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Handcrafters’ Holidays: a blog meme
Dear friends,
Thank you all for helping make Handmade Holidays so much fun! It really has been wonderful to read your enthusiastic comments and see all the beautiful things you’ve been making. We also want to give a huge thanks to all the brilliant crafters that have allowed us to link to their tutorials. We love you for sharing your creativity and time with us! You have made our holidays so much easier and more meaningful.
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We still have many more wonderful tutorials to come this month, but we’d like to tell you about our December plans. We are shifting our focus from gifts to people–namely YOU! We thought it would be fun to start a holiday blog meme about traditions and gift-giving. The idea is that you answer the questions on your own blog, along with photos and relevant links. When it is posted, come back here (to this post) and give us the link in a comment. Throughout the month of December we’ll be highlighting the things that touched us, awed us, made us laugh, or made us green with envy. We’ll be combining these excerpts with some our favorite photos from the Handmade Holidays photo pool into a daily post, Handcrafters’ Highlights. |
1. Answer the questions in a post on your blog. Answer them all or only a few. Add photos and links where relevant.
Gifts
- Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give?
- If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making? (Post photos if you have some!)
- Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received?
- Do you have any great gift compilation ideas (a grouping of gifts just perfect for certain recipients?)
- Name one thing on your personal wish list.
- Do you make and sell things that would make fantastic gifts? (Link)
Traditions
- What is your favorite family holiday tradition?
- Have you started any new traditions with your family that you didn’t practice growing up?
- What do you love most about the holiday season?
- What do you like least about the holiday season?
- Anyone close to your heart that you’ll be missing this year?
- What is your favorite holiday food?
- Do you have a great recipe to share?
2. Come back to this post and put the link to your post in a comment.
3. This one requires some explanation…It has always been our practice to request permission to use photos, links and blog content. We completely respect your copyright. In this case, because of time constraints, we’d like to request that you let us know if you don’t want us to use your photos, quotes, or links. That is, if you come back here and there is only a link to your meme post in a comment, we will assume that it is okay to use your photos and link back to your post (with full authoriship credit, of course.) If, however, you don’t want us to use any of your content in our December Handrafters’ Highlights posts, please also write in your comment, “OPT-OUT”.
4. Pass on the link to your friends and blog readers! Make sure they know they about coming back here and commenting with a link to their post. It will be fun to have a master list of Handcrafter’ Holidays Meme posts! If you’d like, feel free to use the button.
Please let us know if you have any questions about any of this. We can’t wait to read Handcrafters’ Holidays Blog Meme posts!
Peace,
Kristin, Beth and Lauren
Edited to answer questions:
*******
Julie asked, “do these need to be posted before December 1?”
Oh, no! We wouldn’t make you work that fast. Let’s just say anytime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It would be lovely to have some to start off the month, but really, it is for you, it is supposed to be fun.
*******
Cocoa asked, “Can we only do one post? Or can we do several different posts and link to all of them?”
Do as many as you need. We can see that it could get to be a very long post indeed! Feel free to give us the links to a series of posts.
******
A couple of you mentioned that you can’t post your gifts online and still keep them a surprise, which we certainly understand. You can complete as much or as little of the meme as you want.
Thank you for asking!
Question–do these need to be posted before December 1?
Also, I’ll have tons of pictures, but most of them not until after the holiday, because I don’t want friends and family to see them on my blog.
This is a great idea- I love reading other people’s memes (I don’t have a blog) and can’t wait to read what everyone has to say!
Another question: Can we only do one post? Or can we do several different posts and link to all of them?
LOVE this idea!
Sounds like fun! Do you want it to start in December or can we do this meme any time?
I agree with Julie! I don’t want to post my handmade holiday gift ideas… because the people they’re for read my blog!
Other than that, it sounds like a GREAT idea. Some of the questions will require some thought though.
Very excited for MeMe month!!
I can’t wait to read all of these!
