Our family has been busy preparing gifts to give as Christmas gifts. I am not a very crafty person, though I can knit and make some other simple items. We not only share gifts within our family, but also have two other gift exchanges with our extended families. That means 6 people x 2 gift exchanges=12 additional gifts. I have been making scarves for some of the family members this past week.
This one was knit using three different types of yarn, an eyelash, a boucle and a ribbon type. Knit together, it makes a soft, fuzzy, very touchable scarf.
Below is another that I am making for a teenage cousin. She likes funky looking things so I made hers in a brown eyelash, bright pink worsted weight wool and a bumbly ribbon of mixed colors. While I am done with the knitting, I plan to add some pompoms at the end, where the fringe goes, for a fun effect.
I am also making some booties and other baby items. Here is one, made in a variegated cotton of dark and light pinks, white and lavender. Its mate is not yet finished.
Here is yarn for my next project, another scarf. I like the soft purples and pinks.
I am fond of making these decoupage vases. They are really very simple. I choose colors and patterns from home decorating catalogs. I cut out triangles of color from the pages and dip them in white glue and a bit of water. Then, I smooth the triangles on a glass vase. After drying, the vases can be displayed alone or with flowers inside. They make a nice gift and can be made to match any decor.
Ben likes to make rosaries and sacrifice beads. He makes many different styles with various crucifixes and bead colors.
We will be busy in the upcoming weeks, preparing more gifts for Christmas. Our immediate family also has a tradition in which we draw a name among ourselves. During the twelve days after Christmas, we do small acts of kindness for the person we chose and also give them a handmade gift on Epiphany. My kids are up to their ears in my scarves (literally and figuratively) so that means I will have to glean some new ideas from other creative moms who are participating in the Loveliness of Handmade Gifts! Thank you, Dawn, for hosting!