Hello! Merry Christmas! Sorry I’m so late. I thought I would be back here long before Epiphany came and went. But it’s been a messy and intensely exhausting month here. Jonny is four weeks post surgery and his foot is still swollen and not so great. We didn’t realize foot surgery would be so debilitating! In response to having so much to do to prepare for Christmas this year I decided to add making gifts for everyone, something I’m pretty sure I outlawed for myself years ago. But, if under pressure to pull off Christmas for a dozen people mostly on ones on, it makes sense to add handmade gifts if you’re a somewhat unhinged middle aged woman, which apparently I am, having turned 47 a couple of weeks ago and undertaken such a task. (Sorry about that sentence. I’m really not a writer.) Somehow making a bunch of gifts saved my sanity.
If you ask any one of my kids (adults included) what their favorite Christmas gift was, the correct answer is “The pencil pouch.” I sewed them for all of my kids along with one daughter-in-law and one girlfriend. I also sewed one for myself. Everyone needs one. I placed one fancy pencil (affiliate link) and a couple of pens in most of them, though Ambrose received colored pencils and a few got a set of sketch pencils. There were also decoupaged tins (similar to these), made over a course of days after I casually inquired of each of my kids what their favorite wild mammal was (totally normal question). With a couple of exceptions everyone got a mammal because that was the old field guide I was using. I also made caramel which Beatrix then spent hours cutting and wrapping in waxed paper. I filled each tin with caramels. Not pictured here, because I forgot to take photos, there were also fingerless gloves made for four lucky kids. Elsie got a new hat, but I admit I didn’t finish it until maybe the second or third day of Christmas. I’m already working on gifts for next Christmas because I can’t seem to stop. Maybe I’m going to become someone who works on Christmas gifts all year long, rather than in a frantic rush during Advent. (I realize I’m supposed to get everything done before Advent begins, but I always forget until it’s actually Advent.)
Things sort of snowballed here post Christmas (literally) and we have been snowed in all week. The grown kids are parking at the top of our long and somewhat treacherous driveway to be able to come and go until the ice and snow melts. Jonny and I don’t currently have a working vehicle (he’s not cleared to drive for a couple more weeks anyway), so it doesn’t much matter where we are parked! The big van is in the shop awaiting transmission news and my smaller around town car is threatening to give up the fight as well. We are looking online at used minivans and gasping at prices.
Despite the mess and the chaos and too many late nights for this lady, it was a very good, if not unforgettable, Christmas. Perhaps our last with all of our kids (and one granddaughter!) living under one roof and I’m so grateful.
Your photos and life always inspire me Ginny! I love the way you see things .. because I see things that way too! Finding beauty amidst the ordinary and the clutter and chaos of everyday life! I’m originally from England, but have lived in Canada for most of my life, since my teenage years. I love to read the British Country Living magazine because it has so many beautiful photos of the countryside and flowers… Reading your blog post brings me equal joy and delight..as well as the stories about your beautiful family! Blessings from British Columbia, Canada. ♥️
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Our Holiday season has been going and going and going and we have yet another holiday guest arriving this weekend. I can’t complain too much but I am missing our regular schedule. Ouroldest of 8 children started college this year and I consider myself blessed that he lives at home. Everyone is still very much under our roof.
Your photos are delightful, especially the one of Johnny and your grandaughter looking at each other. What a gift for her to grow up with so many aunts and uncles all around!
May peace be with all of you this year!
We have that book…”Baby Animals”! It was a gift for our eldest and its still going strong! Ha!
Ginny, once again I am going to say thank you for sharing your family with me, with all of us. I always enjoy finding out what is going on in your world.
Merry Christmas, Ginny! What a lovely Christmas! It’s such a treasure to have all the kids together. This Christmas was the first with all 6 of mine, plus 3 daughters-in-law, plus 2 granddaughters, in 6 years!! One d-i-l who asked for generic herbal soap was thrilled with Tilly’s soap that I bought from you. I’d forgotten about it and we were all oohing and aahing over the scents rising from the box before she opened it!
I think I’m going to start making pencil pouches (do grown-ups need those???) and knitting hats and baby sweaters for 2025!
Grown-ups definitely need these! I almost bought one a couple days ago, and then thought I’d like to make one. I really like these a d the zippers Ginny used.
Lovely photos!! The tins are such a wonderful idea!! They look great!! And can’t believe you have a grandbaby!!
Hi Ginny;
Loved seeing all the photos of your family. Elsie is a cutie. Thank You for the pattern. The pencil pouch is very nice and of course., Useful.
Happy Birthday year of happiness,love and blessings.
Marion
Hi Ginny Glad you had a nice Christmas. The homemade gifts are lovely. Elsie looks so cute in her hat, Sorry that Jonny;s foot is still bothering him. Will keep him in my thoughts and prayers for a complete healing.
Happy Belated Birthday Ginny.
Marilyn
Happy Belated Birthday Ginny. Thank you for sharing your Christmas. Love the photos , Wishing you and your family a Happy and Blessed New Year.
Joan
So beautiful! I think it is so lovely that you have extended family…. I love it so much myself. Elsie is adorable – and she fits right in!
I am so snooty about people “starting Christmas too early” that I am always rushing to put gifts together. Fortunately I’m in an art class and made a number of mosaic projects during the year that I [reluctantly] gave away. But since it was hard, that made them true gifts.
Yours are lovely. Have you had the kids make pocket shrines in those tins? A really beautiful project.
