early twenties, still get excited about bringing out the Christmas tree on 1st December and decorating it. If it is still packed away, they will nag my husband until he digs it out! I also have, since they were little, hung peppermint candy canes on the tree, which they are allowed to take, one a day, and eat. I still have to do this or I get in trouble :), and even guests love the invite to grab a candy cane on departure! Rebecca from Winston Hills, NSW
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful thing to do Julie. All your little stockings will bring some lovely festive cheer to those in hardship, which is sadly many. I am glad you furry quality control officers are on duty xxx
ReplyDeleteBarbara from Wyoming USA
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas season is always a favorite time of mine. Decorations, family, god, love and beauty are so special. Your gifts are so very nice. I have always crafted, quilted, knitted, crocheted and whatever all my life. I come from a long line of creative women. It would be so very nice to have your gifts, what a wonderful thing to share. Happy holidays to all.
A beautiful thing to do Julie.They are so lovely. Handmade is so special and loving and mean the world to me. I love making for gifts as well as you know. Christmas is the one time in the year that I love to decorate, bake, sew and share. Because we live in the Southern hemisphere we always have rather warm Christmas Days, my dream would be to go to the Northern Hemisphere and experience cold weather, snow. That to me is so special. This year will be a hard one for me Julie but I will be with family. Your furry friends are going to have a ball when that tree goes up in your house. Hugs
ReplyDeleteJulie, I love all your handmade items, you are so very talented. I love the Advent season, the lead up to the day. Baking smells remind me of growing up and Mom spending hours making all kinds of goodies.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thank you so much for a delightful giveaway. I especially like the handmade cracker. One of my favourite parts of Christmas is that every Monday night in December when my children were young, we would all snuggle on the sofa in pyjamas, watching a Christmas film, and eating special treats.
ReplyDeleteKay from England.
What a lovely thing to do. What I like about Christmas? Everything, I love Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYour hand made stockings are lovely Julie and will bring delight to many at Christmas. In fact, all your hand made goodies are delightful and you are very generous with your give away so thank you for the chance to enter. I enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas and spending time with family. Cheers from Janette, South Australia
ReplyDelete