handmade kate

gifts and thanks

I had a wonderful day yesterday, and all of your birthday wishes topped it off perfectly.  It really did mean so, so much to me!

When I got to work this morning, I found this handmade gift from one of my friends on my desk.  A lovely set of silkscreened napkins she had made--the daylily was drawn from the photo at the top.  I wish you could have seen how beautifully it was packaged in brown paper, wrapped up with an organza ribbon and the photo as a gift card. 

Gifts of friendship from those who can appreciate the beauty of something handmade. Thanks everyone! 

twelve square - playing catch-up

Since I sort-of took the month of January off, save a bit of knitting, I've had some catching-up to do with my twelve square blocks.  They were sewn up in time, but because going to the post office would involve me actually putting down my knitting, removing myself from the sofa, and leaving the house, I was a little late in sending them off.  Sorry excuse, I know, but those dreary winter days can be so immobilizing, can't they? 

So off in the post today, 

Leslie's block for January:

Leslie sent along the sweet pinks, greens, orange and white fabrics for a quilt for her daughter, Libby--all picked out by Miss Libby herself!  It was such a perfect assortment that I only added the teal and pink dotted fabric, and the orange floral in the corners.  I also added a couple of strips of white muslin to finish it up because, well, I screwed up when cutting Leslie's white fabric.  I think I must have gotten too excited when I realized that all of the little squares numbered twelve!  (how cool is that?) I do hope you both like it, Libby and Leslie!

And two weeks ago, Kristena's block for December was sent and received:

Kristena's photo of it is a much better one--my photo was taken during one of the dark, rainy weeks of January when the sun would just not oblige.  But it was such a fun project!  I loved being up to my elbows in scraps, pulling out every bit of fabric that felt vintage-y and warm for her scrappy log cabin square--including some gingham ribbon and lace that I found in the mix as well.  I'm so glad you liked it Kristena--your sweet words made my day!

Here's to warmer and sunnier days with timely blocks in the future--so far February has started off to be quite promising.

merry christmas to all!

Wishing you all the merriest of days, and every happiness in the new year!  Thank you so much for visiting my little blog over these last two years--you can't imagine how much it has meant to this silly introvert.  The kind words, support, and inspiration each and every one of you given me are truly a blessing.

xxoo, Kathryn

the gift post

I guess the countdown is on!  Can you believe it's only 3 days until Christmas? I had a few more handmade gifts I wanted to finish up, but I've decided to call it quits at this point. It's time to relax. 

But I did manage to finish all of my Rose Hills.  Oh, this is awful light--nothing but cold rain for the last week.  The darlings were the prettiest of colors, but here they're rather washed out and icky with my flash.  Bah!

And a lone Thorpe gifted to my brother-in-law.  I enjoyed this pattern so; I wish I had had time to make a few more.  My husband and son requested one after they saw this one, but the crocheted edge tripped me up, so it will have to wait until after the holidays.  It will be a good winter project, now that I can do that half-double!

A few cozies, coupled with a gift card to you-know-where.  These are what became of my bundles (with plenty of fabric left over). Nothing more than tracing a little cardboard coffee sleeve and lining it with insul-brite.  Easy and fast, and so satisfying all lined up and ready to go!

I added a gift tag a-la-Erin, because I thought they would be more fun with a coffee quote.

 

Finally, a couple of requisite Amy Butler Bags because they're always a favorite with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.  This year it was Frenchy.

 

The rest of the gifts were finished up by my husband.  A few matted and framed black-and-white prints taken with the old Deardorff.  He cut all of the mats by hand.  Oh how I wanted to give him his gift a bit early! 

best bibs (x3)

A good friend at work recently had triplets.  Well, maybe not so recently.  The babies were born a bit early, so they were just now allowed to come home from the hospital.  I was so incredibly happy for this sweet couple—I can’t even begin to imagine everything they must have been through.

I went for a visit earlier this week, and of course I couldn’t arrive for my visit (at feeding time no less) without a gift in hand!   So out came this darling pattern by Jennifer of JC Handmade.  I fell in love with the patchwonky-puckery-vintagey-look, and the free-motion quilting was a lot more enjoyable on a smaller scale.  Such a heartwarming and gratifying project. 

Patchwork bibs for rosy-cheeked babies with the most beautiful red hair.  Can you picture it? 

for miss jenn...

Taking a cue from last week's burp cloths, I made a few dishtowels in a similar fashion.

