Day 10: Favorite Gift From Child

Whoo! Hoo! We've hit double digits! Day 10 of our Designer Blog Hop! Are you still there? Thanks for hanging around here! Have you had fun reading the posts and checking out everyone's designs? I'm a little crazy right now because I can't decide between a few ideas. Yikes! Show them all right?

Remember, to be eligible for the grand prizes you must comment on the featured designer's blog on her special day. Good luck!

Today we are talking about our favorite gift from a child. I know that I talk a lot about how I love handmade and how I love the things that my kids make. I really, really mean it! We don't make the kids buy us anything for the holidays though they have been known to drag my husband out to buy me craft supplies. Instead, they love to make or draw us gifts and that is, as my little guy says, awesome! Here's a little secret. I don't always like looking at my designs after they come back from the publisher or the editor. There's nothing wrong with the designs, I just don't want to look at them right away. I'd rather be surrounded by the things that my kids make.

One of my favorites? My oldest wrote this letter/haiku [above] to me two years ago and drew snowmen all around the background. I have it hanging above my sewing machine. I love it. Sometimes I even leave things around all year round. This ornament hangs onto the hinge of the door to my garage and the photo frame magnetically sticks to the same door. Look at that cute necklace! Christmas lights!

They painted these for me too one holiday. The oldest painted the top one and the little guy painted the bottom one.

Then there's the ornaments. We have them make one each year. Right now we are glitterizing [is that a word?] everything around us. Remember those clams? Well, we've even covered the shells with glitter. What do you think? What's your favorite gift from a child?

Hop over to Carrie's blog today. She's the featured designer today and she's sure to have an awesome design up for you! Remember to check out all of the other ladies too! The links are on the sidebar. xo, L

Day 9: Kid Stories

Can you believe it? We are on Day 9 of our awesome blog hop! Thanks so much for joining us. It has been oh so fun! Remember to comment on the designers' blogs in order to qualify to win the grand prizes. The designers' are giving away goodies on their blogs on their special day too! Have a great time hopping from blog to blog! Links are on the sidebar to the right.

Oh, don't let these two fool you. Are they cute? Absolutely! Are they sneaky? Absolutely.

Two Christmases ago, I was having a conversation with my little one. I had asked him if he was excited about Christmas and did he think that Santa brought him everything that he had asked for. He replied in a nonchalant way, "Oh, I know that he has, Momma. I already checked and I made sure that I put all of the tape back in the right place."

My older one is not innocent either. Last Christmas, I was walking up the stairs toward my bedroom when I heard someone whisper excitedly, "Hurry up, she's coming!" Well, as I rounded the corner, I saw the little lookout guy trying to help his older brother get down from a chair in my closet. They were hunting around the closet for their presents. Uh, going into Momma's closet is a no-no.

Aren't kids devilish? Little do they know that these little stories come back to haunt them! And little do mine know that all of Momma's readers know! Do you have any funny stories about your kids? Do tell!

Go over and check out Sherri's site for today's special featured inspiration. Her table top mat is darling.
xo, L

Day 8: First Christmas On My Own

Can you believe it? We are well over half way through this blog hop. I hope that you are enjoying it! Thank you for sharing it with me too!

Technically, I haven't had a Christmas on my own. I went from living with my parents to marrying Reno. We had been dating for years but he had moved to New Jersey and I was still in Toronto. So, we decided to get married in a week. Then I moved to NJ with a box of items and a couple of bags of clothes but no tree.

Since we didn't have a lot of money because he had just finished school, we had decided not to buy presents or a tree. Of course, I made a whirlwind decision on Christmas Eve that I had to have a tree and presents.  I am very "persistent" when I want something done. Crazy me went out to buy a tree around noon on Christmas Eve. I will never venture out anywhere on that day at that time ever again!

As I was driving to the store, there was an accident ahead. I literally turned off the car because the traffic had come to a grinding halt. A truck was sitting on top of a Honda Civic! It took a long time to get through that but I did get a tree! The things that we do to get things done!

I can't find a photo of the tree from that first year but the tree was about 4 feet high and it was a cute little thing. The kids had dressed it up until we bought a larger tree. The rest of the holiday that year was a blur because we were going through so much with the move and other things.

