RHYS BOWEN: Sorry about publishing two blogs on the same day by mistake yesterday! Busy week with Thanksgiving and John's birthday.
Anyway, I've been talking about everyone madly shopping and scoring bargains on Black Friday. I remember my youth when Christmas presents were smaller and simpler. IN those post war years in England everything was still very austere so some of my presents were often home made. I had stuffed toys, dolls, a wooden train all home made. When I got older a gift was sometimes a hand knitted sweater. I never thought they were less perfect because of this and I have to confess that I still love receiving home made presents.
To me they mean that someone thought about me, got an idea and then took
Last year my granddaughter Mary Clare knitted me a fabulous scarf. It took more time than she had imagined and she sat up until three am on Christmas morning to finish it. I love it, especially because of the time she put into it.
I haven't made anything recently except family photo albums after big events and anniversaries. I love having them myself and glancing through them in spare moments. I also made an album of my sketches that I do when I travel.
No creative ideas this year yet, but I do find the moment the evenings get longer that my thoughts turn to crafts.
Last year some of you will remember that I made gnomes. This year I have a kit for a holly fairy. I'll show you when it's finished. I also have patterns for caroling mice but that might be a bridge too far as I'm the one who writes all the cards, buys and wraps all the gifts and makes enough food for the family for a week. But I do enjoy the simplicity and quiet of knitting, sewing, with carols being played.
How about you? Who likes to craft? Knitters? Crochet? Anything else?
Rhys, I love homemade gifts too . A relative made a gorgeous Christmas pin with red and green colors. I still have it. Knitting a scarf is a thoughtful gift.
ReplyDeleteBaked goods is a wonderful homemade Christmas gift. I’ve baked cookies. I used to knit homemade gifts when I was at university.
Your idea about gifting your sketches sounds wonderful.
Homemade gifts are definitely special; your family's gifts sound wonderful. Here it's making LOTS of cookies for Christmas gifts . . . .
ReplyDeleteWhat are your specialties ?
DeleteDark Chocolate/Espresso cookies . . . Cranberry -Orange cookies . . . . Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies. . . and everyone always gets a jar of bacon jam . . . .
DeleteI love those gnomes, Rhys. I am working on a baby quilt for the new grand. All the squares are cut and I'll map out the design today, then use my afternoons this week to (machine) assemble the top.
ReplyDeleteIn the past I have made gifts of rum balls, limoncello, herbed vinegars, granola, hand-sewn aprons, wine-glass coasters, and more.
A handmade quit is so special and all your food items sound wonderful
DeleteMy go-to "oh how lovely you brought me a gift, (and I did not think of it for you!) is small jars of spiced apple and hot pepper jelly. I make lots, it is delicious, it goes well with most things and it looks jewel-like in the jars and on the table. Whew!
DeleteWe grew up making cookies, lots of different kinds of cookies for ourselves, our relatives and our neighbors.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me of this tradition. That's what I'd like to do this year. No one needs more "stuff" these days.
I find fewer people bake their own cookies here. We don’t eat so many sweets
DeleteLovely! I'm not very crafty, although our walking team made felt gnome heads to go on wine bottles one year. Mine's a bit wonky. However, I have done a lot of counted cross stitch projects--it's kind of like paint by number with embroidery thread. For gifts, I have stitched bookmarks, ornaments and tea towels, and I couple of anniversary remembrances (I have the one from mom and dad's 50th on my wall now)
ReplyDeleteThat requires patience and good eyesight. I tried a needlepoint picture during Covid but only got as far as the sky!
DeleteGillian, admittedly I have never done a paint-by-numbers painting, but counted cross stitch is much harder, in my opinion. I have made many cross stitch projects and they take concentration, attention to detail and yes, Rhys, good eyesight. — Pat S
DeleteMy sister is the real crafty one. I always cherish the homemade gifts and have made a fair number of things for giving in the past. It isn’t going to happen this year. I will be doing well if I just get everyone something and get them mailed out.