This sounds like fun, and it will help me accomplish the Holiday Traditions Swap going on at Montessori By Hand.
yea! great idea…will check in everyday for sure….
Yay!
sounds like a great idea.
I have posted about a year long tradition we have for Thanksgiving:
http://thelittleredhen.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/11/thankful-jar.html
It would be good to start this now and be ready for next year.
We enjoy doing this as it makes us pause during the year to make note of things. Also, this tends to slow the fast pace of eating a meal that takes so long to prepare. We remember and talk about things large and small that happened during the past year.
i just started the meme and plan on continuing it in a few posts, updating with photos and progress reports.
http://pickinguppurls.blogspot.com/2007/11/handmade-friday.html
Cannot wait to start the meme!
I answered a few of the questions: http://chrisworthy.blogspot.com/2007/11/it-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html. The primates are demanding too much of my attention.
Ugh. My link (above) isn’t working for some reason. Sorry about that. My answers are at http://www.chrisworthy.com/ from today, Nov. 24.
http://alwaysachild.blogspot.com/2007/11/handcrafters-holiday-meme.html
thanks for making this cool MEME up, it was fun to do.
I’ve posted a couple of photos of projects I have been working on for Christmas. I’m hoping to go back and answer some of the questions listed above. The pictures are towards the end of the post.
http://www.wayoutinthedesert.blogspot.com/
oops here is the link to my blog.
Kerri
a little about my week and how this blog is keeping me going!
http://pickinguppurls.blogspot.com/2007/11/wellness.html
I have done the first part of the meme and you can see it here:
http://darlinglisa.blogspot.com/2007/11/this-post-is-for-sew-mama-sew-holiday.html
This is SUCH a great idea! Here is mine:
http://heartyworks.blogspot.com/2007/11/holiday-meme-from-sew-mama-sew.html
i don’t get it. what is a meme and what if you have no blog?
Growing up, we always decorated the Christmas tree together- all of us kids helped every year. My husband doesn’t seem to have the time for this, so my daughter and I do it together- this year was great because she is nearly 4 and really old enough to handle the plastic ornaments atleast!
The three of us drive around and look at lights a night or two around Christmas. Stopping at Starbucks for hot cocoa first, of course!
This year, I am making us all new pajamas that we will open and wear on Christmas eve. One pair down, two to go!
We watched The Polar Express together last night. I also bought Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas for us to enjoy togther snuggled on the couch in the weeks to come.
This weekend we will be helping my husband hang lights outside- I always helped as a kid (got shocked a couple times too!).
A week or so before Christmas I always make lots of candy and cookies to hand out to friends, family, and neighbors: fudge, caramels, sugar cookies, toffee, etc. I helped my mom do this as a kid too.
I have a list of about 30 different Christmas crafts that we are going to be making this month- most of them very kid friendly!
I need to get all of this up on my blog! I’ll do it this weekend!
Here’s a link to my meme answers.
http://waldeckdrygoods.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays-blog-meme-gifts.html
Here’s part one of mine!
This is my new favorite thing for the holidays, and you can make it too!
Cousin Jean’s Zingy Cranberry Relish
2 cups cranberries,
1/4 c. red onion, small dice
1 lg. jalapeno, seeded and chopped finely
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice,
2 oranges, peeled, cut into ¼” pieces reserving the juice,
2 tsps. fresh grated ginger,
1/2 c. sugar,
2 c. celery, diced,
1/4 c. fresh mint leaves, chopped,
1/4 c. pecan pieces, toasted, finely chopped
Place everything except the mint and pecan pieces in a large saucepan and heat until cranberries pop and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and mix in mint and pecans.
Can store for 3 days before using to let flavors blend.
