kidding around

Comment by estea

July 11, 2006 @ 11:05 am

you’re not sick, you’re very, very well ; )

Nice, so nice - my kids would love these little guys.

We have made coloring books, but cheated with my hub the artist to draw simple little funky animals for coloring, then personalized the covers.

estea

Comment by Ali

July 11, 2006 @ 11:40 am

Your pencil rolls are lovely - I really want to try and have a go at one.

I’ve not got good things to say about handmaking birthday gifts. I did a cute little bag, at least I thought it was cute, but the mother NEVER said a word about it. Boo, sucks. I was surprised at how much it got to me.

Comment by Michelle

July 11, 2006 @ 12:44 pm

Great pencil rolls, they’re so colorful and *definitely* inspiring. I just made a fabric memory game last week, and it was very well received. Easy and fun to do, too! I’m always looking for handmade gifts, but I’m with you. Sometimes I think I’m crazy!

Comment by Ana

July 11, 2006 @ 6:01 pm

No, you’re not crazy! And I think your pencil rolls are cool! I, too, made one for my daughter (3 yrs) a few months ago. I like the idea of making my own presents to give and I think they would be cute, too, but not everyone can appreciate these sorts of things. Last weekend my daughter got invited (last minute!) to her cousin’s birthday party, so I spent the whole day before making her a little purse and stuffed bunny (pattern from WeeWonderfuls). I was so proud of myself! But when I showed them to my mother-in-law, who is also this little girl’s grandmother, she advised me to not give it to her because it was too nice (she appreciates handmade things and is a quilter herself) to give to this little girl and wouldn’t be surprised to find it lying on the floor and stepped on. Apparently this little girl’s mother doesn’t care for handmade gifts and they put too much value onto materialistic things. Therefore, if I didn’t get her daughter a cool, store-bought toy, they wouldn’t like my present. I felt bad thinking that they would just toss it to the side after opening it, to get to the next present, so I decided to keep it for my own 3 yr old. She loved it! I ended up buying the little girl a Bratz doll that was dressed like a bellydancer, cause her mother is a professional bellydancer. I thought we couldn’t go wrong with that toy, but when she opened it, I saw her frown. I asked her if she liked it, and she said, ” I already have this one!”, with attitude in her tone! I guess you just can’t please them all! I then told them they could find the receipt in the gift bag and they can go exchange it if they wanted to. I’m so glad I didn’t give them the things I made!
I think it depends on how well you know the recipient of the gift.

Comment by Maryellen

July 11, 2006 @ 6:43 pm

So beautiful and well crafted! I’ve had similar experiences as others with non-crafters only half realizing/appreciating the effort. It is nice though to avoid the mass market items. Have you ever made the pencil cases with store-bought quilted placemats? Martha Stewart Living (kids, maybe) featured a neat pattern a few years ago using the placemat that was simple and easy to adapt to holding a small notebook as well. In fact, I just bought a few, pretty reversible mats from Marshalls for the same project!

Comment by Genevieve

July 11, 2006 @ 9:17 pm

I love looking at your beautiful photos and craft work. It leaves me with a sense of contentment. I’d love to do this one day for my kids.

Comment by Bee

July 11, 2006 @ 9:34 pm

I made a totally funky skirt for my daughter to take to a friends party. I am reasonably sure that all it did was raise a few eyebrows. It was kind of funny though, because I didn’t really know the family and so I didn’t care. I realized that if they thought I was some sort of crazy hippy mom, then that was okay with me!

Comment by Mother-of-C

July 12, 2006 @ 4:26 am

No, I haven’t, but I LOVE your pencil rolls - the new owners will be/should be thrilled !!

Comment by Shackelmom

July 12, 2006 @ 11:44 am

I love it! This will be especially practial for traveling. Coloring in the car with pencils rolling around, falling on the floor and getting down between the seats is a real pain! I really hope the mom appreciates this gift! But, once it leaves your hand, it is theirs, so no matter what, enjoy the joy of giving something you have made! It is lovely!

Comment by Melissa

July 13, 2006 @ 9:55 am

I love this gift, I really need the pattern for the pencil case because my son is in need of this for car trips.

I love making gifts for folks especially kids because honestly I haven’t had any negative comments about the gifts I’ve made except from one sil but she has been reformed now that I make gifts for her kids, when it comes to her it has to be store bought and expensive.

One of my favorite gifts to make and give is a craft/baking apron for kids, I’ve included small things like cooking utensils, homemade cookbook that daughter made, or I’ll do art supplies (small notebook and colored pencils). For one boy I made a camoflauge apron and went to the dollar store to buy a few small tools to add to the pockets for him.

Comment by Melissa

July 13, 2006 @ 9:58 am

Oh, I forgot to mention above that if anyone is interested in making those kid aprons I have a quick tutorial (hopefully folks understand it) on my blog if you are interested in making one for kids. Otherwise you can email me with any questions.

Comment by sarah

July 13, 2006 @ 12:02 pm

I have made several super hero capes for presents for both boys and girls. I put the child’s initial on the back and a little velcro on the neck rather than a tie (for safety and for self sufficiency). They have been a big hit.

Comment by annie

July 13, 2006 @ 11:55 pm

Hi there Carol!
Just wanted to let you know I received your package with the cd’s. We’ve only gotten through the “FUN” one and it is just great!! They just might inspire me to start making music mixes for people myself. I’ll feel like I am back in highschool.
Thank you so much!

Comment by nichola

July 16, 2006 @ 8:12 am

they’re awesome! I love giving handmade gifts.

Comment by mrspilkington

July 23, 2006 @ 4:58 pm

i love the pencil rolls — great work! i’ve been making birthday gifts a lot lately. i used to only do handmade gifts for people that i know, but my most recent (a stuffed dog) was for a little girl that i hadn’t even met. i drove myself crazy and stayed up too late, of course. oh well. it was still fun.