What the mail brought...

...in December!
Of course December mail was Christmas mail and maybe it is too late to show it but I want all my friends to know that I really appreciated all the things I received, wishes, letters, Christmas cards and presents. I have answered by e-mail to say that I received the parcels but I still owe letters, I know!And there are some people I never sent a Christmas card even but this year I really tried to send as less as possible as postage has gone so high that at times it isn't affordable.
So here are...

Gaby's card and gift from Scotland.Doesn't the Scottish flag look like the Greek one?My school keys are on this now.

 Johanna's Christmas card from Finland,

 Juliana's parcel from Scotland(I have worn this scarf so much this winter J&J)

And there are some great but very difficult patterns in this!

 J&J you sent so much thank you!

  I loved those dishes that you can see in the dark under UV light and filled with beach finds from Kos island.

 Juliana's Xmas card.

Juliana made lovely sea glass ornaments and I use this keyring for my home keys every day.

 Tua's card and driftwood reindeer from Finland,

 Christine's card from France,

 Ruth's card and vintage cross stitch book from Israel. (the book has lovely simple designs. I will use some when I start stitching again when Barca allows it!)

and a parcel from dear Marabeth.

which included this amazing vintage thrift store find. A cross stitch piece that shows the landmark of my city the White Tower and the Greek and American flag. This was probably stitched as a commemorative piece from a Greek lady and given as a gift or kept till not wanted any more. I am so glad Marabeth has an eye for great cross stitch pieces and she got me this!Thanks Marabeth!

 And this lovely cross stitched bag for my sea glass walks.

 Also another find of Marabeth's, a crochet bell for my tree. This year my tree was all cross stitch and crochet ornaments.

 And this lovely heart brooch.

 Cathy's card and letter.

 I loved those stamps.

 Kim's card and calendar.

 Andria's card, calendar and sea glass ornament.You can find similar ornaments and lovely jewelry at Andriasserendipity etsy shop.

 Brigitte's gifts and card. Go to objectifseychelles  if you want to organise yout holidays to the beautiful Seychelles.

 Again thank you all for thinking so warmly of me!

What the mail brought

As usual I am far behind with my mail...
there is always something else as a priority...
today for instance is one year after my dear father's-in-law death so we had to attend the memorial service...
Back in the end of September I received....
a letter with a beautiful bookmark from my dear pen friend Maria Jose from the Acores, Portugal!

In the beginning of October...
a letter from my new pen friend Andrea in the exotic Trinidad and Tobago!

and a letter with a postcard from my new friend Christine from France...

Then a lovely light box I bought from ILa Boom!It is gorgeous and is in reality much bigger than it looks in the pictures.Don't you love those stamps on the package?

 I've worked in Chalkida and it is such a gorgeous place!

 I chose this design because this little boy looks like my boy when he was little and I always dream of the sea!

Tatiana from ILa Boom has recently had a baby so I am taking the chance to wish her all the best here!

In the end of October I received...
a parcel from my dear Marabeth in the States who always considers my needs...
She knows how much I love making muffins (after she introduced them to me) and she sent me this muffin tray with 24 tiny cases and little paper cups so that I can make muffins for my students. You will see photos of my accomplishments with this later in the week!Thanks so much Marabeth...
Of course she added some cross stitch kits!

 I then received some lovely buttons I had ordered from this etsy Buzzy Bee shop. This was my first time to order buttons but I really wanted to add some to this year's Christmas cards.

In the beginning of November I received this cross stitch magazine from the Netherlands as an exchange of magazines with Ilaria aka IdaInteriorLifestyle blog..

 I have chosen some of these patterns for some of my Christmas cards this year. Unfortunately so far I have only made three!LOL!

I too sent Ilaria a magazine before receiving hers.
I sent her this magazine called Etsi Apla (Simply so). It is a handicraft magazine I don't buy very often but it is reasonably priced and with lots of nice ideas.

 I turned it into a package with this instructions manual paper from something I had bought.

 I added some dried flowers, a Greek bookmark and this lovely card by Anna from LilaRubyKing , in which I coloured one part.

I am sorry I have not written to many of my pen friends yet, I hope I will for Christmas!