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Stuttering Shell: from the heart.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

from the heart.

one of my goals this past christmas was to give more homemade gifts. i didn't really succeed with that goal, but i did manage to knock out a few gifts that were a hit with the recipients.

in christmases past, i've always made ornaments for my children's teachers. i didn't do that this year. instead, i made rag wreaths. four of them, to be exact. each wreath was 12" {i also made a 16" rag wreath that was part of my gift for the sneaky santa game we played at my mother-in-law's house}.


 {my kitchen table was a disaster for most of the month of december}

{the pics were taken with my cell phone}

each of my children have two teachers and i let them choose the color scheme for each teacher. this project was super easy, but time consuming & slightly messy {if you can't tell from the frayed fabric pieces on  my legs in the picture above}. as for cost? you can make a 12" rag wreath for less than $10. how? the wire wreath frame is only a couple of bucks {even less if they are on sale or you use a coupon} and i used one jelly roll of quilting fabric for each wreath. the jelly rolls were about $12 regular price, but i used 40% or 50% coupons to buy each. the jelly rolls made it easy because the fabric was already coordinated & the fabric strips were the perfect size to cut with minimal waste. i cranked out three wreaths in one night while sitting in front of the television.

i also knitted a scarf for my sister. i promised her an orange scarf last christmas and, well, that didn't happen. so this year i taught myself the mock cable knit stitch and whipped up a small infinity scarf out of some very lovely orange peruvian wool yarn. the color is called clementine.

{this is what i do while the kids are at their kickboxing lesson}

i have one more skein of this yarn and i'm thinking about making another scarf just like the one i gifted to my sister. what do you think?

i think the best present of all was the picture i drew of my parent's dog, nono. originally, i was going to frame a picture of her, but i decided - at the last minute, in fact - that i would draw one instead. it's been years since i've sat down with a sketch pad & pencils. but, considering we said goodbye to nono just weeks before the holidays, a framed, hand drawn portrait of nono would be a perfect gift. 


i managed to draw this picture two days before christmas while watching "the hangover, part 2" with adam. i'm not entirely happy with how it turned out, but i'm proud of what i did. i think i even like it better than the painting i did of frisco nearly a couple years ago.


at any rate, my mother cried when she opened the package containing nono's picture. i can't wait to visit my parents to see where they hang the drawing. 

so, i know the holidays have come & gone and i really should be focused on organizing & cleaning my home, but i think i'm going to start now to make a more conscious effort to give more homemade gifts. they truly are the best gifts to give.

i linked up with kristen from ladybug blessings for handmade tuesday.

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8 Comments:

Blogger SEL said...

The drawing looks great! And I'm super impressed that you were able to make the wreaths for so cheap. My rag wreaths cost, on average to make, around $50!! But mine are holiday ribbon? Regardless, everything turned out beautifully!

Jan 3, 2012, 8:00:00 AM  
Blogger Meghan said...

You are insanely creative! Nice work!

Jan 3, 2012, 10:54:00 AM  
Blogger Heather said...

LOVE the dog drawing/painting! That's amazing! That's totally what you need to start selling :)

Jan 3, 2012, 12:24:00 PM  
Blogger irishgalkelly said...

Hey there! These are so pretty! I agree with you that homemade is always more special. I'd like to add more to my Christmas list this year as well. I made stamped candles for teacher and Sunday School teacher gifts, school secretarys, and special teachers-like art and gym,etc. They turned out great and since I stamp and already have those supplies, it only cost me the candle and ribbon. I have a question for you about your jelly rolls...do you buy those at Hobby Lobby or Michals? Online the prices were high per roll but I didn't look at the big box stores. This is a great idea and might be nice for end of the year teacher gifts or just next Christmas. I do love your scarf and that fabulous yarn. I wish I knew how to do that!! Your drawing was awesome and so sweet. I can see how your mom would have cried. Such a touching and thoughtful gift to give. Don't be so hard on yourself. You gave from the heart and they are all works of art. : ) Thanks for inspiring me today. If I get started this early, I might just be able to make a few more this year. I'm a stay at home mom and the budget is important to me. Thanks too for yesterdays post on soap making. Will try that as well. Happy New Year Michelle!!!

Jan 3, 2012, 1:44:00 PM  
Blogger Rachel said...

Look at you, Little Miss Crafty Pants!

Jan 3, 2012, 8:01:00 PM  
Blogger Kiley said...

You're so crafty. :)

Okay, be honest - I want to learn how to knit. How hard is it to first get started? On a scale of 1 to pulling my hair out?

Jan 3, 2012, 8:25:00 PM  
Blogger Ashley said...

Love all of your handmade gifts! Where did you get your wreath forms and jelly roll fabrics?

Jan 4, 2012, 7:15:00 AM  
Blogger MommaKiss said...

I gasped when I read that you did those pictures! Crafty talent, girl!!

Love that knitting stitch. All of your knitting actually. Gorgeous. Go you.

Jan 6, 2012, 4:22:00 PM  

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