So my boss happened to pass by as I was snapping a picture of myself in the stacks with a party hat on, and my explanation was, "yay, party hat!" And then we proceeded to discuss work business (scheduling for finals week) like librarians wear party hats in the stacks all the time. Yep.
Moving on. A long time ago (like, six or so months), I moved. There was a great deal of me talking about my move before, and during, but I didn't really say much about the new place after we moved in. Mostly because it is still a work in progress (or WIP, as it were). We like the house and everything; but, honestly, it doesn't quite feel like home yet. A huge part of fixing this situation is putting stuff up on the walls and personalizing the spaces more, but apparently, we are lacking in "hanging things up" skills at the moment because our walls are bare (it could also be laziness--more likely). Still. So, operation "make the house a home" has commenced. In order to move things along, I started purchasing some artwork and random bits for our walls from etsy...and I laid them out in the dining room (surely this will drive some action--our laziness, staring us in the face...daily). I am a huge supporter of etsy, and artists who sell their wares on the site (apparently, I am also fond of people who rip apart old books and sell the plates found therein as well).
In addition to the artwork and prints (if you are noticing a nautical or boat-y theme, that's a good thing (K has to live her too, after all) I have been purchasing on etsy, I am, of course, working on things to personalize the house myself as well. There are quilts in the works (but with my track record of getting quilts done, it is going to be a while yet....let's be honest); but, there are more manageable projects (you can read that as "realistic" if you'd like, I won't be offended) in the works, mostly in the form or embroidery. I have finished a few embroidery projects, that I don't mind telling you, are awesome (more about that later), so this modicum of success has somehow provided the catalyst for stitching a few pieces for my living room, dining room and maybe a guest room. I guess you could say that these would be gifts that keep on giving. And really, doesn't everyone want to make their house/dwelling a home--if not for one's self, then for the others who reside in said dwelling?
Since I am thinking about embroidery these days, it makes sense that others are too (sure). While I don't consider myself a trendsetter, I don't mind telling you that embroidery is going to be big this summer (if you are in "the know", you know that this is not headline news, a lot of crafters pick up embroidery in the summer when hauling out wool seems disheartening--though I am not one of those people-- and portability is a must). Today's gift is a copy of Enid Mason's Embroidery Design. It's a fun book that has some inspirational ideas for embroidery (but really anything textile in nature, when I was reading it, it put me more in the mind of quilting design, to be perfectly honest, but there you are). As is the case when I come across awesome things, I acquired two copies (some would say this is a sickness).
In addition to the book, I will also send you an embroidery kit (of sorts) to get you started. I will send you some Osnaburg (because I love it), some muslin (because it's practical), and some white solid (could be Kona cotton, but I honestly have no idea, I have been embroidering on it with no problems), an embroidery needle, an embroidery hoop, a metal ring with plastic bobbins, and a rainbow of embroidery floss to get you started. How's that? I will make an already accessible craft extremely so for someone.
If you are interested in this gift of embroidery, please tell me about the best gift you have either received or given that fits into the theme of "gift that keeps on giving".
I will take comments for this post, and all Novakkah posts, until 11:59 EST (or2359, should you prefer that), Thursday, May 12th. Please leave your responses on the appropriate post. One entry per post/person. I will show you what I have to gift each day and let you know what you need to tell me to try to get it. Giftees will be selected on the 13th and gifts sent out shortly thereafter.
Gift that keeps on giving? My mom's pizzelle maker, because now she keeps making pizzelles and giving them to people :)
I LOVE hanging things on walls, you're going to have so much fun. Sadly, I have run out of wall space so I can't play that game anymore.
Posted by: Becky | May 11, 2011 at 07:12 AM
Embroidery rocks! Or at least the embroidery I see other people do. I do not yet have the skills...
I am thinking - my sewing machine cabinet I got from the husband. Before the sewing machine just sat wherever. As did lots of sharp pins and little bobbins and such that look delicious to crawling babies. So - the cabinet locks! Best thing ever. Has made sewing life a bit more organized, which is huge when trying to find the time to sew with two kids 2 and under.
heather dot nevits at gmail dot com
Posted by: Heather | May 11, 2011 at 08:31 AM
The calendar with pictures of my grandchildren gives me smiles every morning. I even have a little display of calendar pictures from years past for additional grins. They grow up so fast!