ReplyDeleteLuckily they will all be here and I don’t have to mail things. It’s so expensive these days. And I order from online companies for business gifts so they do they mailing.
DeleteUm. You all are so talented! I …am not. Xxxx
ReplyDeleteYou have talents none of us possess, my sweet!
DeleteHank, I disagree. You cannot discount your writing. You and every writer on this blog possess a talent that many would love to have. So, you are very talented, just not maybe very crafty - homemade gift-wise. You are very crafty based on your writings!-- Victoria
DeleteHank, you make me feel better. I cannot do anything "crafty." Just the idea of needlepoint or cross stitch makes me want to poke my dyslexic eyes out.
DeleteDebs, you completely made me laugh. xoxoo And aw, the rest of you darling ones. Thank you. xooxoo
DeleteSince I don’t consider myself crafty, but used to do cross-stitch, I only do gifts as the economy takes me. When we were much younger and I made all the kids clothing (so much cheaper, and then they could have one of a kind. I doubt you could do that anymore because whatever you did would have to have a franchise attached – LaBuBuBugger, or Poke-Me-In-the-Eye…). Fabric could be purchased for less money than buying the item, and was so much nicer.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, going back to the crowd here for Christmas: I have suggested that anyone who wants to should bring or make here a dish of their choice. It will fit around the main meal – and this works. It is different from a Pot Luck where everyone feels obliged to bring something and hopefully will encourage stories and memories of their home in days gone by. Last year my DIL brought meatballs – she said they always had meatballs with their turkey, and they were lovely. It was the family recipe. I wonder if my Newfoundland sister in law will bring salt beef – de rigueur there with a turkey. You use the salt beef cooking water to make the gravy, and the vegetables (turnip, carrots, cabbage) are perfectly seasoned vegetables.
However, it is a semi-demand to bring a Christmas ornament. I am setting up a smaller Christmas tree in ‘the cottage’ – where we will eat all meals, probably with our parkas on. I have asked the DIL who is artistic to do the base decorating – it is up to her but I have petit lights, a narrow garland, and very petit coloured balls to intermingle in the branches. She can add or subtract whatever else she chooses. There is either an owl or a butterfly for the topper. The request reads “Please bring one (1) Christmas ornament of your choice, dated with this year, to put on the tree. It is your choice and can be bought or homemade.” That should make 20 decorations. I think mine will be a monarch butterfly but don’t tell anyone. There are logistics that I have not figured out yet for the creation of same…
I look forward to what goes on the tree, and hope that in years to come that it will be a positive memory of the Christmas that ‘might be the last time we will all be together’.
I love the dated ornament idea, Margo. Yesterday I was trying to find book-themed ornaments to start a tradition of giving one each year to each grandchild. I will persist, and if I have to paint on the date myself, I will.
DeleteI love that idea, Margo. My neighbors/ friends come to decorate our tree and Kim has made me ornaments with my book covers. They are special
DeleteFriends had a decorate-the-Christmas-tree party every year, with requests to guests to bring ornaments. Which were then donated to a halfway house or women's shelter for the next year. Eventually, they changed the request to bringing canned goods or socks, gloves, hats, etc. Much more useful.
DeleteWhen I was a child, I did cross-stitch, attempted knitting and crocheting and pretty much learned I am not gifted in those areas. A friend of my gave me a felting kit and he is certain I can excel at this. I fear his optimism may be misplaced as I currently am at a stand-off with the kit. I unpacked it, found a tote for it and then hid it. We will see who wins, me or the felting kit! -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteI just took a felting class last weekend and it was a little daunting at first, but with a couple of tips from the instructor it became more fun. I left the 2-hour class with 2 felted turkeys! The instructor is very skilled. She showed us a felted Ringo Starr sitting at his drum set form she made!
DeleteMaybe there's hope yet. Thanks for the insight Stacia! -- Victoria
DeleteNo sewing or yarn-work of any kind here, but I do love doing collage art, which I call "playing with paper, scissors and glue". A quiet contemplative way to be creative.
