Back in November I shared my grand plans for a handmade Christmas. Sadly, for quite some time I remained in the planning stage, not doing much more than telling myself how fabulous it would all be and believing that I had plenty of time left. Finally, a week before Christmas I could no longer deny the advancing date, and I got to crafting. The verdict? In spite of my late start, I still accomplished a fair bit.
4-year-old Hannah and I worked together to make some embroidered pillows.
I sewed some aprons for the ladies, too.
And I did a little bit of knitting (I confess, this is the one thing I started well enough in advance, I just don’t knit that quickly).
But the piece that I am most proud of, and the thing that I was up late finishing on Christmas Eve, is the puppet theatre that I made for the children. I got the pattern from Amy Karol‘s Bend the Rules Sewing, and I love it. It hangs in the doorway on a tension rod, and then packs up in a pouch for easy storage. It’s really, really fabulous, and thankfully my kids love it just as much as I do.
Once I threw in some jam and jelly that I made in the summer, I was pretty happy with how my crafting turned out. Although starting earlier just might have worked to my advantage. I don’t know for sure, but I have my suspicions.
How about you? How did your holiday crafting go? Do share!
I had a great time putting together homemade calendars with photos I'd taken over the year and ended up with 5 gifts. I also gave Ev his "gifts" to the poem The Twelve Days of Christmas. I wrapped up 12 different gifts (some became repeats when I got stuck, like the Dove chocolates wrapped in tinfoil that he loves so much and has to go over the Border to purchase (long story). But the final gift was the homemade calendar with pictures of Casey and his sons and grandchildren and me of course with the note: On the twelfth day of Christmas your true love gave to you "12 months of love". He was very happy with the gift's'.
I’m afraid I don’t have anything to share but I do love that puppet theatre – awesome! And would pretty much do anything to get my hands on those groovey blue socks.
.-= coffeewithjulie´s last post ..NYC’s Bowery District =-.
I LOVE that puppet theater! I think I know what the kids are getting next year.
Also, I plan to start making gifts in January. It may be the onyl way to get everything done by Christmas. LOL
.-= Summer´s last post ..2009, In Numbers =-.
My holiday crafting went no where this year. I had grand plans and they all fizzled out. The puppet theatre looks really neat and I really love the rainbow pillow.
.-= Marilyn´s last post ..Diabetes Blows =-.
I made the blog-posted citrus almonds and some framed scrapbook pages. But mostly I buy people books — people need to read! Authors need support! The puppet theatre flat-out rocks, but my favourite is the face pillow.
.-= Allison´s last post ..***********Let Nothing you Dismay =-.
Love it!
.-= Shelly´s last post ..Disney On Ice Show! =-.
I love that purple polka dot apron!! The puppet theatre is such a neat idea and is so cute. I might have to try that one!
We made a few things too. My husband made some oil lamps out of rocks and I made my brother a mushroom oil lamp out of clay. With my dad’s side of the family, there are way too many people for everyone to give gifts to everyone. It would be a madhouse, so everybody brings one gift and we do the thing where you get a number and either pick a gift to unwrap or steal something someone else has opened. For that I made a tiny little Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus and did the girls’ handprints in clay. My aunt loved them, so that was a success! For my parents I made a little clay plaque of them holding their granddaughters.
I meant to make a superhero cape for Suzi. I have a hot-pink/metallic fabric remnant that I bought not knowing what I’d make, and I meant to make the cape before Christmas but didn’t get around to it. It should make a cute birthday gift though. Next year for my dad’s family, I’d love to take my time and make something that really knocks their socks off and has everyone fighting over it. Hopefully by that time I will have thought of something I can make from clay.
.-= Jenny´s last post ..Jordan has an in with Santa =-.
That's so nice, Joan! Amber, you are, as always, amazing!
Those are some very fun photos and beautiful aprons! Well done! I made a similar theater for my boys when they were little (no pattern, but I copied it from one I remembered seeing in my childhood – I blogged it even!). They never used it as a theater proper, but they love it as a curtain, and it’s still “hanging” in there!
.-= Francesca´s last post ..Microscopic nature =-.
PS I hit “submit” before adding a very complimentary note to Hannah’s (and your) pillows: they’re gorgeous, all of them!
.-= Francesca´s last post ..Microscopic nature =-.
All very cute! Love the embroidery! Perhaps I have underestimated my daughter. I’ll have to try some with her.
.-= Amber´s last post ..Tip: Keeping Track Of Cables =-.
Oh, love all the things you made, especially the socks. Do you have a pattern for those? I also love the puppet theatre… I know I would have loved to have one of those as a kid! Job well done!!
.-= Rachel´s last post ..The Versatility of Wool =-.
how cute is that puppet theatre?!!! oh amber, you should be really proud, so adorable! my extent of holiday crafting was making garlands out of greens from my frontyard and 2 half-finished stockings…someday the little girls will have them.
.-= Patience´s last post ..diner love… =-.
The crafts are all excellent, but the puppet theatre is awesome! When’s the first public performance?
You are so fabulous, and I will have to check out that book! Here’s how pathetic I am: I had grand schemes to handmake some necklaces. At least three, and then I started adding people to the list, without actually starting the project. Around about Christmas Eve, I cut my list down to ONE. Then the person I was making it for canceled until we could get together after Christmas sometime — so I STILL haven’t made even one! Maybe next Christmas…?
.-= Lauren @ Hobo Mama´s last post ..Taking stock of my visitors =-.
I think you did marvellously well to get all that made. I think the pillows are beautiful. I made a few gifts for my sons’ cousins but I struggled to get it done while my baby was asleep – probably because I was spending too much time on the computer.
.-= Catherine´s last post ..lanterns and glowsticks =-.
I love the puppet theater!!! We were planning on building one of wood for the kids, but I was worrie about how to store it.
I am going to make one like yours instead
I love the rainbow embroidered pillow as well, and I am inspired by your knitting skills. I can’t knit at all.
.-= Joni Rae´s last post ..I’m a blogger. =-.
That puppet theater is awesome – you rock! I also love the material you picked out for the aprons, esp. the purple polka dots
.-= Dionna @ Code Name: Mama´s last post ..I’m a Grand-what?! =-.
I’m just going to have to start calling you Ms. Crafty Pants! The puppet theatre is Fan-Tastic! I love it. Good for you. I did chocolate clusters for my homemade goodies this year. Everything else I gave homemade was made by someone else.
.-= Melodie´s last post ..My Top 10 Most Commented On Posts of 2009 =-.
Amazing work. I am not crafty anymore, but one of my resolutions this year is to do more by hand.
What fantastic creations!
I love that puppet theater!
As you know, my visions of handmade Christmas ornaments completely fizzled, but I did get to re-use all the gift bags I made last year, so I guess that’s something.
.-= Lady M´s last post ..Grocery Cartography =-.