Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The Giveaway that never arrived :(

A couple of months ago I felt very moved to do a giveaway. It had been a while since I had done one and it was my way of saying thank you to this lovely blogging community for the years of friendship and support that many of you had given me.
 
The lovely Cucki had won it and so I set about choosing a design I thought she would like and thinking of small trinkets to go with it. So you can imagine how my heart dropped when I had sent it off only to discover that there had been a post office strike in South Africa and poor Cucki did not receive the pretty gift I made her. :( :( :( :( I was completely devastated and held off until now to show what I had made - just in case that little gift appeared and spoiled her surprise.
 
But no - I think it has gone for good. And so, I have decided that I will show and tell what I made anyway. I am so sorry for you Cucki but this is what you should have got :( :( :(

 
It is a Barbara Ana design called Fall Biscornu. Cucki had said she loved fall colours so I tried to match the design to her likes.

 
These are a few extras I put into the package. Again, I tried to match everything to a fall theme.

 

 
A last look! I am so sorry this did not get to you Cucki. I am very sad.
 
So you can imagine what with the last exchange I was involved in with the certain person not coming though on her part and then this happening... I have lost the heart for exchanging and giveaways at the moment. Hopefully, in the new year, I might get back the big and offer another one out.
 
And just for an update, here is my Cosy CAL update:
 


 
 
Oh the colours!!! They are so vibrant and I have to say that I am enjoying every single row. They remind me of a Moroccan Bazaar. My husband thinks this is for him and keeps wrapping himself up in it. Errrr... don't think so mister. This one is for keeps methinks.
 
Other news is that I have managed to tick off a couple of things from the list of to-dos but there are things that now need adding on.
 
My dd has developed an interest in The Hunger Games and has decided that I need to make her a Katniss Cowl. Well, I have seen several here (too complicated) and here (tad too expensive?) but have decided on a slightly different design which you can see here. I have had a look at the pattern and think I can do it. I can do FPDC and BPDC but I might get myself a bit stuck on row 7 but I will deal with that when I get to it.
 
I have also decided that I want to try and make my sisters (I have 2) a blanket each. I have decided on two of Lucy's lovely ripple blankets as it means I don't have to think about patterns and colours. The Cottage one and the Coast one.  But, and here's the but, one of my sisters has fallen out with me and I am not even sure she will appreciate a blanket. I mean, what if she throws it away? or hides it in a cupboard? or just doesn't receive it from me? Hmmmmm. I am umming and ahhing over this. On one hand I thought it would make a nice peace offering but on the other.... pah! I don't know. What do you think?
 
Well that's all from me for this week. I really REALLY need to get some ornies finished for Christmas gifts and I also want to make sure I am ready to go for the next stage of the CAL at the weekend.
 
Hope you are all fine and dandy.
 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

18 comments:

Shirlee said...

Oh Hazel ... & Cucki ... how devastating! I had this same thing happen to me a few years ago. I spent a lot of time & thought into sending someone a box of gifts for Christmas & it was never received : ( I have had packages not arrive that were sent to me as well. This is why I'm so paranoid about insurance & signature confirmation now. I hope the package might still turn up. My husband once sent a Christmas gift to his little cousin at Christmastime & she didn't receive it until the following Christmas!

Mii Stitch said...

Oh dear, it is so unfair... like Shirlee, I am too always sending my gifts with insurance and signature. It's more expensive but always arrive. We spend a lot of time making these, it's heartbreak when they don't reach the recipient.

Vickie said...

Oh my! Let's hope it arrives still. Cucki had something show up one year late earlier this year.
That blanket is wonderful.
I would go ahead and make the blanket for that sister. You never know what might happen in the following weeks. Holidays have a way of bringing family back together sometimes.

Annie said...

That is so annoying to we stitchers. I had a package to S. Africa disappear as well one time..way too long ago to expect it to ever turn up. And such a shame, when your biscornu is a real cutie.

valerie said...

So sorry that your gift didn't reach it's destination. So frustrating! That biscornu is so cute. And your blanket is lovely...the colorful stripes are so much fun and the warmth is an added bonus!

ruthsplace said...

It may still turn up, it's a very lovely prize.

I understand that the postal strike is still on going, so I wouldn't lose hope just yet.

Also, I lived in South Africa for a few years and sometimes things took 6 months to reach us, they would turn up long after we had given them up for lost.

I hope your gift finds it's way.

Margaret said...

What a bummer about the package never arriving! :( We can hope it shows up one day in the future. I love your afghan! So so gorgeous! I need to refresh my crochet and try to make one too..... Not happening at the moment. Sigh.

Christine said...

Oh how sad! Maybe it will still turn up.
The blanket is gorgeous

Maggie said...

I'm so sorry your gift was lost in the post, after all the effort put into making something this is so frustrating!

Mmmm, i would think twice about spending time and money on something that you think won't be appreciated, even though it is your sister. That's just my opinion though.
x

Giovanna said...

What a huge disappointment, for both of you :-( It was a delightful giveaway, how sad.

Annette-California said...

Oh so sad for you & Cucki! The biscornu you made her was so cute and lovely gifts. Hopefully it will still arrive.
Your blanket is beautiful - happy colors:) I would still make the blanket for your sister. Just in case things work out between you both, you will have a special gift for her on hand. And if you both don't work things out by Christmas - you can still wrap it and save it for her for the future. This is the season of Miracles! love Annette

Melissa said...

Oh what a shame! I had this happen but it was only a chart sent and not something handmade and precious.

The biscornu you made is very cute and such a lovely package too.

A Rainbow blanket! It will be much appreciated during the dark cold winter days to come!

Stitchabilities said...

Hopefully it will turn up one day. It is a lovely biscornu xx
I would still do the blanket as you never know, your sister may decide to talk to you again. xx

Lynn B said...

Hi Hazel,

How terrible this gift failed to arrive, I too would be upset if that happened.
I also understand how upsetting it is when people don't do their half of the exchange, this has never happened to me but once I sent a gift for an exchange and the person "never bothered" to let me know it had arrived. I spent a few weeks worrying it had got lost in the post and then decided to email the organiser, she chased it up and the person "just forgot to let me know", hence the reason why I do fewer exchanges now.

Gillie said...

Don't give up, Hazel, I sent a travelling pattern to Thoeria and it finally made it there! Lovely stitching!

Angela said...

That's awful when the things we take the time to create are lost in the mail but you did send a beautiful finish and I do hope it does arrive one day :)

Love the granny stripes blanket, might have to try crochet!

Unknown said...

That is so gutting. Perhaps it will still show up in time for Christmas. It really is a lovely, thoughtful giveaway. Perhaps the blanket would be a nice peace offering for your sister? I think she'd have to be very cross to throw it out. If you're really unsure perhaps a ripple cushion is a nice in-between xx

Brigitte said...

It is so sad that your wonderful little package for Cucki has just disappeared. It is always so disappointing when such a thing happens to a gift that we carefully and thoughtfully assembled.
Very nice progress on your blanket.