Today is Terri's special day. Go and check out her site. I know that she's got something wonderful waiting for you! I'm sure that the rest of the ladies have amazing stories to tell you too. Remember, all of their links are on the sidebar at the right. Enjoy! xo, L

Day 7: Decorations

I loved reading your comments yesterday. It was all fun and I feel for those of you who have to take photos of more than two [or 18!] children. As we continue our blog hop, don't forget to comment at least once on everyone's blog to be eligible for the grand prizes.

Every year we buy one ornament for the tree for the family and the kids get to pick another one for themselves. We try to buy one whenever we're travelling because it reminds us of that special place. The glass leaf, above, is from The New York Botanical Garden.

I also love this kind of glass ornament. My stash of ornaments is buried in storage right now but oh how I love the quirkiness of these designs. I can't wait to pull them out.

I've mentionned my love for handmade items. We encourage the kids to make an ornament every year. Remember the clams that we ate last week? Well, the shells have become this week's ornaments. Modge Podge and lots of glitter are drying as we speak.

I like to bring out some of my favorite samples from my books during the holidays. The pillow above is from my book, Sew Sentimental. It is primarily a scrapbooking book but there are a lot of neat ideas in it. Print a favorite photo and some text onto fabric sheets, sew together into a pillow and add some scrapbooking embellishments [label] to your project to make a spectacular and special homemade gift for someone. I can see this for baby's 1st Christmas or a fun pillow for grandma.

Of course, who can forget my holiday books, New Noel and my newest one, Jolly Stuff?  The pillows gracing my couch are from New Noel.

I have some more to show you but you'll just have to wait for my special day on Friday. What are your favorite decorations? Do you like to make them? Of course you do!

Today it is Kari's turn. I'm sure that she has some special cooked up for you! xo, L

Day 6: Traditions

Trains were a big part of my oldest son's early years. Seeing Thomas Tank Engine live was like seeing a rock star. So, as loving parents, we sought out everything trains. One of our traditions is to visit The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show.  It is a gorgeous train show and the designers use natural things like twigs and berries to build a model train city featuring all of the NYC landmarks.

I miss that I don't have the kids at home all day sometimes. I used to look up places between here and Pennsylvania to take the kids on day trips. One day we stumbled upon the Barron Arts Center in Woodbridge, NJ. Every holiday they have a beautiful train display too. We've visited every year since.

Another thing that I do is take the holiday photos. Of course, immediate success is not always tangible. The boys start acting silly, so silly that they fall over in laughter.

  

Boys, please smile for the camera and behave. "No, momma, we're not being bad, you are bad for making us sit here in these silly hats."

There are the times that I show the shot as it played out. There's nothing like the honest truth is there?

My sister and her family visit us every American Thanksgiving weekend and I get to take my nephew's holiday card photo.  Isn't he adorable?

Then there are the friends who are so willing to step in front of my camera. It is such a weird feeling to have someone willing to stand there and pose for me.

This year I think that I am going to send out collages. Much easier. Oh, I am a glutton for punishment and I am sure that I will still pursue that perfect shot with both of them in the photo.

You can make these up in Photoshop. Lickety split. "Hello, I'm Linda, and I am addicted to making storyboards in Photoshop." Do any of you use Photoshop?

I've taken care of the card and gift at the same time. Isn't that brilliant of me? My parents encouraged us to make handmade gifts and cards when we were kids. I'll have to share them with you on craft day. This post was too much fun and therefore too long. What are your traditions? Do your kids sit still when you're trying to photograph them? I'm just checking in to make sure that my kids are "normal" because they don't like Santa and they don't cooperate with the photos.

It is Pam Kitty's special day. She has a wonderful project for you! Enjoy!
xo, L

Day 5: Santa, A Love/Hate Story

My children have a love/hate relationship with Santa. When they were young [and I mean clueless and young], they would let Santa hold them for 5 seconds. And, that lasted for about 5 seconds too. We only went back last year for a photograph. Other than that, I have one photo of Adam looking terrified as though Santa was trying to kidnap him. We just never bothered again until they were ready.

Instead, they write love letters and mail them off in Santa's Mailbox in town. The kids are so excited when Santa writes back. They love Santa and they just can't wait for his arrival. The boys are so cute in the last few months before Christmas. They're extra good because they don't want Santa to bring a lump of coal or to fly past our home on Christmas Eve. Will they visit him at the mall then? Oh no! Safety in distance and separation.

