I Love You Because...

Homemade Gifts 2010

Okay I think I'm finally recovering from the holidays and thought I should post more about the big day... and the big tradition. Esp. since I'm already thinking about what I should start for next year. 

This year I decided to do everything with leather. I had never worked with it at all and new absolutely nada about it but, I was determined to make something my Grandpa Smith would have been proud of. He actually gave me my first homemade gift that I remember and it was leather braided belts for the boys and leather hair pieces for the girls. I knew I wasn't quite to his skill set so when I walked into the leather store I had them dumb everything down for me but, I still think they turned out pretty good. 

For the men? Fly Fishing Reel Pouches. 
(Dad has already made a request for 3 more!)  

For the women I took the same idea but adjusted it to something that they'd use. Hiking First Aide Kits. Inside I put in a few essentials, MoleSkin, Band Aides, Ointment, Mini Sun Screen, Ect. The boys got pouches too, a little bit bigger in size for things like toy cars or a DSi. They were all actually different designs but in my rush to get all 28 done I didn't take pictures. (Dear Family- PLEASE TAKE PICTURES and email them to me, please!!)

Then the little girls got the idea that started it all... Hair Bows, barrettes and headbands. Again, not many pictures because I was on a mailing deadline but I think they liked them. 

And my favorite one of all of them?? Seriously, I wish I had a baby and I could have kept this. I WANT A BABY! Instead I get to live vicariously through Emily. My baby sister is having a baby girl!! So I made her this. (It will look better on Baby Abby then it does on Baby Owen but remember I DON'T HAVE A BABY ANYMORE!!) 

The Back looks like this...

You just wipe it off when they;re done and I swear it's the prettiest, most functional bib I've ever seen. I love it!

For Mom We made something a little different. Last summer I had all the grandkids here... remember that craziness?! It was awesome. I had all the kids write their name and draw a little picture around a GIANT table cloth with some washable markers. Then I embroidered everyones names in by hand. (Again, FAMILY can someone take a picture of the finished product for me?!) I think it turned out pretty awesome! 

 

Now it's onto this years..... time to start making a list!  

Looking for ideas to start this tradition at your house? Here are few of my past homemade gifts... 

2009 - Finger Puppets/Books.

2008 - Nativity Boxes.

2007 - Red work Christmas Quilts.

2006 - North Pole Aprons. 

2005- Christmas Needlepoint. (I stitched them and Doug made the frames.)

Snowmen at Night Quilt

Ever since 2007 when I made everyone red-work throw quilts I had wanted one of my own.  I never got around to it simply because I had made 5 of the same pattern already... I was sick of it.  In March of 2009 my sister in law, Spring and I went to a regional sewing expo here in Atlanta. We had a blast and while we were there I saw this Walking in a Winter Wonderland quilt (from Crab Apple Hill) that I absolutely fell in love with. It was a red-work Snowman quilt. Spring and I made a deal, I would do all the embroidery work on two quilts because she doesn't enjoy handwork and she would do all the quilting because well... I barely know how to turn on my sewing machine let alone actually sewing two pieces of fabric together. At the same time Mom actually got the same pattern and was working on the same project in Utah as we were in Georgia and Florida. It was so fun to work on it at the same time. After hours and hours and hours of work from Spring, Mom, Me and even Doug,  they're all done and can I just say? LOVE! The original pattern is only a throw quilt size and because I wanted it for my specific red bed frame I needed it to be full size. After a few calculations from the quilt queen (aka Mom) and a little inspiration from Snowmen at Night, (one of our favorite Children's books) Doug sketched out four personalized snowmen corners to match the rest of the quilt. A little Cowboy flair for Grandpa, a viking hat for the Grandkids (Mom has one in her dress up toys and it's always been the favorite) and a little Snow-dolly for Lorali. I love, Love, LOVE the end result. Thank you Spring, Doug and esp. Mom for pushing me to actually get it done in time for the holidays this year! I have loved this project so much I think it's been the one to push me over the edge... I have to learn how to quilt. I have too many ideas that I doubt I could bribe my relatives into finishing for me. :)  

Now to show off Doug's one of a kind corners.....