recent projects

As much as I wish I were lazing about, eating bonbons and having my feet rubbed (uh, my birthday IS coming, hint hint), I’m trying to take advantage of these sad, last days of my mother’s visit by cleaning, organizing like a fiend, and working in the studio. Here are some recently completed projects:

It seems that every boy in our lives receives a baby man-purse for one birthday or another. This is one that I just finished for our friend named, well, you can guess:

My mantra while making this: “Do a good job on this one, because his mama sewed Otis an excellent quilt which lies draped on his bed at this very moment, and his grandmother is an accomplished seamstress and knitter who seems to make everything cute that he wears. Plus, you are harboring a not-so-secret hope that she will unlock the secrets of Korean cooking for you.”

I tried my hand at embroidery for this project. It was shaky at first, but it got better. I think I actually rather like this project. Do you hear that, Gods of Self-Doubt? I defy you! Here’s a closeup. You can also see how my poor mother has been spending her days: sculpting Playdoh hats for each and every one of Otis’s animals.

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A scarf for a friend, who’s going home to a very cold place.

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A bib for sweet baby Hazel, whose parents run one of the tastiest establishments in town.

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When it was almost time for our friend, Emmett, to celebrate his third birthday, we asked him what homemade present he wanted. “A black scarf, like Mama and Baba. But with animals.” I was happy to oblige, and even happier that he made such a specific request:

It’s two rows of animal appliques on fleece, which is a material I feel conflicted about, but which seemed like a good idea for its washability. I was trying designs out, and ended up with enough materials for an extra for Otis:

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A denim man-purse for Jack, who’s a big fan of trains (there was a tremendous homemade train cake at his party and everything!):

There are still other projects I’m working on. I’m hoping to get as much done as I can while I still posess my sanity and my nerves. It’s felt good to make some things with my hands, but you know, I still feel a little weird about making presents sometimes. I was talking with a co-worker, and she told me the story about a friend of hers, who wasn’t sure how to tell all her crafty friends that their taste just wasn’t her taste, and would they quit it already with the crappy presents. Sometimes I feel the same way, when I receive a lukewarm response to a homemade present. Now, I mostly ask what a person would prefer, or make things for people whom I know well know to know that they’ll appreciate it, or who have hinted to me in the past. What do you guys do/think about homemade presents?