I don't know how all these people churn out cross stitch projects so quickly. Think I can get a half dozen of these by Christmas?
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Completed Stars
I never typed this up (or got the photos off of my actual, lovely, non-telephone camera) - I finished the Stars quilt! Not quite in time for Christmas - I pulled out the pins and trimmed the batting on the way to my parents' house for Christmas morning, and put it in the box with the binding half-attached - but I did finally finish it.
The stars were each echo quilted, and then I stitched in the ditch around all the squares.
Backed with an entertaining Victorian-style flag print from the holidays section at JoAnn's.
I think my mother likes it - and she's put it on the baby whenever she's been napping over there.
I think my mother likes it - and she's put it on the baby whenever she's been napping over there.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Stars progress
In other news, the stars quilt
has its border,
is pin basted,
and (pardon overexposure) is being quilted.
If I keep at it, it'll be done for Christmas.
If I keep at it, it'll be done for Christmas.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Back from Christmas
and well recovered! Hawaii was excellent, and gave me time to make things I wouldn't have had opportunity to otherwise. For what must be a record, I actually finished everything I was making for people, and made a few extra things in the bargain (the tea wallets proved such a big hit, several unintended people got them as well). Himself will have to wait until his birthday in February for his sweater, but, as he doesn't remember he's getting one, it's all well and good.
The best gift story of Christmas:
the Tuesday before, my grandfather said that what he'd like for Christmas was, "a white scarf, not too long, like we used to wear in the Army." He was Army Air Corps, stationed in Okinawa at and after the end of the war. (With good timing, he graduated from West Point in June of 1945.) He's not overly easy to get things for, and the photo book I'd had made for him didn't turn out at all, so I figured it was worth a try. Drove all around town that night and the Wednesday, finding out that not only did no store have a white scarf, but no store had a man's scarf at all -- everyone was sold out. "Like we used to wear in the Army" stuck in my head, so I called around to some army surplus places in town, and all they had was Army Green. Everyone I'd mentioned the request to, though, instantly said, "have you tried Col. Bubbies?" I called them up, they said they had a few, and that if I came down early enough on Christmas Eve morning, they'd still be open. So, a pleasant drive down to Galveston (with the King's College guys singing to me on the radio - very nice) later, and I had what was actually a white scarf like he used to wear in the Army -- actually an Army Air Corps scarf! (A bit yellowed around the edges, but still good.) $5 later, and I was set.
I gave it to him with an explanation on Christmas, and he seemed somewhat tickled, but not overly excited -- a bit tired, I'm sure. The next day, though, I found out that he'd mentioned the request to someone else, and that the someone else had gone out and gotten some snazzy silk or cashmere scarf from Nordstrom's or something... and that mine was preferred, because it was literally exactly what he'd wanted. He put it on, and I saw him smile the best smile I've seen from him in probably three years. Definitely the best gift of Christmas.
The best gift story of Christmas:
the Tuesday before, my grandfather said that what he'd like for Christmas was, "a white scarf, not too long, like we used to wear in the Army." He was Army Air Corps, stationed in Okinawa at and after the end of the war. (With good timing, he graduated from West Point in June of 1945.) He's not overly easy to get things for, and the photo book I'd had made for him didn't turn out at all, so I figured it was worth a try. Drove all around town that night and the Wednesday, finding out that not only did no store have a white scarf, but no store had a man's scarf at all -- everyone was sold out. "Like we used to wear in the Army" stuck in my head, so I called around to some army surplus places in town, and all they had was Army Green. Everyone I'd mentioned the request to, though, instantly said, "have you tried Col. Bubbies?" I called them up, they said they had a few, and that if I came down early enough on Christmas Eve morning, they'd still be open. So, a pleasant drive down to Galveston (with the King's College guys singing to me on the radio - very nice) later, and I had what was actually a white scarf like he used to wear in the Army -- actually an Army Air Corps scarf! (A bit yellowed around the edges, but still good.) $5 later, and I was set.
I gave it to him with an explanation on Christmas, and he seemed somewhat tickled, but not overly excited -- a bit tired, I'm sure. The next day, though, I found out that he'd mentioned the request to someone else, and that the someone else had gone out and gotten some snazzy silk or cashmere scarf from Nordstrom's or something... and that mine was preferred, because it was literally exactly what he'd wanted. He put it on, and I saw him smile the best smile I've seen from him in probably three years. Definitely the best gift of Christmas.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Christmas List
Oooh, stuff to make!
-Mother: (she might someday come here, so it's a secret!)
-Father: that's always one I'm stuck on, as he's sometimes difficult and doesn't pretend well if he's not sure he likes something. He may get a hat, like the rest of the men. Or a last-minute book buy, as has sometimes happened. I normally come across something great for him (old scouting book from the used book store, or, one year, a gizmo that turns your Nalgene bottle into a French press coffee maker!), so we'll wait and see.
-Grandmother: Sewing caddy, from pattern here. And, as she's got fragile skin, lotion, like every year. Perhaps someone's handmade lotion off of Etsy -- I can make lotion myself, but, well, I'm not very good yet, and... see fragility of skin, as mentioned. Not good.
-Grandfather: Perhaps some of these. He loves Churchill.
-Sister: (she might actually check this blog, so it's a secret! But at least two homemade things.)
-Brother: Shaving kit (from pattern here) and perhaps also skull hat (from pattern here)
-Aunt who likes things made for her: Sewing caddy, as well. And perhaps a tea wallet, as she's always on the go. There's a zillion patterns out there, and I've got tons of scraps.
-Aunt who doesn't appreciate most things made for her: something purchased (perhaps purchased from someone else who's made something?) (I'd skip her altogether, but she *gives* very nice gifts -- that's my only "obligation"-style gift. Everyone else is a joy; last year I made her a little pillow, though, which did please her and was a joy to make.)
-Uncle who likes food: food :)
-Uncle who likes things made for him: oooh don't know yet -- perhaps another book, although I did make him a day planner last year. But he's always super-appreciative of any homemade gifts, no matter how awful (he's a schoolteacher, which might help!), so he's a joy to give things to.
-Girl cousins, and the teacher uncle's girlfriend: Rae's Buttercup Bag, in various colors (there are 4 girl cousins)
-Boy cousins: skull hat, as above
-Perfect sister-in-law: coptic-bound book with map of Rome on the covers, as she's going to Italy with her family (may toss in one similar for perfect sister-in-law's little sister)
-Sister's husband (for some reason, I think of him that way, and think of my husband's brother as the brother-in-law): a secret, purchased from the Small Object (we get each other tiny things each year -- last year I made him a head cover for a golf club, and they got Himself a Texans hat)
-Brother-in-law: Don't know, but I got some lovely brownish variegated yarn that I may make into a hat.
-In-laws: no idea. Worked for years on their last present -- think I'll just leave it to their son to buy them something this year!
-Himself: perhaps a sweater (the back's done!), perhaps a gym membership -- we'll see. And, if I can figure it out, a scrub hat with the Texans logo on it.
And some of my melt and pour soap for everyone (Himself won't let me play with lye, so all I can do is melt and pour or refashioned "hand-milled" soaps). In flower shapes and floral scents for the girls, in herbal or otherwise manly cubes for the guys.
Complete:
One skull hat
most/all of the Buttercup Bags
book for perfect sister-in-law (well, nearly complete - just needs to be sewn, which takes no time at all)
part (each) of what mother and sister are getting
Sister's husband's gift
as mentioned, back of Himself's sweater
soap :)
And to think, some people want my family to go to a one-gift-for-someone-out-of-a-hat scheme (and I *know* I'll draw the difficult aunt!). They can do it if they want (they usually complain about having to spend money (because they feel bad if they haven't spent a certain amount per person), or feeling guilty when other people give them things), but I get such joy out of making things for other people that I'm not going to let their psychological hangups or financial guilt trips deprive me of that!
