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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Giving Gifts, Making Gifts

I love giving gifts and I love receiving them.
- Gina Gershon


Perhaps you'll think I'm nuts, but I'm thinking Christmas presents already. Are you? Yup. I'm blessed with a huge family and an even huge-r (!) circle of friends. That means huge investments of time ... or money. Last year I had the money, this year I have the time. So handmade presents it is this year.

My baby sister's getting the cute bag above. Isn't it fun? I'm planning to stuff it with lip gloss, movie passes, a book, and knitting needles and yarn. (You can give a girl a fish or you can teach her to fish, right?) Oh. She's also getting these: a pair of pedicure socks....


Cutest thing ever. I want a pair, too. In fact, everyone may end up with these. Including my brothers.

Well, maybe not my brothers. Being that they're all in college or headed that way, I think they're getting quilts/crocheted blankets and a scarf/hat combo similar to this one.

Of course, I want this too:

The guy. Not the scarf. I already have a scarf. (Wicked grin)

By the way, all the preceeding designs and patterns are available in this book. The patterns are wonderfully laid out and easy to read.

So in the midst of knitting like a granny, I'm also at work embroidering dozens of kitchen towels. This is a great idea, I think. Pick up a package of flour sacks, download or order patterns here, here, here, or anywhere you choose, and go to town. These towels are easy to stitch and superb to use and came from Bed Bath & Beyond, but a friend recently tipped me off to the quality and accessibility of those from Linens 'n Things. You can buy theirs with a quick click here.



Can you believe that Thanksgiving is less than 6 weeks away? Shocking. Positively shocking.

Gosh. I'd love to stay and chat, but I have gifts to give and gifts to make. Enjoy your Wednesday! -B

19 comments:

  1. ooh don't forget patternbee.com!

    I'm making most gifts this year as well...on my 5th scarf so far. Flour sack kitchen towels are also on the plan - stitched with love.

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  2. Oh, she's right!

    Don't forget about Pattern Bee. They're excellent! These are my favorite: http://patternbee.com/SL657.html

    (You'll probably have to cut and paste the link to view...)

    Thanks, Haus Frau!
    Brin

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  3. Gosh Brin, you have been busy!! I love the stitched kitchen towel idea. I am SO copying this idea for Christmas gifts.

    Thanks for sharing.
    Cammy

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  4. I had never seen the socks before...so cute!
    You are clever and your recipients are very blessed to have the time and love you are putting into them.
    Becky K.

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  5. You are such an inspiration. I've started Christmas shopping but I haven't started on any of gifts to make yet. I need to get going! I adore those socks. Who wouldn't love those? Sure wish I could knit!

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  6. I wish I was your little sister! Its fun to plan and see your plans come to fruition. Plan away!

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  7. Wow you have some fantastic gifts you are making for Christmas..wonder if someone on my list is making me something???
    I love the embroidered kitchen towel idea..I can do that and I still have some flour sack fabric from my mother's stash..it has the company name printed on it...I love that! So much to do..75 sleeps till Christmas or something like that...

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  8. Brin, I too have been busy crafting and making gifts, my girls and I opened our Etsy store and finally got our first order, so were crafting like crazy now, plus the Christmas craft sale is coming up before we know it! I think it's the cooler weather that draws me to gift making. I'll have to check out pattern bee, thanks!!

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  9. Love your blog!! Read it weekly. You have inspired me ot learn to knit. I'm a artist love to paint,refurbish old furniture,sew. My grandmother taught me to sew, she tried to teach me to knit but I was never interested til now.

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  10. Everytime I come here it seems I'm reminded of my Nana. I think it's the down-to-earth nature of your life that I'm so drawn to. She embroidered dozens of flour sack towels and I have a big drawer full. My plan was to not use them, but having them near always makes me think of her. Your family and friends will LOVE to receive these as gifts. They're wonderful!

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  11. Hobby Lobby also sells flour sack kitchen towels -- I don't know how the price compares. I love to buy the colorful Martha Stewart kitchen towels at Kmart and embroider those. In fact I'm working on some right now!

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  12. I had someone tease me yesterday because I told them I had already started putting some things back for Christmas gifts.

    LOVE those socks, what a great idea!

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  13. We celebrated Thanksgiving here in Canada this past weekend. Once Halloween is over it's all Christmas for me :-}
    Love all your xmas gift ideas.

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  14. I love that you knit! How fun is that! And you have such great projects going...and I like the present you picked out for yourself as well...(wicked grin right back)

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  15. I've been thinking of and planning Christmas gifts, too. Handmade as much as possible this year. Love your ideas - can I be on your list? ~Adrienne~

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  16. Love those socks! I've enjoyed your blog for a while now & it's the socks that finally made me post! Have a great day!

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  17. Brin, you have inspired me. I am a work in progress. Thank you!
    Cyndi
    www.ifoundmyroundtuit.blogspot.com

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  18. I wish my pinkie fingernail had even a bit of the creativity and gumption that you have! You pretty much rock.

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  19. Is there a pattern for those socks or can they be bought already made? My best frined would LOVE a pair of these! Thank you, Brin!

    Jenny

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