ReplyDeleteI have tried collage and also loved it. Thinking where does this scrap belong!
DeleteRhys ~ Your sketches are lovely! As one who can barely draw a stick figure I am always in awe of artists who do such impressive work. Our first original painting purchased as a newly- married couple was a watercolor by a Manhattan artist who had a summer studio on Bearskin Neck in Rockport, MA. Domenic Demeri's artwork was unique as he seemed to be the only artist in Rockport who did not paint ocean landscapes. He was a bit eccentric and both passionate and protective of his artistry and he only painted to the music of Rachmaninoff. :-) We instantly felt a connection to him as well as with one painting depicting a mountainside of snow-covered pine trees. It reminded us of a ski trail in Aspen called "Ruthie's Run" on a peacefully quiet morning with virgin snow before all would be disrupted by the sound of skiers. We were just married, owned only a vacuum cleaner and a bed to our names, but we wanted that painting so badly. Domenic wanted us to have it too so we struck a deal. We walked out his studio door with an original painting after making a $30.00 deposit with the promise of sending him $30.00 a month until the artwork was paid off. It took us a few years but Domenic trusted us. From that point on we would visit him every summer when he returned to his Rockport studio. When he passed in 1994 we felt as if we had lost a good friend who was very special. I know I digressed here but there is something unique and exceptional about artists and all creative individuals. Whether thorough painting, music, writing or crafting. I think that's why this blog is so interesting ~ it invites us all to be a part of that world.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Rhys ~ I think gifting your family with an album of your sketches would be wonderful.
DeleteI think Rhys should see about a gallery showing. After the holidays. I think it would be wonderful to have them available to the public.
DeleteI bet the painting is worth more now!
DeleteI love your idea of having an album for your travel sketches (totally going to do that myself!). I am fairly crafty and am currently doing pottery (everyone's getting pottery this year!) nowadays. I find it completely therapeutic and it has brought much meaning to my life (one thing I've started doing is donating pieces to our local library in their little fundraising "shop" and donating pieces to the local animal shelter for their annual art auction fundraiser. It has brought me arty friends and opportunities I would have never expected when I signed up for my first class. Baking comes in a close-second for taking up my time right now. Looking forward to delivering my little treat boxes in a couple of weeks. In my childhood my grandmother and aunt sewed and every year we received handmade pajamas and dresses. Other than that, I don't have crafty gift-givers in my orbit. Which is fine with me--I'm better at giving gifts than receiving them. I do hope to learn to knit this upcoming year. I loved the hand knit blankets my great-aunt used to make when she was alive.
ReplyDeleteYou must be good at pottery. I tried once and my pieces were clunky and misshapen!
DeleteRhys, I am exhausted just reading about your activities for the holidays! But also inspired! Move over Martha!
ReplyDeleteI love your adorable gnomes!
I’m already exhausted thinking about them!
DeleteI'll be knitting or crocheting a scarf for a little girl for Christmas. I've looked through my yarn stash for colors. Oh no, looks like I'll need to go yarn shopping! :-) One of my younger sisters makes jellies and jams (and salsa). It's always a treat to get one of those beautiful jars!
ReplyDeleteWhen my husband a d I married while we were both in college, we had barely enough money for rent and tuna casseroles (think Boheme with rock and roll) and I made Christmas presents for my first and my new family. I was -and am -talentless with crafts so settled on decorated containers. I would still be cringing at the memory if my in-laws had not been so kind and warmhearted!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely sketch, Rhys. Sadly, there are no sketches or homemade presents from me, although our mother came up with ideas for Christmas presents my sister and I could make for relatives when we were children, and I did the same thing with our son until he rebelled at twelve. My sister is the skilled craftswoman in our family — she does felting and makes beautiful mosaics. I can bake, but we get so many Christmas cookies from my sister-in-law and mother-in-law (although she's 90!) that I don't want to compete.
