Posted by kitchensqueen on 2006-12-02 21:06:07
Post Subject:
If you're looking for a "keepsake" type item, you want something monogrammed with her initials-- maybe a nice satchel (also known asthe "weekend" tote), silver mirror compact, silver bracelet or the like. Or if you want a more "comtemporary" keepsake, maybe a monogrammed knitting bag or laptop bag, or a small scrapbook (blank or filled) or something.
Posted by cackalackie on 2006-12-02 16:44:25
Post Subject:
I appreciate the ideas. But I guess I was thinking that a keepsake would be appropriate. Is 18 still a milestone? I mean, I think all she can do now is vote and join the army (not drink!). Maybe I'm just showing my age......
Posted by kitchensqueen on 2007-12-12 20:48:20
Post Subject:
Definitely Mod Podge. You can use that stuff on anything and it sticks.
In addition to the first aid kit suggestion, you could do survival kits - either a traditonal-style survival kit or one for a particular event or theme. Or make a keepsake box (or mini shrine).
Posted by Geree McDermott on 2005-06-06 15:03:27
Post Subject: Links exchange-
Hi -
Both your links are on my links page. I noticed you live in San Diego. I was born and raised in SD. Moved here 5 years ago. I really miss the beach. (sigh)
Here's my exchange info:
http://www.GereesStudio.com: Original hand painted floor cloths, keepsake boxes, tie dye bags and scarves. Functional Art for unique individuals. For DIY's, look for my self-published booklet, "Paint Your Own Floor Cloths!" with templates.
Thanks,
Geree
PS You'll find your links at the top of my links page.
Posted by delqc on 2005-07-18 10:25:41
Post Subject:
I think that if I personally were invited to such a shower ... I would find it tacky. It has a ring of, "well we can't bother to entertain you, but hey, you can send us gifts anyway!!!" (but I understand that is not the intent).
Our family is also very, very spread out. People have showers in the neighbourhood where the parents-to-be live. Anyone who is close to the family gets an invite in the normal way (usually in the mail). Those who live far away usually choose to send cash or send a gift through the mail. I find this much more acceptable - then you're saying , "We'd really like you to come celebrate this time with us!" and not, "Ok, time to open your wallet!"
My family also has a lot of members who do not use the internet, and who are not wealthy. They would appreciate the invite as a formal notice of the baby's impending arrival, and as a keepsake. The internet thing would be totally inaccessible to them.
hope I didn't offend - just wanted to be honest - if other of your invites feel this way too this may be important for you to consider...
Posted by Thrift Shop Romantic on 2007-08-21 11:28:52
Post Subject:
It IS a good topic-- and you've reminded me that some of the things I want to do, I had better get started on.
I do try to tailor the craft to the person's interests, so I've rewired and refurbished a vintage lamp for my best friend's mother...
I painted and French-ed up an Ikea corner display shelf for one of my friends.
I've woodburnt keepsake boxes to put gifts in, and also reupholstered dining chairs for someone who needed some.
And this year, it's not so much a Christmas gift as gift tags-- I have these Victorian Christmas postcards I want to scan and then decoupage onto thin wood rectangles to make gift tags and garland for around the house. THAT is going to take some time, I think.
Posted by moon_lemming on 2004-11-19 10:24:49
Post Subject:
My favorite project this year is keepsake boxes. I'm using the cheapish wooden boxes that craft stores sell (they sell them for cigar box purses) and personalizing them for the recipients with glitter, paint, decoupage, wood burning, etc. Then I'll fill them with little trinkets like pins and lip gloss and keychains and notecards (all easily and cheaply done yourself, if you have the time and talent).
Also, felt ornaments (vaguely following Sewing Star's how-to up at http://www.homeofthesampler.com ). Small but cute and inexpensive.
I can't wait until I can start my garden -- preserves/relishes/sauces for everyone next year!
Posted by cackalackie on 2006-02-21 15:42:39
Post Subject:
Thanks for the tips. I'm just doing wine - to keep it simple. I had actually thought of doing personalised wine charms for each of the guests. This would (obviously) differentiate the glasses, and provide a keepsake. Alas, I haven't the time at this late date. I do like the idea of a favor, though.....
