Angela also asked us to talk about why we want to buy handmade, so I thought I’d share some thoughts along that line.

Why do we give people presents anyway? There are lots of reasons, but I think the most important one for me is to show them that I care about them. In my mind, caring is more about actions and less about the thing itself. Something that is handmade was made by a single person, with an intention behind those hands to make something beautiful/useful for another person. It shouldn’t surprise you that in the past I have made lots of gifts, and I’ll probably make some this year as well. But as my little business continues to grow, I’ve got to spend more time making things that other people are going to give as gifts, so I’l be buying more. And as much as possible, I’m going to buy handmade: it shows that I took the time to look for something special, and unique, and made with the intention of it being enjoyed by someone else! And so, here’s what I’ve been thinking about:

Paper Goods:

1. Skinny LaMinx’s lovely laser cut gift tags – I usually don’t spend too much time on gift wrapping – probably because it usually happens very late at night – but when Heather Moore tweeted about these tags the other day, I have a new resolution to have awesome wrapping – how hard could it be with beautiful tags like this?
2. Corrabelle’s Hand Carved personalized bookplate – It’s going to be hard to buy handmade for my two sons, Liam wants a jazz trombone and Logan is all lego all the time. But both my boys LOVE to read, how awesome would it be for them to have a personalized bookplate?
3. River Dog Print’s Canning Labels – I usually make some hand baked or canned goodies for friends at work – Cyn’s labels are gonna take them up a notch!
4. Jumping Jack Designs Holiday Photo Cards – I love the beautiful simplicity of Angie’s cards. It does require that I actually get pictures taken and addresses assembled, but I’m gonna give it a try!
5. Stephanie Levy’s Calendar - it’s a work of art, that also artfully lays the whole year out in once glance – perfect for long term planning as well as a beautiful spot of color for the wall.
6. I know that Jan of Daisy Janie is planning another calendar like her 2010 version – this one I’ll use to jot down all our everyday craziness.

Fabric Items

1. Lesley from Smidgebox Design makes incredible fabric bins that warm the cockles of my organizing heart. I know many many people who would love one…or two…or…
2. Rosie’s Whimsy schoolhouse tunic – I love this color, and I think I’ll actually look good in this (Santa hint #1)
3. Toy Robot’s lego tee shirt is just the thing for my lego loving Logan.
4. I bought a collar for my Sheltie Stirling last year from Sam of Sew Fetching. I love it, and a year later it’s still going strong…but I think that Stirling NEEDS this puppermint stripe one, don’t you?

Jewelry

1. This abstract art necklace is a small piece from Martha Marshall’s Color Poetry shop.
2. Tasha McKelvey’s delicate ginko earrings are just lovely.
3. I love everything in Lulubug’s shop – but look at these cool cufflinks – they say “I Love You” in binary code – as hubby wears tuxedos a lot (when he plays trombone with the symphony etc…) he actually needs cufflinks. I do believe I’ve found something handmade for the hubby!
4. Houses – how I adore the house shape. This house necklace from J Davis Studio? Fantastic!

OK, so those are a few handmade items that I’d love to be giving (or RECEIVING!) I hope you enjoyed my little take on Angela’s “Crafty Holiday”! And tomorrow, stop by Follow my Muse and see what Molly has on HER crafty Holiday list!

A Crafty Holiday: Blog Hop for Handmade Gifts is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern

If I may say so , you are one lucky guy! As the youngest of my niece/nephews, you reap the benefits of your Auntie Candy having learned so much and improved her creative skills! When you were born, she made you and awesome piece of art to adorn your nursery walls, a cute mobile for Christmas last year, and a really cute outfit this Christmas.

Now, I never said I was FAST! Your Mom asked me to make you a growth chart last July, and it’s taken until now to get it done! Your Mom wrote a cute blog post about how you’re almost 2 years old! How can that be? How does time go so fast? Anyway, it’s finally done!

To wrap my head around how to make something like this for you, I had to think about something that was long and skinny and had a long vertical line. That part was easy – because your Uncle Andrew and cousins Liam and Logan are fisherman, I got the idea of having a fishing line descending to the depths of a lake pretty quickly. What took me a long time to figure out was how to mark your growth without (gasp!) writing all over the quilt. This was something that had me stumped. I thought about velcro and fish, but the velcro would have made such a big fat fishing line, I couldn’t make that! Finally, it came to me – I could sew a safety pin on the back of the fish, and your Mom could pin it on – that way you wouldn’t be carrying the fish off and loosing it!

I dyed a piece of fabric a pretty blue green with lots of texture and movement, so the lake water had lots of interest. The boat is wood (of course) and has your name on it (of course). I stitched the fishing line with really thick thread and stitched up and down with my walking foot, so it would be nice and straight. If you peek at the bottom you should see that the fish hook is stitched with silver thread (something that is HARD to sew with!) I made some light marks up the fishing line with my pigment pen 1″ apart, marking each foot with a number. Your Dad should hang this so that the line just above the hook that says “2″ is 2 feet from the ground – make sure to help him with this!

The fish are made by fusing fabric to peltex, one layer for the front, the other for the back. I free hand quilt a number for your age on the front, and stitch a safety pin on the back. Ten I fuse them together and zigzag all around to cover the white edges – I hope you like the multicolor thread that goes around the fish – I think it looks cool, plus I couldn’t bear switching the thread, top & bottom, so many times!

Your Mom can put the #1 fish on where you measured at 1 year, and place the 2nd fish where you’ll measure in just over a week. Please notice that there’s also a fish with a see through pocket – whenever she feels like it, she can write a new date, slip it in the pocket and move the fish to how tall you are on that day! (this is the final thing I needed to figure out!)

Your cousin Logan tried it out and says it works great!

Here are some detail shots for some friends of your Auntie Candy who like to see how she works:

I sure hope you, your Mom & your Dad like this!

Love, Auntie Candy

p.s. I’ve updated this post so I can include it in now one, but 2 differnt sew & tells. definitely click the buttons below to be tacen to a list of fantastic things made by people all over the web.

Thanks Kim	Thanks Amy

A Quilt to Chart Max’s Growth is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern

Christmas Fun has Begun! is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern

Psst…don’t forget I’m hosting another giveaway at Park City Girl, the last day to enter is tomorrow!

Tie Dyed Lab Coat Report! is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern

These are off to Massachusetts:

Some lucky local gals:

My niece has a step-daughter and a new baby daughter, does that make these gals my nieces-once-removed? Whatever the title, these 2 are off to Ohio. I also had a commission for a gal who loves pink & purple!

My favorite tree for posing these shirts is VERY close to the pool, I have to concentrate where I’m standing so I don’t back into the pool! A cold shock for me, but even worse for my camera…see what I go through for my blog readers!

Moving down the list – time to write an exam! (Boo! say my students!)

Checking my list! Presents Galore! is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern