Sunday, December 16, 2007

A meme, winner and Giveaway #4

Today I have an empty house, thanks to John. I was admittedly complaining the other day about how I feel that I have no time to myself. Thankfully, he offered to take Isaiah up to his parents for the day, leaving me free to sew, craft, clean, and veg out all by myself. I spent some time writing some Christmas cards and now I'm completely in the Christmas spirit. Now only if it would stop raining and start snowing!! Anyway, I saw this meme on the Sew, Mama, Sew Blog and I thought it would be fun. So here we go:

Gifts

Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give?
I love handmade gifts. Usually cookies for neighbors, ornaments for friends, and larger sewn items for those closest to me.

If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making? Most of the men are getting these dop kits.

My MIL is getting this bag.

Now I'm trying to figure out what to do for the rest. I guess I better decide soon!


Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received? Last year my niece received her first American Girl doll for Christmas, so I decided to make her a dress for the doll. I spent a lot of time on it and it turned out beautifully. When she opened it, she just adored it. Then nana told her I had made it, and she lit up. She wanted to put it on her doll right away and didn't care about opening the rest of her presents. She walked around for awhile telling everyone I had made it for her. The warmth in my heart of overwhelming!

Do you have any great gift compilation ideas (a grouping of gifts just perfect for certain recipients?) I have to agree with Artsy Momma. I loved themed gifts and when things coordinate well. For instance, a diaper bag for a new mom filled with diapers, wipes, lotions for baby and mom.

Name one thing on your personal wish list. I would love a piece of her artwork (maybe if I had more money!!) or this book, which probably be helpful for all those last minute gifts.

Do you make and sell things that would make fantastic gifts? I have a quaint little shop over on etsy. I'm working on some more dop kits today, so hopefully I'll have them listed soon!


Traditions

What is your favorite family holiday tradition?After returning from church on Christmas eve, my family always makes sandwiches and watches A Christmas Story. We then each open one present, and usually fall asleep around the tree.

Have you started any new traditions with your family that you didn’t practice growing up?Not yet. This is our first Christmas in our own house together. This will also be the first Christmas Isaiah is actually excited about. He sort of has an understanding of Santa and is really loving all the holiday happenings.

What do you love most about the holiday season? I just love the happiness and cheerfulness of people. The willingness of people to help others. I wish we could all be like this more often, but I do appreciate the spirit that Christmas brings to people. Oh, and I love baking cookies.

What do you like least about the holiday season? The stress. Too many people shopping, crowded malls. Long lines. Thankfully I took the handmade pledge so I'm trying to avoid all that.

Anyone close to your heart that you’ll be missing this year? I'll be missing my own family this Christmas. John and I have routinely spending Christmas with my parents and sisters in NY since we were dating. This year we have to be here because of John's treatment. I do feel sad that I won't be in NY for Christmas. I love doing all the Christmas-y things with my sister. In a way though, John's illness has allowed us to slow down, enjoy and appreciate what we have. We get to spend Christmas together in our own house, and that's pretty special.

What is your favorite holiday food? um, cookies? When else is it alright to bake dozens of cookies and sneak a few from each batch?

Do you have a great recipe to share? Right now I'm loving this cookie recipe I posted a few days back. Hmmm.


Oh, you wanted to know who was the winner of yesterday's giveaway?? That was a long post. Tricky me. So, the winner of the doll quilt is:

Katherine Please send me your address to katiebhandbags@gmail.com

And today's giveaway is this pillow I showed not too long ago. I embroidered the middle design on linen and framed it with the gorgeous AB print. You have to click on the link to see it, because apparently I've deleted the pic from my computer. Leave a comment and the winner will be picked tomorrow!

26 comments:

kitty said...

Aww man. I'm the first. And we all know the first post never wins.

Anonymous said...

that sounds great! I wish I had family close enough to ship my son off for a day once in a while. I pretend that I'd get so much stuff done, but in reality I'd probably spend most of the day reading in the bath tub!

alicia said...

thanks for sharing your meme! it great to see what inspires others.

