Friday, December 14, 2007

December crafting

Looking at me at the dining room table last night, as he washed the dishes from the meal that Gillen made, Nicolas pointed out a trend of mine. Every year, no matter what is going on in our lives, I come up with some brilliant homemade gift idea for Christmas, usually about two weeks before it needs to be given. I put on my favorite music, take over the dining room table, and go into the crafting zone.

This year, I had only a few days in which to go there, in between visitors. Gillen joined me for a while and made some more ATCs and Jesse came for a bit. But for the most part, they were left to fend for themselves. I did manage to wash and hang some laundry and take a few things out of the fridge. But that's it.

Last year, immersed in my passionate creation of memory games for my nephews, I even gave away my rare ticket to Cirque de Soleil in order to craft at home alone. I don't even know if they ever played with them. I hope so, but even if they didn't it was worth it. It's not as if I'm really good at this but the process feeds that obsessive, creating (more pronounced in December) need.

I only made one present this year. I wish that I could post it here, but the recipient, if she isn't too busy crafting herself, may be reading.

I think I may have finally realized that I need to start crafting/creating in a space set up for it all year. Nicolas agrees. I wonder if he'll be willing to help me build it? ;)

Gillen wanted me to post a picture of the ATC that Mindy made when she was here. He traded for it and is so excited about it, with good reason.

Here are my Christmas wrapping bags, that will hold the handmade gifts that I bought and made (as well as a few small "Apple"s :) They are handmade fabric sacks that are tied at the top with beautiful yarn, and then will be reused again and again. My crafty friend Helen made them for me for my birthday and I love them. She even used thrifted fabric to make them. She calls them "Evergreen Bags". They will be available on etsy next year. Check out her other creations - especially the stockings made with wool she got at the thrift store and then felted.

Here is some of the luscious paper that was brought to me by Danielle and her family. Huge sheets of it! I had to take a picture of it before I could start cutting. I'm looking to the evergreen bags to balance out my enormous paper usage of the past few days.
In the few minutes I was able to grab to check in on my favorite bloggers, I saw lots of amazing creativity. Check out Molly's stockings and aprons.

I cleaned the table last night at midnight. My friend Flea (Felicia:) is coming with her family today, and for the night. Tomorrow we go to Mindy's for the weekend and then I host a cookie swap here. I'm thinking crafting is over for the year.

7 comments:

mindy said...

I soooo want you to get a permanent crafting space! I'm just thinking of the amazing work you would create if all your things could be left and ready to access at a moments inspiration.

Rachel said...

Wow! Inspiring! My crafting table (which used to be the dining room table) is now overrun with toys, which we can't seem to find any other space to store. I think we need our giant crafting table back so I can get out the sewing machine and make some bags like that! And I LOVE the paper! It's simply luscious. :) Can't wait to see what you do with it.

Rachel said...

I just realized you used luscious to describe the paper yourself, no wonder that word leapt to mind. I heartily agree, but I didn't mean to steal your word. And also, I don't mean to steal your friends bag idea, either. Forgive me, I come from a long line of crafters who look at something and say, "hmm, I can do that." :)

Rachel said...

It's me AGAIN. I am looking to find that version of Over the Rainbow you've got on your player at the moment. The iTunes versions I find with Ray Charles and Johnny Mathis are different than that one. Which album is it from? Thanks!

Tamar Orvell said...

I have no courage to cut beautiful paper. A friend with whom I taught Head Start (I had the 3's and she had the 4's) went to Japan with her husband for his lecture tour. She returned with the most magnificent origami paper, even packaged exquisitely, and gave it to me as a gift. I kept it almost 30 years untouched ... just adored. And then, my beloved kitty died, and I asked a friend, an artist, to make a collage of the kitty, using the origami paper. You are welcome to my home to see that work. It is magnificent.

Cut on, brave paper woman!

Madeline Rains said...

Rachel, sew bags to your hearts content! And then, next year, come check out Helen's bags at Etsy. That's what Mindy is doing anyway. As for the music, I got it off of the playlist site that you can reach by clicking "make your own playlist" below my music jukebox. I couldnt' find the CD name either. hmmmm. maybe googling?

Tamar, I did cut and it was so satisfying. I so understand the waiting 30 years. I would love to see the collage.

Molly said...

I'm glad to see another dining table turned crafting space. I too dream of a room exclusively devoted to my merry mess making, but I won't be getting one this Christmas. I love those bags! Thanks for the linky love.