One easy solution for someone who's anti-materialism (but unwilling or unable to make things for everyone), financially straightened, and also feeling obligated to have something for everyone, is to do what one good woman I know did once with "teacher gifts" for her child's school -- gave a donation to the Heifer Project in the name of the teachers of the school (all together) and then gave each teacher a card (which she prints herself, using Greetings Workshop) saying, "a gift has been made in your name to the Heifer Project," etc. I see no reason why it couldn't similarly be done for "The Smith Family," with cards for each. Print them yourself, costs no more than the cost of the ink and paper, and with good enough paper you'd never know the difference. (I'm always surprised at the stores -- $4.50 for a simple card?) Then you've done something good for someone else, haven't spent more than you could afford to ($50 for many charities will do much more good and bring more joy than $15 each to a dozen family members!), haven't given things they probably wouldn't like very much to people who don't need anything, and got rid of gift-giving obligations in a way that the people you give the cards to are obliged to act pleased about! (And many of them would be, in fact.) Also, if you're making things but stuck for ideas, there are other one-size-fits-all ideas -- cookie-mix- or tea-mix-in-a-jar all around, or (like me with the cousins) one gift for all the girls, one for all the boys, or (as my mother used to do when there was a bumper crop of berries, which there hasn't been for a few years) a jar or two of homemade jelly all around. If your friends don't appreciate it, your friends don't need gifts. If your family doesn't appreciate it, too bad. They're your family, and they know you and your views on things, so they should be happy that you think they're worth any effort at all! (Well, minor hypocrisy here: if there's someone in your family who doesn't appreciate it, but is a REALLY good gift giver (like the aunt above), it might be worth it to buy something for that person! But, in general, rule holds.)
As for me, I have to make things, and don't have much success selling the things, so it's good for me to have the opportunity to give them away! I'm easily pleased, so I love everything I get in return (and usually my favorite gift ends up being something a teenage cousin picked up for fifty cents at a flea market), but I don't keep a tally on who gives and who doesn't, and I don't mind at all if you don't give me anything -- so long as you allow me to give you something!
What's on your list?
-Mother: (she might someday come here, so it's a secret!)
-Father: that's always one I'm stuck on, as he's sometimes difficult and doesn't pretend well if he's not sure he likes something. He may get a hat, like the rest of the men. Or a last-minute book buy, as has sometimes happened. I normally come across something great for him (old scouting book from the used book store, or, one year, a gizmo that turns your Nalgene bottle into a French press coffee maker!), so we'll wait and see.
-Grandmother: Sewing caddy, from pattern here. And, as she's got fragile skin, lotion, like every year. Perhaps someone's handmade lotion off of Etsy -- I can make lotion myself, but, well, I'm not very good yet, and... see fragility of skin, as mentioned. Not good.
-Grandfather: Perhaps some of these. He loves Churchill.
-Sister: (she might actually check this blog, so it's a secret! But at least two homemade things.)
-Brother: Shaving kit (from pattern here) and perhaps also skull hat (from pattern here)
-Aunt who likes things made for her: Sewing caddy, as well. And perhaps a tea wallet, as she's always on the go. There's a zillion patterns out there, and I've got tons of scraps.
-Aunt who doesn't appreciate most things made for her: something purchased (perhaps purchased from someone else who's made something?) (I'd skip her altogether, but she *gives* very nice gifts -- that's my only "obligation"-style gift. Everyone else is a joy; last year I made her a little pillow, though, which did please her and was a joy to make.)
-Uncle who likes food: food :)
-Uncle who likes things made for him: oooh don't know yet -- perhaps another book, although I did make him a day planner last year. But he's always super-appreciative of any homemade gifts, no matter how awful (he's a schoolteacher, which might help!), so he's a joy to give things to.
