Secret Santa Gift Reports… Who’s Been Nice Around the Irish Fireside
Each year we host a wee Irish gift exchange. It’s a chance for our virtual friends to interact a little bit in the “real” world… and everyone gets a little present as well.
Hearing about what was unwrapped by others is almost as fun as getting a gift for us, so here’s a peek at a few of the gifts that were exchanged this year… (we’ll keep adding more as they arrive)
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- I love the the very nice calendar I received from Christy in West Virginia... will enjoy it all year long. -- Betty
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- I received a great Irish calendar and a shamrock and toast from my Secret Santa Stephanie in Missouri. -- Susan
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- My Secret Santa gift! A lovely ornament from Bit in Arizona :) -- Christy
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- I received this lovely Celtic cross pendant necklace and deck of cards -- both purchased in Ireland. Many thanks to Angela in Florida! -- SJ
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- Received my Secret Santa gift from Camille in Utah... a shamrock pendant and gorgeous Celtic mermaid cards all created by my Santa. -- Melissa
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- Received a lovely angel ornament, poem, and card. Wish I had sent a card and note... will do next year. Thanks Secret Santa Teresa from Idaho. -- Lynda
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- I got a lovely little book of Irish tales with a pretty handmade bookmark, two knit angel ornaments, a chequebook cover with Irish fabric design from James and Judy in Texas. Many thanks! - Katracta
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- I received this beautiful cross ornament from Lynda in New Jersey. My youngest, upon seeing it, said, "I've always wanted a cross like that," which proves how beautiful it is! -- Jody
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- Got my secret Santa gift! A beautiful Cherry Wood Celtic Cross ornament. I have it on my tree now, but after Christmas it will still be out! Thank you Janet from Ohio! This was her first Irish Secret Santa trade! -- Angela
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- My Secret Santa was Netta in Michigan who sent this fresh, sparkling pine and cedar garland decoration. I'm using it as a centerpiece on the dining room table and every time I walk past it smells and looks like Christmas! Thanks very much for the beautiful gift, Netta! -- Sinéad
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- My Secret Santa from Sarah in New York included a beautiful Irish mug and spoon to give me a bit of Irish luck and some Irish tea to give me the gift of gab. Thanks so much, I love it! -- Bette
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- Here is the Secret Santa gift I received from Kate in California. It is Instant Irish Accent mouth spray! Notice the "Sheep sold separately" at the bottom! What a laugh! Thanks for brightening my day, Kate, and Thanks to Irish Fireside for hosting this fun event! -- Norma
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- This is the gift I received from Jody in Iowa. What a treat.. it has great pictures, recipes and stories of Ireland. She took such time and care in making this book. She is truly a very special Santa. Thank you so much. -- Joan
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- My Secret Santa was Susan from Illinois. The gift I received is a lovely pottery tray made by an Irish friend of Susan's. I love the color of the tray, as well as the Trinity Knot featured on it. Thank you, Susan! -- Carla
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- Huge thanks to Carla in North Carolina, my secret Santa, for my early Christmas gift... a new Inishowen calendar with some really gorgeous photos! What a lovely surprise :) Ahhh my beloved Donegal... looks so tropical, doesn't it?! -- Ruby
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- I received the beautiful gifts from Maeve from County Limerick. The picture is a beautiful countryside scene. Every time I look at it I want to book a flight to go visit the Emerald Isle again. The towel will look lovely in my bathroom as a decoration. I can't wait to play the card game with my family and friends. Thank you very much Maeve, my secret Santa. :-) -- Alesia
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- I am always so excited to send a gift to someone for Secret Santa that I almost forget that I'm getting something too! I received this beautiful clover ornament and bookmark from Sinéad in Illinois, both handmade gifts have clovers straight from County Antrim, grown by her mother. When my Christmas tree is down and the ornaments are put away, this little beauty will find another place to hang where I will see it everyday. Thank you Sinéad! And thank you to Corey and Liam for everything you do. -- Patti
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- My secret Santa was Laury from California and I received a gorgeous set of handmade jewellery. It´s a beautiful natural gemstone necklace and matching earrings. I love them! They remind me of Connemara Marble and the colours of Ireland. :-) In her note Laury says her ancestors are from Cork, and I have been to Cork many times - it´s a beautiful part of Ireland! Thanks so much Laury & thanks to Irish Fireside for a beautiful and fun X-mas idea! -- Claudine
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- I received this lovely matted Irish Prayer from Lisa in New York. I'm going to have to find a good place to hang it. She also sent a note about her husband who is originally from Tullamore. Also, her daughters are Irish dancers and will be attending the World Competition! Good luck girls! Thank you for the gift Lisa and Merry Christmas everyone! -- Joanna
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- Heather Stanfill, from Idaho sent me a really nice calendar and a card. Even though I've been to almost all of the places the calendar features, the photos are different from what I have, and it's definitely a nice addition to my collection of Ireland memories. Thanks to Heather, 2013 will be a monthly reminder of all my Emerald Isle memories, and also a reminder to get back there a.s.a.p. :) Thanks, Heather, and the folks at Irish Fireside for bringing a "wee bit of craic" to Christmas. -- George