Brooke said...

Please randomly select me!

Valerie said...

I love seeing all of the projects you are working on. So much inspiration...

Thanks again for all of the fun giveaways.

Anina said...

We always read "The night before Christmas" on Christmas Eve. Even now that we have an almost 15-year old. And, of course, cookies are a highlight. It would normally be way decadent to bake 5 or 6 different types of cookies all at the same time.
That pillow would be the perfect start for my master bedroom makeover since I'm planning on linen and orange - what a coincidence!

Karyn said...

I love reading these meme's!! That purse is great, it will be well loved! :)

Stephanie said...

Oh, I love that pillow!

I'm glad you had a day to enjoy to yourself.

the solitary thread said...

Oh your Christmas eve tradition sounds wonderful! :) And lovely gifts, I always struggle with guy stuff. I haven't even made anything yet, ACK!

dodo said...

Looks great. Please choose me.

Philigry said...

okay, i love that pillow, and i have to have it!
I made a tutu for my daughter and i can not wait to give it to her. I hope that she loves it as much as that little girl loves that dress you made for her doll! i love stories like that! thanks for sharing!

lera said...

Two of my most favorite Christmases were spent with just my husband and kids when we lived in Ohio. Joe had to work on the 26th both years so we couldn't be home for Christmas. Even though I missed spending it with my family, it was so much nicer not having to run around visiting everyone. We actually got to stay home and ENJOY our gifts and each other and rush all over the place.

Enjoy. You may like it.

Giabella Designs said...

Okay, so I am new to blogging. What is a meme? Anywho....love that pillow! The embroidery is lovely.

Unknown said...

I wanted to say something meaningful but my brain is mush from the sewing rush of the last two days to get all of my gifting done.

(thanks for the mention! arent themed gifts the best?)

Dar said...

My favorite thing about Christmas morning is home made Cinnamon rolls with a glob of cream cheese frosting! Dreamy! Every year we read advent books by Arnold Ytreeide. There are 3 books in the series!

Your pillow is so cute. You are such a sewing inspiration!

Darlene

Bonny said...

I hope I'm not too late to enter the giveaway...this is a great one especially because I love love love love pillows! I could fill a whole room with them!

Chara Michele said...

I love that pillow by the way! :) It was fun to read your answers to the meme too! :)

Katherine said...

Hi Katie! Thank you for drawing my name in the doll quilt giveaway. I'm so excited to be receiving one of your handmade beauties.

Good luck to all those entered for today's beautiful giveaway prize!

Amy said...

Your quaint little shop is lovely! I love your pillow as well.

Sarah said...

I'm new to this whole blogging thing, so maybe I'm not even supposed to be writing anything unless you know me...but I just have to ask, did you make that bag for your MIL?! It is absolutely PHENOMENAL! It looks like it could be sold in a store! Wow, I am blown away...

Teddi said...

I love your 'man bags' - great fabric and looks like your sewing is perfect! Your MIL bag is phenomenal and she's going to absolutely love it! I enjoyed reading your holiday MEME...thanks for sharing your traditions with us on Sew, Mama, Sew! Happy Holidays!

Anonymous said...

Wow, we sound so similar. Thanks for sharing. I am also getting to enjoy my first Christmas with a 1 year old...so fun! I am now going to pour over the rest of your blog (came from sew, mama, sew).
kflores@covpres.com

Anonymous said...

i loved reading your answers, and that pillow is gorgeous! would look great on my new couch ;)

Angel Funk said...

I am in the midst of making that dop kit and am wondering: do I place the zipper and sew together the fabric along the 16 inch side of the fabric or the 12 inch side in step 2?

Katie Jean said...

angel, I'll gladly give you some tips for sewing it. Please send me an e-mail at katiebhandbags@gmail.com
I couldn't find an e-mail to reply to you

Anonymous said...

I've made three dop kits... seems the only thing I could think of to sew for the guys! The only change I made was to make them bigger, with 16 inch zippers and a 22" length. Yours looks very nice and precise (I tend to get impatient and can't sew very straight!).