Christmas Presents!

I have waited a shamefully long time to post this, but better late than never, and I would like to share some of the wonderful gifts I received for Christmas (the Sylvanian ones, that is!)

The very first gift I got for Christmas was this special parcel from one of the members of the Sylvanian Families collectors forum, HThistlethorn.  She was my partner in an organised Christmas gift exchange that some of us do each year.  Look what she sent!

So many sweet little cross-stitched works of art!

She put an incredible amount of work into these, and many little families have been very excited to receive beautiful rugs, wall hangings and table mats to grace their homes.  

My next surprise was from Jackson Butterglove, another forum member, as part of our annual Christmas card exchange.  With my card, Jackson sent a tiny book of real sheet music - songs from the musical two of his critters wrote (this was part of a series of his stories).  He included a note saying that the little book was a gift for Hugh Grunt, who as you may remember is very keen on musicals!  Here he is, showing off his new prized possession:

On Christmas Day, there were more gifts!  I was very excited to receive a family of giraffes from my Dad and his wife - I was very much hoping for these!  They also gave me a cute storybook.  :)

I also waited for Christmas Day to open an amazing package from my forum friend Terra.  She sent me a family of sloths, which is wonderful as we do not get the sloth family in Australia.  They have such cute little friendly faces!  There was also a special Park baby (which are sold in the Sylvanian Families theme park in Japan) - she very fittingly chose a grey rabbit baby for me  :)  But perhaps most exciting of all were the family of Yule Rabbits!  These rabbits are green-accented Christmas customs that Terra made herself using spare Chocolate Rabbit figures.  She sent them naked, as she knows I like making clothes for my figures.  They are very very special, and I will have to put my best crafting brain on to come up with some fitting outfits for them!

Not to be outdone, my daughter Caitlyn Hazelnut presented me with the most beautiful dress and bonnet she had made herself:

Here it is being modelled by a Chocolate Rabbit Town girl - doesn't she look special?

Clearly I will have to get to work on my (much-neglected) next instalment of Sylvanian Pride & Prejudice!

And finally, just last week my holiday card from another forum member, Florence, made it here.  In it, she had included the most beautiful tiny handmade shawl...

I am just in AWE of the work in this.  It's amazing.  Here it is being modelled by Madison Hamilton, although I'm not sure yet which critter will get to keep it...

So many talented people on the Sylvanian forum!

I feel very humbled to have received such beautiful gifts from so many lovely people!  Thank you all very very much.  I look forward to many more years of sharing this delightful hobby with you all.

Happy New Year, everyone!