So, we continue to write to Santa instead of whispering our wish list into his ear. Things are looking up this year though. We'll see in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know. Meanwhile, I have a Dear Santa letter template for you!

Download Dear Santa Letter Template

So tell me, are mine the only ones afraid of jolly old Santa? Whenever we've tried and our kids have backed out, I've looked around only to see these other kids who are dressed up to the nines and oh so ready to sit on Santa's lap. My husband and I joke that our kids know that the old fellow isn't real and that our kids are just wise to it!

Today is my fellow Henry Glass designer, Heather Mulder Peterson's special day. Go over to her blog to check out her design. I'm sure that it will be oh so adorable. Her patterns are so fun and upbeat. xo, L

Day 4: Oh No, Christmas Tree!

I tried to think of a tree story from my childhood but miraculously there were no big stories even with the number of us living under one roof. My family, however, provided me with two funny little stories.

My sons are like mini-Marthas. They love to decorate the tree and they love to do it all by themselves. They even take care of little details like leaving cookies for Santa. Decorating the tree is one of their holiday highlights. They love everything from putting the tree together down to decorating it. Now, my husband, being a scientist, is a practical man at times. [Or it could be attributed to one of those spontaneous moments of his too!] One year he thought that it would be "efficient" if he brought the box in and put the tree up by himself. Luckily, I came walking in as he was doing this and made him take the whole thing down. The kids would have been totally disappointed.

As I said, I let the kids put the tree up and decorate while I supervise. One day though, my little one accidently knocked my entire tree down and broke some of my favorite glass ornaments Ooops! It was like a slow moving part of a movie. "Oh noooooooooooooo" my big guy yelled. It was all fine in the end and it gave us a story to tell.

The kids do an awesome job, don't you think?

Do you have any funny stories? Are your kids as interested in decorating your tree like mine are? Let me know! I'd love to hear. I've enjoyed reading your comments. Thank you for sharing your stories! Now, do go over to Pat Sloan 's site. It is her day. She's got a wonderful project for you. The other ladies have terrific stories to tell too! xo, L

Day 3: Gifts

My favorite gifts are those that are handmade, of course. It touches my heart like an old Bing Crosby movie. I'm the one who will appreciate the gift that you hand over to me and say with pride that you made it yourself. After all, that's one of the reasons that we quilt, sew, knit, or crochet, right? Last year, my friend, Joanne, came up to me and presented me with a gift. What a gift it was! A handmade Santa ornament. I love it and I don't think that she knows how much I love it! Do you have a favorite gift that someone handmade for you?

I am sure that you'll find something to make from all of the designs that we will present here. Check out Terry's blog today! It's her day and I am sure that she'll have something fabulous for you! I also have a few free projects on my website that may interest you. They're quick and easy too. Check them out here.

I am on a super handmade craze this year. I haven't decided what to make everyone yet but I'm hopeful. I did buy these adorable tins at Michael's the other day, decoupaged the top and filled it with little inspirational crafting notions. What do you think? Cute! I have continued with designing little tags for my crafty gifts and I've included some of these in my little tin as well. I have them for you to download too! You can print them on cardstock or fabric sheets. There are two downloads. The first is a sheet of large tags and the second is a sheet of smaller tags.  Just sign your name and stitch them, tie them or fuse them down to your gift. I hope that you like them.

Download Large Tags
Download Small Tags

One of my favorite gifts of all, I must admit, was not handmade. It was a Leica Digilux I camera. I wanted a digital camera and I've always thought that the Leica cameras that photojournalists like Henri Cartier-Bresson  used were so awesome yet so unattainable for me because I couldn't justify spending that kind of money for a camera. The kids have to go to college/uni after all. Plus, my husband and I don't usually exchange large gifts with each other unless it is something that person especially wants. When Leica came out with their new digital camera and it was reasonably priced, I secretly wanted it. Somehow, Santa heard my wish and I must have been a good girl that year because there was one Leica camera under the tree for me.

I was wild for this camera beyond wanting it for the name brand. You see, my husband is a smart man. When my oldest was born, I took a photo of him every day during the first year of his life on FILM! Can you see what I am saying? $$$ Dollar signs flashed before my husband's eyes. Now, with my second son born just before I received this camera, I could take as many photos as I wanted without the processing fees!

