Swap 2025 Christmas PJ Swap

So happy to see the pics, and that everything was appreciated! Monroe had a great time making things for Ceil (and it's probably a very good thing that Monroe's best friend is a quiet, moody goth dude who could keep him in line with this. ). And so glad he likes the polar bear! I had never made a plushie from a pattern before, so did a test run on one for Lily, then decided to go for it! The pattern was from Fluffmonger and very easy to follow, if anybody wants to make their own! They have a lot of animals to make.

And...well....Jersey's been one of my favorite dolls that I don't own for...what? A decade now? So I just had to send him a little gift, too. He seems like the kind of guy Cooper would enjoy hanging with, so why not?

 

Got my package, took photos, and promptly didn't come online for a couple of days. Oops!
Please pardon the inconsistent lighting; my camera isn't particularly good with incandescent lights, and I'm not the best at color-correcting photos. The ones that are more yellow-toned are the ones that my camera did really badly with, and this was the best I could get them without making them look weirdly blue or cold. Although, I did end up going back and re-editing the first few because I got way better during this process and was able to fix them far more than I originally could! The first few are the most accurate lighting-wise, because my camera did well enough for my editor's auto-color-correct to work.


Tali: So, you signed me up for this exchange? Not someone else?
Me: Nope! I thought you could use something nice this year.
Tali: It'll be fun to have clothes that are made for me instead of others.
Me: Yeah... sorry I'm so behind on my sewing projects.
Tali: You signed me up for presents! You're forgiven.


Tali: You opened the package without me?
Me: Yeah, sorry about that. I order from enough small businesses that arrive hand-addressed that I didn't realize it was the swap package until it was open.
Tali: At least you left my actual gifts for me to open myself.
Me: And you've got a stocking, too! Want to start with that, or with your pajamas?
Tali: Cards first, duh.
Me: Ah, yes, sorry. Cards, of course.


Tali: They match!
Me: That they do.
Tali: Stocking now, please.
Me: Okay, moving on quickly, I see...


Tali: There's three presents in it!
Me: Wow! Shall we open the first one?
Tali: Yes!


Tali: Hot cocoa with marshmallows!
Me: Oh, no. You're gonna get all sugared up, aren't you?
Tali: Of course.
Me:


Tali: Oh! This is so cute!
Me: Do you want to put it on now, or after the pajamas?
Tali: After the pajamas, so I can wear everything together.
Me: Okay. One last stocking gift, then.


Tali: SOCKS!
Me: What happened to wearing them all together?
Tali: I got too excited. I can wear jewelry from the others, but this is the first time I've had socks that fit me.
Me: That's fair. You'll still have to take them off to put on your pajamas.
Tali: But I can put them on again right after.
Me: True. Ready to open them?
Tali! Yes!


Tali: Look how pretty they are!
Me: It's one of your favorite colors!
Tali: They'll look great with my eyes. I'm going to put them on.

(Sorry, for some reason the large thumbnail isn't working for this one)
Tali: Yep, they look great with my eyes. And my mug matches!
Me: All right, kiddo, it's time for bed, even though it's been an exciting night.

 

Bonus photos:

Tada! Showing off the proper color of the pajamas, despite how weird the color around it looks:


And the one who chilled in my lap through this entire shoot:

 

Awww her stuff is so awesome and she looks so cute!

Also, adorable kitty!! Give them some snuggles for me.

 

Oscar has been snuggled. He does not appreciate it, but does consider it his rightful due

Everything fits great! Excellent math, haha.

 

Oscar shouldn't look so snuggable then. XD

And...my swap gift from dm_sof came in today! (Well, actually, I think yesterday but I was staying with mom for her holiday dinner, so picked it up today.) And WOW I'm so impressed and excited over this!! And so is Monroe!


Monroe: "Oooh a box for me is here! From the holiday swap!"


Monroe: "Um, excuse you?"

Lola: (I fits, I sits.)


Razzle: -CHOMP-

Monroe: "Stop that, this isn't yours!"


Monroe: ...... "Ok, Razzle, you're forgiven this ONE time. This WAS your gift! But you have to share with Lola."

Razzle: (No share!)

Lola: (Box is good.)


Monroe: "Awww, cat dad pajamas to match the kitty bed! And tank and boxers so I won't get too hot. My blood does run hot! I love them!"


Monroe: "What....is...." -gasp- "Is...is this....."


Monroe: "IT IS! Oh, this is beautiful, amazing and looks sooooo good with this outfit! Like it was made to go with it!"


Monroe: "Michael Monroe jacket! Oh hell, this beautiful boy in this fabulous jacket couldn't be any happier right now!!"


Monroe: "Razzle, stop eating my scarf."

Razzle: (No. Yummy.)



Monroe: "And a card from Tali. And it's in Finnish! It says 'Toivotamme teille hyvää jouluo' on the front. That's 'We wish you a merry Christmas' for you English speakers. And 'Iloista joulunaikaa ja onnellista uuta vouttat' inside, which is 'Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.' That is so so thoughtful! Tali, do you speak Finnish or did you translate that just for me?" -all teary and emotional- "Tali and dm_sof, thank you so so much for everything! It's all wonderful, and I love it. I feel like you put so much thought into it and made it so personal! Love you! Kiitos! Hyvää Joulua!" -waves and blows kisses!-

((Bonus in next post!))

 

Monroe: "Stop chewing that, Mr. Plucked Turkey!"

Razzle: (No. I do what I want.)


Monroe: "At least you're my Christmas angel, Lola...."

Lola: -purrs-

LATER....

Lumi: "How the f*** did you get a gift? You weren't good a single day this year."

Razzle: -stares-

Monroe, off camera: "He was compared to you!"

Lumi: "Hm. Yeah, true. Carry on before you end up in the roast pan, raw chicken."
__________________________________________________________

BIG thank you to dm_sof! This swap gift is more amazing than I ever dreamed! It's all so cool and perfectly Monroe, but that jacket is the true winner here! And it's funny, I was supposed to be front row and VIP for sound check for Michael Monroe in October, but he injured his knee and had to have emergency surgery and take time off touring and the show was canceled. I was devastated, not just because of that, but also because I had planned to take Monroe to sound check to get his red leather jacket signed. So while he might not have an authentically autographed jacket, I think this is definitely the next best thing! And will look good with all of his outfits!

Also, no worries on fit--everything fits Monroe well, and the jacket has juuust enough stretch that it didn't require hand removal--which is usually required for every single jacket he owns, as his hands with those long nails and rings don't fit through sleeves tight enough for his tiny frame. But this has the perfect balance between fitted and stretch! Thank you so much for it all!

 

Oh thank goodness So glad my math worked! I really wanted to make your box special after how wonderful my swap gift from you was a couple years ago.

From Tali: I don't speak Finnish, so Mom helped me find some blog posts by Finnish speakers with different Christmas and holiday greetings so we knew it would be accurate. Hyvää joulua!

 

It was definitely very special, and I'm happy to hear you're still enjoying the stuff I sent! Monroe is very touched, all emotional and teary, as he tends to get sometimes. He'd give Tali a thank you hug if she'd welcome it, he's a very affectionate and appreciative guy.