I have to catch up on all (well almost all) of my blogging before the year ends. That is why I have written 10 posts in the last two days. I still have a few more to write about, but they can wait until the new year.
My final post before 2015 comes to an end is about some of the gifts that were made for my children for Christmas. I don't know what it was about this past year, but it was really important to me that the kids didn't just get a whole bunch of stuff, but rather they got things that I really knew they would enjoy or would be meaningful to them.
Since I was feeling that way for their birthdays and Christmas, I really wanted to do some homemade gifts for Christmas.
I'm not the greatest sewer or crafter, but I do enjoy trying new things and pushing myself.
This year I made them each a simple matching game with some leftover fabric scraps I had and old jeans. I'm really happy with how they turned out. I think it was a cute gift that they will enjoy, but it was also simple and cheap.
Both of their games had a jean pocket that became their cases.
These superhero masks (and Spiderman cuff) were made for Brighton. He doesn't yet know all of these superheroes, but Micah and I will be sure to expose him to them. Again, simple and cute.
Oh and please ignore the markings all over the bench. They're from when Micah made and decorated capes with the kids. At least the mess is from a good memory. :)
Finally, I decided this year was the year I was going to make a quilt for Lila. I have never made a quilt that wasn't a tie quilt so I was nervous. I did, however, have a TREMENDOUS amount of help from my big sis Rebecca. I seriously could not have pulled it off without her! Thank you SO MUCH Rebecca!
If I had known how much time and effort would go into this quilt I would have for sure started it much sooner than I did. I didn't know however, so I ended up spending many nights before Christmas Day working on her quilt until about 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning.
Even on Christmas Eve I ended up staying up until 4:00 a.m. Sadly, I didn't get it done because I ran out of thread! I couldn't believe it. I did get it far enough done to show Lila the next morning, so really it was okay. (I actually didn't finish it until about 3:00 or 4:00 last night!)
Before the hearts were sewn on.
Let me just say that quilting is hard on a sewing machine… especially for someone who has never done it before. It was a pretty big project to take on for a newbie, but even though my stitches are really uneven, my hearts aren't sewn on perfectly smooth, and I have a few places where my material gathers, I really LOVE it. I'm so glad I took the time to make this blanket for my beautiful daughter. She was so happy when she saw it and couldn't wait to sleep with it. Her smile made it all worth it.
The hearts will eventually fray on the edges overtime.
Here's a picture of the back material. I wish the lighting were better so you could see just how cute this pink is. I also sewed the hearts on last, because I wanted the shape on the back.
All done and ready for Lila to sleep with to start off a new year!
Have you noticed how my kids are often in their pajamas in pictures? They really love staying in their pjs. Even the ones that are clearly too small. :)
Now that I've made Micah his Texas flag quilt and Lila her heart quilt, I think that I will eventually make Brighton one, too.
I really love creating things. It makes me happy. I especially love creating things for other people. I hope to continue to do so in the near future… just when I make Brighton's quilt, I will start much sooner. ;)