Seriously, this camera, the first of many digital cameras for me, afforded me the ability to document my family history. Milestones and achievements are recorded. I love taking photos of people in their element. I carry around my cameras because I am inspired by everything around me and I snap an image of it right away. Take a look around you. It could be the inspiration for your next project. xo, L

Day 2: Yummy Goodies

Today's special designer is Sandy Gervais of Pieces From My Heart. Go and check out what she's cooked up for today! Her free project is darling! Remember too to comment on each of our blogs at least once during the blog hop to be eligible for the grand prizes. There will be gift bags filled with goodies from us!

1st place -  gift bag worth $ 250

2nd place - gift bag worth $ 70

3rd place - gift bag worth $ 40

My Mom enjoys to bake. I didn't really inherit that gene because I take after my Dad in that I enjoy cooking more than I enjoy baking. I have started baking a little bit more now that I have my own family. I enjoy baking sugar cookies with the kids and I love making this cranberry banana loaf because it is so easy to make and the loaf is so yummy when you eat it while it is still warm. I like to make an extra loaf for friends and I especially love to design packaging for the loaves. This year, I designed easy and bright little tags for the loaves. I wrapped them in a paper bag [and parchment paper] and tied the tag with a little baker's twine. So fun, don't you think? I drew up the tags for you and put it in a little .pdf file for you to use. You can use the tags on almost anything. Let me know what you think!

*I couldn't help myself. I was playing around with the tags and thought that you'd like to see them. [Don't forget that all printers and monitors vary in color!]

Gift Tags 
Cranberry Banana Loaf 

Yesterday, I talked about how we had seafood for Christmas dinner. We'd have squid, octopus, shrimp or clams. Delicious! One of the dishes that is versatile and popular in Cantonese cuisine is Clams with Black Bean Sauce. You can substitute mussels here too if you wish. It is easy to make and the ingredients are fairly easy to get in Asian markets. If you can't get the salted black beans, you can probably buy a jar of black bean sauce in the International aisle of your local supermarket. Please remember that I am not a chef and that I am one of those cooks who doesn't usually measure anything. I tried my best here but feel free to adjust to your taste.

Clams With Black Bean Sauce 

Enjoy!

Day 1: Childhood Memories

Today is the first day of the blog hop! Everyone has a wonderful childhood memory to share and today's featured designer is Gudrun. Pop over to her site for her story, her wonderful free design and giveaway.

I don't really have one specific childhood memory. Rather, they're tidbits of little memories of things that happened every holiday. It has been fun remembering all of these little details.

When I was young, we moved from Toronto to a small town in northern Ontario to help take over my grandfather's business - a restaurant. I remember that year quite vividly because we moved around the Christmas holidays. I remember the snow coming down and the snowbanks being as tall as the Rockies. Of course, they were really just ordinary snowbanks that were a few feet high. Everything seems tall when you're 7. My grandfather passed away from cancer and my parents soon found themselves to be the head of a household that consisted of two great-grandparents, my grandmother, an older aunt who was a nurse and 9 young kids [my sister, brother and my aunts and uncles]. 

Christmas didn't seem as crazy as it is today but it meant something. Even though we had a few generations living under one roof, we always felt loved and together as one big family. My aunt was smart whenever she did the holiday shopping. Everything was also done fairly. All of the girls got the same things and the boys got the same on their side.

My Dad's great-uncle and his family lived about 3 hours away. Every Christmas my sister, brother and I anxiously awaited the Greyhound bus to pull into town because there was always a special delivery for us. We were excited to get that lovely wooden jewelry box, the twist-pop curling iron or the make-up mirror.

Our restaurant was open most of the year but it was closed on Christmas day. Our customers couldn't come in to see what we were going to eat. Sometimes one or two customers would come and try the door to see if we were open. The kids thought that it was fun because we were in the restaurant by ourselves and cooking "exotic" food for ourselves. Funny thing though, the food was only exotic because you couldn't normally get it in a small town in northern Ontario and you had to order it in advance. We didn't do the traditional turkey thing. We had seafood, roast chicken and BBQ pork. Yum! Yum! I still don't eat turkey on any holiday to this day. I did try to make it once for my husband's sake. It tasted delicious but we both agreed that turkey wasn't our thing.

