Spooky Time!

Yay, I just love Hallowe'en, and I tell you, these Brits don't really go for it in a big way, so I struggle. I've lived here for 10 years and not once, NOT ONCE, has my bell ever been rung or my door rapped on Hallowe'en to reveal little trick-or-treaters. Can you believe it?? So, when the opportunity came to join a couple of Hallowe'end exchanges, of course I signed up straight away (no no, not regretting it, but truth be told both of them have yet to be posted *grimace*).

But guess what, my HOE Hallowe'en Exchange has arrived! My partner ended up being Paula, and it turns out we've had some eerie pseudo-coincidental happenings in our lives - I live the UK, but I'm not British. Paula has lived in the UK too, and she's not British either! I lived in East Anglia for while - so did Paula (East Anglia - just FYI it's the eastern part of England, just under halfway up). Paula now lives in Washington State - and I'm from British Columbia, only a stone's throw away! Spooky, eh? Okay, admittedly not that spooky, but work with me here I'm trying to get into the Hallowe'en swing of things :)

Paula made up a very cool package for me, and the crowning glory was the pinkeep she stitched for me - she used a Bent Creek freebie called 'Owl on an Egg' which I absoultely love - just check out this masked owl!

And look at the fabric Paula used for the reverse - see, he's in a tree!


I love the ribbon she used to surround the pinkeep - I've tried to take this next shot to make the ribbon more obvious - it's so beautifully vibrant.


But do you think she stopped there, with this wonderfully stitched and expertly finished pinkeep?? No, she did not, she continued to spoil me rotten (it's like a state of grace for me, I never say no to rotten spoilage!)

LOOOOK: 2 charts, a skein of seasonal floss, some Hallowe'en stickers, 3 fat quarters of seasonal fabric, some Hallowe'en treats (hidden away from husband's greedy fingers straight away), and the Hallowe'en issue of JCS (which is difficult to find here, so doubly appreciated!). Thank you so much Paula, I absolutely love it all and I am delighted that you were my partner for this exchange!

Now, in order to avoid the guilt, I must head off and finish these 2 Hallowe'en exchanges that are very soon due - including the HOE one. I will be back in a couple of days to update you on all the secret stitching that I have done in August and September - not a single stitch in anything for myself since the end of July! So lots to share, but time is of the essence - get cracking Stephanie!

Happy stitching!