Merry & Mod at home

masculine embroidery

[One of the reasons why I love making and giving handmade holiday gifts is purely selfish: it provides blog post fodder well into the New Year.]  

With a mind towards frugality and sustainability - and an awareness that exchanging no gifts at all, well, sucks - E and I agreed to exchange something small and handmade at Christmas.  (I can't wait to share the gift I received once it's hung in the rightful place.)

Old Navy had long sleeved crew necks on sale for $5, the little owl pattern was waiting in a file, and the embroidery floss was stashed in the appropriate basket.  The only missing element was time to sit and stitch.  In a season of so much making and baking, celebrating and working it's easy to get overwhelmed.  To relax and breathe is essential.  To force some decompression and create a bit of productivity my sister-in-law and I started what I hope becomes an annual tradition: a romantic movie, a bottle of wine, and our unfinished projects.  

And here is the final result.  A soft winter shirt featuring a snowy little owl.  It's not as bold or as complicated as the other one I made for him, but that's OK.  He wears it often; I love seeing it in the laundry basket, in the kitchen on burrito night, on him.  

 

between the sheets

When a beloved friend announced she's eloping in Italy to marry the man of her dreams, immediately I knew I wanted to make something special for her bridal luncheon.  Such occasions make me so happy to be a reasonably creative person.  I can purchase a decent pair of sheets, thread my needle and suddenly create a potential heirloom. 

 

 

 

But the best part was the presentation.  I think this shows my dedication to our friendship: admitting to a crowd of unknown women (and blog readers) that yes, I have been known to read a trashy novel...or forty.  I was blushing while wrapping this, and I don't think it was the, ahem, balmy evening. 

 

Mama, why is  there a red light bulb?

- So Amanda can be cozy with her sweetheart.

Are these people being cozy?

- Oh.  Um.  Yes.  Yes, they are. 

'

It was worth it all to see her so pleased, so glowing, so in love.  She puts the most passionate fictional heroine to shame. 

scenes from the day

Looking back on my day, I see the true highlights: little accomplishments, small joys.  From this perspective it's easy to ignore the frustrations.  Tomorrow, I'll enjoy the pleasures as they happen and let go of the rest.

 

 

 

Learning to make a stitch, talking about making and giving...

 

Being goofy instead of getting dressed.  Why didn't I laugh more as this happened?

 

What was delicious last night is discarded at lunch.

 

 

Afternoon art.

 

Matching yarn and fabric for future projects.  Stitches were made and ripped out.

 

Off to book club.  Pleased with my jewelry. 

Looking Good

A belated father's day present.  Completed. 

So many backstitches!  Pattern found here.  Now on to the next project:  coordinating winter hats for the boys. 

A Greater Gift

These hankies, inspired by this Purl Bee project, with patterns from Sublime Stitches, were my Mother's Day gifts this year.  I bought the fabric, a lovely sheer cotton voile (right, it's voile? I'm not so sure) from Michael Levine downtown.  I wrapped each hankie around a bar of handmade soap we bought on vacation in Monterrey.  

If I'm being honest, one of the reasons I taught myself to crochet was to justify the purchase of a sewing basket.  I tried to be frugal - honest! - and use a lovely basket already in my possession.  But after loosing eighteen sewing needles through the weaving, and crawling around on the floor searching for them, I decided to make a purchase. 

After much searching, I found this one at A Greater Gift, a website that sells fair trade and often handmade goods from around the world.  I embroider, and I feel good.