December 16, 2009

Book Bloggers Holiday Swap - Presents Galore!


For the first time I participated in the Book Blogger Holiday Swap this year. I do love giving and receiving presents but I also love the new connections that are made when gifts are swapped.

I picked up my parcel from the post office this morning and I was very excited to see that my gift had come all the way from Canada (a country I have never been to but would definitely love to one day as my best friend has been there and raves about it!) and from Karen at Sassymonkey Reads - who was also the blogger I was santa for!

Karen sent me some beautiful gifts as you can see in the photo above; a funny Christmas card with the most adorable puppies, a box of cinnamon mints which made the whole package smell wonderfully christmassy when I opened it, The Underpainter by Canadian author Jane Urquhart and the most amazingly cool bookmark I have ever seen (you can see it just sticking out of the top of the book in the photo with the jewel section that is attached to it at the bottom of the photo).

Karen thank you so much for all of my wonderful gifts - they are beautiful and I appreciate the thought and effort you have taken in sending them to me. I am especially excited about the book as I have not read any of Urquhart's writing before but I love reading books that have anything to do with art and I am actually thinking about joining in The Art History Challenge next year so this will be perfect. I also love your idea of sending a book by a writer from your home country - I wish I had thought of that!!

Happy Holidays!!

9 comments:

Paperback Reader said...

How lovely and thoughtful! Sending a Candian writer was such a great idea and how serendipitous that you were each Santa for one another!

Nadia said...

What a great gift! I think its wonderful she sent you a book by a Canadian author. And that bookmark looks lovely!

claire said...

Funny, I was just flipping through the pages of The Underpainter a few moments ago, thinking about when I should finally read it. I have only read one Urquhart before and loved it. Am hoping The Underpainter is as beautiful, for both of us.

April said...

What awesomely fun gifts! Love the bookmark as well and the book looks so good!! Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

That's so funny you had each others names! I hope you enjoy your new book :)

Anonymous said...

What lovely gifts!

Karen said...

Hi Claire - I know!! I thought that was actually quite cool that we sent gifts to each other.

Hi Nadia - The bookmark is gorgeous - I haven't seen one like it at all before so I feel very special.

Hi Claire - I hope so too! The description of the book sounds beautiful so that is a great start.

Hi April - thanks!!

Hi alitareads - I thought that was pretty funny - and cool - too.

Hi softdrink - they are lovely. I'm feeling very spoilt right now.

Anonymous said...

Yay! It made it in time! I was a bit worried that it wouldn't. I'm glad you like the bookmark, I thought it went well with the book. I haven't read The Underpainter yet but I've read some of her other books. She tells exquisite stories.

Serena said...

Sounds like you are getting some great gifts this holiday season. Have a great weekend and holiday.