I wondered if I should do something whereby the guests write a good wish somewhere --- or something like that............. (I'm maybe thinking too much at this point.)
Posted by anthrogirl on 2006-10-24 14:20:52
Post Subject:
You're right. They don't deserve ragging- and I apologogize.
I don't hate many of the skulls and robots- I think they're cute. And as a goth, I rather like skulls. But what I do see is that many of these pieces- which are being sold to us as 'not your grandma's crochet/knitting/crewel/ embroidery/cross-stitch' is just as kitschy, just as silly, just as useless, and just as designed to be dated in 20 years as macrame hippie vests or crocheted poodle bottle covers. Which is fine- they are of their time, and they should be of their time. And there is nothing wrong with consuming fun things. But nothing remarkable is being created here, and most of the objects, other than providing amusement value, aren't terribly useful.
When I look at very untraditional craft items from the Victorian era (tradition in and of itself kind of bores me) like keepsakes, they were made for people of all ages by people of all ages. Especially in crochet, which is my current form of crafting, there was no real tradition anyway- as Debbie Stoller rightly pointed out in The Happy Hooker, crochet is only a little over 200 years old. I happen to like the skull sweater in her new book, and I'm probably going to make it. I even liked the robots (which I am not going to make) on the cover of Craft. But that doesn't change the fact that I see a disturbing trend- one in which the 'new' craft magazines that rag on our grandparents as old fashioned have items such as hammer tables, shelves made out of punch board, and other things that will be dated in five years, probably won't hold up well, and won't leave anything behind that could be handed down as a keepsake- even as a quaint keepsake. They are a bit too much of the moment.
Now, there are plenty of modern day crafters and modern day magazines and books that have beautiful patterns and ideas in them, which can and do appeal to a wide variety of crafters. But these don't usually say things like 'this isn't your grandmother's crochet', or work overtime at being 'hip'. The truth is, 'hip' tends to get dated fast, which is why 'hip' clothes form the 60s and 70s rightly look to the modern eye like clown costumes only fit for Halloween.
Please forgive me for being overly harsh- but having picked up about 5 books and numerous magazines on crochet, I can tell that the ones I'll use the most aren't the ones that tell me how to make self-consciously cute items, even if I like those items myself. I don't see the mentality that leads to their creation as much different from the mentality that insists I should change my entire wardrobe every year, or only use certain colors of makeup this season. That's what I mean by a selfish mentality of waste. whereas I can look at some of the fanciful items designed by Victorian magazine writers (or 60s magazine writers) and after stripping away the frippery still create something this is not only pretty, but useful, lasting, and in fitting with my age group. Not every new crafter is straight out of college, which is what most of the 'new craft magazines assume- they even say so. So some of us are left with fashions we find dorky in young magazines (no, younger people wouldn't find them dorky- but I couldn't understand why my mother found my Star Trek obsession dorky back in 1978, either), or fashions we find dorky in mainstream mags like 'Better Homes and Gardens' (every time I see another damn granny square pattern in pastels I want to rip my eyes out and scream- who comes up with this stuff?). There has to be some middle ground between being 18 and having one foot in the grave, as it were (yes, that's an exaggeration, but I think for some of us feeling like we've been put on an ice floe for being foolish enough to live past 35, it an accurate description of the feeling many of us have).
Posted by lizzymahoney on 2005-01-31 05:58:11
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That's very generous, Juliette! And they are a wonderful keepsake for those special events. I'm so much the romantic, I loved the ones with a little rosebud on the flap.
Hehehe, maybe I'll get one for my sister commemorating the birth of her first grandchild!
Posted by craftfetish on 2007-05-22 09:50:56
Post Subject:
This is tough.
My poor parents. When my sister graduated, my parents got her a bike to take to college. The following year when I graduated, I figured I would get a bike as well. Instead, they gave me a gold necklace with an "S" charm on it. I hated it. They tried for the keepsake and I wanted the practical.
I think the other keepsake gift that I received that backfired was the fancy pen.
If they are off to college, they really do need the practical stuff. I'd keep the sentimental stuff on the order of a favorite book or something.
The secretly really touching gifts that I received were
-a gift certificate to my school's book store. The extra few minutes to order such a thing online impressed me more than just writing a check I suppose. (The same thing with rolls of quarters for laundry - nicer than just $20)
-the occasional care packages my aunt sent during my first year at school.
