Special Secret Santa gifts 2006~

My Secret Santa from 2006 was good to me too!! Nova was 18 months old here...and what?? No cats? They must have been curled up on the bed. Just look at what they missed out on!

A great decorative box full of goodies. I love the box,(so ME!), and I later found a hat box to match, woohoo! Inside was an Old Country Roses plate, which you see in my kitchen in a lot of pics that I pose for vintage clothing shots...but here's one of just the plate vignette~


I also unwrapped some beautiful butterfly ornaments, CHOCOLATE, a pretty battenburg angel ornie, some apple butter (that didn't last long!), a cute Christmas pillow, a little gingerbread bag with mints, and a lovely hanky!




My dear gift giver that year was Mary from Here's Home. Tho I beleive her blog is private.... Thanks you so much again for the lovely treasures that year Mary!

Special Secret Santa gifts 2007~

I'm glad everyone enjoyed my gifts from Becca as much as I did! Be sure to check her blog, as she got much better shots than I did!

Now I'll share my gifts from my 2007 Secret Santa, Joy of The Wipple Company Store. She really spoiled me good too! Pay her store a visit and watch the renovation.

I had helpers that year as well. Melly cat was the curious one that time, while lazy Katie snoozed on the chair. Nova was 2, and looked so cute in his cowboy jammies, which he of course then added the boots and hat.

Since I have SO much blogland catching up to do, I'm going to cheat and share a slideshow since it's less time consuming.

I recieved so many wonderful things. A cute Secret Santa book, gifts for Nova, a pretty teal teacup and saucer (with some wonderful tea!), Gone With the Wind sheet music which I actually did NOT have!! That beautiful lipstick holder that you saw in this Marie Antoinette inspired Pink Saturday post, a handbag hook, gorgeous bookmarks, an awesome antqiue book, cowboy ornies for my western themed tree and vignette, an adorable pink fur capelet, and included was some really cool victorian/gwtw looking wrapping paper.
I felt quite pampered! Thanks again Joy!! I enjoyed looking back through these photos, just like I was unwrapping them all again!

Remember to click the four little arrows box in the lower right hand corner of the slideshow after hitting play to see it BIG!

Special Secret Santa gifts~

For the past few years, a small magazine reviewing group I belong to has been doing a Secret Santa Swap. A lovely bunch of girfriends that I chat with and exchange decor, craft, and tea ideas.

Just take a look at what my dear Secret Santa spoiled me with this year!!!

First glance into the box, once I removed the top layer of bubble wrap~



Ooo, what's this? A little tin with a sweet couple dancing on top~ hmm... she knows I like Marie Antoinette and that era!



Lookie what's inside! A pretty note card, vintage buttons, and a vintage rain bonnet in a darling little case. If my memory serves me right, I think my Secret Santa posted this rain bonnet find on her blog once and I commented on how I used to have one and used it for a Barbie purse! I was so excited to see it in my package!



Next I found this cute little bottle that she had embellished herself, I believe that's a vintage velvet flower from an old hat adorning the top!

(Have you noticed I had helpers? Katie and Nova were very curious to see what mommy got.)



The jar was filled with buttons! I know I took a photo, but cannot find it now.... oh well, on to the next gift!

An adorable little cottage that she painted for me. I love it! Oooo, so glittery!



Another view~ these pics don't do it justice!



Shall we peer back into the box? So many things, all wrapped so beautifully...



Lookie, a Santa! C'mer Nova...

And such CUTE Santa paper with a very special gift tag sporting vintage Christmas cowboy kids riding a sled!







What is it little man?

Oooo.... Cars glitter crayons, coooool!

Here's a better pic of the tag, along with a great Santa tag. (I loved the glittery Santa tag and was thrilled to find the same ones at Target!) I stuck the cowboy card in the tree.

Meanwhile, Katie is pouting under the tree. I guess she got bored, there's nothing in that brown box for her...

Nova also got this squishy frog~ I love the look on his face as he squishes with all his might and makes it's eye bug out, lol!

...and then puuulllllls it's stretchy arms! What a fun toy!

Ok, while Nova is busy coloring in his new Christmas book, and Katie is now placated in the empty box, I can get back to MY gifts!!!




Stunning vintage jewels!!



Which I found inside this pretty perfume box,



Hope you're still here, there's some really pretty things coming up...


Check out this vintage wrap; some sort of vinyl type stuff. Perhaps an old tablecloth or place mat? Maybe my secret Santa can tell us!



Inside was this GORGEOUS vintage crocheted butterfly yoke from an old nightgown. Most likely from the late teens or early 20's. It has the original pink silk ribbon; perfectly tattered and shappy!


I would like to add the cotton nightgown to it some day, or maybe a dress. For now I'll display it as is! Here's how it may have appeared years ago~




Here we have lovely wrapped gifts. I hate to tear them apart! The folded paper placemats are such a GREAT idea!

In one placemat was two vintage postcards, (or what was once on a card of some sort), and victorian rose stickers.

While opening the next one, I noticed the beautiful shaddow as the light cast through the lace paper. Tucked everywhere were precious hand written notes. I sat and relished in the moment for a while, feeling quite special!

Dying to know what was folded up inside?! Just look!

I found a perfect place for it here... a quick sneak peek at the bathroom. (click on bathroom in the lables under this post to learn more.)Yes, it's done but it's not decorated. So no big reveal yet, sorry!! *snicker*

The next item made my eyes well up with tears. The vintage card reads, "Pledge of Friendship".

And last but not least, an amazing hand crafted doll....of..... MOI! How CUTE is that?!

It makes me think of a vintage victorian Carmen Miranda, I just LOVE it!

To put it bluntly, I really cashed in on the loot eh?? So, you wanna know who my secret Santa was?

Huh, huh??

Why, none other than Becca...Of Bluebirds and Roses. I cannot thank you enough Becca, I cherish each and every gift and the time you put into them. I'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends. And thank you Brad for Nova's gifts!! He was quite the happy camper!

Stay tunned and I'll share the past few year's SSS gifts with you, along with what I sent! Believe it or not, I had BECCA's name this year! So you might wanna hop on over to her blog and check it out!