Handmade Christmas

For the past few years my family has drawn names for Christmas gifts, but this year we decided to not put any restrictions on Christmas giving and just give as we were able with an emphasis on handmade Christmas gifts. I really liked doing it this way and the gifts we received were really special and fun since I knew there was time spent on each one. We now have a family tree for our wall, pumpkin syrup to put in coffee, spice mixes and special butter blends for our bellies, Brazilian ingredients for some special treats, a new book to read along with a shopping spree to Costco from my parents and some fun stocking stuffers to boot. We came home feeling very blessed!

And now I can reveal the fun things I've been working on over the last few weeks. I pulled out my sewing machine again and got to town on some fun little projects.

Sammy modeling his new crocheted beard that each of the nephews got. (photo taken by Justyne).

I made two baby rag quilts. One for a shower for a little girl that our friends adopted, and one for my cousin's baby Kevin who I got to meet this Christmas. 

Peppermint Lip Balm made using this recipe.

Capes for the nieces--I never got a photo of all 4 of them together but maybe that can happen later. :) I used this pattern to make them from Simple Simon & Co.

And this I made in the summer! All the families received grape and blackberry jams and apple butter that we made from the fruit harvested from our property this summer. It was nice to have some of the gifts made a few months early this year for a change! Every year in December I think, "next year I'll start working on gifts in January." But now that it is January, December seems a long way off doesn't it? :)