-a conversation with my Dad where he told me that he hoped that Ann Arbor (where I went to school) would always feel like home. (which seemed hokey in the moment, but turned out to be true)
As for the going rate, I'm not sure. On the one hand it depends on your situation and relationship with the graduate. I was just invited to a graduation party and I was thinking I needed to go back and see what I gave this girl's older brother two years ago.
Posted by Katydid on 2005-01-08 13:08:40
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I actually agree - food is always a hit.
My SO loves my chocolate chip cookies, so that's what I make for him. I didn't have time to make them last year, and I don't think I've ever dissapointed him so much.
You could make some kind of keepsake box (and if you're an art teacher, you could paint it, or make it pretty somehow). Something that you can put cookies in that will live beyond the food and have meaning.
I think I'm going to take my own advice! I like that idea....
Posted by Rain on 2005-02-22 20:48:18
Post Subject:
I collect turtle things, books, and those little collectable keepsake boxes - the ones that can hold a few small pieces of jewelry, where the top flips open.
Posted by red_rosary on 2004-06-10 10:08:33
Post Subject:
Just out of curiosity, why are you avoiding the registry? This is just my opinion, but it seems that as soon as a baby's born, everyone wants to give a keepsake of some sorts, but what the new parents really need and appreciate is the practical stuff.
Posted by Grungie on 2007-09-05 08:24:43
Post Subject:
I've heard of people using their wedding dress fabric to dress a doll, sometimes with a miniature replica of the actual dress. If dolls don't creep you out, it makes a nice keepsake.
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Posted by Mathias on 2004-05-21 10:21:37
Post Subject: Help! I've been asked to make a bracelet.
One of my friends asked me yesterday to make a bracelet for her girlfriend. I have never made a bracelet before that was anything more than stringing beads on a piece of stretchy string. Apparently, her girlfriend is going to be hiking the Virginia leg of the Appalachian Trail in a couple of weeks, and will not be able to wear the ring that my friend gave her. My friend wants her to have a keepsake to take, thus the bracelet. I told her I wasn't sure if I could do it, but that I'd think about it. The bracelet would have to be something really durable, light, not dangly, etc. Anything beady, sparkly, or overtly girly is out of the running. Any ideas? I'd be super duper thankful!
Posted by caeebe on 2005-10-24 16:26:26
Post Subject: sparkly artwork
My grandma has a huge stash of sparkly costume jewelry. She made this beautiful organic plant like art piece. She hot glued the jewerly (usually with pins and such removed) to a velvet backing and then framed the piece with a nice vintage frame. Her jewelry flower plant was about 2' x 1.5'. I kept admiring it so much that finally we made a similar piece for me. Mine is Xmas themed so it is a Xmas tree with the branches delineated by the white rhinestone necklaces that are so ubiquitus. different earrings and such are the ornaments. A good rectangular brooch made the trunk. This was also hot glued onto a velvet backing. It is by far my favorite Xmas decoration. And a wonderful keepsake of my grandmother's. I would love to have a big stash of old sparkly jewelry of my own.
Posted by SweetMemoriesQuilts on 2007-07-18 12:14:33
Post Subject:
I have in the last couple of months had several orders for keepsake quilts for kids going off to University. You can use old clothes, blankets, pictures, etc. and have a quilt made for you or buy a kit to make your own. Of course, the crafty person can also just figure out how to do it on their own. You can see some examples in my photo gallery http://www.sweetmemoriesquilts.com/PhotoGallery.html. I also have a tutorial in my blog on how to print photos on fabric with your ink jet printer: http://www.sweetmemoriesquilts.com/blog. If you decide to make your own and need some help/advice feel free to email me jennifer@sweetmemoriesquilts.com
The last one I made was really interesting. The woman chose some cool fabrics for the top to make a really funky quilt and then we added family photos and and old baby blankie to the back. Her daughter really loved it and it will also be practical for use in her college residence.
