Handmade Gifts for me

Yesterday, the ladies of the Kitchen Guild bestowed handmade gifts on me for my birthday next week and I was quite overcome.  Firstly I opened this pillow from Laura Needles Pins and Baking Tins, possibly the loveliest person in quiltblogland and also my real life friend. As well as having "Jeepers" written on it, which I confess I say THE WHOLE TIME, every piece of fabric has been hand picked - there are many of my favourites there as well as some funny prints too including one which says "HAWAII VOTED INTO UNION AS 50th STATE".  The reason for that being on there is that Laura thinks I am a hilarious dunce for believing, until relatively recently that the reason the show is called "Hawaii 50" was that someone picked up the phone and said "Hawaii 5-0" into the received as we used to do growing up.  The convention in the olden days was to lift the receiver and state the name of your town followed by your telephone number in a BBC voice: "Carstairs 2-4-6-8" for example.


Next I opened a gift bag from my real life actual bestie Mandy made with love by mandy and nearly fell off my chair.  She gave me a mug with the logo on it which I had designed the afternoon before.  WHAAAAAAAAAT???  I am still not sure how she achieved this but I am now assuming she's a wizard or some such mythical being.  And then, because she is mad as a bag of spanners, she took it upon herself to HAND PIECE a paper pieced union jack.  Is that not the cutest mug rug EVER and actually I won't use it as a mug rug because I couldn't bear for it to get stained.


Next up were some snazzy coat hangers from Brioni Flossy Blossy who has been nagging me forever to hang the mini quilts in my kitchen from decent coat hangers rather than cheap plastic department store ones.  


Followed by a beautiful scarf.  Anyone who knows me, knows I am always cold and always wear a scarf, even indoors and now I have this gorgeous one to wear although you have to take it off when you empty the dishwasher or it dips in the wet puddle (I should imagine...).  This item was rendered more useful by the theft, by Justine's daughter Holly or the scarf I had been wearing.  However since Holly is now my new all time favourite child of all time except perhaps my kids and my neices and nephews, she was instantly forgiven.  


And of course, Justine of Simply Solids was somewhat forced into giving me solids for my birthday since I texted her, somewhat rudely, and asked if she would mind.  I've been desperate to get my hands on some Kona Glacier and the cream Essex Linen which looks like Kona snow only with a bit more depth and texture.  


Thank you to my lovely friends for all these beauties.  And what about you, do you like to give and receive handmade gifts?

Comments

  1. lucky you!!! Happy birthday in advance :-D

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  2. They are all fabulous! Laura is hilarious and how did Mandy do that??! Hope you have a great birthday week :)

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  3. Ooo lucky you.. I love giving handmade gift as much as receiving them.. They are very meaningful aren't they...

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  4. I thought the Hawaii 5-0 was their precinct number.....yep, not all neurons firing over here. My excuse will be I am Canadian so it was never in the syllabus at school. What a terrific gang-o-friends you have. I too am an October baby and I may have to direct some quilty friends to have a wee boo at your loot. Think they'd get the message ;)) ? Have a happy one.

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  5. Happy birthday! Hope you have a fun weekend.

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  6. ooooh I always thought it was a phone number too. fab gifts.

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  7. ps I never give hand made gifts as I can't make anything by hand.

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  8. What sweet gifts from wonderful quilty friends ~ lucky you!

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  9. I too did not know that was why it was Hawaii 5-0 until now..... Doh! (And my childhood telephone number was the same except that we only had three numbers - I'm hoping that this was because it was only a small rural exchange not because I am so old....).

    Lovely present and have a great Birthday next week.

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  10. Happy Birthday!! And a big fat kiss from Holly who trust me was as taken with you as you her!!!

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  11. Happy Birthday for next week, and no, you're not alone in thinking that Hawaii 5-0 was a telephone number, so I've learnt something today. What lovely prezzies. Where did those wonderful hangers come from, I'd love to get hold of some of those.

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  12. Such sweet thoughtful gifts! Happy Birthday to you Lynne xxx
    I always feel a little pang of jealousy whenever you blog about the kitchen guild, I wish I had that in my life. You girls are lucky :D
    I love giving and receiving handmade gifts, in fact I am in the midst of wrapping up handmade gifts for my brothers girlfriend. She's the most fun to sew for as she loves all things Japanese and cute.

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  13. LOL! I thought '50' was the phone number too! (also heard in RP BBC) "Hawaii 5-0, Good afternoon, How may we help you? Do you have an injustice you would like to report?"

