Wednesday, June 8, 2011

handmade ~ birthday gifts

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Her birthday was at the end of May. I actually did pretty good getting most things made in time. Quite surprisingly I had her skirt and top sewed like 10 whole days before her birthday. This has never, ever happened before. I have always made the girls dresses, or once in a while now skirts, for their birthdays (and winter solstice). And I am always sewing in the days just before, and of course many times till very, very late the night before.

So it was nice to have some more free time to consider what else I might like to make her. Our gifts are always few and fairly simple, but still there is so much thought put into the specialness of each gift. Also for the set of books they always receive, often the only gift that is not handmade, how I love to choose their stories for the season or the year.

And since Chessa was getting two very sweet gnome books I decided that she must have a little gnome. This little gnome has been given the name of Leaf. She was very fun to make. I thought I would want to add some embroidery to her dress, but then I felt like I really like the plainness of her just as she was. Chessa loves her.


And I knew all along the other gift I was going to make her. My mother helped us get her this set of beeswax stick crayons. Since she will be beginning first grade this year! It would have been nice also to give her these when we were actually starting school in september, but this way it helps us so much when it comes to getting what we need for school supplies and books for the coming year.

So I made her a crayon pouch to hold all of her new crayons. I made crayon pouches like this for their block crayons, which they have had for a few years now, and it really helps to keep the crayons clean, organized, and all in one place. Chloe has a set of stick crayons but I never made anything to hold them. They are just in their tray, and Chessa uses them too, and that has worked okay, but not as nice as the crayon pouches.

And then there are always the handmade birthday cards. This one made by Chloe, because she knows Chessa likes when she makes her this kind of card, meaning a door that opens, the house opens up too. And she wrote "cats", I guess in case anyone was confused as to whether they were cats or mice, which is exactly what happened.

Cats can be very wild in the house you know.. (We know, we have four cats..) Do you see the one inside the house standing on it's head? That's the one you see when you open the door from the front. I think this is very funny...

The green top you saw in the last post. Chessa says one of her favorite colors is green. So I wanted to use this piece of treasured vintage calico to make her a top, to go with the green corduroy skirt that also has a trim of the calico. The skirt fits her a little big, which is just fine really (I always make everything big, but sometimes way too big) and I don't have any pictures of her in it yet. The top has a trim of light green on the front, really the pictures in the last post were better to really see the top.

Here you can see the back, it has some of the green corduroy to match the skirt. You can also see that the button is a little too small and the back keeps coming undone, so I will have to change that. I didn't have many button options, and Chessa always reminds that she doesn't like it when her gift doesn't have it's buttons sewn on. Just because that happened once...

By the way, in that last picture she is tying a rope to a little wooden rocking chair. All the dolls were having a picnic down by the garden, but then became to warm from the bright sun, so the girls had to quick get them all back inside, by making this rope pulley thing with the rocking chair and lifting each doll individually up onto the back deck.

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Also, I really like to make things. Really really really. I love to sew, and often it's all I want to do, and I feel like I could just go on making things forever, which I probably will.


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18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such special gifts! I'm so happy that my son has become interested in home-made gifts!! Sadly I don't sew (but really hope to learn one day). However, I might try to trade very beginning knitting lessons for sewing help. Anyway, about those buttons...I suggested to Nicole (Frontier Dreams) that a button swap might be fun. I'll be sure to let you know if I get it together.

FrontierDreams said...

Oh they are all as beautiful and perfect as I imagined!
Yes, cats are crazy, just ask our 4 kitties,too ;)

More later ,I should sleep while my teething one is.Ohwhat pattern is the top? More sewing!! XOXOXOXOXOX

Linda said...

Such beautiful gifts dear Renee...
Love
Linda

Sarah said...

I love that little top. If only I could dress my girls like that. Actually, Helen is getting old enough that I think she'd find it vintage cool now!

angie said...

such a lovely little birthday gift, that gnome is too sweet. I've so been enjoying making clothing for my little ones lately...something so satisfying about seeing them in mama-made.

