Friday, January 8, 2010

Clocks and Hats


For Christmas presents this year I made hats for my 15 nieces and nephews and three more for my girls.  I made the hats on a circle loom with wool yarn and felted them in boiling water.  Felting made them  shrink  and gave them a cool texture.  Of course, the girls got felt flower embellishments.

I also made clocks for 14 of my nearest and dearest.  It was inexpensive, but took a lot of work and solving some tricky technical difficulties.  By Christmas day I managed to pull together a random menagerie of ticking and tocking for the taking.

Although I love making Christmas presents, I always hesitate as I hand out my homemade gifts.  I think they give the recipient a message of love and caring, "Here, I took time and effort to make this especially for you."  Warm fuzzy et cetera.  My hesitation comes when I imagine them thinking, "Great, thanks, what I am I supposed to do with this?  I can't throw it away because she made it.  Junk."  At least a clock is functional and hats keep heads warm, I think I got by this year.

5 comments:

Julie said...

Clocks and cloches. I love it. I know what you mean about giving handmade too. Sounds fabulous until you start thinking that maybe it's all just so egotistical.

A Little Sass said...

I LOVE my clock! It is already hanging in my living room! I also love my new skill of making hats.

Sharmyn said...

Seriously, can I be your sister? My handmade presents fall in the category of "sweet she made it, but going in the rubbish bin." Your handmade presents go in the category of "family heirloom." That clock with the hands is so very clever and terrific.

Оksana said...

Love your clocks!!!!

Kat said...

i JUST got my clock FINALLY! and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I'm hanging it in my office right next to that little drawing you gave Luke when we came to a show. thank you thank you!

PS your half marathon time DESTROYED my 2:15:00 time. :)