    Fantastic giftiness ... I too yearn for the warmth of your Kitchen Guild.

    I love to receive handmade, but I hardly ever do as none of my bloggy mates is remotely stitchy. I love to give handmade but am fast running out of themes! This year I think everyone is going to get fancy schmancy pillowcases (as in zzzzz dribble) this year ...

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  14. Oh you got such lovely pressies! I seem to give lots of presents these days... gives me more reason to buy more fabric! My man gets a bit miffed tho that I spend all my awake time making stuff, and yet there's hardly anything in the house made by ME.... !

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  15. Happy Birthday! I love all your gifts!

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  16. Happy future birthday! I love getting handmade gifts, my bessie is a super whizzy knitter and she made me amazing bright purple gloves last Xmas which I *love*

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  17. Fantastic homemade pressies! Lucky you! Obviously Mandy has gone from Simply Solids to working miracles - that is her new fantastic opportunity!

    I do make but I select those I make for as sadly not everyone likes homemade!

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  18. Happy Birthday early! Have a special day. Lovely gifts!

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  19. Gorgeous presents, your frineds know you well!
    It is just "the best" to receive and give home made gifts especially when their is a story to go with them, means so much more than some of the tat in the high street!
    Have a great birthday, am hoping I get as spoilt for mine next month!
    xx :D xx :D

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  20. I am laughing so hard about the whole telephone thing! I've actually never heard of anyone answering the phone that way. We just answer with Hello, but maybe I should start saying Aloha!
    I bought about 3 yards of that fabric just so I would never run out of that little snippet from it!
    Have a happy birthday!

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  21. Happy birthday pal - I hope you've had a great time and are relaxing with your new cushion, in your fancy scarf, with a mug of tea and planning a super project with those lovely new fabrics

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  22. Happy Birthday. I hope you have a wonderful day. When you figure out how Mandy made that mug in a day let us know.

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  23. I hope you have a good birthday day. My sister's birthday is Monday. You have pretty presents from your friends. I only like to give handmade things to my family. I like how your blog looks now. I still like your "lily's quilts" at an angle in the circle, it looks more fun that way.

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  24. Happy Birthday! It looks like your celebration is off to a spectacular start :)

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  25. Happy Birthday! What lovely gifts! I especially love handmade gifts! I always enter giveaways that have something handmade! Pieces of others art always tickle me?

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  26. kind of dying over your "5-0" story. lol Happy birthday dear friend. I love that you have your kitchen guild and you all get together so regularly. I hope to someday have something like that too. But for now I'll live vicariously through you and think happy thoughts like "jeepers"

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  27. What fabulous presents - they suit you perfectly! I'm not sure I've ever received a present that was made by the person giving the present but my mam makes me scarves and things. At least she's making them...none are finished, yet! I like giving handmade presents, particularly to welcome babies - there are few things nicer than a knitted baby blanket or floor quilt!

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  28. Do you know, I'd never even thought about why it was called Hawaii 50 lol Fab pressies though!

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  29. Happy Birthday in advance!

    Well....aren't you the lucky ducky! ;) All of those awesome goodies arriving to help you celebrate your special day. Isn't it nice that you have so many great friends that gave their precious time to hand make you terrific gifts that I'm sure you will cherish always. "Handmade Forever!" is what I believe. :)

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  30. Happy Birthday next week! Lovely handmade gifts. Yes I love to give and receive them - who wouldn't? Enjoy.

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  31. What fab presents and yes love to make handmade and love to receive handmade - especially when it's people that really *get* me so it's lovely stuff :-)

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  32. What kind of question is that? Of course!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! That said, you will not be receiving a hand made gift from me this birthday, sorry pal. Life is overwhelming me at the mo. Lovely gifts you have there and I was also shocked to see that mug after the new logo only debuted a day previously. What the?

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  33. My goal this Christmas is to only give handmade gifts. Not necessarily made by me, but perhaps by local artisans and Etsy sellers. I can't wait to start shopping. I am really looking forward to finding great, thoughtful gifts for my friends and family, while supporting a "crafter". It looks like your friends are wonderful gift-givers!

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  34. I had completely forgotten that we said our number when answering the phone - why was that and when did it stop? Hope you had an amazing birthday and lovely goodies!

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  35. You have some lovely friends that know you well. You must also be a good friend to them, or they would not have treated you so special.
    Happy Birthday to you, and Thank you for all the information, tutorials, and inspiration you put out for us on your blog.

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