THE POWER OF A GIFT!

I love love love to make gifts and to give others home-made items that I put all my heart into.  However, I think I am a little reluctant to give the gift after I have made it... someone please tell me you have an emotional tie to something when you spend so many hours making it just right for someone...??? anyone?

so, insert the most favorite baby blanket I have made to this point... favorite for many reasons.. I love the colors, 60+ hours that it took to sew on each individual block onto the "blank canvas" love that it has a mini Dresden in the center and I love that the recipient will hopefully cherish it someday.

I wanted to keep it, but wanted to give it to a sweet little baby even more... Her daddy is a cousin of my husband and I have seen pictures of the baby with my blanket in the background... isnt that just worth it?  They USE IT and it might just get to be her favorite blanket someday!!! That would make my day!!!  Its the silly things!

So- back to the gift giving!  I am truly paying it forward this year.  I am working on a few gifts (10) to send out and I will update on them as soon as I get them in the mail to their recipients.  I am also going to work on my shop and actually learn how to sell these items.  I am thinking I will focus mainly on quilts, and totebags (love totebags, but have too many) ALL will have the option of being customized and the quilts will also have the option of using childrens old clothing for some of the fabric... denim graduation quilts, etc.  SO- family- order away... I did just quit my job to follow through on some new goals.... live more simply and healthy... the job- ya.. not so healthy!

WATCH for the gifts... one will be announced as a giveaway here on my blog, one will be donated to another person for a giveaway on their blog, 5 are for a pay it forward goal and 3 more are for gifts that I have been meaning to send friends for a year but have been too busy to do so!  AND- ask yourself this.. ARE you paying it forward and enjoying the power of gift giving?

See this baby chick?? WOW do they ever make them smarter these days... Her ever so talented 13 year old photographer sister did a mini photo shoot (dressed her up and posed her and all... it was so adorable)and  this one just makes me wonder exactly what she is thinking behind those big beautiful eyes...

She said to me the other day, as we were driving home from pre-school, "mom- how did I get in your tummy?  was I in your blood or what?"  As I thought there wondering after the 1st question how I would answer this to a 4 year old, her 2nd question made it a little easier to answer.  I told her that she was in my ovary and then made it into my uterus.  Her reply?  "Oh! ok!, they did a good job at the hospital.  I heard them."  Later as I was telling my mom about the conversation- the conversation once again got a little more smart... she said "and YA! they hurt me when they were getting me out of your tummy."  She is so smart and I firmly believe that she is quite close and really does remember this.  She has convinced me!

so this is our youngest little chick... more on the rest of them to follow.  I am sure there will be a whole tab dedicated to the baby of the family, as she is our constant entertainment and holds a spot in all our hearts.

Look at the GREAT free calendar!!!

Not exactly sure with the whole blogging world how you take the tags and place them ever so carefully on your blog page, but this little calendar that you can customize is BEAUTIFUL!!! and it is FREE!!! 

Check out the blog at http://www.myowlbarn.com/ for the spectacular (did I mention FREE?) calendar!  I was sure to print several and will be posting the project I am using them for soon!