Must be me and Oregon!

Cooky...where oh where did you find the "carry on" charm??? This pin/ornament is just TOO sweet.

OOOOHH, I live close to Mickey and Minnie, maybe it's me!!!!

Every birthday my DD gives me a gift certificate to my LQS so I can buy what I want. I certainly consider that a wonderful, thoughtful gift. Each to his/her own - lets not judge.

It was at Hobby Lobby. They had a free-standing display in the main aisle by their beads and charms section. It had all kinds of Christmas and holiday charms on it, and this was among them. I picked up two with the SS exchange in mind.

I've looked everywhere for a Keep Calm and Quilt On charm but haven't had any luck yet. Even asked at HL and Joann, but no luck.

SheriR, don't be intimidated by your Santee's skill level / experience. I felt the very same way in a swap as I was last year, and was feeling very insecure about making her items, knowing that her skills were far better than mine. Some words of wisdom that I actually have hanging on my sewing room wall helped ! :

" Don't Compare Your Beginning, To Someone Else's Middle ! "

Have fun !! We quilters are a pretty easy going and friendly bunch ! I am sure she will love anything you send !

I hope NO ONE is feeling intimidated by the picture of my brooch/ornament! Believe me, its craftsmanship is far from perfect, and if you could inspect it in person you'd see it for yourself.

A handmade gift is special, because you've given of yourself along with the gift and made something especially for someone else that they can't go out and buy in a store. I'd treasure anything my SS made for me, and I venture to say that everyone here feels the same.

I have very few clues from my Santee so I am going to make/buy what I think anybody would like. I know what she doesn't like so it should be ok. Her box is partially filled, am waiting for delivery of some fabric I think she will like plus some "other things".
Jaba, I sympathize with you. This is the second year in a row where I have a Santee that doesn't respond on the board. Maybe she works or other things are taking her time up, won't judge, just hope everything is ok. Maybe she is shy? I remember when I first started to post on the board, I was very scared that I would say the wrong thing.
Now? Take me as I am! OK to the hole I go! Hope some of that fudge is left! Yum! Yum!

It's a lot different, when one enters a public GIFT swap, which has rules. Joining the swap, implies willingness to abide by those rules. It's not 'judging,' to expect folks to respect the rules of a swap, which they voluntarily join.

I think maybe I was misunderstood, I'm not judging her, I just wish I knew more about her. I really like to personalize my gifts so they are definately for the person I am sending to, just like most of you do also. I do have the colors she likes so I will come up with a few things that hopefully she will like and be able to use. Nothing wrong with a gift card either...the item she really wants or needs may be more than the budget so that will help with the cost.
Just been a hectic week and am really not in a good place right now. To explain a little, my brother, who is my only sibling, passed away yesterday. I just need to get through this and then reorganized in thought. If I have offended anyone, it was not intentional and I do apologize.