Happy Homemade Christmas 2011: gifts from me

I'll have to say after hours spent browsing Pinterest there was no limit to the gifts I wanted to make.  But I resisted the temptation to wear my self tired and cranky in the name of crafting and only committed to making a few gifts.

Here's what I made for James, William, Peter and Henry, colorful wool comforters.

I realized they really needed these the night I spent helping Henry sleep in his own bed.  So far we have solely heated our house with the wood stove downstairs but upstairs does get chilly at night. The boys probably have the coldest room in the house dipping into the high 50's.  They actually haven't complained about it and in fact I find everyone sleeps better.  But still I thought they could use a nice cozy layer.

I ordered the wool comforters from Zeilinger's here in Michigan then sewed the covers from a collection of colorful sheets from Garnet Hill.  Having grown up on bunk beds I know the frustration of making the top bunk with a regular twin size blanket so I made these just large enough to cover the mattress, these are 42x75.  I will note that the photos really highlight the wrinkles here, but we're no catalog company and I'm just happy if the boys make their beds.

Also Henry is still finding way into my bed at night but these nights he usually drags his new cozy comforter with him. On those nights I really enjoy sharing a corner of it with him.  Paul has since requested I replace our old comforter with a cozy wool one, maybe when we process our own wool?!

Next up: gifts for Paul.  We usually both make gifts for each other but I suppose he was off the hook this year since he's spent most his free time chopping, collecting and stacking wood.  My gift from him this year may just be a warm home.

Here's what I made for him, a collection of pillows to add comfort to the spaces he works and relaxes. 

 I hand embroidered the heart pillow over the course of a few days when my back ached so bad I had no desire to do anything else.  Sitting in "the chair" working on it actually made me feel somewhat productive in my laziness.  The girls watched me in awe and kept saying "it is turning out so beautiful", and "I know you love Daddy because there are so many stitches".

Can you guess where the big "Best Seat in the House" pillow is going?  yes "the chair".  This was done on white denim with freezer paper stencils.     

The trailer pillow was a flash inspiration while looking out the kitchen window at Paul heading in for work in his vintage trailer. I quickly designed it up on Adobe then proceeded as I usually do with freezer paper stencils.  After that and the other stencil pillow I wondered if a silhouette machine would be a good investment, probably not since I have a super long list of homestead supplies and animals to purchase.  This pillow made everyone laugh, even all our neighbors who stopped by for Christmas dinner.

Anyway, it's all just stuff.  What really matters is the love we put into it and the love we offer alongside it.  And that is exactly why I cut back my "to make" Christmas list, I knew could not offer my much needed love and attention alongside frenzied production.  What was intended for the girls will probably be a project they'll work alongside me with and for that reason they'll probably love the gift all the more.