This is what my dining room table has looked like all week, because in "Kathy World" you have to make a really big mess in order to get anything done. As you can see, I am working on more pillows, but I am also working on 2 quilts and a throw for a sweet friend who has been there for Earl and I in some pretty special ways. I had today off for the end of the marking period (yay!) so I plan to get lots done. I hope to have this mess cleaned up by tomorrow at the latest. I've made good progress on the pillows and they will be up on etsy soon.
I have also been clearing out clutter and displays in most other areas of my home in preparation for a little holiday decorating. I plan to begin with greens throughout the house and natural elements and save most of the glitz for after Thanksgiving, but that way my decorating will be 90% done for the season! With the economy the way it is, and hubby still looking for work, it's going to be a handmade, thrifted, Christmas. I bet a lot of people will be doing that, don't you think? Is thrifting a gift terrible? I don't think so! How many of us LOVE that thrifted piece of silverplate, transferware or special vintage find? As for the handmade part, I was thinking just last night, the only gifts I really remember from my childhood (aside from the Barbie doll I got at age 16, please, I was so over Barbie!) the only gifts I really remember are the handmade ones! Grandma made my sister and I a treasure trove of Barbie dresses when we were 6 and 7 years old, my uncle made us a kitchen with wonderful wooden stove and refridgerator. I loved those gift because I loved the people who gave them to me. I still have the Barbie clothes. The gifts circled in the Sears wish book? It was more fun wishing for them than getting them most of the time and I couldn't name a single one today. So I am working on some special handmade and thrifted gifts for loved ones this year. I can't show them all but I will show some and I would love to see what kind of handmade gifts you have planned too! Ideas? I'm thinking every Tuesday of posting a Handmade Holidays idea and I would love for you to join me. I'll hopefully figure out Mr. Linky and you can share your gift ideas here with us. It isn't too early to begin thinking about these things! If you aren't crafty, feel free to link to a post on a thrifted treasure or a handmade item you have available on etsy. Lets not forget handmade decorations too! I would love to see them!
Feel free to use this button on your blog to share the fun. I can't wait to see what we all come up with. Now I need to get busy on that table!
I love this..."Kathy World"!!! Perfect!!
ReplyDeleteI also love the idea of thrifting and handmade for holiday gifts. Like you, some of my best gifts were things that had been handmade..and quite honestly, we weren't flush enough when I was a child for a lot of expensive store bought gifts.
I love your idea of Handmade Holidays and while I might not have much to share (I don't have too many gifts to give!), I will come by to see what others are doing for sure!
Kathy, I make messes when I create too! It would be too hard to create, while stopping an cleaning.
ReplyDeleteI love your handmade and thrifted Christmas idea. I would much rather have a wonderful homemade item that something from the department store!
Hugs,
Penny
I agree with you I think I would love something thrifted, vintage, or handmade over something brand new. I too still have and love the gifts that were handmade for me, because you think of all the love and time the person put into them. Every year I vow to try to make handmade gifts and fail miserably, maybe this year will be different. Here are my plans: an Ipod armband holder for my sister who runs, a colored pencil and notepad holder for my artist niece, a wall hanger to hold all the individual hot wheel cars for my nephew, a rag doll for my other niece, some cute binky holders and bibs for my infant nephew. Their dad was a little harder but I was thinking either a custom t-shirt with his business name on it, or maybe a monogrammed car visor organizer? Men are so hard to shop for! LOL Good luck with all your gifts!
ReplyDeleteWhat? No car keys, junk mail or empty cookie packages in the middle of your creative mess? That's what my dinning room table is full of. Hubby actually congratulated me on being able to see the table top in spots when he got home yesterday! LOL!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Kathy, I'll put your button on my sidebar.
Hugs,
Dawn
Kathy, I think the most beautiful creations come for the biggest "messes"!! I think this so called mess looks beautiful too! Your house pillows are so cute! And how sweet of you to make quilts for a friend! I cant think of a more special gift!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Amy
Oh, yes...thrifted and handmade gifts are the best as far as I'm concerned, Kathy. With so many young ones in our family, it is hard to thrift for them. I think a few gift cards will be in order and...we are so broke, it's hard to pay attention. Not sure just what I am going to do. No raise in Medicare this year...insurance keeps rising, taxes due, .....meds keep going up so that we run out of Medicare payment about 2 months of the year and have to pay for them out of pocket. Whew...troublesome but I can promise that we will have a wonderful and blessed Christmas. We love our stockings and we all try to put some neat things in each one. Seems we all love getting our stockings more than gifts so....I'm stockpiling neat stocking stuffers!
ReplyDeletehugs, bj
MOM! I love you! I am so excited for Christmas this year! I love handmade gifts too, and seriously, just getting one or two presents is great, because I barely even remember what I got last year. It's just the truth :). I want to be home right now!!!!!!!!!! SO BAD!!!! I miss you tons, and wish I were there to help decorate! I love you!!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
ReplyDelete(Who's the throw for?)
