Mmmm, looks like the Swan is going to be a very lucky girl.

so, Joe's Christmas present to Ken is the money for him to buy one of those dresses for Jun? Well there's two happy birdies at least.....and a lucky Gatchamarie for getting such a nice gift.

What a great pic! I love everyone's expressions! Pssst.... Ken, don't get the pink dress!

This is the first thread in which I entered into today, since, as I logged in, I saw that there was my gift just waiting for me to open it! Squeeee ... thank you so, so much "mysterious" Santa! I can't be happier ... as long as Ken and Jun are both happy, too! I love Jun's excited, and blissful expression! And, such a thoughtful gift, that of Joe! He hit two birds with one blow!! Better if Ken decides to switch out of his confused state quickly and take the money as soon as he can before Jun notices the transaction! And, yes ... I'd go for the green dress ... apart from the pleasure of wearing a different colour from the usual, there's more uncovered skin for Ken to touch! This fulfilled my request totally, and in such an exclusive way ... the thought behind it was ingenious! Thank you so very much, again!

LOL, I was just thinking that Jun already wears a pink minidress every day...

Originally posted by KT1972 Well there's two happy birdies at least.....

You know, I count three: 1. Jun (for getting the dress) 2. Ken (for being able to get her the dress) 3. Joe (for seeing Jun strut her stuff in the dress!)

And continuing with the guesses .... is this a Springie creation?

LOL!! I love it. Go with the green one, Jun...

Hee! Poor Ken -Christmas must be hard on a guy who's always broke. I agree, EW, that Joe might not be solely motivated by generosity here.

Ok, agreeing with CD again here, even without her trademark signiture, this looks like one of Springie's pieces.

I hate to rain on anybody's parade, but I think it's a no-brainer! We all know the wonders of Springie's work!

It looks like Springie's work to me as well!

I knew it from the very first moment I saw it, and I was so thrilled to have received a gift from Springie! ... a picture from such a talented artist just for me!

Actually, this pic was by me. I love that I seem to have had some people fooled -such a compliment to be compared to Springie's work!

It certainly fooled me!

It fooled me at first, then I began to wonder when I had a close look at the Swan's face - it seemed much rounder, than I usually expect for a piece of Springies work. That means Springie DID write something this year ....

Oh gosh! ... that fooled me, too! At first glance, the style was so similar to Springie's, and I think I took for granted that you would have written a ficlet, as usual, LB! Both you and Springie are such wonderful artists, so I'm not disappointed, at all! I consider myself so lucky, instead! After the initial thrill of having thought that I had received a picture from Springie, now I'm having a second, equally thrilling surprise ... that of having one of LB's pieces of art, which I just adore, all for myself! Many thanks from the heart, LB! ... you totally fulfilled my request with your exquisite artwork and the thought behind the picture ... and good choice for the dresses! You made my holidays extra special!

LB, that's an impressive piece! You are such a multitalented person. Now, if you all will pardon me, I'm going to let out a pitiful sigh as I roll myself into a dingy corner and feel sorry for myself because I've once again shown I have NO TALENT for guessing games! (Heck, I'm not so sure which piece I turned in!)

Well, LB fooled everyone who attempted to guess at this piece. Well done, both for the excellent work, and being able to avoid detection too!

Had me fooled too. Initially I thought it was Springie's work...really nice pic though, well done LB.

So glad you like it, gatchamarie! Too funny that we both did drawings that fooled each other. I hadn't drawn anything in ages and really wanted to -I'm guessing that because I normally write for the exchanges, it threw people off.

LB- I love this picture! And I am honored that you and I have such similar styles that we were confused for one another! Your work is so clean and perfect- the way I want mine to be! This picture seems to have a story behind it- and those are my favorite types of pics! Congrats on fooling everyone and creating such a great piece of art!

Originally posted by lborgia88 So glad you like it, gatchamarie! Too funny that we both did drawings that fooled each other. I hadn't drawn anything in ages and really wanted to -I'm guessing that because I normally write for the exchanges, it threw people off.

Oh, LB ... I just adore it! And, yes, the fact that you usually write for the exchanges, instead of drawing, was the first thing that threw me off track from the start! This notwithstanding, either way you might have chosen to participate, whether using art or writing, you'd always end up gifting us with something spectacular!

