Update 3 - March 12, 2016

My santa has been so awesome at keeping me up to date on ALL THE GIFTS, and gave me a head's up to expect my last gift (!) by the weekend... well, it showed up on Friday -- but I didn't get a chance to open it until today.

Inside the package was a cute little multicolor sample hank of custom dyed yarn, and a cozily wrapped bundled hank with the attached note:

From your Reddit Color 2016 Santa, fondofowls: Hope you enjoy some amazing custom dyed yarn.

Inside was the most gorgeous purple skein of yarn with colors ranging from royal to nearly purple-black. I absolutely LOVE the color -- I'm not sure if my camera did it justice but I tried my best. It's a worsted weight merino yarn and my santa even made sure to get a superwash yarn so I wouldn't be forced to hand wash it (but it's so lovely I'm going to make an effort to hand wash anyway just to make sure we don't lose too much of the beautiful dye)

... and the reason why I didn't open it when it arrived yesterday - I just found out that my husband and I are expecting! So I know that I have about 7 months to knit this hank into some cute and warm baby items. <3

Thank you so, so, so much /u/fondofowls for making my Friday even more surprising than it already was, and for the absolutely crazy level of generosity! I hope I'm able to express my gratitude through this wall of text and all the photos -- I'm so emotionally overwhelmed by everything that's happened! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Update 2 - Feb 23, 2016

My mailman has a habit of not knocking at my door for packages, but my dogs always know when he's there so I was able to grab the package the moment it arrived.

I opened my front door, and then just blinked at this GIANT package leaning against the house. I managed to get it inside thinking that I could take a picture of it using my hallway mirror, but it wouldn't even fit... so I had to use my dogs for scale (I didn't have a banana).

Inside the package was the largest Zelda art print I've ever seen -- and it's PURPLE :D I know I'm going to have to argue with my husband over whether this belongs in the computer/gaming room or in the living room. My vote is living room.

I had mentioned in my Colors questionnaire that we had just moved into a new house after getting married in September and neither of us had much of anything to decorate our very empty walls. In total we had 3 paintings from friends and family in our entire house, and if you put all 3 together they don't even match the size of the Zelda print. My santa even APOLOGIZED for not being artistic, then proceeds to spoil me with all of these gifts!

No amount of thanks can convey how grateful I am for everything... and the scary part is, they've told me there's still another gift coming!

Is there a way to rate my gift 11? Because it's been a 10 just based on the first gift received. Better yet, make it 100. I am really blown away.

Update 1 - Feb 22, 2016

Oh. My.

After writing this first thank you to my Colors 2016 santa, they messaged me and had mentioned something along the lines that I would understand what the thread was for when my second package arrived.

I did know that cones of thread were typically not used for standard sewing machines, but had made the assumption that maybe my santa either assumed I had one or maybe wasn't as familiar with sewing machines.

There was a slight flash of a thought that "does that mean they're sending a serger?" but I was like.... nooo.... no way. Sergers are way way WAYY too expensive. It's probably a cone thread stand for a regular machine or something. I think I was in a bit of denial since 4 cones of same-color thread is a super big hint.

... and here I am, today, opening a GIANT heavy box and finding A SERGER INSIDE!

I think I'm in shock. I never expected, even with all the hints, that I would actually receive a serger as a gift. It's been on my christmas wish list for years but I've always asked for donations towards a serger from my family - I didn't even expect something that expensive from them.

I am so utterly, completely grateful for this uberly generous gift. I have never been able to get my hands on a serger before, but have so many projects that would've been made so much easier with an overlock stitch...

I can't believe it. Thank you so much! And it boggles my mind that there's still TWO(!!!) more gifts coming! Thank you thank you thank you!

Original - Feb 19, 2016:

Quick note: my Colors 2016 santa informed me that this isn't even the COMPLETE gift! I will be sure to update as the additional gifts(!) get here

I was really excited about this open-ended exchange, because it really is a big surprise! My Colors 2016 match really nailed the theme of the exchange as well as my own creative tastes :)

I brought the gift inside and started grabbing for my camera, and was promptly mobbed by my dogs. I'm pretty sure they thought I was taking photos of them, and couldn't understand why I was taking pictures of a box.

I have to add here that my match managed to find a purple card that actually matches THEIR reddit username -- it has an owl on the front! I thought that was so clever. :)

Inside the box was a gift wrapped in patterned purple wrapping paper along with a card. My papillon Atlas kept trying to get in the way of the photos, so I gave up and just took the photo with him sitting next to the package -- which, of course, got the other dogs jealous so I got them in the photo too.

I would have never expected a gift so creative, but inside the box I found a bar of Moonstruck Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Toffee, 4 cones of thread, 5 cuts of fabric and another purple wrapped package.

I opened the package-within-a-package to find two sewing patterns to make my own purple-themed bags with the fabric and thread! I actually love the way my Colors Santa packaged it, because that was the "aha!" moment that made the gift really make sense (not that I wouldn't love the fabric and thread as it is, but having a project to put it to use immediately really pulls it all together).

I have to admit, my santa has much better skills at coordinating fabrics than I do! I love them all, especially the butterfly/dragonfly newsprint fabric! I will have to make sure and update this post with the finished purse/tote.

I am so excited about this gift, I can't wipe the smile off my face. :D Thank you so much for being so incredibly thoughtful and creative - and amazingly generous! <3