Nickmas, yes, the day that we celebrate two important days. Nicholas patron saint and the Feast of the same, Saint Nick. Many years ago, he took it upon himself to rename today Nickmas. Naturally, we all just play along.
Yesterday was quite the day. It’s not that I didn’t know it was coming but that I’ve been so busy I kept telling myself “tomorrow, tomorrow I will work on the gifts”. Well yesterday there were no more tomorrows and on top of that the kids and I had planned a trip to see The Nutcracker. Oh me, oh my!
I will share pictures of the ballet tomorrow for this will probably picture heavy enough with the handmade gifts.
Disclaimer: These gifts were all made by me in one day. That is not to brag but to excuse any sloppiness, and remind myself that I am exhausted right now and should not do this again next year. Also to be fair, the body for Matthew’s knitted Waldorf doll has been sitting in my knitting basket since he was in my belly so I already had that done and just had to make the head, knit the hat and stuff the body.
On the way home from the ballet, Poppa called me to tell me that we were expecting a bad snow storm tomorrow and I had better get some things at the store. Add that to my impossible to accomplish list. While at WF, I walked around wondering how I was going to do this and why oh why did I wait so long. My poor babies would be expecting something in their shoes tomorrow and I was empty handed. I went through the toy area at Whole Foods thinking maybe there would be something there that I could buy that would be as good and not junky but the items I did like were at least $20 each and that would spell about $160 on just Saint Nick presents. I could kick myself, surely there are so many other things I could spend that money on especially knowing that I have everything I need to invent some presents at home for free.
I did go through the bulk aisle and got them some organic jelly beans and gummy bears. The kind that I only buy twice a year because they are $8.99 a pound. When I got to the car, I whispered to Nick my dilemna. He assured me that I could do it. The kids once again pulled together to give me the time in my studio to make something…anything. Here is what they got. A Waldorf style baby made from a sweater sleeve which I am calling a Sweater Baby, a knitted Waldorf style lavender stuffed buddy, an angry ninja leather case for Nick’s itouch (given to him by his sister once she didn’t want it anymore, our children do not need cell phones) made from a leather skirt I thrifted years ago and a tool belt made from the same leather skirt, a locket for each of the girls which I need to cut silhouettes of each of them and couldn’t do it without telling them what I was making and two vintage super hero toys found during a thrifting escapade.
The final touches were completed around 3 AM. This morning I waiting to hear the kids running around but after waiting until 9 AM, I went out and found them waiting in one of their bedrooms all together not wanting to wake me up 🙂 They are all I could ever ask for.
I love mornings like this one where I see the childlike magic in their eyes, all of them, even the teens. I hope you are having a wonderful day with your family and if you celebrate it, Happy Feast of Saint Nicholas to you.