-Girl cousins, and the teacher uncle's girlfriend: Rae's Buttercup Bag, in various colors (there are 4 girl cousins)
-Boy cousins: skull hat, as above
-Perfect sister-in-law: coptic-bound book with map of Rome on the covers, as she's going to Italy with her family (may toss in one similar for perfect sister-in-law's little sister)
-Sister's husband (for some reason, I think of him that way, and think of my husband's brother as the brother-in-law): a secret, purchased from the Small Object (we get each other tiny things each year -- last year I made him a head cover for a golf club, and they got Himself a Texans hat)
-Brother-in-law: Don't know, but I got some lovely brownish variegated yarn that I may make into a hat.
-In-laws: no idea. Worked for years on their last present -- think I'll just leave it to their son to buy them something this year!
-Himself: perhaps a sweater (the back's done!), perhaps a gym membership -- we'll see. And, if I can figure it out, a scrub hat with the Texans logo on it.
And some of my melt and pour soap for everyone (Himself won't let me play with lye, so all I can do is melt and pour or refashioned "hand-milled" soaps). In flower shapes and floral scents for the girls, in herbal or otherwise manly cubes for the guys.
Complete:
One skull hat
most/all of the Buttercup Bags
book for perfect sister-in-law (well, nearly complete - just needs to be sewn, which takes no time at all)
part (each) of what mother and sister are getting
Sister's husband's gift
as mentioned, back of Himself's sweater
soap :)
And to think, some people want my family to go to a one-gift-for-someone-out-of-a-hat scheme (and I *know* I'll draw the difficult aunt!). They can do it if they want (they usually complain about having to spend money (because they feel bad if they haven't spent a certain amount per person), or feeling guilty when other people give them things), but I get such joy out of making things for other people that I'm not going to let their psychological hangups or financial guilt trips deprive me of that!
One easy solution for someone who's anti-materialism (but unwilling or unable to make things for everyone), financially straightened, and also feeling obligated to have something for everyone, is to do what one good woman I know did once with "teacher gifts" for her child's school -- gave a donation to the Heifer Project in the name of the teachers of the school (all together) and then gave each teacher a card (which she prints herself, using Greetings Workshop) saying, "a gift has been made in your name to the Heifer Project," etc. I see no reason why it couldn't similarly be done for "The Smith Family," with cards for each. Print them yourself, costs no more than the cost of the ink and paper, and with good enough paper you'd never know the difference. (I'm always surprised at the stores -- $4.50 for a simple card?) Then you've done something good for someone else, haven't spent more than you could afford to ($50 for many charities will do much more good and bring more joy than $15 each to a dozen family members!), haven't given things they probably wouldn't like very much to people who don't need anything, and got rid of gift-giving obligations in a way that the people you give the cards to are obliged to act pleased about! (And many of them would be, in fact.) Also, if you're making things but stuck for ideas, there are other one-size-fits-all ideas -- cookie-mix- or tea-mix-in-a-jar all around, or (like me with the cousins) one gift for all the girls, one for all the boys, or (as my mother used to do when there was a bumper crop of berries, which there hasn't been for a few years) a jar or two of homemade jelly all around. If your friends don't appreciate it, your friends don't need gifts. If your family doesn't appreciate it, too bad. They're your family, and they know you and your views on things, so they should be happy that you think they're worth any effort at all! (Well, minor hypocrisy here: if there's someone in your family who doesn't appreciate it, but is a REALLY good gift giver (like the aunt above), it might be worth it to buy something for that person! But, in general, rule holds.)
As for me, I have to make things, and don't have much success selling the things, so it's good for me to have the opportunity to give them away! I'm easily pleased, so I love everything I get in return (and usually my favorite gift ends up being something a teenage cousin picked up for fifty cents at a flea market), but I don't keep a tally on who gives and who doesn't, and I don't mind at all if you don't give me anything -- so long as you allow me to give you something!
What's on your list?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)