Posted by: Barb | May 11, 2011 at 08:47 AM
It sounds crazy but I think the gift I got that has turned out to be the gift that keeps on giving...
was the year my mom called and said "we sent your birthday present." and then there was this weird mischievous giggle followed by "we got it for you because we're having SO MUCH FUN with ours!!" heehee cackle cackle.
It was so creepy and bizarre and I spent the next week wondering WHAT IN THE HELL DID MY PARENTS SEND ME.
It turned out to be a crockpot/slow-cooker. And indeed, I use it all the time.
Posted by: carolyn | May 11, 2011 at 08:48 AM
I LOVE etsy and you've made some amazing choices. I've been tempted by a lot of the art printed on old book pages, but haven't indulged myself just yet. I already commented with this answer--but the gift that I gave recently that "keeps on giving" is several pairs of Addi turbo knitting needles that I gave my sister. Gifts that keep on giving that I have given myself recently (with birthday money from my in-laws) are a subscription to Interweave Knits and Knitwear Design Workshop (book) by Shirley Paden. Love the embroidery that you have been doing (the books). I framed some fabric in embroidery hoops to decorate my bathroom. Would love to add some embroidered accents to them (like adding a bee or butterfly to a floral print).
Posted by: Haley | May 11, 2011 at 09:17 AM
In truth the best gift that I have ever received that keeps on giving is my spinning wheel.
DeWayne, my partner, heard me talking about wanting to learn to spin. While calling me a flake constantly because I knit, quilt, needle arts ect...he started researching spinning wheels and found my beautiful Ashford Traditional about 6 hours from our house. I love to spin and make yarn for projects for our kids and for friends.
Posted by: Angelia Batson | May 11, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Wow, what a great gift (not that my wow should in some way imply the other gifts are not great, of course). Well, I would say the best gift I've received, would be my Harmony needle set - I love it as it's so convenient and takes the worry out of most knitting projects because I know I likely have the needles.
The best gift I've given that keeps on giving? How 'bout that Zealand wool? hehehe Maybe Rocky's Koolhaas that he wears most days from September to May. Or perhaps all the scrapbooking stuff I've given to my sister over the years...
Posted by: Kathy | May 11, 2011 at 02:36 PM
My birthday was this week too. A month or so ago, I mentioned to DH that what I really wanted for my birthday was a recording of my (now 3yo) son singing Happy Birthday, so that I could re-play it every day if I wanted or decades from now to remember what a cutie he is today. He got me an HD video camera for my birthday. This is truly a gift that will keep on giving.
Posted by: Kim | May 11, 2011 at 03:37 PM
Like Angelia, I think my spinning wheel is the best gift that keeps on giving. I got it for my birthday two years ago, and it is one of my favorite things I've ever received. And I feel like spinning itself is a double gift - I get to enjoy it once when I spin and then again when I knit what I spun up!
Posted by: earthchick | May 11, 2011 at 11:15 PM
The best gift that keeps on giving that I have ever received is this computer. My sister sent it to me a couple of months ago to replace my aging machine. This one is so fast, and with 1TB of storage, I can download every single pattern I have ever admired!
TY for sharing such a fab gift. I LOVE to embroider, especially in the summer when it is too hot in my craft room to do much else.
Happy Novakkah!
Posted by: Heidi aka Digital Misfit | May 12, 2011 at 12:08 PM
My best friend gave me a birthday card last year with $100 cash inside. I went to Jo-Ann and bought a cutting matt, rotary cutter, ruler, and assorted other quilting necessities. Best gift ever! I use them all the time and even make gifts for other people with them.
Posted by: Annika | May 12, 2011 at 01:06 PM
I definitely find anything crafty is a gift that keeps on giving.
However, the gift that I think gives the most are my cookie sheets. Friends gave mine to me in grad school, and my husband just upgraded them for Mother's day. I bake cookies for my family, for friends, for neighbors at Christmas, as pick me ups for co-workers post surgery, ... Really any kitchen gift will keep getting used by me to try to spread a few smiles among those I know.
Posted by: Kat | May 12, 2011 at 03:42 PM
My husband gave me a iPad as surprise for Mother's Day 1 yr ago. It's awesome. I use it as a e-reader, surf the internet, read pdf patterns, and my latest favorite is the Netflix app for instant streaming. Melody has been using it for stories (they read it to you), puzzles and games and also for watching Netflix cartoons. It has become Melody's iPad and I only get to use it when she is asleep.
I never thought I wanted it until my husband gave it to me. But it has been a very useful gift.
Posted by: Oiyi | May 12, 2011 at 10:33 PM