Monday, January 10, 2011

belated handmade holiday post

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Eagerly awaiting present opening time. I still had to get the cinnamon rolls into the oven. It seems that what we have here is a lot of christmas "action shots"...

The girls started with their stockings. And of course Santa's gift was right on top. Each year they receive a "Santa Claus gift". Always something wooden and handmade, cause we know the elves don't make that plastic stuff from the stores. (I originally had a word other than "stuff" there, but it sounded pretty harsh, even if it is true...) For a few years now Tonya (Plain and Joyful Living) and her family have been the ones to make the Santa Claus gift. Simple wooden pieces, from wood that does not grow around here, so obviously these were not made by us..

These legwarmers took a lot longer to knit then I thought they would, I barely got them done in time! I was so afraid they wouldn't fit, all I thought about when I cast on was my girls super skinny legs, I forgot they would still need to be able to pull them over their feet to get them on! So I was really happy that they fit, and the girls really like them. Right now though I know that at least one of Chessa's is being used folded up as a little doll bed in her doll's house.

And here is a little doll that Chloe made for Chessa, which Chessa loves very much. There were lots of sweet handmade gifts from the girls, mostly pretty little pictures on little squares of paper from Chessa, beautiful needle felted pictures for both Jason and I from Chloe (which I am only just now realizing I don't have pictures of yet).

New skirts for the girls. I have always made the girls new dresses for winter solstice, this is the first year that for some reason I felt like I wanted to include them at Christmas. And skirts, not dresses. Only because I was so incredibly indecisive as to what I wanted to make for them, and having not too many fabric options. (So much fabric, not so many big enough pieces to make dresses for my getting so big girls..) It may look like Chessa got the fancier skirt, but Chloe got the super special vintage fabric. (More pictures of the skirts in a moment, and you will see that they soon have them on, and they have also worn them just about every day since then.)

Their other handmade gift from me was little wool babies, to go along with the dolls that I made them last year for Christmas. And oh I just love the look on Chessa's face in this picture!

There were lots of big smiles as they opened their handmade gifts from daddy too.

Jason is not always able to spend as much time on handmade gifts. Though a few years ago he did make them their beautiful playstands. This year he made them all kinds of neat pieces to add to their tree block sets.

The girls loved it all, but most exciting for them and Jason are the fence pieces he made for them. Cause the horses, and chickens and sheep and cows, need good fenced pasture of course.


The only gifts the girls received from Jason and I that weren't handmade were books, as usual. Some special ones that had been slowly collected over the past year, mostly second hand, a couple really wonderful vintage ones! I could not resist this beautiful copy of Snow White and Rose Red, a favorite story of ours.

And for Chloe to open (though the books are to be shared with the family) a beautiful old copy of The Five Little Peppers Midway, which is of course the second book to one of our most favorites ever, The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew. It was especially exciting because until last year I never even knew that there was a second book, and actually there are 5 altogether! So this one has been hiding secretly in the closet for about 6 months now, waiting to delight Chloe with the continuing story of their dear little family.

The girls also got wool socks and wool coats, gifts from grandparents. Playsilks and books from my sister. It felt like a lot but also simple at the same time.


Really, the girls have worn these every day! I'm sure I will be making a lot more of these skirts, I think I have the pattern just right now, and of course I so love love all the pleats! Chloe's also has horizontal tucks near the bottom.

Chessa's has pretty pink vintage bias tape at the bottom above her stripes, with this orange fabric I have been treasuring, saving, for a long time!

The girls wasted no time at all getting those fences and farm people to work.



This has been their play for many, many days already.

We took our tree down on Thursday. Actually, Jason took our tree out just this morning.. but we undecorated the tree on Thursday, along with the rest of the holiday decorations in the house. Handmade ornaments from my childhood, tucked away into a box.

We have always celebrated our holidays in a handmade way, the girls so look forward to their handmade gifts each year. It was so nice this year to be joined by so many others creating for their families also!

Now, has your making list suddenly become much longer? There is everything from early December's list that never even got started. I love how the creating just goes on and on and on...


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21 comments:

gardenmama said...