Your homemade gifts are so lovely! Did you use a pattern for the pencil cases?
I have no children living with me any longer and still my Christmases seem to be chaotic and I am exhausted. Dec. 26 is my favorite day! But I think it’s a splendid idea to just keep making Christmas gifts all year long. I really do. Maybe that will be my New Year’s resolution. Thanks, Ginny!
Love this post Ginny! Merry Christmas !
Your Christmas with your is family looks so special Ginny, and the gifts you made were beautiful, and so special because you made them, I so love your blog, and have also been following for a long time, you always bring me joy.such a beautiful and loving family, and all looking after each other so well, hope Johnnies foot mends soon, poor man, but he too looks veryhappy. Happy new year to you all, keep well I’m sending you love and best wishes.
Oh I loved this post! What lovely gifts, I’m so glad you posted the link to the pencil pouch tutorial because I want to make a bunch! I like the zippers you used for your pouches, where did you find them? Thank you for continuing to blog and share with your readers, I have been reading your blog for almost a decade (though I’m not sure I’ve ever commented) and I enjoy all the posts and glimpses into family life that you’ve shared over the years.
Happy Christmas and Blessed Epiphany, Ginny❣️🕊️so pleased to see a post, thank you for taking the time! I always enjoy keeping up with you. … Love the baby Elsie peekaboo photos, love all the handmade gifts. I think it’s a great idea for craft for Christmas all year long! Maybe this will be the year yiu are finished before Advent begins🤗
You inspire! I too love homemade gifts. I enjoy both making and receiving. Love from the hands! Happy New Year to you and yours.
This is all so lovely! The sweet knit hat, the adorable tins, and such wonderful pencil bags. Wonderful job making memorable gifts!
Would you mind sharing a link for the zippers with round pulls that you used on the pencil bags?
Thank you!
I love seeing the baby hat just begun and the hat on the baby! It’s inspiration for me, as I have several projects begun at this point.
Tanti cari auguri per un sereno 2025, Ginny, a te e a tutta la tua famiglia 🙂
Yes, I hope to start Christmas presents NOW so as to have time and spread the expense.
Happy New Year!
Yes! I do save money every month all year for Christmas, but I’ve never gotten an early start on making things before!
Happy New Year….love your posts …and the pencil cases are lovely
Oh, Ginny. I love your posts so much. Thank you for sharing your beautiful family with us and your amazing crafts, what truly wonderful Christmas gifts you made! I love the tins with animals, and the pencil cases. If you ever sell them in your shop I will buy them! Beautiful photos as always. Happy New Year from the NEK ( Northeast Kingdom). ⛄️
Happy New Year to you and your family! Arnica helps wonderfully with bringing down swelling. But I guess you already know this since you are so much into plants and nature things. All the best! Inga
Sorry about Jonny’s foot. After I broke mine I used to rub a mixture of comfrey and castor oil onto/into it. Helped with the swelling and the healing.
All the very best to you all for 2025.
It looks like a wonderful, festive, family fun time 🙂 Happy New Year ~ Linda
Happy New Year Ginny ! And thank you for sharing you your sweet & beautiful Christmas!
Happy New Year Ginny ! And thank you for sharing you your sweet & beautiful Christmas!
Whew! We made it to the new year. Why was this maybe your last Christmas with all your kids under one roof? Did I miss something?
Blessed New Year
My three oldest boys are grown! Seth and his wife and our granddaughter will move out sometime after he graduates from college in May. Gabe will probably buy a house of his own this year sometime too! Keats transferred to the university in our town, so we’ll probably keep him for another couple of years. 🙂
That makes sense. I can’t seem to get all my children together at the same time anymore either. I miss those days. I’m glad you made some dear memories this Christmas. Love the knitting amd hand made projects. 🥰
You captured the joy of the season perfectly. All the handmade gifts are wonderful. Thanks for sharing the happy times with your family, with all of us. Love the knitting .
Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Ginny to you and your family. I really enjoyed seeing the handmade gifts. (Wish I was on your list of 12) 😉. Everyone looks great and your tree was so festive. Keep crafting and photographing.
Love, Barbara
That beautiful arched window is in your house? Wow. Your tree is very pretty. Merry Christmas, Ginny, and a Happy New Year!
Beautiful gifts, I always love seeing your Christmas pictures.
a wonderful and special christmas ❤️ i also feel the itch to start on next year’s gifts . . i have a lot of sock yarn in my stash! lots of love to you, ginny
It’s worth checking out reconstructed titles used cars… usually means the car was in a wreck and so now the value is considerably less, but if you plan to keep it until it dies it’s worth it! We got a Toyota sienna that way- it had been rear ended and needed a new back door but looked great and only had 24,000 miles. We have had problems getting a hitch put on, but that’s it. Still running great at 180,000 miles. Only had a few repairs along the way, nothing over $500. We got lucky. I’ll always buy reconstructed again. Just make sure the wreck wasn’t damaging to something like the engine…
Handmade gifts are the best and there is something very rewarding about making them throughout the year. Love the tins and the pencil cases. Do you have a link to the cute hat pattern?
Looking forward to seeing what you make throughout the year now that you have found your crafting mojo 😊
This is the hat, but unfortunately the pattern is discontinued. 🙁 https://www.ravelry.com/projects/GinnySheller/pilot-cap-4
Can we get a mammal tin tutorial? Love them!
They were inspired by these: https://www.instagram.com/p/C_OZhcPyUcN/