On Thursday, I spent the morning preparing my almsgiving schedule. Then, I called the temple and spoke with one of the monks to discuss the menu to make sure I had enough of a choice for the one monk who can't eat rice and curries. That done, I put the cashews to soak so I could cook and freeze them in advance. My plan is to cook as much as I can, ahead of time, so I won't have a lot to do on the day of the almsgiving.
Then, I spent the rest of the day making holiday gifts:
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| Embroidered T-Shirts |
For my niece's sons - the script is Sinhalese.
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| "Aiya"/Big Brother |
I wrote the letters free-hand, without using a template (a template would have been a good idea, I'm thinking, seeing how uneven the letters are!), with dressmaker's chalk. Then, I chain stitched over the chalk outline. However, the chalk kept disappearing! (Nil, don't laugh at my lettering!)
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| "Malli"/Younger Brother |
One year, I embroidered T-shirts with their names in Sinhalese lettering and that, apparently, was a big hit! Their father said that those T-shirts were, so far, his favorites of the gifts I've given to the boys and the older boy said he has his T-shirt mounted on his bedroom wall! I am hoping that these T-shirts will be as well received! They are also getting the Christmas pillowcases I made, earlier.
I wrapped the pillowcases and the T-shirts and a jar of my strawberry jam (the jar was well wrapped in bubble wrap and foam). But there was still some space in the box and I needed something to cushion the jar of jam, so it won't get shaken about. I decided that a table runner would be an ideal gift to give to my niece:
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| Holiday Table Runner |
There was just enough of both fabrics to make the table runner. I didn't have enough leftover quilt batting, so I used up a piece of fleece fabric leftover from one of daughter's anime cosplay costumes. I had to patch it a bit to have a big enough piece, but that was OK. The back of the table runner is a solid dark green fabric. It was brought to the front and sewn down to form the binding. I will finish packaging it and mail it on Friday (it needs to go out of state). Hope the jar of jam travels well!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to make some of my holiday gifts
- The fabric stash!
- Time to sew
- A working sewing machine
- Bubble wrap!
Yes are a very busy lady! I love the shirts and hope your nephews are pleased to receive them.
ReplyDeleteA bit too busy, I think, but with both the almsgiving and Christmas, it is a busy time of the year! I hope the boys like these T-shirts. I'm that grandaunt who sends badly knitted sweaters and embroidered T-shirts! :D
DeleteWhat a great idea to sew Sinhalese scripts on tshirts, Bless. I think your writing is beautiful. 😊
ReplyDeleteWhat type of thread did you use? It looks nice and thick.
It is a unique gift, if nothing else, isn't it? My teachers used to always say my handwriting was horrible! I could never form the letters as round as pearls, which is what I was told I should aim for!
DeleteI used embroidery floss, but all 6 strands together (use a needle with a large eye! Or, use 3 strands, but double up and knot them together, so there are 6 strands when sewing.)
What wonderful gifts! I think they look lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. I always try to send them something homemade, that money can't buy. :)
DeleteYour stitching is so even on those T-shirts. And the colors are nice. I'm sure they will be a big hit again. Those along with everything else in the box are going to be a big hit.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Live and Learn. The younger boy's T-shirt reflects his late maternal grandfather's school colors; I was going to do the older boy's T-shirt in the same colors, but I didn't have enough yellow thread! So, he got orange, instead.
DeleteWhat a lovely gift package that family is about to receive. They will be overjoyed. The jam should survive the trip cushioned by the bubble wrap and all that fabric. I remember holiday parcels arriving in the mail when I was a young child, and they were always extra special. There was usually a fruit cake or a tin of cookies buried in the middle of the packages. It was like receiving a prize in a box of Cracker Jack.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. I think I will send some homemade baked goodies, next year, because I am running out of ideas for individualized gifts, that don't cost a lot, especially for the boys as they get older (they are 8 and 15, right now).
DeleteIt's always so special to receive something that isn't just picked up in the store. You are working really hard and I admire the speed with which you can make a cute Christmas table runner.
ReplyDeleteThose boys will be thrilled with the personalized shirts, too.
We had some fine snow this morning but the temperature is only around freezing. DH and I had a pleasant walk to the mailbox in the afternoon and were entertained by two neighbours' dogs who had met up and were tussling in the snow.
I have a rather limited budget when it comes to holiday gifts, Bushlady, so I try to stretch it as much as I can by making some of the gifts. The table runner took me about 2 hrs. to make. I didn't do a lot of quilting, etc.
DeleteSnow and temperatures of "only around freezing". Ah, yes. It was in the 70s, yesterday, and 60s, today, and I was feeling cold! LOL!