A Christmas gathering is good for the soul

Last Monday, our sewing group got together for our final sewing day for 2013.  We decided we would hold our Christmas gathering at a gorgeous little old Queenslander, known as the Tumbetin Tea Rooms at the Palmetum in Townsville, so that none of us had to cook or wait on anyone else, we could all be pampered and just sit , sew, eat, drink and be merry! It’s a gorgeous little cafe set in an old Queenslander in the grounds of the Townsville ‘Botanical Gardens’ for palms! We decided a while back we’d have a Santa Swap within the group so we only had to make one gift for someone else.  But along with that, we chose to gift something to eat, something to read, something to smell, something for the sewing room and our special gift made just for the recipient.  We drew names out of the hat and I got to choose first…..and even though it was a random, anonymous choice, I picked out Jenny!!! And it even worked out that Jenny picked me and Michelle and Heather picked each other!!!!! Here are my gifts ready to go for Jen… …and here we all are, set up for the day…… my gifts to Jenny…. Jenny’s gifts to me Heather’s gifts to Michelle….. and Michelle’s gifts to Heather…. Michelle had made each of us a cute mug rug and gave us a mug filled with Christmas goodness……… But before we could open our gifts, we had to have morning tea…….I devoured a yummy chocolate brownie and coffee….. …*burp*……. before we opened our first gifts……..something to read…. I got a wonderful devotional with the cutest little magnetic bookmark and coaster Some of us just couldn’t contain our excitement!!!!!!!……. *heehee*  we all do love that cheeky girl…….. ….before we got to open the next ones……something to eat….. a gorgeous mug (to go with my coaster and mug rug!!) with some individually portioned tea selections…..yummy rose, lemon & myrtle and other delicious kinds along with some teeny pots of jam!!!!! Something smelly revealed some sandalwood fragrance sachets and handmade soaps tied up with vintage lace……swoon!!!!! Something for the sewing room had me intrigued…… my very own copy of Fabled Fusions by Michelle May…..Yippeeeeee…..I’d been eyeing this off online!!!!!! along with a pear colour keeper……..we both laughed heartily over this one……when Jen opened her pack, she had one I’d bought her!!!!  Talk about great minds……..we’re a pair of pears, aren’t we???? The last gift was our handmade one……. I was gobsmacked when I opened my present to receive this gorgeous wall hanging……Sew Seeds of Love….. Isn’t it adorable????? Here are Michelle’s gifts from Heather…. Jen’s from me…… (notice the pear??? still makes me giggle!) and Michelle’s gifts to Heather….. notice the framed stitchery Michelle designed and stitched???? So personal, it shows all of us (makes me feel like one of the 80’s cartoon characters…..if only I REALLY looked like that!!!! LOL) ….isn’t it an amazing gift????   Jen and I have both put in orders for our birthdays!!!! *hint hint Michelle*!!!!! We sent ‘wish you were here’ messages to friends afar….. before stopping for lunch (after a bit of stitching mind you!!!)….a yummy chicken camembert filo with salad……. and a darling pot of tea!……notice the teeny tiny bottle of milk???…..just adorable!!!!  I enjoyed the tea all the more because of that!!!! So many people came up to us in the cafe and admired our stitching and said how lucky we are to be able to go out and enjoy our stitching in cafes with friends……we TOTALLY get that, don’t we????   It IS the best…..can’t wait for next year! If you ever get the chance, join a few friends(or even just one!) once a month, or more if you can, just to join together in girly fun, food and fellowship and some stitching thrown in for good measure……..it is the best thing for the soul….I promise! Sugary hugs xox :o)