Monday 25 November 2013

Totes by Two… or Three.

Scarily, the end of the school year is approaching stupidly fast. People always say time goes faster when you have kids. But I think time goes into warp speed once those kids start school. How is it possible my boy is nearly at the end of Kindergarten?! Surely I only just finished sobbing while making his bag tag for the first day of school.

Anyways. Moving on. With the end of year approaching, it’s also time to work on teacher’s gifts. I’ve decided to go with tote bags – they are fairly quick and easy to make and I won’t be heartbroken at the thought that they might not be used by the recipients, or instead be given to kids to play dress up with or carry mud pies in. Or something.

Tote Bags with applique

These will be given to the teacher’s aides who work in my son’s classroom. I have also made a third one for the casual teacher who has been a fairly regular fixture in the classroom these past couple of terms while the classroom teacher has been filling in as Acting Principal.

Leaf applique on tote bag

So I went with some simple boxed corner totes, decorated with raw edge applique. I used Sun Print Bike Paths for this leafy one. These prints are such pretty, vibrant colours! I think they pair beautifully with the light grey.

Colour strip on strap

I added a little fleck of colour to the straps too to brighten them up a little. I wasn’t about to sacrifice too much of the Bike Path fabrics to make the straps all in that pretty fabric!

Arrow applique on tote bag

More Sun Print fabrics for this bag – Feathers this time. I used a similar shape to the one I made my Winterbound quilt with (side note: I will be sharing the finished quilt and listing the pattern for Winterbound very soon!).

Tote bag insideTote bag straps

You can tell I made these bags at the same time – similar fabric pulls – right down to chevron linings!
And the third one – simple little hexies using True Colours by Joel Dewberry. For some reason I didn’t get a photo of these three bags altogether. Probably because I made them at different times.

Hexie tote

So that’s the gifts done for the teacher’s aides and casual teacher. Nice and easy. Oh I do need to remember to sew the inside closed before I give these away!

As for the teacher herself… well I am in a bit of a debate. I had made a lap quilt for her, but now I’m wondering if that’s a bit over the top. She has been a fabulous teacher and really made my son’s first year at school a great experience. I had a lot of worries sending my boy to school, not sure how he’d fit in with his various issues. We were fortunate enough to get a teacher who not only knew what SPD was, but someone who had a special interest in it. So she definitely went above and beyond to help him settle, and find strategies that worked for him. Hence my thinking she is totally quilt-worthy.

Koi Constellation[6]

This is the quilt I made with the teacher in mind. Making quilts and gifts for people you know is hard. Making them for people you don’t really know is SUPER hard. Having no idea of tastes, style, favourite colours… it’s all a bit of a guess and a hope that it will suit. So I guess my debate is less a debate and more about my trepidation to give it to her not knowing if she’ll like it or not.

Fortunately I have 3.5 weeks to get over myself and just give it to the teacher like I originally planned. Or make myself crazy deliberating over it. Oh the dramas we quilters face!!

31 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness you are so generous! My poor mother was a teacher and got bath oil balls that my sister and I spent all year popping (much to my mother's disgust!). You are amazing!

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  2. If I was still teaching, I would think this the most wonderful gift!! I only like green things, but I would love this quilt because it was made especially for me, and every time I used it, I would remember your son and that you valued my efforts during the year. It is lovely. Nice bags too, I am just sewing some bags for the nurses who look after our group!!!

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  3. Oh you should do it!! She will LOVE it.

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  4. Lovely gifts. I think giving quilts is a bit like giving art - it should say as much about you, the giver, as be about matching their tastes. And it is not like giving a dress, where they really have to like everything about it to enjoy it. Who would not like getting a quilt, even if they would not have chosen to buy it? And a recipient would have to be very churlish not to want to use it. And your teacher doesn't sound churlish - look forward to giving it, and then enjoy the moment!

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  5. It sounds like your son's teacher deserves such a beautiful gift, I would have trouble parting with it ;)

    I understand your dilemma though as I often make something and then worry if it is 'not enough' or 'too much' flipping back and forwards between these two worries on the same item. I recently made aprons for my daughters friends in her baby group as Christmas presents and then spent days looking for cookie cutters and ingredients to go with them, as there are 11 to buy for it was getting expensive and a big worry and in the end I realised I had already made a big effort with handmade aprons and I needed to just wrap them up and let the parents decide if they were for baking or painting or even never to be used.

