12 Days of Christmas swap, Day 5 and two giveaways

Before I open today's package, I want to let everyone of my readers and followers know about two wonderful giveaways being offered in blogland. Just like every other giveaway I tell you about, neither of these come with any strings attached.

Because Patty's giveaway ends first, I'll list it first. Her New Year's Giveaway includes so many goodies I'd be here all day. So please stop by Patty's Magpie's Nest and enter for a chance to win all these goodies by January 6. And just to be clear, here is what Patty wrote:

all are welcome to join in…near or far…even if you’ve won something here before…no need to have a blog to play along…just be sure I have a way of contacting you…

The other giveaway is given by Marilyn Rock who is offering one of the most beautiful mixed media pieces I've seen. Everything about this piece screams "lovely." Per Marilyn's instructions, "all you have to do is comment here . . ." so hop on over and enter for your chance to win.

Good luck to all who enter these awesome giveaways. Now let's open some packages!

My UK friends would call this day 6, but we started opening our gifts on December 26, so we will complete the swap on January 6, which is Epiphany.


Day 5 is wrapped in tissue and there's a matching gift for me (as the host). This one is from Marilyn, who lives in Australia. Again, I don't believe Marilyn has a blog.


This is one lovely piece that my camera simply cannot pick up the detail on. The five golden rings and hearts rest on some lovely raised paper that has been swiped with gold ink or possibly paint. I swear this is a beautiful and detailed piece and I was unable to capture the depth, detail, and design. This is Marilyn's first time swapping with me, and I am totally impressed with her art. Additionally, hers was the package that had the furthest to travel.


Marilyn sent everyone a gift, too. Isn't that a cute little clothes pin? She explained to me that she got these in Australia and they don't make them anymore. Along with that, are three bunches of hand dyed ribbons. I probably should have untied them so you could see how lovely they are, but hindsight is always 20/20.

I stand corrected about a statement I made regarding yesterday's post. Michelle, who made the awesome hybrid art square I had so much trouble photographing, has a blog called Ponderings of a Mind. PLEASE, please visit Michelle's blog because her photographs are stunning and so detailed. Not only that, she writes lovely reviews of each of the art squares after she unwraps them. But that is not the only reason to visit Michelle's blog. She has some lovely pieces made for challenges like the Three Muses, Mixed Media Monday, Wednesday Stamper, Sunday Postcard Art, and Art on the Darkside. She draws, sketches, paints, collages, and makes digital art. I am only sorry I just now learned of Michelle's blog, because I will be visiting often. I hope you will stop by Michelle's Ponderings of a Mind if for no other reason to check out the lovely 12 Days gifts that are photographed so stunningly.