In answer to the question:
# If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making? (Post photos if you have some!)
I consider holiday cards a gift and
I have been making holiday cards with (re)purposed postage stamps…here is the link to my blog post about them(with photos):
http://foxyartstudio.blogspot.com/2007/11/sewing-paper-holiday-cards.html
Here is my meme post – http://flamehair.blogspot.com/2007/11/handcrafters-holiday-meme.html
I’ll add to it as time passes but I may not be able to post photos so as not to ruin Christmas present surprises.
Last week I launched my 2007 Christmas Boutique, a virtual “store” where my family members (all 19 of them) could select their own Christmas gifts from the goods I had been making all year. As I said in my email to them all, “There’s nothing worse for a handcrafter than to give a gift that the recipient doesn’t want or like. It’s bad enough to do that with a bought gift, but even worse, in my opinion, to spend hours making something that is a ‘miss’ rather than a ‘hit’. It’s embarrassing for everyone.”
Here’s how it worked. I gave them a url to go to, where they could browse through the photos and leave comments under any that appealed to them. I encouraged them to select more than one, and to feel free to pick any that others had already selected. This was not a ‘first come, first served’ scenario. I reserved the right to make the final decision, and figured I could make whip up another one or two items if any were particularly popular.
My goal was to (a) give people something they really wanted (b) learn more about my loved ones’ preferences; after all, it’s been 10 years since I lived in Australia and spent any meaningful time with them; some of them weren’t even born when I left.
Well, my family embraced the idea with enthusiasm (whew!), and promptly cast their votes. There were a few surprises.
Children and grownups alike clamoured for the locked boxes, so I’ll be scouring the op shops over the next few days for more wooden boxes suitable for this purpose. I’ve started knitting another beanie (index finger stuck awkwardly up in the air) and I’ll try to make another couple of stupid sock creatures.
Nobody was interested in the batik placemats, which is fine, because I love them.
All in all, I am really happy with the response, and hope that my idea has reduced a little Christmas angst. Other handcrafters out there might like to try it!
http://mistyfujisworld.blogspot.com/
This is a great idea and gave me a reason to post in my blog. Too many craft projects, housework, family time, etc… to find time to blog, so this was a great motivator.
part 2: http://waldeckdrygoods.blogspot.com/2007/12/meme-part-two-traditions.html
Wow! I LOVE this idea!! I can’t wait to see some of the crafty ideas that will be listed and work on answering the questions. I’ll be back!!
Here’s mine! http://mylittlesewing.blogspot.com/search/label/meme
I’m so excited!
Another fantastic idea. I’m a bit behind schedule on this one… I have a 3 week old baby that is consuming most of my time
Here are my answers,
http://craftschmaft.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/what-are-you-making/
I’ve also posted my Zingy Xmas Chai Tea recipe on the blog too.
http://craftschmaft.wordpress.com/2007/12/03/zingy-xmas-chai/
That was fun!
Here’s a link to mine: http://busterbec.blogspot.com/2007/11/holiday-blog-meme.html
Hi, I just posted a bunch of stuff (with recipe cards!) on my blog at rivermade.blogspot.com – I can’t figure out how to add your button, but I’m working on it!
How fun! Here’s mine, complete with kitten antics:
http://drumcircledeva.blogspot.com/2007/12/handmade-holidays.html
Here is mine:
http://nanoochildrensdesigns.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holiday-blog-meme.html
Thanks for such a fun meme. Here’s my link #1 (I’m splitting it into two posts): http://aprilseattle.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays-gifts.html
i posted more answers!!!
woops…forget the link:
http://pickinguppurls.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafted-holidays-meme.html#links
Here you go! Great idea!
http://myzoebug.blogspot.com/2007/12/holiday-meme.html
I’m a relatively new blogger – but after all the inspiration I’ve gotten here the past month (and a little more!) I just wanted to share a little of what I have to offer.
http://tlcandmore.blogspot.com/
In my ‘meme’ I talk about chocolate gray – a family tradition. I will post the recipe in a few days if anyone is interested or you can email me. It really is good and I’ve used it for pot luck before with little tiny biscuits like fondue. Don’t knock it til you try it! Thanks everyone for sharing!
