Monday, November 9, 2015

Making


Tis the season, my friends, for making. Well, honestly, around here it is always the season for making, but this is the season of gift giving making, and goodness, I love it so much. There have been many things flying off the needles lately, fingerless mitts, hats, and a hitchhiker. More fingerless mitts are on the needles, and a beautiful ribbed scarf, and a few hats are waiting to be cast on. In the midst of all the knitting, a little hand sewing...another Maggie Rabbit for a special little lady in our life.

Giving handmade feels right to me, with each stitch knit, or sewn, a little piece of me is shared with the recipient, and a little of the love I feel for that person shown. My home is filled with handmade gifts, a lot of them from you, my friends, and every time I walk through my home I feel a connection to the people who have shared their talents with me. When I toss a handmade quilt over my lap, put my cup of tea down on a handmade quilted coaster, lean back on a quilted pillow, or use beautiful linen napkins at dinner, I am reminded of the work, care, and love that went into these creations, and I feel so much gratitude to be the recipient of such beautiful, generous gifts.

I do hope the recipients of my handmade gifts feel the same way.

What are you making these days?

41 comments:

  1. i love this, i feel the same way about the salves you first sent me - and still have the owl box on a shelf. these days we are making salves, salves, and more salves - both for christmas and the craft fair (for the girls). i'm sewing more napkins to use as wrapping paper for them. of course, when i say "making", i mean gathering and thinking hard about it all! :) love the bunny!

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    1. Isn't salve making fun? I have been doing a bit of that too, as well as body butter and soap. Lip balms and more soap are on the to do list for this week.

      Thanks!

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  2. You've been busy! I find it hard to fit in knitting lately, as I knit at night and I've been sick this past week and needing extra sleep. ;) But I have a post going up tomorrow about our linocut adventures, which I know you've seen on instagram. :)

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    1. Not really, just filling my free time with making. October was a very difficult month for me, and I find creating to be a very good outlet for taking my mind off of things.

      Oh, I can't wait to read it. I am not on Instagram...must have been someone else :)

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    2. I'm sorry that October was a hard month... Yes, crafting is a great way to find some peace. Sorry about the Instagram mix up. :)

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    3. Thank you for your kind words.

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  3. You've already made so many gifts!!! I've finished a pair of socks for my dad and am about to cast-on another for a friends little girl. I recently found a lovely little stall at the farmers market selling all kinds of spices so next week I will return with my recipe for 'tisane de noel' and get all my supplies, going to gift bags of it to aunties and teachers!
    I'm sure the recipients of your handmade gifts will be over the moon!

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    1. Yes, and still more to make, but honestly I love it! Oh your gifts sound just lovely, have fun making them.

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  4. I share your handmade sentiments, of course!

    I have just picked up the needles again, for a sweater for Mattheus. And I've been feeling the pull toward embroidery, something I haven't done since childhood. I put together some pre-threaded needles and burlap for the kids and they are loving it.

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    1. I knew you would my friend :)

      I can't wait to see the sweater. And yes to the embroidery, I have a lovely sampler kit waiting for me. Once the holiday crafting is complete I plan to dig into it. Glad the kiddos are enjoying the embroidery too, Reece loves doing it as well.

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  5. seeing your knitting makes me want to cast on more projects around here. Love it!

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    1. Well if anyone can handle more projects on their needles, it is you Karen :)

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  6. Oh how I feel the same way. There is something special, rich and warm about giving (and receiving!) handmade things. So much love, skill and time wrapped up inside. And you know best about that too, my dear friend. Thank you for your handmade goodness in my life too! (Can't wait to showcase your latest gift, once the recipient arrives!)

    I have finished a crocheted hat - a birthday present for my daughter's friend. And I am sewing away on a corduroy jumper for little J. Then of course, Christmas gifts are being organized, cast on and planned. I also just love being able to make things for others. :)

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    1. I knew you would feel the same way too Alexa :) And you are most welcome, I am so happy you like it and I can't wait to see it on him or her.

