june at noon

In June, before I left for our family vacation and the subsequent blogging breaks, I finished up another quick set of Christmas gifts: ruffled scarves. I started with inspiration from several different tutorials I came across that used elastic thread to create a shirring effect. (I can’t find the original tutorial I looked at, but [...]

You’ll see when I post my “goals for 2010″ list next week that one of the things I’d like to make a bit more of this year is mini quilts. I really enjoy whipping up a bit of embroidery and then turning it into something lovely, and mini quilts are perfect for this. They’re small [...]

In the Fall of 2009 I needed a birthday gift. The birthday girl is a vegetarian, and I remembered seeing this project stitched up, which is based on an Urban Threads pattern. Inspired, I drew up my own design, which also included the recipient’s favorite animal, the giraffe. At the time I posted about a [...]

Really, I’m not. I’ve never before had an interest in making jewelry. But when I saw this video tutorial for a crocheted necklace, I had to try it. People, this might be the coolest thing you can make in less than an hour! It’s a simple series of crochet chains with beads slipped in. Make [...]

Happy New Year! I’m back with more Christmas gift photos! I’ve seen some really neat variations on the reusable lunch bag and other food storage items, and I knew of two people who would be able to use and appreciate something like this. So I set out to make two lunch sets. (Lots more photos [...]

I branched out this year and made quite a few non-embroidery gifts, but I did stitch up a few things. My theme, as you know, was simple gifts for maximum impact, so these were all small pieces that stitched up quickly. There’s … An embroidered snowman decoration. It’s laced around foam board so it can [...]

Well, after an incredibly busy week and two very busy days, I am craving a return to normalcy. Normal sleeping and eating schedules, normal activities, just normal. We had a nice Christmas, a very full Christmas, and I love it that way, but I am exhausted! I received so many goodies—fabrics and floss and needles, [...]

(Nativity by Jennifer Diane Smith, used with permission. http://www.jenniferdianesmith.com) [T]he angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-12, NIV)

Well, we’re there. It’s Christmas Eve. I’m sliding in one more eleventh hour addition to the gift list, but despite all the scrambling to be ready, I really have been able to truly enjoy the holiday season this year. I hope you can say the same! This leads me to my last Handmade Holiday post, [...]

Last year I had my daughter make little drawings that we framed as Christmas gifts for some family members. I just realized today that I hadn’t done anything like that yet, and I’m quickly running out of time! Both my kids love to draw, and the artwork idea went over well last year, but I [...]