A coordinating potholder, a purple plant something (I don't know my flowers very well!), and a gift card from Trader Joe's. Happy housewarming, my friend! 

girls and boys

Taking a break from a big project to whip up a couple of burpies for some sweet new babes.  Inspiration from the lovely ones Juliette made.  I only wish I had followed her tutorial--I'm a bit worried now about how the straight stitching along the edge will hold up with all those washings!  Zig-zagging (is that a word?) along the edges makes much more sense.

*Hopefully I'll get that big project posted tomorrow--that's my goal at least!

hello there!

Just popping in to say a quick "hello," and that I'm still here.  I've been visiting as I can, but haven't really had the energy to put much into my own little blog.  We had a rough couple of weeks, but after an unintentional little blog-break, I'm quite happy to be back. 

My father-in-law passed away a little over two weeks ago, and although it was a difficult few days leading up to his death, we are all OK.  Lots of "family-time" alternating with lots of sleep around here.  Such a seemingly surreal situation was so exhausting. But all of the support Gary's family received was quite overwhelming.  I had to smile and send up (more than) a bit of thanks as Southern traditions took over and family and friends truly held us up during this time.   Simply Amazing.

And I have so many thanks to send to all of you.  The emails I received while I was "MIA," meant so much to me.  Amazing, again, that so many of you were thinking of me!  I'm trying to respond to you all, but I may be a bit slow.  Until then, know that I was so touched!

I did manage to sneak in a little project over the weekend:

A Built by Wendy hoodie in a soft wool flannel.  I had originally intended to make a matching skirt from my Sew U book (gracious, I've certainly made that pattern enough), but decided it may be a bit overkill, even with some cool brown boots. (I'm thinking lumber-jack kate)  The hoodie turned out to be the perfect weight for a Sunday afternoon hike at Umstead, though.

And look who we got to meet along the way! 

a quick post on the way in from the mailbox

A sweet surprise from dear Valerie.  An Amy Butler Weekend Travel Bag pattern.  Tea, just in time for the cooler weather due in this weekend.  Lovely, lovely Liberty fabric (you are creating a monster over here Valerie!).  And precious, kind words on a scenic postcard.   Thank you, my friend!

Next, a necklace made by such a gracious lady. Lisa's blog is such an inspiration, and when I saw this necklace that Blair commissioned, I fell in love.  I did my initials too, because, like Blair, I'm Southerner, and monogrammed silver jewelry really is a wardrobe staple around these parts.  But what a nice alternative to the usual--I can't tell you how many compliments I received when I wore it to work today!

Finally, a quick "thank-you" to Tracy.  If you've never visited her blog , please pay her a visit.  The lovely handbags and accessories she makes are so beautiful in their simplicity, and her blog is so full of genuine kindness and goodness. Such a comfortable and cozy place! (and she's a fellow anglophile, too!)  I received an email from her a few days ago just to check in on me and say "hello" since I haven't posted in a while. Oh, that meant so much to me!

And my absence lately?  My husband and I are struggling with his aging parents, and, well, my father-in-law is pretty close to dying right now.  It is something new and incredibly hard to navigate.  So that's where I've been.  But I've been visiting around to all my favorite blogs when I can, and it has been such a blissful escape.

So thank you all for sharing these bits of your lives. 

And for sending me unexpected packages "just because"
and for offering handmade loveliness for the best kind of adornment
and for quick emails just to "check in"...

I feel quite spoiled.

 

umm...i think no more photos for a bit

Bleech, you would think I would know better than to photoshop something to death, but I certainly managed to to just that in my last post.  Sorry about that.  So I promise, no more photos until I get one of these dreams for Christmas.  We've made due with an ancient digital camera that copies the photos onto a !floppy disk!--really cool about 5 years ago--but it's not quite cutting it now; even with a lot of help little help from photoshop.  But I was so excited about bringing such a nice alternative to the usual hostess gift of a bottle of wine to a friend's party that I forgot about the lack of photo abilities we have around here.

On to holiday updates:  The "handmade Christmas" is almost finished!  Looking back, I think this year may have been way too ambitious.  I did it--well almost--yet when I look around the house at the trails of fabric, thread, dirty laundry, dishes, (OK, you get the idea), I'm more than a little overwhelmed thinking about getting everything back in order in time for the day.  I wish I could show a few behind the scenes shots (well, perhaps it's best I can't), so my gifting recipents would understand how much was put into those babies; because, believe me, those who know me so well, know my house only looks like this in extreme times.  Thankfully, in my daily round of fav blogs I was was reminded today that I'm not the only one--this is simply a part of the season.   I know it will all come together--cluttered little house and all.