I forgot to tell you the actual link to my post!
http://rivermade.blogspot.com/2007/12/snow-day-and-handmade-holidays.html
Okay, I did one! No pictures of what I’ve created… I’m horrible at uploading pictures, it just seems so time consuming. I guess if I deleted the last 200 pictures off my card it might be easier.
None the less… here are my responses!
http://northdakotablonde.blogspot.com/2007/11/ready-again.html
Hi! I made an elf hat tutorial! I would have inserted the button for the meme, but it wouldn’t let me – said there was some kind of error with the HTML
http://michelleshomestead.blogspot.com/2007/12/elf-hat-tutorial.html
Finally finished the meme.
http://theimpatientcrafter.blogspot.com/
Here is my entry!
http://artsymomma.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafter-holidays-meme.html
I’ve included my family’s fav. Christmas time main dish recipe. Please feel free to visit the rest of my blog too. It is very new and I have so few visitors! Wow. That sounds sooooooo sad. http://basilbush.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holiday-blog-meme-what-is.html
I’m making some gifts for the staff at my favorite coffee shop. Here’s my blog with pics:
http://hotteaapparel.blogspot.com/2007/12/aprons-for-my-favorite-baristas.html
I joined in with the Traditions portion of the meme for today. I will do the Gifts portion later this week. Thanks again for all the holiday fun I am really enjoying reading your posts daily.
http://ifsew.typepad.com/if_sew/2007/12/holiday-blog-me.html
Here are my answers, plus a photo of a clutch I made using Splityarn’s wristlet tutorial featured on this site:
http://vintagesongbird.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays.html
It’s fun seeing what everyone else is making!
I found a great cookie recipe this year that I am happy to share! You can read about it on my blog:
http://mycreativityjournal.blogspot.com/2007/12/theyre-not-goodtheyre-delicious.html
Here is the link to my Part 1 post.
This was a great idea. I love reading everyones answerers!
http://elementalstitches.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/12/handcrafters-ho.html
Melissa
Elemental Stitches
Got my holiday recipes for chocolate gravy, cheese balls, and CHEESE BOATS! up:
http://tlcandmore.blogspot.com/2007/12/holiday-recipes.html
I have done my Meme, though it’s somewhat incomplete having not finished all my projects. Here’s the link! http://madreadoptiva.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays-blog-meme.html
I love that you are doing this. As many others have said, I can’t post pictures yet. But I have posted about my absolute fave tradition. You can find the details here: http://yarnhaven.blogspot.com
I’ll be posting later about some other things, but wanted to get this one posted now.
***** Here’s Part 1 from my blog! Pics included!!! *****
http://pinkricrac.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays.html
humm, still not approved. Third times the charm I guess. Maybe I’m not doing this xhtml stuff right or something. Of course if someone does get this, feel free to share, repost, whatever.
http://thegreencottageblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays-blog-meme-vol-1.html
http://thegreencottageblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays-blog-meme-vol-2.html
Hi–please visit my blog to see my meme answers and my family recipe for candied orange and lemon peels and my own recipe for Fruitcake Haters Holiday Fruitcake (because even folks who say they hate fruitcake like this one!) thanks for doing this.–Aurora
http://foxyartstudio.blogspot.com/2007/12/holiday-blog-meme-fruitcake.html
Love the idea of talking about what is important during the Christmas season. Here is my blogpost: http://sewsarah.blogspot.com
I have a great recipe for soft chocolate chip cookies…
http://myzoebug.blogspot.com/2007/12/soft-batch.html
Here is my favorite sugar cookie recipe…always a hit…
http://myzoebug.blogspot.com/2007/11/calling-all-bakers.html
I also have a super easy way of presenting bark candy…
http://myzoebug.blogspot.com/2007/11/homemade-candy-bar-tutorial.html
Here is a nouveau Family Tradition good for ppl. not able to be with family during the holidays OR ppl. already sick of their families and just want alittle no-talk time.
http://basilbush.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holiday-blog-meme-family.html
http://designonpost.wordpress.com/2007/12/09/handmade-holidays-blog-meme/
Here’s the link to my meme. I don’t have any photos because they’re all gifts. Hope you enjoy reading it!
