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.
I'd love to know how you made the dolls! Esp the faces! But I like the one with the yellow knitting as well. You don't sell these by any chance?
Megan, They are made in the Waldorf style and yes I do sell them 🙂 I have not been able to add the store to my blog because I am waiting for help from a designer but you can email me if you would like to order one.
That's the one I want to get! I am thinking the t3i although I know NOTHING about cameras. My pictures don't seem to edit well with this camera. My last point and shoot seemed to respond better to editing with picmonkey…but not this one for some reason. Thanks for answering my questions 🙂
That would be awesome! One more question, what kind of camera do you use? My old point and shoot just isn't cutting it and is making blogging difficult. I was thinking of moving up to DSLR but am trying to get ideas of what brand.
Leslie, I use a Canon Rebel and it can do so much more than I know. I basically only know how to point and shoot haha oh and I can zoom in. Do you edit your pictures? I use picmonkey and I find that it makes all the difference for my pictures. Oh and its free 🙂
You did such a good job on those gifts!!! I LOVE the sweater baby. Are you going to make a tutorial for this or did you use one on the web? I would love to know!
Leslie, I just made it up as I went. I used my tutorial for making the head crunchycatholicmomma.blogspot.com/2011/01/make-real-waldorf-baby-doll-in-day-and.html and then I stuffed the sweater sleeve. I used the other sleeve to make the hat and made a little pompom for the top. I could make a tutorial, it's been a while since I've posted one 🙂
For any moms just starting, you can keep it simple but still very exciting for kids. I always did candy, especially featuring chocolate Santa, or st. Nick , chocolate coins, , and a new Christmas book. That's it. But very special nonetheless. I would also only play Christmas music on Sundays, st. Nicholas day and st. Lucia day until the fourth week of advent. Non material treats like this can also be very exciting. You can introduce special decorations on these feast days too. For st. Lucia day I snuck in a mini Christmas tree and lights in their bedroom while they slept. They greeted us in the morning with coffee and Cinnabons, which of course I had to purchase the night before. We also have a st. Lucia crown with lights that was a real favorite item only used once a year, by a daughter wearing a white robe and red sash.
beautiful ideas!! yes, simpler is better but since we don't really buy much during the year and my kids get one store bought and 2 hand made gifts on Christmas, I tend to do a tiny bit more for them on special days. We also do not decorate until Christmas week. We love St. Lucia, my daughters would love that.
My children are 4,3,2 and 5 months so when I was faced with the same predicament on December 5th, I moved our St. Nicholas Day to the 7th! Sadly I think this will be the last year I am able to do that… 😉 Well done! I love the Waldorf dolls and want to make one for my little girl! Do you have a pattern that you recommend?
Theresa, the doll head is made with the Waldorf method, here is my tutorial: http://farmishmomma.com/?p=348 and the body is just the sleeve off a cashmere sweater 🙂 For Matthew's knitting doll, I just basically knitted a rectangle with a hole in the middle to slip the head through and loosely stuffed it. Maybe I will write up the "pattern" and share it… but I would not have time until after the holidays. Easy to figure out though 🙂
Love the homemade gifts…they are beautiful! I especially like the Sweater Baby. 🙂
What a wonderful way to celebrate such a special day! It's obvious your gifts were made with a lot of love and creativity. Happy birthday to Nick, and happy Advent to you all! 🙂
P.S. Hope Penny's recuperated and feeling better!