Author: Cheree Larson

 

I made this throw-size quilt for my mother-in-law for Christmas a few years ago.  Each square has a person in our family, pictured as a paper doll. Some of the people have tools of their jobs (keys for a locksmith, stethoscope for a nurse, chalkboard for a teacher).

Some have objects that represent talents or hobbies (musical instruments, gardening tools, a pan of homemade rolls).

The kids have their pets or toys.

I’m not a great seamstress, and certainly not a good quilter (as you can see by looking at the photos).  I appliqued with a zigzag stitch on my sewing machine.  Even lacking skills, it sure was fun and I still think it’s cute. If you are a quilter, you could have a great time with this project.  The grandkids love looking at it and pointing out all the people they love.

 

When my husband’s mother only had two grand babies, we made this bowl for her Christmas gift.  She loved it!  We went to a make-it-yourself pottery shop called Color Me Mine.  We designed the bowl beforehand.  My brother-in-law, claiming to be the least artsy, took the babies on a walk around the shopping center while we painted the bowl.  Then he returned so we could paint the babies’ hands and feet.

We all signed our names on the bottom of the bowl.

We left the bowl at the shop to be glazed and fired.  We went back the next week and it was finished! This is a large serving bowl, so it’s practical as well as fun!