For my entry to Le Challenge this month there is really only one thing I can enter.
The 'Special Delivery' baby quilt I've made for my old school friend's very precious new baby!
He was born just 5 days ago and still does't have a name.
I can truly say I'm stupidly proud of this quilt, it's so so simple, but I've really fallen in love with it while quilting it! I added lots of favourite fabrics in there, cut into 5" squares and it's finished up at 31"x35", which I think is a nice mat or pram size.
The binding is a mix of Kona blues with a bit of green and stars as well. I'm just waiting for his name and then it will get a label and be ready for my first meet with him.
There has been a bit of discussion on IG about giving quilts as gifts. This will be my first one, with the Swoon to be the second at Christmas, both to people who don't sew or quilt, but who I love dearly! I'm a secret blogger and quilter, only my husband knows the true extent of my making, fabric, quilting and blogging addiction. Well, he sees the fabric piled up and the debits on the bank statement!
And I really feel quite sick in my stomach about giving something that I've loved making and wondering if it will be loved or if they will think I'm being a cheapskate by giving a homemade gift! If you sew you know it's not a cheap gift, but I really feel like I'm putting myself up for criticism or they will think I want praise and to show off.
What do you think? How do you feel about giving homemade? Have you had any gift badly received? Or am I just being a wuss!
Pop over to Le Challenge to see the other Precious inspired makes.
Pop over to Le Challenge to see the other Precious inspired makes.
Your quilt is lovely and I am sure your friend will be delighted with it! I totally agree with you about how nerve wracking it is to give a hand made gift. I think the only way you can insulate yourself against that is to only give hand made things to people you really love! If they have any sense they will know how much you put into it. I do think that people who don't make things sometimes don't 'get it'.
ReplyDeleteI think your quilt is a very generous gift and I am sure she will love it. I do know what you mean about handmade gifts - we received a crochet blanket when we got married and I really didn't like it. We did keep it because we knew there was so much work gone into it. However, I do give some homemade gifts - and no-one has told me they haven't liked it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure she'll love it. She might not understand the time, cost and effort involved, but I'm sure she will appreciate it. I started giving handmade when I was at uni when I couldn't afford to both craft and give gifts, so I combined the two ;o) Now the family expects handmade, and I get a teeny bit stressed each year trying to find something new and different (as I have to give handmade at birthdays and mothers/fathers day too!)
ReplyDeleteI believe a handmade gift from the heart is worth more than any purchased gift! Your quilt is awesome and a new mother will love it! I have had things I made treasured and then someone sold one at a yardsale, one destroyed by a bad dog. Don't worry about it after it leave your hands, you worked love into each stitch and that love is received at the giving of the gift!
ReplyDeleteI also believe that a handmade gift is worth ten times the purchased one, all of that love and care put into it will rarely be fully understood by the non making recipient, but that doesn't always mean it won't be fully appreciated! My friends find it hilarious that I sew, I guess it doesn't fit the image they have of me (this is specifically my old uni friends, enough said), but they have always been appreciative of the quilts for their little ones. I remember receiving hand made and crocheted blankets when my little one was born and really appreciated them, but had no idea how much work had gone into them. :o). Good Luck, I'm sure it will be loved.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely and the recipient is sure to be delighted. :D
ReplyDeleteThat special delivery note is so cute. I already told you that right :-) Just lovely combo to look at.
ReplyDeleteit is gorgeous and I am sure will be loved. I have given so many handmade gifts and they have all been well received - I think people love that you have put so much effort in, and really your creations are all beautiful so they can't not like it :-)
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ReplyDeleteI really like the way the colors work together on your baby quilt.
ReplyDeleteI have exactly the same reservations as you when it comes to giving handmade (especially do they think I'm giving it expecting praise?!). However my sister in law was showing me pictures of my nephew last night and I was delighted to see so many pictures with the quilt I made him in the background! That really made me feel that it was worth giving. I'm sure that your quilt will get as much use x
ReplyDeleteOh and my husband is the only one that knows the extent of my addiction too. My mum has seen 'some' of my stash but has no idea about my blog/instagram issues!
ReplyDeleteI had so many discussion with people about handmade presents. I do give them to my family - but would never outside that very small circle. I have now discovered people are really into what I am making, and are asking me to make things for them!! I love receiving handmade presents, so I will probably try to make presents from now on (as long as i feel it is safe and they will not refuse it...). Thanks for sharing on le challenge!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous quilt with beautiful fabrics! Love that special delivery block! I have always had handmade gifts well received and people have even asked me for specific things this year :) Thanks for linking up to le challenge!
ReplyDeleteI love Homemade gifts! I am also a secret blogger/sewer, my family know know because I have been "gifting" them with small things, nothing as big as a quilt, because that really takes a lot of work and like you I am not sure if a person will truly appreciate it. Did you friend appreciate it? I hope so, it is lovely.
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