Originally posted by Springie This picture seems to have a story behind it

Originally posted by gatchamarie the fact that you usually write for the exchanges, instead of drawing, was the first thing that threw me off track from the start!

It kind of does have something of a story behind it, except that I really wanted to draw something this time. I had a feeling too, that it might throw people a little off track. Of course, Springie writing this time instead of drawing completely threw me!

Maybe in the next exchange everyone should try to do something different. Authors could draw or, write a poem/song instead of writing a story. Artists could write a story or poem/song. That might make it much harder to guess the gifter.

Originally posted by clouddancer Maybe in the next exchange everyone should try to do something different. Authors could draw or, write a poem/song instead of writing a story. Artists could write a story or poem/song. That might make it much harder to guess the gifter.

I like the basic idea, but I'm afraid I have one problem -- it takes me a few hours just to draw a basic stick person!

yeah, there would be some pretty lousy pics submitted next time......

Originally posted by ElectricWhite

Originally posted by clouddancer Maybe in the next exchange everyone should try to do something different. Authors could draw or, write a poem/song instead of writing a story. Artists could write a story or poem/song. That might make it much harder to guess the gifter.

I like the basic idea, but I'm afraid I have one problem -- it takes me a few hours just to draw a basic stick person!

I know how you feel, EW. Which is partly why I added poems or songs. Although I think it would take me as long to write a poem as it would to attempt drawing stick figures.

Originally posted by KT1972 yeah, there would be some pretty lousy pics submitted next time......

And that would be the fun in it .... we would get a good laugh while trying to decide who drew the stick figures.

Teehee...next time, we could do a stick figure challenge! One of my fav pics of all time is a stick figure pic done by TJ!

EW I must agree with you on there is three lucky people with that one... heck I think the Owl and even Jinpei would see his sis in a little different light with the dress... Now if poor Ken can just snap out of it, and be able to enjoy a beauty at his side, otherwise Joe may wind up as being seen as her date, even if he's not. Beautiful work

Originally posted by clouddancer

Originally posted by ElectricWhite

Originally posted by clouddancer Maybe in the next exchange everyone should try to do something different. Authors could draw or, write a poem/song instead of writing a story. Artists could write a story or poem/song. That might make it much harder to guess the gifter.

I like the basic idea, but I'm afraid I have one problem -- it takes me a few hours just to draw a basic stick person!

I know how you feel, EW. Which is partly why I added poems or songs. Although I think it would take me as long to write a poem as it would to attempt drawing stick figures.

CD, I'm the same way. I suck at writing poetry, yet I do that much better than I draw. I like the idea, though, just not sure if it is right for the gift exchange. Maybe as a Challenge in February or March before the Summer Gift Exchange (assuming Daniella still wants to do that).

It would be interesting to see what is come up with .... it could even be done as a sort of Bradbury's Jar idea. Use a different medium to depict either an entire scene, or just one word.

Originally posted by KT1972 yeah, there would be some pretty lousy pics submitted next time......

I pity the person who receives a piece of art drawn by me!

Another option -making gif animations is a sort of art that doesn't require drawing, as is adding captions or adding/rewriting dialogue bubbles to existing images (or especially some of the comics series -some of them are begging for rewrites!). Though it does require programs like photoshop or Adobe imageready.

Yes I guess that could be an option as well, LB ... but only if, as you say, one has the appropriate programs to create such things.

TJ, I've seen your stick figures, there's nothing wrong with them. Just a little skinny. LB, I would love seeing those but doubt I'd ever figure how to make them

CD ... yours is a great idea, that of trying to submit something different than usual! In such a case, trying to guess who did what would really be more exciting! I did start writing down something in the first Gift Exchange, and I enjoyed it so much, having had the chance to do so! But, since the Christmas season has become an even more stressful time for me, I found it easier to draw something out, albeit equally from the heart, since writing longer fics, which do make sense, language and plot wise, does have me take a longer period of time to think out and achieve! Poetry could be another, great option for me, but it has to be quite a long poem with the established Gift Exchange word count!

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by Springie This picture seems to have a story behind it

It kind of does have something of a story behind it, except that I really wanted to draw something this time.

You've just hit two birds with one blow, LB! I just love to see a story behind a picture, and yours has really portrayed one of the many different and unexpected story aspects, which could have fulfilled my request ... something you've managed to do with great imagination and ingenuity!