Friday 9 January 2015

Mum's the word

I didn't want to post about this before Christmas.
My 84 year old mother is not really into blog land, but she keeps saying she will get around to looking at my blog one of these days. It would have been just my luck if she had done so the day I posted about her Christmas present.



It - her Christmas present that is - required quite a bit of thought this year. Basically, she has everything she needs and wants - and a lot of stuff that she doesn't want or need. She has decided to have a great 'de-clutter' and we were under strict instructions not to give her anything as all she wanted was to see us. And before you suggest it - she already has the quilted tote, purse, jacket, wall hangings - even the cat has it's own quilt.



I realised that what she did want and need, was not 'stuff'; what she wanted spent on her was not money but caring, time, thought, and effort. So I got 25 large envelopes that she was to open one a day for the holiday period.
I decorated each one with a print and in each, I put something to do - a game or puzzle, some eating goodies, a riddle and a card with a saying or quote.



The cards I made from quilting samples and papers that I have printed/painted. I haven't beautifully neatened the edges - they are not meant to be kept. I thought I would show you because it was also a wonderful re-cycling of trial pieces.



It was also quite a lot of fun finding all those sayings. Some of my favorites include:
'Take my advice - I'm not using it'
and
from Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (for Downton Abbey fans amongst you), on being questioned on what it feels like to be wrong: 'I wouldn't know. I'm not familiar with the sensation.'



Or how about:
'Sometimes I pretend to be normal but it gets boring, so I go back to being me'!!

Thanks for visiting...

Hilary Florence


Please find below a list of linky parties. I may not link with all of the every week, but with some of them most weeks. Please go and have a look at some of the other wonderful quilts and quilters there.

Linky Tuesday at Free motion by  the river­­­­ @ http://www.conniekresin.com/
WIP Wednesday at freshly pieced   @   http://www.freshlypieced.com/
WIP Wednesday at TN + TN  @  http://needleandthreadnetwork.blogspot.ca/
I Quilt Thursdays @ http://prettybobbins.com/
Off the wall Fridays @ http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.co.uk/
Lizzie Lenard @  http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk   
Creative Goodness @ http://quiltshopgal.com/creativegoodness-weekly-linky-parties/

18 comments:

  1. Such a sweet idea, and so caring of you to spend all that time collecting quotes. A lovely gift.

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  2. What a thoughtful gift. I bet she loves it!!!

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  3. What a great idea, Hilary. I love the cards too.

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  4. Hilary, I am blown away. What a wonderful idea.

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  5. Wow....what a thoughtful gift idea....thanks for sharing it.

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  6. Hi!!!! Beautiful gift!!!! A creative heart!!! I love the cards too!!!!

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  7. What a fun idea! I bet your mother loved it. And the cards! Oh my. What a great use of quilting samples!

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  8. What an incredibly wonderful idea. I may steal it from you next Christmas for my friend, who feels much the same way as your mother does about accumulating 'stuff.' And Violet's quote from Downton Abbey is priceless.

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  9. Fabulous! What a great gift... so thoughtful. Of course I wouldn't be able to toss any of your cards! Sending your link to a friend who did something a tiny bit similar for her aging aunt. LeeAnna at not afraid of color

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  10. What a thoughtful and creative gift. The cards themselves are beautiful.

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  11. I often read your blog and I look like a wonderful staple very good idea, I think I'll do a greeting card

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  12. What I would want to say has been said by the commenters above. This is an idea I will keep in mind, that's for sure. And I agree that it's a excellent recycling project. All the envelopes above are beautiful and I certainly would not throw them away. They could be kept and passed to an other person in the same fashion...

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  13. Happy New Year!
    I love your idea... as my mom has not been here for a long while now, it is worth considering the idea for other people we love as well...
    and... I love your designs!
    They are always a source of learning and inspiration.

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  14. Great idea, thanks for sharing it. Your mother must have been thrilled.

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  15. What a really fun idea! And thanks for sharing- so fun to see your little bits and bobs gathered up together!

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  16. Hello Hilary,

    What a great way of using scraps and offcuts! Your mum must have had a great time opening her Advent Calendar With A Difference.

    Thank you for linking up with Free Motion Mavericks!

    Love, Muv

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