While reading one of my favourite blogs, I realised that I hadn’t posted about the gifts that the girls made for each other. This is the first year that they have exchanged homemade presents. AJ decided she really wanted to make a rabbit with a carrot for her little sister. Apart from drawing the rabbit and showing her how to blanket stitch, she did it all herself.
She included a hat, scarf (missing from photo), sleeping bag and a felt carrot. I wish I had taken a photo of BL’s face when she opened her present. I was holding my breath. Being only six years old, I wasn’t sure how she would react. I need not have worried, as she more than rewarded AJ’s efforts. In fact, her heartfelt grin is one of the highlights of my holiday. Phew!
BL needed a little more help. She knew she wanted to use felt and sewing, so I suggested a hairband. I got the idea from The Childrens Year. BL selected the colours and designed the patterns. She did some of the sewing. AJ is veeeeeery pleased with her hairband. She likes the idea of making more hairbands.
I love that they are enjoying giving and working as a team. I can see a difference, in all three of them. The Elf Points are coming to an end. It was lovely to reward the good. It was a worthwhile exercise for me to recognise and acknowledge when they were showing their best sides! I like that the points recycle each time, rather than being a one time reward of a sticker. I know children love them, but I don’t feel right rewarding with stickers.
The children are sad that the Elf Points are finishing. They planned and voted as a team to have a different theme for each season. Maybe. We’ll see. I will certainly get these out next Christmas. The experiment worked!
tell the girls their presents look Wonderful…they are really clever
I think seasonal Elf points sound fun :0)
Might need to give them a different name. Spring Sprites or Seed Tokens. I’ll give it at least another month to generate a novelty vibe for the next system. No way will they forget a system that results in a dive into a chocolate box!
Would you look at those gifts!!! I would love either of them… if I showed any of my kids that bunny they would all like one!!!
AJ would have happily hung on to the rabbit. A year ago she would have kept it. Big progress! I love that she thought to make a sleeping bag, which BL loves. The rabbit is tucked in each night. 🙂
It seems to me that the gifts your children made for each other will remain treasured items throughout the years. Everything was so beautifully stitched. I also loved your tea cozies. Are they hard to make? I would like to try to make one.
I think you are right. They will treasure them and remember exactly who made it for them.
The tea cosy is just a case of sandwiching an insulating fabric between two pretty bits of fabric. I made one of the fabrics longer so that I could bend it over and use it to seal the bottom of the cosy. It is fairly easy. It took far longer to make the outside applique. Mostly because I was so indecisive about the design. Next time I would quilt the cover and add some pot pourri to the padding. If I do, I’ll write it up as a tutorial. Just for fun as I’m sure that there are lots of tutorials out there!
That is amazing! I love the idea of giving homemade gifts to each other. Next year for sure we will try this out. They made such amazing things too.
Glad the elf points were such a hit; love when experiments work out so well.
They had so much fun planning and making the gifts in secret. Seeing them grow is so much fun for me!
I’m so impressed by the handmade gifts your daughters made for each other. They look gorgeous and so creative!
They are pleased with the gifts and inspired to do more. I have a new project for them which I hope will really give them a chance to experiment with their creativity.