Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Handmade Homemade Christmas

A little felted owl, fingerless mitts and cowl...all for me :)

All the hand knits ready to be wrapped for gift giving

Reece's new kitchen, made with love by Justin

Orange spiced soap...it smells heavenly

Peppermint lip balm

Lemongrass, lime and wintergreen body butter

Living simply, in tune with the seasons and close to the earth.

These are words I think about often. I hold them close. I use them to help guide us as a family. I say them out loud when I need to remember why we live the way we do.

And it is these words I think about as we approach the season of giving and sharing. Over the years our gift giving list has gotten very small. We have stopped the excessive buying of the past. We have stopped giving just because and give because we care, really care. We give because we want to. We give gifts we have made, with special thought about the person receiving it. We keep the season simple, but filled with the things we love....time together, family, love, nature, giving and sharing.

With that in mind this Christmas is no different than last Christmas, it is filled with lots of handmade homemade goodies for those we love. It feels oh so good to make something from scratch and share it with those who are special to us.

It may not be the Christmas everyone dreams of, but for us it works. It feels right for our little family.

Joining in with Ginny and Nicole.
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49 comments:

  1. Kathleen Shaw December 19, 2012 at 6:51 AM

    I do love everything in this post! We were are finishing up some homemade things as well. The kitchen set is beautiful. My brother is making the girls something similar. Homemade is the best!

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 2:05 PM

      Thanks Kathleen. I totally agree, homemade is the best.

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  2. karenDecember 19, 2012 at 8:24 AM

    That lip balm looks so pretty :) The felted owl is adorable and I have followed you along as you knitted up each Christmas gift this year. You have the gift giving talent :)

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 2:05 PM

      Awe, thanks Karen. I have so enjoyed making everything this year.

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  3. AnonymousDecember 19, 2012 at 8:37 AM

    So heavenly! It's great to see it all come together. Great job!

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 2:06 PM

      Thanks Amy. Yesterday when I took it all out to take pictures, it was like wow, it all came together perfectly. Such a great feeling.

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  4. UnknownDecember 19, 2012 at 9:28 AM

    Just fantastic Kim! It feels so good see so many home made gifts! Our season will be filled with lots of homage stuff as well. There will be a post to come after solstice as I can't take pictures of them now with out girls seeing everything.

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 2:07 PM

      Thanks KC! It has been a blast getting it all ready. It is tricky taking pictures, Reece was in bed when we brought his kitchen in to get a picture...we were being sneaky :)

      Delete
  5. MelissaDecember 19, 2012 at 10:16 AM

    What lovely gifts! I know the recipients will be thrilled.

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  6. TiffanyDecember 19, 2012 at 10:43 AM

    Everything looks so beautiful! I especially love that wooden kitchen! Very nice! :)

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  7. UnknownDecember 19, 2012 at 11:57 AM

    Look at all that goodness! I love your body butter. It looks amazing.

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 2:09 PM

      Thanks Amber, it is pretty amazing, I use it everyday :)

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  8. momto5December 19, 2012 at 12:33 PM

    look at what you have done!!! so much goodness. love it!

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  9. tessDecember 19, 2012 at 12:53 PM

    Oh my gosh - look at these lovely gifts! Everything is beautiful - what lucky recipients! :)

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  10. Kim December 19, 2012 at 2:08 PM

    Thanks Ami. I get all my supplies from www.newdirectionsaromatics.ca based out of Mississauga.

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  11. AngelaDecember 19, 2012 at 3:25 PM

    Kim, you have been so busy!! Such beautiful handcrafts. Your friends and family are blessed!

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  12. bookworm-MaryDecember 19, 2012 at 3:48 PM

    i am impressed by all the homemade goodies! They look absolutely wonderful! And way to go, making everything more simple :)

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  13. AnonymousDecember 19, 2012 at 4:13 PM

    Ooooh - I love, love, love this post. It's just so...beautiful and heartwarming. Simple is beautiful - it's the way forward, definitely. Oh - how lucky the recipients of these goodies are!

    PS - what recipes/books/references do you use to make the goodies? Any recommendations?

    xo

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 10:34 PM

      Thanks Renee. You are right...simple is beautiful in so many ways.