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- My Secret Santa was Stephanie Chastain, and her gift couldn't have come at a more perfect time! We did this as a class project (because Miss Kaytrina is obsessed with Ireland). It just so happened, the day we got the package, our school was doing a Holidays Around the world event, in which our class, of course, was Ireland. You should have seen the eyes of my students light up when we opened it. Inside was this beautiful photo taken by Stephanie and her husband. Thank you so much, Stephanie! We all love it, and have it displayed in our classroom! -- Kaytrina
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- I received a lovely CD of traditional Celtic Christmas music, and ornament (a bisque Claddagh) and some fun pictures of Ireland that my Secret Santa Joan in New Jersey took on her last trip there! I am jealous and can't wait to go! -- Theresa
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- I love Anne Roos' harp music and The Book is beautiful. Thanks, Anne in California. -- Sherry
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- Thank you to my secret Santa George in New Jersey for his wonderful gift! A CD of some of his favorite Christmas music (some Irish, some traditional) as well as a gorgeous shamrock sweater ornament. It will hang on my tree every year and remind me how much I want to go to Ireland. I haven't been yet, but hope to go in a couple years! Thanks George!!! -- Heather
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- My Sweet Santa Marsha in New Mexico sent me a Rainbow maker! It arrived on a day when no rainbows were in sight, so it was very welcome. I have it hanging in my living room window and on sunny days it fills the room with rainbows. My kids love it too. - Camille
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- Love my Texas flag ornament and Texas mug from my Secret Santa Lauren. -- Wendy
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- It was great. I got a nice t-shirt,book, and elf. Thank you so much Kathleen from Palos Heights, IL. -- Annette
 Imagine my surprise when I opened an envelope from Austria! My Secret Santa Claudine lives in Vienna and send me all kinds of goodies that she bought on her last trip there: a Wild Ireland Pocket Calendar for 2013, a lovely bookmark with “May the road rise to meet you…”, and a beautiful Celtic knot Christmas ornament. In an enclosed card, she explained that she purchased these little presents in a cute little shop in Cashel, Tipperary in October. What a lovely surprise! — Anne |
We were so luck to have Bette in Florida as our Secret Santa this year! We first opened our package and found a lovely and homemade card with a beautiful Irish Christmas blessing. We received Irish Cream truffles—I would have taken a picture, but they were so delicious that we ate them so very quickly! While we chomped away we listened to the not one, but three, Irish Favorites music cd’s that were also included in our package. What a wonderful Christmas addition we had thanks to Bette! — Stephanie
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Photography is not one of my talents, but I want to thank Melissa from California for the Sightseeing Ireland Scrapbook Kit. It will come in very handy when I’m making memory books for the two granddaughters (named Erin and Darby…is that Irish enough?) who will be going with me on trip #7 in June. My first Christmas gift of the year, and it’s 100% Irish! — Judy |
| My secret Santa was a husband & wife team Charlie & Norma from Texas… THANK YOU SO MUCH for the Lovely photo of Kevin’s Kitchen in Glendalough and the very special bookmark “May your pockets be heavy & your heart be light. ” Bookmark is being used as I type this and the photo will be put on the wall of our new home. Thanks again and Merry Christmas to you both. — Laury |
Thank you to my Secret Santa Celina in Connecticut — I received a colorful matted print of an Irish farm scene. — Mary |
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Christy, mo chara,
So glad that you like your secret santa gift! I knew that the cottage was a favourite of your’s so it was an easy choice!
Slan agus barrogs,
Bit
Photography is not one of my talents, but I want to thank Melissa from California for the Sightseeing Ireland Scrapbook Kit. It will come in very handy when I’m making memory books for the two granddaughters (named Erin and Darby…is that Irish enough?) who will go with me on trip #7 in June.
My first Christmas gift of the year, and it’s 100% Irish!
Glad you got it on time.
lovley to read about all the creative gift exchanges, and the many ways to celebrate Ireland–
So many crafty santas out there with such wonderful talents! Any of you creative gift-givers on Etsy, by chance? Would love to browse some of the crafts, photography, watercolors, etc. that you artistic types create
S.J,
I think Etsy is the one place you won’t find my work. Not gotten the time to set up a store there just yet.
You can find my Photography at rinconcreekstudios.zenfolio.com
Nollaig Shona Duit,
Bit
I do have an Etsy shop!
Here is the link if you would like to see it: http://www.etsy.com/shop/camillioncreations
hi sj, yes I’m sure there’s plenty of us on Etsy! I have been for years now at http://www.rubyclover.etsy.com (handmade & photos) and http://www.theirishstill.etsy.com (strictly ireland photography). Come visit any time and say hello
Patti thanks for your lovely words, so happy you enjoy your gifts and that they reached you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
Thank you to my Secret Santa, Celina O’Meara in Windsor, CT — I received a colorful matted print of an Irish farm scene.
I’ didn’t receive mine yet because I have been out of town for two weeks due to a family emergency. I believe the package arrived at my home but I haven’t been able to open it. I will post a picture and note when it shows up!
Everyone else looks like they received lovely gifts… I can’t wait to see mine!
Thanks so much to Jennifer Ennis my secret Santa from PA. I received the most lovely mug with a traditional Irish Blessing. Also included were some shamrock pencils.
I was away with family unexpectedly for two weeks before Christmas and missed getting my gift until I returned on Friday!
I love my gift! Thanks Jen and thanks Corey and Liam for hosting the gift exchange,!!
My secret Santa arrived yesterday from the lovely Huntley Family in the US. In typical Irish Post style it was late but it was a beautiful surprise. Will email a photo and few words to Corey. Happy New Year to all the Secret Santa people:)