Tonya Gunn said...

Such wonderful thoughtful gifts Renee - I really like your crayon roll and the beautful fabrics in your last picture.
Warm wishes, Tonya

sheepish said...

What a wonderful bunch of birthday gifts. And wow, you got so much done...I consider myself lucky to get one of the things made that I want to.

Kelly said...

Hello dear Renee
Always so thoughtful and loving. Wonderful treasures. Wishing your Chessa a belated happy birthday.
Love
Kelly

a little crafty nest said...

Happy Birthday Chessa and Mama, too! Your gifts are so wonderfully thoughtful ~ special treasures she'll remember long after they are worn through and outgrown. That is what is so special about handmades...the memories of the love crafted lives on. Renee, I am so much like you...I could craft and sew and knit endlessly. Many days, it is all I want to do, too! I'm wondering what that embroidery project might be! Let's talk some more. Oh, and the beeswax holders are terrific...I've made pencil crayon ones for other children, but I would love to make my big boy one of these. Much love to you,
xo Jules

Christine said...

Dear Renee,
You sew such beautiful clothes for your daughters! I would love to know what patterns you use or do you draft your own? (I have two little girls too!)
Happy birthday to your sweet Chessa! (and you too mama!)

Unknown said...

Beautiful gifts for the little angel. Homemade is special - I especially love the crayon holder you made, so feminine and pretty.

We just returned from a trail ride up the mountains in Teton Village WY, the boys played in snow for the first time.

Will be in Pagosa on the 15th, I'm doing a course with Linda for 5 days! Can't wait. Will see you soon.
xxxx

W-S Wanderings said...

And I really, really, really LOVE to see the beautiful things you make! I too dream of day-long crafting.

Blessings...

purplepear said...

What beautiful gifts. I taught in a Steiner (Waldorf) school for 6 yrs and the children made themselves a crayon pouch very similar to that from felt.And children, don't they grow so fast . My middle daughter has just found out that she is pregnant and so it all starts again. I am so happy I could cry.

Mama Ash Grove said...

Oh too much to say here!
I very much love the sweet little gnome, I have always thought blue and green were made for each other. :) Probably because of looking up at tree branches against the sky. And you were right to keep her plain- sometimes that is just right!
The crayon pouch is wonderful- it reminds me how I need to make Asa a new one and a pencil one for Ollie. I love the soft colors of the one you made for Chessa- and to have her own set of crayons is so special!
I am always impressed by Chloe's art work, she has wonderful perspective! Have you used "drawing with you 4 to 11 year old?" I love that she made a special card with a door that opens, this is something Ella would do for her little brothers. :)
I love the green top, and I agree with Chessa on green being a favorite color!
The rope tied to the rocking chair is just something my children would do. For Easter they all got jump ropes, including Asa though he is too young, I didn't want him to feel sadly left out. Anyhow the boys love to use theirs as ropes instead of jumping ropes. Though now Asa likes Frances, and she has a jump rope in "Bread and Jam For Frances."
Now I am truly rambling, but you really do make me this way, Renee- oh someday we'll chat for real and I'll try hard not to interrupt you. :)
<3 Melanie

momma rae said...

so gorgeous! they are growing so fast. your little gnome is too, too cute. i would love to be able to make clothes like you, my sweet friend. you are so very talented! i forgot to whisper my request for a bonnet to you the other night. i know you are busy.....

Warnner said...

Hello I like your idea very much. Giving gift has always been a trouble for me and I often get confused for that. But now your idea has given me strength.

Bending Birches said...

oh, green is certainly her color:)
what beautiful and special gifts you have created...you inspire me in so many ways, love. I am so glad to have "met" you:)
Happy birthday, Chessa dear!!

Birthday Balloons said...

That crayon roll is so cute I would love to make one. Thanks for the inspiration.