      I think that is it too, for me, just making things for others that appreciate it brings me so much joy. Happy making my friend. xo

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  7. I love making and receiving handmade gifts. Nothing says "I care" quite like something made by hand with time, effort and love put into it.

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  8. I love making gifts as you know and feel just as you do, it's a great feeling.
    I wanted to order the Fox to make for Porter, but I don't trust my sewing skills
    enough. Your Maggie looks great.
    Enjoy a wonderful Monday and a wonderful week Kim.

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    1. Thanks Tracey. You should definitely try it. Basil Fox has a little more detail sewing work in the clothes than Maggie Rabbit, but I think still doable. The handstitching for the body is pretty basic, and if you take your time I think you will have so much fun with it.

      Thank you Tracey, you too! I hope the sun is shining for you today.

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  9. Beautiful work Kim, I'm sure everyone that is lucky enough to receive such lovely handmade gifts will love them. We are also in the thick of "making for the holidays" here... scarves, neckwarkers, quilted table toppers, hand carved Christmas ornaments (by my talented hudband) are strewn about everywhere. Soon, all my missing supplies will arrive and soaps and lotions will be made. Like you, I adore hand crafted gifts. They always feel so good to give. Like you are giving everyone you love a part of you. :-)

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    1. Thanks Yanic! Sounds like you guys are in the thick of it too, enjoy it!

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  10. I'm making a Miss Maggie Rabbit too! I've also got a hat on the needles. It's the first time I've knitted with round needles so it's a fun challenge. I do love teaching myself new things!

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    1. Yay, how fun is that! Enjoy making her, she is so much fun!

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  11. We are ready this year - already working on Xmas presents...some are even finished (my wife already has a nice wreath of yarn balls ready for her Mom). I have plans for some crocheted scarves.
    I love homemade presents :)

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    1. Sounds like you are well on your way. Enjoy all the making.

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  12. Love, love, love!! We are just starting to get into planning gift making around here. Your Maggie Rabbit is adorable!!

    http://learnathomejourney.com/

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    1. Thanks! I love making Maggie Rabbit, so much fun!

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  13. I am in the thick of this now too, having shared a little of what I am doing the other day :). I have a cowl on the needles now, and am busy felting some secondhand wool jumpers to be cut up and sewn to make some more little bags. Handmade gifts are the best to give and receive aren't they?

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    1. They certainly are. I love both giving and receiving handmade :)

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  14. I am neck deep in making right now. Two duvet covers, rope baskets, knitting a sweater, making clothing! I have a post coming up soon. Love that rabbit!

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    1. It so much fun being in that state, isn't it? Enjoy it my friend.

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  15. I love to give handmade gifts too. I made a Maggie Rabbit for my daughter's Christmas present last year. I really enjoyed making her. I enjoyed seeing your lovely making, Kim.

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    1. Thanks Jennifer! I love Maggie Rabbit, such a fun project :)

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  16. What a beautiful soft wool work my friend !

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  17. Your talent never ceases to amaze me! I know two little girls who would be over the moon to have such sweet rabbits! She is absolutely charming!

    My own knitting is coming along. I just had to rip out a whole big section and start again, but I figure there's lots of good learning in that too! I just hope that in the end there aren't too many obvious mistakes in this cowl I'm making! xo

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    1. Aw, thank you my friend. You should try making Maggie, I think you could do it, not too hard at all.

      So happy to hear you are knitting my friend :)

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  18. You've summed up the specialness of giving and receiving handmade so perfectly. And although I'm sure many people who don't make love receiving handmade gifts, and I know making for someone is always special even if they aren't themselves makers (in some ways, more special), when both giving and receiving handmade are both part of your life it does somehow deepen the specialness, because you understand and appreciate what goes into it, the love and thought and time, so much more. Much too clumsily put, but hopefully it makes sense!

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    1. It all makes total sense my friend. Thank you!

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  19. Yep. There is a special quality about handmade that can't be manufactured by cold machines and packaged in bulk. Thank you so much for Badger's hat. I will have to send a picture just as soon as I finish catching up on your blog. Be well.

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    1. You are most welcome my friend. It was a pleasure to knit a little something to welcome your new little one.

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