Here's a photo of the back side: http://www.sweetmemoriesquilts.com/sitebuilder/images/IMG_0321-390x287.jpg
Posted by moon_lemming on 2004-12-12 21:54:26
Post Subject:
I've got a little more accomplished: bought felt for the bear ornaments with scarves I'm making for sibs (need to find a bear template, since I can't draw bears to save my life), bought matchboxes for the decoupaged matchboxes, and I've done a little decorating (not much, since most of the xmas stuff is waiting to be dug out of storage). Hopefully I can get the felt ornaments and matchboxes done early this week, because late this week/early next week I have tons of edible gifts to make. (I'm hoping peppermint bark/sugared nuts will remain edible for about a week if stored in tins; they will, right?). And then I have to make my sibs' keepsake boxes, and mr. lemming's sappy homemade gifts.
So much to do and I still have so little done, I'm not sure why I'm not panicking about it this year.
Posted by Mathias on 2004-05-21 10:10:20
Post Subject:
Wow, I totally love the prom theme! So cute! Maybe everyone could bring copies of their high school pictures and you can make a huge yearbook-like poster or hanging and everyone can put their pictures on it and sign it yearbook style--what a fun keepsake for you, too! I love the link's suggestion for the bathroom wall. This almost makes me wish I was turning 30.
Posted by Rivercat0338 on 2005-01-03 17:36:11
Post Subject:
A little late to the party, but here's what I recall from 2004 reading (other than a lot of old children's series books that are a guilty pleasure):
Enjoyed:
--The Time Traveler's Wife (lovely and sad)
--The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, and The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde (Hitchhiker's Guide meets your high school lit class)
--The Game of Kings and Queen's Play by Dorothy Dunnett (I definitely needed the companion guide however!)
--Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson (kids' book and not like her other stories at all)
--Men in Kilts and The Corset Diaries by Katie Macalister (very silly but fun)
Did Not Enjoy:
--Wicked by Gregory Maguire (I liked Lost, though)
--The Dogs of Babel by Caroline Parkhurst (cynical and gratuitous)
Decent Crafty Reads:
--KnitLit by Linda Roghaar and Molly Wolf
--Zen and the Art of Knitting by Bernadette Murphy
"Meh" Crafty Reads:
--The Knitting Goddess
--The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini
--Keepsake Crimes by Laura Childs (I didn't think much of the first "scrapbooking mystery" either but I will probably *sigh* buy the new one anyway)
--Cutwork by Monica Ferris (these are getting old)
I'm getting better about not bothering to finish books I'm not enjoying. With grad school, reading time is too precious to waste!
Posted by Selah on 2005-01-23 21:41:32
Post Subject:
Congratulations on your engagement.
Some tips from our wedding:
We rented a juke box and put all of our favorite cds in it - cheaper and more fun than other options (won't work if you do the whole beach thing but...)
We had our invitations printed at Paper Source then assembled them ourselves. I added a beautiful stamp at the top (an art deco style depiction of two lotus flowers) We printed the directions/information sheet ourselves and put it in a vellum envelope and stamped a vespa on the front. Looked way cool and was a nod to my brother and dad who are big into their vespas.
Don't know if you are Jewish but my mom had yarmulkas made from cool Thai fabric (she was living there at the time) with our names in them. I'm sure they're not that hard to make.
My brother spray painted a canvas graphitti fade style with yellow and orange and put the wedding date in black and we had paint pens for our guests to get creative at the reception (in our yard) and make a wonderful keepsake for us. It's now hanging in our son's playroom!
One last thing I'm glad I did was save extra fabric (beautiful green/bronze Thai silk) from my wedding pants - I used it for the matting to frame our Ketubah or you could use the fabric to frame your favorite wedding picture.
Posted by SweetMemoriesQuilts on 2007-07-18 10:27:20
Post Subject: Hi
Hi everyone - My name is Jennifer and I live and craft in Toronto, Canada. I grew up knitting, sewing, gardening and scrapbooking etc. In the last couple of years I learned how to quilt and recently started my own business. My flagship product is making custome keepsake quilts out of people's favourite old baby blankets, clothing etc. I also sell new quilts and do custom quilting for baby's and adults. My newest venture is "Make Your Own Sweet Memories Quilt Classes" which are starting in the Fall of this year.
My website is www.sweetmemoriesquilts.com
I do have a quilting club link on the site which is pretty neat, but will definitely be more developped in the future. Any ideas?