~Victoria
The sign of a clean space is the sign of someone who is not very busy. You are obviously very busy, and obviously working on some cute things! Love the fabrics on your table. laurie
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the handmade gifts being the best. My kids all remember the beautiful hand knit sweaters they received that "smelled like Aunt Betty". The scent of her signature perfume lingered on her knitting. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're neater than I am when I'm sewing. I can still see bits of your tabletop!
ReplyDeleteDid the thing Clarence brought over work for what you needed?
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI don't think it should even be called thrifting if you happen to find the perfect gift for someone in something besides a department store. I would so love getting a pretty figurine or serving dish, wrapped with love. And my daughter and I scour the Dollar Tree for pretty wrapping paper and ribbon. Hallmark is a thing of the past.
I think your idea for Tuesday's is great. I hope I can come up with something~I am not terribly creative...
xoxo
Jane
I love the idea of vintage and thrifty gifts. I think there's a photo of me looking at the Sears Wish Book when I was a little girl around here somewhere. I'll have to dig it out. I'd forgotten about it.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Marcia
Oh....you should see my crafting table. I can't even sit at it! I think that's a cute idea. I'm planning on making a few gifts this year so I'll love seeing what things people are working on.
ReplyDeleteManuela
I'm excited for Christmas this year- I just hope I don't get stuck with a crappy shift at work that day! Anf Vicky's right- I usually make a list of what I got before I go to bed on Christmas because I know I'll forget otherwise! (Yeah, I'm a dork lol) And Victoria, I'm sure if you think about it, you can probably figure out who the throw is for. If not, call me and we'll discuss haha. I love you mom!
ReplyDeleteI make such a mess too when I am working! I love your idea of Handmade Holidays...count me in.
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I used to peruse the Sears catalog too...I dont remember getting too many of the things we wanted! Ha!
annie
Hi, Kathy -
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the reality of your table. Mine looked that way most of the week but for a different reason that I will share soon. Changes going on around this home caused many things to be in places unusual! I am doing mostly thrifted and handmade this year, too. Even my preacher son who wants to add more Max Lucado books to his collection will receive several from favorite thrifting jaunts - all in new condition and with plenty of 'reads' left. I need to get busy now and clean my sewing area so I can get busy on things created. Thanks for the inspiration. ~Adrienne~
You know what they say, A messy craft table is the sign of a creative mind! I too am going handmade this year. And if I can find something thrifted, I'll get that too. Mimi
ReplyDeleteIn my mind there is no such thing as a messy craft table... just an artist at work in her elements.
ReplyDeleteThese are too cute. What a fun idea. Now, I have to figure out how to do something fancier like this on my snugglie bags posted today. It would even make them better...
My hubby sell real estate and it very TIGHT around here. Of course I thrift, and Garage Sale :) and have found new and great gifts. I also love to craft and need to get going on that.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your house pillows :)
Happy weekend.
Deb :)
Kathy...your world looks heavenly. I am so looking forward to coming up with some hand made ideas for Christmas this year. I can't wait for Mr. Linky!
ReplyDeleteI am going to check your etsy every chance I get!!!!!
Kathy,
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely idea. By the way your dining room table looks like mine does most of the time. I always need to see everything, or I forget about the project. Go figure. Well, I just think I love the idea of Homemade Tuesdays. When my sisters and I got together with my mom every year in the Hamptons, we always made our gifts. These were my very favorite ones. My sister would drive from Vermont, me from Princeton, New Jersey and my other sister would fly in from LA. These were still my favorite Christmas memories.
Karen
Kathy-I found my way here from Sweet up North Mornings. I think handmade gifts are the most special--the gift of time is always special..I have been painting this weekend, so I understand all about making messes to "create"! Enjoyed my visit!
ReplyDeleteKathy-I found my way here from Sweet up North Mornings. I think handmade gifts are the most special--the gift of time is always special..I have been painting this weekend, so I understand all about making messes to "create"! Enjoyed my visit!
ReplyDeleteI don't think thrifting or making your own gifts is bad at all! In fact, I wish I had more creativity to do that. I can't wait to see your ideas and the ideas of others. I will post your button right now!
ReplyDeleteKathy, I just saw the message from Victoria. What a sweet daughter. You listen to what she says to you. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy....you should get a peek at my sewing room...what a disaster...the husband goes in on occasion and always manages to step on pins lodged in the carpet...He has a fit...As for thrifty Christmas gifts....and especially homemade gifts...I love them because the gift giver has put thought into the gift...it makes it so much more special...
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy, I just found your wonderful blog and love, love this idea. I totally enjoy making and giving handmade items. They are the best!
ReplyDeleteI will post your button on my sidebar.
Barb ♥
What a relief....I'm not the only one who makes a big 'ol mess in order to get anything done. I'm in awe of an organized crafter.
ReplyDeleteWarm blessings,
Spencer
This is so timely. We too are on home made presents this Christmas. Life has been difficult for so many I think. Do you have any good ideas for Boys/teenage boys to make for family members? It is eas yfor us girls to make things but what about the guys?
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed my visit here and will have to return to read so much more.
Blessings
Kathy's world sounds pretty good to me. I hear you on the 'no job' part. Nothing better than something made or thrifted from the heart
ReplyDeleteAlison