Here is the link to the second half:
http://aprilseattle.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays-traditions.html
Here’s another!
http://sewhipbaby.blogspot.com/
Here’s a link to my post about my Christmas traditions: the ones I had in the UK and the ones I have since moving to the US. I’m still looking for more ideas.
http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2007/12/traditions.html
This is such fun, even though I feel late to the party! Thanks for all the great ideas, pictures and wonderful stories.
Here is my blog entry:
http://oldsweetsong.blogspot.com/2007/12/handmade-holidays.html
Here’s my post listing all our handmade gifts complete with photos.
http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2007/12/homemade-christmas.html
Here’s mine. A hodgepodge of nothingness. http://pukingpastilles.com/?p=125
I haven’t done the meme as my December posts in general always seem to speak to the traditions and handmade items we enjoy every year. It’s too late for your November tutorial bonanza, but I thought your readers might enjoy a little last minute crafting with a snowflake fairy tutorial I posted today:
http://kristinlaflamme.com/musings/?p=435
They’d make great tree ornaments, but also look good on a seasonal centerpiece or on top of a gift.
I posted Mom’s Easy Fudge recipe… It’s quick, yummy & always appreciated.
http://writemamawrite.typepad.com/blog/2007/12/moms-easy-fudge.html
Hi! Here is link to my answers to your meme on my blog! Thanks for looking
Nikki S.
Aurora, CO
Oops, I forgot the actual link, haha
Here it is : http://nikki-fancythat.blogspot.com/2007/12/ode-to-sew-mama-sew.html
Thank you for making one more thing about the holidays so much fun!
Nikki S.
I didn’t make another tutorial but wanted to refer you to another very cool one here
http://missgioia.com/2007/03/patchwork-cube-tutorial.html
I made one too – you can see that one on my blog here
http://michelleshomestead.blogspot.com/2007/12/cube-challenge.html
Finally finished my Handcrafters’ Holiday MEME:
http://thedomesticdiva.wordpress.com/2007/12/14/handcrafters-holidays-blog-meme/
Thanks for providing us with lots of ideas for a creative holiday!
with friendship,
Lisa
my favorite last minute gift…
http://coyotecraft.blogspot.com/2007/12/my-favorite-last-minute-gift.html
This meme was a lot of fun. I still have pictures to get posted, but the meme part is finished and is here:
http://minimemoirsofmine.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays-meme_14.html
Okay!!!! I finally got my meme posted! Here’s the link:
http://willowtreecreek.wordpress.com/2007/12/14/a-handcrafters-holiday-blog-meme/
Happy Holidays!
http://thetopsailexperiment.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays-blog-meme.html
Here’s my first meme!
http://providencehandmade.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafters-holidays-meme.html
I’ve just completed the meme
http://seekatiesew.blogspot.com/2007/12/meme-winner-and-giveaway-4.html
Mine’s here… I just finished the tradition part (FILLED with recipes) and will do the gift section later.
These have been really fun to read this month! Keep up the good work!
http://www.joyfulabode.com/2007/12/16/holiday-traditions/
I’m a little late, but I did the gift’s part today!
http://stashjunkiecrochetblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/handcrafted-holidays-meme-gifts.html
I’ll put up the second part tomorrow.