    So my advice would be to put the quilt aside ready to be gifted and focus your energy elsewhere as you have no control over how your gift will be received but you have given beautifully.

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    1. That sounds like lovely gifts for your daughter's friends! And yes the aprons sound perfect on their own!

      Thanks so much for your kind comment and advice - I think you're very right!

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  6. Beautiful gifts Kristy!!! A quilt is something that everyone loves! You chose a beautiful fabric line and a great pattern that is well suited for any taste :). Wrap it up, she will be very touched by your hand made goodness!!!!

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  7. WOW, Kristy, these gifts are fantastic. A great teacher deserves something wonderful like that quilt or even those totes. Nice of you.
    My son is now 18 and is finishing up with school. Time flies once they go to high school. Now its off to Music College for the next 3 years. I feel as though we're on this mad rollercoaster ride.
    Anyway, finish the idea by giving her the gift. She will LOVE it.

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    1. Thanks Janeen! She really is a great teacher so definitely deserves a nice thank you gift!
      I hope all goes well with your son's transition to college!

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  8. Well done. Your totes turned out pretty cool. Not too bright and not too boring. Just right!

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  9. she will totally love it :-) And she will be touched that you put in so much effort into thanking her - it shows you mean it :-)

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  10. I love the totes! I think she will love the quilt and it shows how much of an impact she has made this year for your family!

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  11. I am sure she will be thrilled with the quilt Kristy, the other mums giving bog-standard chocs and candles might not be so thrilled :)

    This teacher has obviously meant a lot to you and your boy and this quilt will tell her that in no uncertain terms. Hand it over with pride !

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  12. That quilt is amazing and she will love it I'm sure, who wouldn't?! The totes are gorgeous too, love the fabric on the inside! Don't second guess yourself on that quilt, you were right on the money when you made it.

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  13. She will ADORE your quilt.... it is stunning, and she will know how much love you put into making it for her!! This is no "cookie cutter" gift ... it is one of a kind and gorgeous!

    Susie

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  14. That teacher is going to be awe struck that you have given her a quilt! It's such a beautiful one ~ you're so generous to give it to her!

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  15. You would be surprised how folks get the unexpected and love it because sometime we dont buy for ourselves like we really want.. I bet she would love it because its a pretty unique piece of work and not to way out there either and it really shows talent and teachers appreciate that mostly.

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  16. Beautiful quilt for the teacher how awesome for her. Love the totes :-)

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  17. The totes for the teachers are such a great idea - love the quilt too!

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  18. Her teacher's heart will glow from joy when she receives this quilt! Gifts from the heart to the heart!
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt@yahoo.com
    ipatchandquilt.wordpress.com

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  19. I am a teacher and I would truly appreciate the bags or the quilt. Make sure you have a tag on it so she knows you made it for her. Wow a wonderful gift. You are a very giving person.
    Barb@Witsend

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  20. LOVE these!! The little pop of colour on the handle is such a great idea.

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  21. She's gonna love it, I'm sure! And judging by how you described her, she really deserves it :)
    Oh and your totes are 'totes' beautiful!

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  22. The quilt is gorgeous! I am not a teacher but my good friend is and she says the best gifts are the handmade ones, hands down. A quilt as fabulous as yours would be an amazing gift.

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  23. I had a similar situation where I made a baby quilt for a "friend" at church. After I made it, I wondered if it was too much. I tried not to watch her too closely when she opened it. She loved it and was so happily touched and overwhelmed. Since then, our relationship has become closer and I am very glad I decided to give it to her after all. I think we sometimes wonder how people will accept the gifts we make. Give it with joy and generosity. It is beautiful and thoughtful and will be accepted that way. Share your gift!

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    1. Thanks for sharing your story - that is really encouraging!

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  24. I can not imagine anyone NOT liking that gorgeous quilt! Those totes are so cute. Lucky aides!

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  25. I love your totes. So simple yet so effective. Cheers, Karen

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  26. Love the totes! I need to maybe whip some up for gifts!
    As for the quilt, it's gorgeous and she would be crazy not to love it. Who wouldn't love a handmade quilt!

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  27. I'm sure she'll love it! And the bags are fab!

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  28. The quilt is fabulous, the bags super! You are very generous. I have found when the quilt is a surprise the receiver is very grateful.

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