Back in September Melody from House on the Side of the Hill had a blogiversary giveaway. The grand prize would be a handmade gift every month for a year!! It didn't really occur to me that I might win, I left a comment because I'd been following Melody's blog since the early days of her blog. A few days later I checked in on her blog and guess who'd won, oh yes I had my lucky socks on that day for sure!!

Each month I receive the most wonderful presents that amaze me with their creativity and thoughtfulness. Just wait till you see what Melody has made me for my January present... but before I unveil it I thought I'd review what I've already been sent.


It began with September's gift featuring some fabulous fussy cut hexagon coasters..

And some very handy picnic wine glasses. There's always chocolate ladybugs in my parcels too. mmm sweeet!
Melody and I share a fondness for Donkeys so for October she stitched the prettiest donkey tea towel for me. I use it as my sewing machine cover. She also sent a teeny weeny tiny donkey. What a little cutie!!!
November's present was an apron featuring this fun hexagon flower. That's a piece of pie smiling in the centre - A happy pie!

December's treats had a theme of pins and needles... with a chirpy duck needle holder...
and what has become my very favourite pincushion. This is the pride of my sewing table. And doesn't it photograph well, a real pin-up girl... hee hee... I just had to stick that joke in there.. hee hee... okay back to the point.. giggle...
And so we come to January... I saw this on Melody's blog and crossed my fingers and toes that it might be for me... I must have had my lucky socks on again because it Was for me!!

Melody's Banksy Balloon Girl!!
The fine outline is the made with the most perfect hand stitches I've ever seen, and the collection of buttons are so wonderful. I love it's modern simplicity and the idea it conveys. When I worked in flower shops that had helium balloons, I would sometime wonder how many it would take to lift someone off the ground. Now I know it takes eight magic button balloons.

It was Melody's birthday last Friday (3rd Feb) so a super big "Happy Birthday to you, Melody!!!". I hope you had a smiley birthday cake and some happy balloons!!