      The body butter is loosely based on one from Amanda Soule's book Rhythm of the Family. I used it initially and then changed some things up a bit to make it my own. The lip balm has just been experimenting with some different recipes I found online. Mix and match until I found something I liked. Soap, I referenced the book Soap Making the Natural Way by Rebecca Ittner. Hope that helps.

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    2. AnonymousDecember 20, 2012 at 4:49 PM

      Thanks so much, Kim! :)

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    3. Kim December 20, 2012 at 7:11 PM

      My pleasure :)

      Delete
  14. AnonymousDecember 19, 2012 at 5:01 PM

    Beautiful! You guys are so talented! Happy Holidays!

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  15. AnonymousDecember 19, 2012 at 6:33 PM

    I love this post!! So much beauty. I bet Reece will play with that kitchen for hours and hours; and that body butter sounds delectable!!

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 10:35 PM

      Thanks Carrie. I sure hope he plays with it for hours and hours :) The body butter is awesome, I love it!

      Delete
  16. Dark Blue DragonDecember 19, 2012 at 8:41 PM

    Yes!!! I often am unsure as to how some people will react to homemade, hand made things. Overall they are received with the joy they were meant to bring. These are lovely gifts Kim, really lovely.

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 10:36 PM

      I know they will be received well, our gift giving list is small and the people on it are very special, and like handmade homemade :)

      Thanks Jennifer.

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  17. mandiDecember 19, 2012 at 9:28 PM

    Well that looks just perfect! All the knitting you did- I am in awe! And those body butters look just right. What lucky recipients!

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 10:37 PM

      Thanks Mandi. The knitting has been going on since July, little bits here and there to make sure it all got done.

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  18. Kim December 19, 2012 at 10:27 PM

    Happy to help :)

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  19. Kim December 19, 2012 at 10:27 PM

    Thanks Rosemarie :)

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  20. Gretchen Stuppy CarlsonDecember 19, 2012 at 10:45 PM

    Wow Kim, what great gifts. I am inspired. Many of my ideas fell by the wayside this year, I think I will need to start early next year, maybe January!

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    1. Kim December 19, 2012 at 10:49 PM

      Thanks Gretchen! An early start is always good...you can bet I will be thinking about next Christmas as soon as this one is done :)

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  21. Julie Maloney HandmadeDecember 20, 2012 at 1:06 AM

    Kim, this is beautiful. Wishing you health and happiness. xxoo Julie

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  22. UnknownDecember 20, 2012 at 2:31 AM

    what a FABULOUS stash Kim. lucky friends/family of yours.
    i also love that you made yourself some gifts, yay to an owl! lol

    healthy, happy, memory-making holidays to you. x

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    1. Kim December 20, 2012 at 7:10 PM

      Thanks Monica. Oh yes, the owl, I should have known you would have liked that :)

      All the best to you too! xoxo

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  23. Sarah ~ Crafts from the CwtchDecember 20, 2012 at 9:44 AM

    What a gorgeous set of gifts! Wishing you a very merry Christmas x

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  24. SaraDecember 20, 2012 at 7:31 PM

    Wow, I am so impressed! The cowl you made for yourself is so beautiful. I've been meaning to find a pattern for one myself and love the cabling on yours. I might have to give it a try. And that kitchen! Lucky Reece! You all make him such amazing things. And all of the soap and balms and such? Impressive! Enjoy your homemade Christmas with those you love most. They are all lucky to have you, but I think all of us that come here to your space are pretty lucky as well. :)

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    1. Kim December 20, 2012 at 8:12 PM

      Thanks Sara. The cowl pattern is from Amanda Soule's book The Rhythm of Family, super easy pattern and it knits up quick.

      Your words mean a lot, I am so happy to have this space, I have "met" a lot of truly wonderful people. I am grateful for all of you :)

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  25. aka JulesDecember 20, 2012 at 11:49 PM

    you inspire me.

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  26. Anna @ green tea n toastDecember 21, 2012 at 3:16 PM

    That kitchen is amazing. What a wonderful gift. I'm sure he will enjoy it for many years to come. Happy Christmas to you all x

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    1. Kim December 21, 2012 at 11:05 PM

      Thanks Anna, I am sure he will, I am really excited to see what he thinks on Christmas morning :)

      Delete

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