Pincushion Image: sxc.hu

 I’ve saved a number of these and find the memories joyful.  ONe is a pincushion my daughter made by herself and gave me as a surprise Christmas gift when she was about eight years old. Even though she’s grown with a daughter in college, I still use this and treasure it.

My daughter has Christmas ornaments her son and daughter made in art class in elementary school.  Each year she puts them out for display.

There are other items children make, some large and some small, some at school and others at home, that parents and grandparents treasure. Sometimes these gifts have no use at all…other than  bringing  back fond memories.

What are some of small treasures and memories?

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Children’s Small Treasures Appreciated

“Actions speak louder than words.”  We’ve all heard it, but do we all really live it?  If someone has hurt you it always feels so much better when they apologize.  Apologies make you believe that the offender understands their mistake and feels badly for hurting you.  But apologies don’t always solve problems from re-occurring.

In relationships I think the saying should be “Actions speak louder than apologies.”  Some people are really into saying “I’m sorry.”  Flowers, gifts, and home-cooked meals might make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but are they really addressing the issue that hurt you in the first place?  Maybe his apology is just covering the situation with a Band-Aid.

True apologies are really tough.  They involve admitting that you have truly made a mistake and if you could travel back in time, you would have made a different decision.  You made a wrong decision.  You are sorry.  For most people getting in touch with themselves and admitting that they have made a mistake, especially when it involves hurting someone they care about, is very difficult.  If you find that your significant other is quick to apologize and make a grand gesture to prove the apology, then you really need to think about the validity of these apologies.

“Actions speak louder than apologies” means that what he says to quickly wrap-up the argument is not important.  The way that he changes his actions based on the problem that occurred is extremely important. Go back to the root of the situation and figure out what hurt you and what lit the fire.  Look at the bigger picture of your relationship to find the base of the problem.  That is where the solution lies…not in fancy dinners, gifts, and a dozen roses.  Don’t look for an apology.  Look for a change that shows that he understands what happened and why you were hurt.  If this doesn’t happen, then your fight will keep re-occurring and you will get caught in an endless pattern of arguing.

I can’t tell you whether or not his apology is sincere, but I can tell you that the way someone acts in a relationship is much more important than what he says about how he wants to act.

Image: Flickr

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Should You Accept His Apology?

For me, sewing can be a real labor of love.  I can go to the big discount chain and buy a shirt for a friend for very little money.  Odds are good that it was made in a third-world nation by someone who makes pennies a day.  But it’s inexpensive to buy, and saves me a lot of time…

Or I could take the time and sew something that’s going to mean something – if only to me.

When I take the time to sew a garment or gift for someone, I can pretty much guarantee that it’s going to be higher quality and last longer than most clothing that you can buy in a store.  I hope that whoever is getting my gift appreciates the care and attention that I put into it.

That’s why I take the time to create “labors of love”.

image: Stock.xchg

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Sewing As A Labor of Love

I know that origami was designed for paper, but I can’t help it – I love fabric   Certain patterns don’t always translate well, and simpler is usually better for getting the best possible finished project.

I think this how-to would definitely work in fabric though.  Check out this great tutorial to create gorgeous little “magic boxes” from Life As Lou.  She uses paper, but what about using a heavy fusible fleece for the outer wrapper and heavy interfacing for the boxes?

image: Stock.xchg

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Make Your Own Magic Gift Boxes

This set includes 1 each of lime, cream, green, and yellow plate. Other color combos are available including the Luna Orangina Breakfast Croissant collection of yellow, curry, dark orange, and light orange. 

The plates are made of stoneware and the glaze is dishwasher, microwave, and of course safe to eat off of. They are approximately 7 inches in diameter or 18.5 cm. They are all handmade and unique, each just a little different from the last.

Take a look at the atelierBB shop. It’s full of all sorts of Wobbly plates and bowls, all made with lead-free glaze in the artist’s Brooklyn, NY, studio. The full range of colors is impressive. Something for everyone.

Image credit: atelierBB shop at Etsy.com

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Unique, Colorful, Fun, Wobbly Plates

They are rocks and seashells, seaglass, foods from the area, something a relative may have made, and stories of places we’ve visited.  The natural objects are typical of that area and may tell of the geology and history.  We bring home recipes to try and ingredients we might not find at home.  (I use these for my travel writing, but the grandchildren seem to look forward to them, too.)

Image: sxc.hu

•  Rocks of a particular area
• Shells from a beach
• Foods
• Recipes
• Food ingredients for making ours at home
• A costume
• Piece of jewelry typical of the region
• Postcards for making collections or scrapbooks
• Seaglass

My daughter was going through some of her souvenirs from trips as a child and teen.  Even though she might have purchased a few “touristy” items, those she saved were stones and seashells, postcards and photos!

 What do you collect for your grandchildren when you travel?  Are there items that aren’t expensive?  That create memories?  That add to the youngsters’ knowledge?  That expand their imaginations?

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Rocks & Seashells- Simple Gifts for Kids

Image: sxc.hu

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Happy Mother’s Day at Blisstree

One of the ways I like to teach the kids to show gratitude, is by having them make end of the year gifts for their teachers and the school staff. Teachers are the hardest working and worst paid professionals, I’ve ever met. Most of them, bring work home with them, spend lots of their own money to make the school year special and treat their students like their own  children. So we try to help out when we can during the year and do a little something for them, come year’s end.

Since we had a little extra money, I bought each of them a scented candle set and the kids are making them cards. The front of the cards will say, “Thank You For En”light”ening Me!” Then, the kids can write their own message inside. I know for a fact, that most teachers cherish their students’ cards and keep them for years. My old third grade teacher, still has letters I wrote to her. She sent them back to me, just so I’d have them to put in my scrapbook. It really touched me that she cared enough to hold onto my labors of love.

This year, I decided to paint a picture for our school principal (as seen above.) She just opened the new school and does not have a lot of decorative objects, as of yet. The kids and I chose to do a painting of the school logo. Everybody helped out in some way. The kids are really looking forward to giving her our creation! We are even giving a little token of gratitude to the secretaries, librarian and custodial engineer. They have all gone out of their way to be kind and give 110% to the students and parents.  I feel that it is very important to let them know that they are just as appreciated as the teachers are.

What does your family do to show gratitude to teachers and school staff, at the end of the year? Share your ideas in the comments section.

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How Do You show Gratitude Towards Teachers?