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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Working On Our (Mostly) Homemade Christmas

I've mentioned a couple times that we are planning a mostly homemade Christmas this year. I've been working on gifts for the kids as well as planning out gifts for other family, friends and neighbors. So far we have:
Doll bed for Farm Girl


A quilt for each of the kids made from the receiving blankets they had when they were babies. The other fabric you see is what I put on the other side. They each chose a fabric they liked months ago and they know I'm using it on quilts for them, but they will still be surprised when they see that the big pile of blankets and fabric I has sitting around is now a quilt.

  • This is a tool apron for Farm Boy. I put a few toy tools in the pockets for the picture, but he actually never plays with the toy tools because his Grandpa made him his own spot in the workshop with his own tool bench and all his own real tools. I know he'll love loading this up with tools and hardware and heading out with the guys to work on the buildings or mend the fences!

I've also made some pajamas for each of the kids, and will probably make some more clothes for them.

Currently in the works, I'm refinishing a little table and chairs I found for Farm Girl (it will actually be for her birthday which  is also coming up soon).
There are two of these chairs and a small table. 

I pulled out about a hundred staples to get these seats off!

Sanded and painted

And got the seats recovered using a fabric from a curtain I bought second hand.
I hope to get them all put back together tomorrow and also make a tablecloth for the table. I'll post some more pics when it's all done!

The kids and I are also planning to make salt dough ornaments for some family members as well as lots of cookies, crackers, and breads for our wonderful neighbors. 

I'm enjoying that fact that I will not be running around to a bunch of stores in traffic and crowds and stressing about how much money we're spending this year. Instead that time is being spent outside working on these projects, at my sewing machine doing something I enjoy, and making things with my kids, which is the very best part. 

Are you doing any homemade Christmas gifts this year? I would love to hear about them!

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20 comments:

  1. Great to see someone else making some great stuff! I might do a tool belt or tool box this year- still trying to decide if I should let my two year old just use daddy's tools or get him some play ones until he's bigger.

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    1. Hi Monica! My son started getting real tools (the ones least likely to cause any damage!) for his second birthday. We've always had a combination of real and play ones around. Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

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  2. Love your post! We are also doing a mostly homemade Christmas (with a few thrift store toys thrown in). You inspired me to make one of my boys a tool belt though! Someone gave us a tool set and I saved it for him... perfect add on to it!

    And I love the doll bed!

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    1. Hi! Thank you for the nice comment! It's funny you mentioned thrift store toys, that's exactly why ours is "mostly" homemade too! A tool set with a tool belt will be a fantastic gift! Thanks for visiting!

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  3. Very fun! I love the homemade gifts that you have made. We also do a combination of homemade gifts and then I usually buy a few things on Amazon with Gift Cards that I earn through swagbucks. We try to have a pretty simple Christmas.

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    1. Hi Abbi! I had never heard of swagbucks, I just googled it :) It looks interesting, I'm going to look into that a little more! I think simple is the way to go with the gift giving, I never want us to lose sight of the REAL joy in Christmas! Thanks for visiting today!

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  4. What a lovely blog! I have had fun looking around and reading some of your older posts. I really enjoyed your How We Got Here and Lessons From the Old Homestead posts! :)

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  5. Hi Candy! I'm so happy you enjoyed the blog! It's been fun to start telling our stories. Thank you for stopping by!

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  6. We love to make gifts for family and friends too. I believe they are the most loved gifts each year. When the family is together it is always the 'talk' to see what David (my husband) will make each year. He makes a different wood Christmas decoration each year. He has made snowmen, Christmas trees, bird houses etc.
    This year there are several small girls on the Christmas list. He made each of them a doll cradle. I got bottles at Dollar Tree. I made each 'baby' 6 diapers. (made to look like disposable diapers with Velcro) I made a blanket and small pillow for the cradle.
    There are no boys on our list this year. Your tool belt is very cute. I know it will be loved.

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    1. Wow, these sound like awesome gifts! I hadn't thought of doll diapers, but I might give that a try for my daughter. I love the idea of the wood Christmas decorations too. I don't have much skill in woodworking (though my Dad has made some wonderful things!) but it would be so neat to be able to make things like that! Thanks so much for the lovely comment!

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  7. Wow..Jody...I think it is awesome that you are making most of your gifts. How very special. So much better than trinkets bought with no thought or effort and thrown away by the next year. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment.

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    1. Hi Lisa! Thank you so much for the nice comment! Your blog is wonderful, I've been enjoying it. I hope your day is beautiful and blessed. Thanks for visiting!

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  8. Homemade gifts are always the best, you have such cute ideas, i love them! Just started following you and look forward to checking out some of your other great posts!
    Sheena @ http://thekeeperofcheerios.blogspot.com/

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    1. Hi Sheena! Thank you for the sweet comment! I checked out your blog too...adorable! I'm so glad you stopped by!

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  9. Loved seeing all your homemade Christmas projects. I'm going that route this year too. A lot of the stuff I've made this year on my blog will go to different people for Christmas. :) Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog post. I'm a new follower!

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  10. Hi Gina! You've got lots of great stuff on your blog to choose from for your gifts! Thanks for the lovely comment and for visiting my blog!

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  11. Great Gifts!! Very creative!
    I have some goat milk soap, knitted dishcloths, scarves, and some knitted headwarmers in the works!
    I am also planning some cocoa mixes and hand painted mugs.
    Doing more homemade/handmade than I have in the past.

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  12. WOW, You've got some great stuff going on over there! I've done one or two all homemade Christmases in the past, but that was before the kids, so this one is little different for me too. I hope you're having a fun weekend working on some of those gifts!

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  13. What GREAT gifts! I'd like to feature this post at Tuesdays with a Twist today! I hope you can join us again this week! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

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  14. Thank you Marci! I really appreciate the nice comment and the feature! I just linked up over at Tuesdays With A Twist, it's a great Hop!
    Thanks again!

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