ReplyDeleteI make needlepoint ornaments for the grand nieces and nephews. I gave my sister in law a Christmas needlepoint pillow one year and gave my namesake a needlepoint nativity set last year. It had a manger scene with the Baby Jesus but all of the other pieces were just little animals. I make spiced pecans to give and sometimes I make rustic country paté which I give with the proviso that they give me back the ramekin so I can reuse them next year and mostly they do.
ReplyDeleteAnna in Atlanta
Yum! I love Pate!
DeleteYears ago I would give neighbors and friends baked goods (mini-loves of some kind of quick breads in decorated loaf pans from Michael’s). I also made counted cross stitch bookmarks, breadbasket covers, etc. As I said, that was years ago. Having a child took my time - and energy - so my needlework projects became a thing of the past. And when I eventually had the time to try cross stitching again, I found my eyesight had declined to where I couldn’t see the little holes well enough.
ReplyDeleteI think, however, that I will go back to some kind of food gifts for friends. Admittedly, thirty years ago there weren’t as many people with diagnosed food allergies so I will have to find out beforehand who can eat what…. Or maybe not! — Pat S
Rhys, I adore your gnomes!! You are so talented, and so industrious. While I am not crafty, I have given homemade food treats over the years. My mom and I used to buy cans of Seville oranges from William Sonoma and make proper marmalade. So yummy, so messy. I've made lemon curd, and soup mixes (beans and seasonings in a pretty jar.) I think the thing I've made most recently is little jars of "Golden Milk" which is actually turmeric latte. In fact this sounds so good that I may make this again this year. Here's the recipe: https://wholefully.com/golden-milk-mix/
ReplyDeleteAlso, this website has lots of homemade Christmas gift ideas.
I'm also contemplating making homemade granola for my daughter, who would be thrilled, and for another friend.
Your comment about simpler Christmases past made me think of a meme my daughter posted this morning: "Remember when it was the 90s and we gave each other Polar Fleece and Old Navy and we were so happy." I'd be perfectly happy with Polar Fleece and Old Navy!
I downloaded Cassie Johnston's Gifts in Jars ebook ($12) and it's 80 pages of fabulous homemade gift ideas! Well worth the $12 and I've already seen several I'd love to make.
Deletehttps://wholefully.my.canva.site/gifts-in-jars-digital-bundle
I’d be so happy if Christmas was simpler and homey
DeleteI wish I was crafty but I’m not… at all… but I do make candy— chocolate pecan turtles and chocolate covered orange rind — and Lucy’s granola — as presents for my most beloved.
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate orange rind. I’ve never tried it. I’m not great at sweets
DeleteRemembering Dominic's YouTube videos from the pandemic, I heartily agree that he could be a sought-after narrator for audiobooks. He has a wonderful, expressive voice. Happy birthday to our dear John, by the way.
ReplyDeleteI used to make fruitcakes for Christmas for specific friends (who love fruitcake), but can no longer find the ingredients. My husband, mother, and best friend all miss them. In recent years I have given gifts of homemade jams, but this year because of strange weather I had the crops at weird times for doing the canning. Our travel schedule conflicted, so I don't have as much to share.
Since my teen years I have given homemade gifts: needlepoint cushion cover, crocheted throws, stuffed animals, embellished garments, placemats/napkins, quilted tree skirts, and a million other things. But we just don't exchange gifts with many people any more. Other than the calendars with Steve's photos, it's just immediate family only now. However, last year I wrapped my pirate book exchange books in homemade napkins, and they were the most stolen books, solely for the wrapping. I will probably use some of my fabric stash to make more for this year.
Thank you for my calendar. It has been much admired. And I know your hand made things would be exquisite. I remember that bag you made in Italy!
DeleteKnitter here! Sadly, I always seem to be on deadline around the holidays and never get to knit gifts anymore. I must rectify that -- should probably start in January if i want it done in time. LOL! Love your gnomes, Rhys!
ReplyDeleteI used to do counted cross-stitch, but I haven't touched it in years. I always intend to pick it up and something always happens to prevent it.
ReplyDelete