My Handmade Christmases, Past and Present

by Lynne of cozycottagecreations

Although the Christmas tree is droopy, the cookies eaten and the sound of carols drifting back into memory, I wanted to take a moment to share with you some of my handmade Christmas goodies.

I was talking to my mother recently about Christmases growing up and which ones stood out more than others. We eagerly agreed that the one that far topped them all was the year my mother made me a Pippi Longstocking doll and my father built my sister and me a dollhouse modelled after our own home.

Yes that's me - in 1974!

It's no surprise then that as soon as I myself became a mother, I couldn't wait to make my children Christmas gifts as well. It's been a goal of mine every year to make a gift for my girls. The busy-ness of the season doesn't always allow me to do this, however. For example, last year I was so absorbed in creating items for the Boston Handmade Downtown Gallery, the time escaped me. And I'm sure I didn't make anything the year my younger daughter was born. That year is a big fuzzy blur.

Here's a look back at a few of the gifts I have made for my daughters, including this year's creations!

There was no way I could let Santa put his goodies in a store-bought stocking!

When I started knitting again, the first thing I made was a little stuffed kitty for my daughter, who was 4 at the time. They were so fun to make that the next year I got carried away and made a family of 4 cats for both of my daughters. Although they're looking a bit ragged now, I'm happy to say that my girls still play with them regularly to this day. They even got dressed up in their fancy jewels for the photo!
I made these picnic mats two years ago. They roll up and have oilcloth on their undersides. Many a tea party these mats have seen!

This year, I pulled out my sewing machine. I love to sew, and don't do it as often as I would like. My girls spend most of their day playing with their dolls, so I thought it was the perfect time to make them some doll clothes. I bought a few patterns off of Etsy, and was on my way!


The girl's loved them, I learned a lot, and I'm looking forward to making more! Here's to a productive and creative 2010!