My sister and I tried something that we shouldn't have one holiday. There was a bottle of Canadian Club  sitting on the table. No one was around and we thought that we'd take a sip. Our mouths burned and my parents had a big laugh. We never touched the stuff again. Oh my!

Check back tomorrow for Day 2 of our Designer Blog Hop. There are more free designs and giveaways happening each day.

xo, L

And The Baby In The Photo Is ...

Terry Atkinson! Were you right? Well, then you were entered in my drawing for a stack of fat quarters from my Inspiration line and a copy of "Cool Girls Quilt".

Wow, there were lots of guesses and it was a really tough contest. I had lots of fun reading all of the entries. I was told that my baby photo was the easiest to guess. Hey, it's not my fault that most Asians are born with straight, black hair and brown eyes! 

Terry hasn't changed one bit! She still has a wonderful and cute smile. Oh, the winner? The winner was chosen very scientifically! My older son, Adam held the bowl while his little brother, Alex choose the name out of the pile of strips that I cut up from the correct guesses. The winner is Jennifer C [Jenphotogb[a]aol.com]! E-mail me your details and I will post the prize to you!

Go and check out all of the other results. The links are at the sidebar on the right. Enjoy and come back tomorrow for Day 1 of our Cross Country Designer's Blog Hop. There's lots more to give away too! Have fun, thanks for playing along and good luck! xo, L

Are You Ready Yet?

*OOPS. My post disappeared for a little while. I will extend the deadline until 9 p.m. tonight. Sorry!

The other quilt designers and I thought that we'd tease you a little bit while we're working hard to put together all of the fun stuff for next week. Can you guess the designer in the photo?  Could this be Gudrun? Terry? Pat? Heather? Pam? Kari? Terri? Sherri? Carrie? Roseann? Or me? Each designer will have run a photo contest on her blog with a different designer's baby photo.  Contest ends this Saturday night at 7 pm.  I will be drawing a name randomly, the winner will receive of a book and some fat quarters.   Leave your name, your e-mail and your guess in the comments section.

Remember to check out all of the other designers blogs for their photo contest! I wonder who has my photo? It's going to be fun even for me to guess!
Good luck! xo, L

12 Days of Christmas Blogging Bliss

Sorry, I've haven't been around lately. I have had the nasty flu and I've been out of commission for a week now. Today, I have some awesome news to announce. I will be participating in the "Cross Country Christmas Quilt Designer Blog Hop" with 11 other wonderful designers across the US. All of the main festivities officially start Nov. 9 and end on Nov. 20.

To get the excitement going before everything officially begins, there will be a guess the designer from the baby photo contest starting Wednesday, November 4. Each blog will have a baby pic of a designer. You will have until Nov. 7 to guess. So, on Wednesday, hop from blog to blog to guess.

Also, at the end of the 12 days of blogging, a grand prize winner will be drawn randomly from all of the commenters. You must comment on ALL 12 sites to be eligible for the grand prize [value: $360 - wow!]

Each day, we will all have a post about a special theme but you will all have to check out the wonderful surprise that the featured designer of the day will have on her site for you!

These fabulous designers will be in for all of the fun. Check them out!


Nov. 9th. Gudrun from GE Designs:  www.gudrun.typepad.com   
Nov. 10th. Sandy from Pieces from my Heart :  http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/
Nov. 11th. Terry from Atkinson Designs :  www.terryatkinson.typepad.com

Nov. 12th. Pat from Pat Sloan & Co.:  www.patsloan.typepad.com

Nov. 13th.  Heather from Anka's Treasures :  http://ankastreasures.wordpress.com/  

Nov. 14th. Pam from Pam Kitty Morning :  http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.com

Nov. 15th. Kari from New Leaf Stitches :  www.newleafstitches.com/blog/

Nov. 16th. Terri from Whimsicals :  http://whimsicals.typepad.com/

Nov. 17th. Sherri from This 'N' That http://thisandthatpatterns.typepad.com/

Nov. 18th. Carrie from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com

Nov. 19th. Roseann from Rosebud's Cottage. http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com

Nov. 20th. Linda from Linda Lum DeBono  http://www.lindalumdebono.blogspot.com

I hope that you will join us for all of the fun! xo, L