Dear Renee,
Cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning is a tradition in our home as well, it made me smile to see it is in yours too : ) Such beautiful gifts and two very sweet and happy girls! It looks like your family enjoyed a lovely celebration with handmade, I agree I love that the creating truly does just go on and on and on! xoxo

Sarah said...

What a lovely morning. We also make cinnamon rolls and every year I think I should come upnwith something simpler, but they bare tradition!

Sarah said...

That was meant to say "they are tradition " :)

Lisa said...

It all looks so lovely and love infused, I love the skirts Renee. thank you for sharing your beautiful family and tradition.....I wish someone would make cinnamon rolls at our house........

momma rae said...

a beautiful post full of true treasures. the skirts turned out so lovely. i know you adore the pleats, but they baffle me still. they are gorgeous though. LOVE the fences!! you are both so talented. and very loved by all four of us. xoxoxo

Tonya Gunn said...

So much goodness here Renee. Thank you for sharing your family's handwork in this space.
Warm wishes, Tonya

Unknown said...

Dear Renee, what a sweet Christmas celebration, ours was quiet and simple, also full of homemade gifts. The most beautiful thing to see in your photos are those lovely sweet smiles, your girls are so happy, so sweet...they are truly precious and its obvious they appreciate the simple things in life.

GroovyMoments said...

Amazing! What beautiful gifts you and your husband created, and what a lovely celebration you all share in. I would love to work towards a holiday of entirely handmade.
I really find it difficult when it comes to what others are buying my little one though. I would love to know how you and others handle this issue.
Thank you so much for sharing!

Julie said...

What sweet gifts and they look so happy! I didn't get to do nearly as many handmades this yr as I had wanted. But I've been so inspired seeing everyone else's. I'm going to get an early start this yr, the goal is at least 90% handmade, even for birthdays.

Mama Ash Grove said...

Dear Renee, thanks for sharing all the handmade holiday wonderful-ness!
I love all this, and have much to say!
It is so true what you say about the children getting bigger and needing more fabric. I used to use under 2 yards for a dress for Ella, now I need 3. Ollie needs more than one yard for pants. Luckily I still have my tinier boys who use smaller bits!
OH! We have to look for more "Peppers" books at the library! So nice to know there are more.
A couple of years ago Ella needed fence pieces too- and so Andy made her and Ollie some for Christmas. They've been a favorite ever since. :)
lots of love to you!

Heather said...

It is always so neat to see how a family creates a handmade holiday. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

Ginny said...

This was one of the sweetest Christmas posts I read this year, or maybe it's the pictures-your girls are just precious. I really love all the fencing Jason made. I need to show this post to Jonny!
It's funny because Jonny usually makes the kids Christmas gifts as well (including playstands a few Christmas's ago!) but this year he didn't have the time either.
I really love the skirts-is it your own pattern?

Taking Time said...

I just stumbled across your blog and haven't been able to leave! I love this post - what a perfectly lovely Christmas. I am so inspired!! Do you have fabric gift wrap? HAve you posted about this and I can't find it..? Anyway I LOVE it!! Thank you so much for sharing!

Blessings!
Starr
xx

mikymumma said...

You must have spent a lot of time crafting those beautiful gifts for your daughters. It looks like they were well received!

camille creates said...

Awesome!

nunu said...

here via rebecca's blog... i just love this post! what a beautiful christmas you all had. those skirts are adorable and the fences put to use straight away made me smile. i hope i can become half the waldorf mama that you are! truly inspiring. . .

Bending Birches said...

oh, I love your sweet little family:)

Aussie Boy said...

Beautiful.

Marlo said...

I love all these gifts. It looks heavenly. I just stumbled onto your blog today and was delighted to see you write about the 5 Little Peppers. I just got that book last night for free from a giveaway table, and I wasn't sure about it since I hadn't heard of it. Now I am so excited to hide it away from my girls until they are ready for it. Thanks and yea!!!

6512 and growing said...

Such sweet happy faces on those girls.
Beautiful handmade gifts Renee.

AG Ambroult said...

oh, wowee! your handmade gifts are out of this world. I am super impressed, and am scheming up some legwarmers for my girls, stat!