Burrow House: a yankee swap

December 19, 2008

a yankee swap

So. We had our yankee swap last night at Erin's house. (thanks Erin!!!) And MAN was it amazing.

If you're not familiar with how a yankee swap works, it goes a little something like this. Each of the 7 of us drew a number to set the order of the gift opening. #1 then selects a wrapped present from the pile. #2 can then either select a wrapped present, or steal the gift from #1. #3 can then select a wrapped present, or steal the gift from #1 or #2. And so on. If your gift is in fact stolen, then you get to take a fresh prezzie. So, technically, the higher the #, the better.

There were 7 of us, so when I saw that I was 6th to draw I was thrilled. I was gunning for Erin's craft sight un-seen, because she had already told me that I was going to love it more than anyone else. But she had also already threatened me. Good-naturedly, of course! But hey! If Erin had already lost her chance to claim her own goods, well, who could blame me?

And then she drew the last draw. The jig was up.

There was a bit of thievery going on, but in the end, not by whom I thought.

The first package chosen was, of all coincidences, Erin's.

Lisa knew she was in trouble, but Marcia took mercy on her and opened a fresh gift. And got these.

Suzanne knitted this beautiful alpaca cowl, and these mitts. Yum! Okay, things just got hard.

Since we're all still playing nice here, Suzanne took a fresh prezzie.

And opened this painting from Rosalie. But, still playing nice, Rosalie chose the present that Brenda had made.

And out came this.

Amazing mosaic. This photo doesn't do the colors justice.

Brenda was up next, and stole this.

So Suzanne picked a fresh present.

It's a vintage suitcase that Marcia picked up at a local antique mall and covered in illustrations from a vintage book.

It just gets harder and harder. But it's my turn. AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!! I CAN'T TAKE THE PRESSURE!!! I know Erin is right behind me. Waiting. And I stole...

Rosalie's painting from Brenda, who then stole...

Erin's quilt from Lisa. Who then picked the present that I came with.

I named it the blister-maker. Seriously.

And then there was Erin. And she did something that I did not expect her to do. She let Brenda keep the quilt by taking the last. present. left.

How cool is that! A tiered dessert plate that Lisa made. From a birch log.

So, my friends, this ends another chapter of As the Swap Turns. Until next time...

Posted at 11:14 AM in craft swap | Permalink

Comments

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Great post! I was following the story all the way down. We don't do Yankee swaps here, but they look like fun.

Posted by: Frogdancer | December 19, 2008 at 02:58 PM

i was just getting ready this morning when it dawned on me - it's friday morning!!! i can go over to caroline's and get all the swappy details. thanks for the blow by blow - terrific. just like i was there. i love all the presents. that dessert plate might just take the cake though. i might have to make one of those.

Posted by: molly | December 19, 2008 at 03:00 PM

Oh wow, y'all are a lucky group of gals - everything made was wonderful. Really, there was no wrong choice!!

Posted by: beki | December 19, 2008 at 03:23 PM

you told the story so well....i'm just going to send everyone over here to see what i ended up with. you know i really wanted your button basket, right? xo.

Posted by: erin | December 19, 2008 at 04:56 PM

btw, i hate that photo of me.

Posted by: erin | December 19, 2008 at 04:57 PM

You guys are all so talented! I would love any and all of those things!

Posted by: Alexis | December 19, 2008 at 05:15 PM

I thought the same thing...I can't wait to see what happened at the craft swap...I need to find some local bloggy friends to do this with!

Posted by: jessica | December 19, 2008 at 06:08 PM

Me too, I thought Friday...hope Burrow House has internet with pictures. What a wonderful capture of the Yankee Swap and five-star craft genius....all the gifts are unbelievable...awe and inspiring. That cake plate has me thinking of a variation I had in mind ...and now I have to go for it. Did you really hand sew all those buttons together...amazing.

Posted by: coffeechris | December 19, 2008 at 06:39 PM

love the play by play! and shocked that there wasn't more stealing happening! you all are far too well behaved.

Posted by: emily | December 19, 2008 at 09:57 PM

I can easily and honestly say there were NO losers in the bunch but I am something of a quilt lover and it would have been so hard for me not to steal that quilt....seriously though...what an amazing time and how jealous I am of all of you.

Posted by: Dawn | December 20, 2008 at 01:19 AM

Posted by: Dawn | December 20, 2008 at 01:20 AM

Posted by: Dawn | December 20, 2008 at 01:21 AM

Wow Caroline, what a swap!
That large button basket was gorgeous. As soon as I saw it I ran away from the computer to my desk to pick up my very own one.I don't know if you know how much I love it. I mean, I LOVE it!
You are all so civilised, I think within my group there would be an all out frenzy :)
I hope you have just a fabulous Christmas - I'll be thinking of you. :)

Posted by: Beth Menna | December 20, 2008 at 05:47 AM