Not sewing, but I have a post on my family’s holiday tradition of baking yummy goodies, recipes included! http://proudtobeasahm.blogspot.com/2007/12/holiday-baking.html
This was really fun! What a great idea. I’ve really been inspired by everyone’s creativity. Thanks!
http://monkeyporkbun.typepad.com/monkeyporkbun/2007/12/christmas-1978.html
I love all of the wonderful gift ideas and can not wait until after the holidays are over so I can sew up a bunch of things to keep on hand for future gfts! I am so glad that I stumbled across this blog and have bookmarked it for future reference. I did make a bag from the lunch bag tutorials and wanted to share it with you. Here is the link to my blog: http://thesebusyneedles.blogspot.com/ Thanks for doing such a great job with this whole site, especially the thoughtfullness of the handmade holidays theme!
I’ve been lurking around here for awhile…borrowed some of the ideas from the month of Handmade Holiday posts, so I’ve joined the meme http://blogv2point0.blogspot.com/2007/12/almost-done.html
It’s so much fun to see what everyone else out there is making, is inspired by, and is inspiring in others!
Thought I’d chime in on the Meme posts too.
http://blog.foxdowns.com/2007/12/18/last-of-christmas-sewing-for-daughter/
Great inexpensive gift idea. Good for ppl. like teachers, bus drivers, mature babysitters, a secret Santa gift, etc. Link to my blog…http://basilbush.blogspot.com/
I have had so much fun reading (and gleaning fabulous ideas) from all of your memes that I decided to post my own. Here is my blog. Thank you for the wealth of information!
http://www.troyestadler.blogspot.com
I played, too!!
http://sometimesjuliasews.blogspot.com/2007/12/meme-part-1-gifts-and-more-iceing.html
I just posted about a couple of our holiday traditions. I participated in the Holiday Tradition Exchange, so there are pictures of the gifts I made to represent our traditions. Go take a look!
http://elsiemarley.wordpress.com/2007/12/20/holiday-traditions/
Here’s a link to my blog- I answered the gifts part of the meme in my last post – plus photos. I hope you stop by. I’m really enjoying seeing what others are doing.
http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/
Here’s the link to the meme post
http://uklassinus.blogspot.com/2007/12/barns-bags-blankets-books-and-well-not.html
This was one!
http://craftaddictconfessional.wordpress.com/2007/12/22/holiday-meme-ing/
I meant “fun.” I swear, the closer I get to Christmas, the less work my brain is actually doing.
I enjoyed thinking about fun holiday times while I was answering some of these questions. What a great idea!
http://samanthacolburn.blogspot.com/2007/12/holiday-traditions.html
Your meme questions inspired me to actually finish and post projects — so much fun! My projects are posted in several posts, since I couldn’t figure out how to get it all on one post. And I just answered a couple of questions from the meme — my favorite traditions, and how to make them. Thanks for the opportunity to share!
http://www.crazydavises.blogspot.com
I tried posting this a few days ago, but I don’t think it “took,” so I’m giving it another go.
I have appreciated all the inspiration others have shared through this holiday meme. Because mine has been a very stressful year, I’ve tried to make this Christmas as low-key as possible while still celebrating the season. I’ve posted my answers to the meme and the giftable projects I’ve attempted on my blog: http://scrapdash.blogspot.com. Thank you for the opportunity.
Hope that I’m not too late to join in! I’ve been baking more than sewing, but managed to get some eye-pillows made for the stressful people in my life too.
Hm, not sure if my comment posted last night since I don’t see it, but I wrote a brief meme last night…
http://amatricis.wordpress.com/2007/12/24/christmastime/
I finally wrote my reversible handbag tutorial. You can find it here: http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/2007/10/reversible-handbags.html
Thanks for sharing my Homemade Christmas post a couple of days ago. I had three hundred hits for that post in just one day! I think my mom is now hooked to reading your blog. Well, almost as much as I am. ;D
I always wait until the last minute! Here’s mine: http://wishandwonder.blogspot.com/2008/01/holiday-meme-procrastinators-edition.html
Probably too late, but here’s my part 2!
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