~Grins~
Have I mentioned yet how much I love to laugh? How laughter to me is more sustaining than air? That I have a incredibly warped sense of humor and find some of the most inane things funny? No? Well I do!
Making 5 gifts in 10 days with my family was just about insane. The follies were many, so many that I doubt any of us will ever forget.
BUT
with out further adieu…
Our gifts to you…
#1 is from my 15 year old. You remember him, the crazy kid who was Santa for the humane society, who dealt with 100’s of people with out losing his cool or his groove, who yesterday whispers to me…” Mom, if nobody wants what I made, don’t tell me okay?” …he makes me remember all those deep moments of insecurity with profound gratitude that I am No longer in that place.
He hand dyed the fabric, pieced it together and then embroidered it. It is 14×14 inches and shades of blue..
I think he did a wonderful Job, but I am mom so my opinion counts more. ( just not to him)
#2 Is a collaboration between my daughter and I. She is itching to get into my glass. She has no fear what so ever of being cut, I think she just wants to figure out how to smash, mangle, cut and control glass to get it into the shapes she wants. That and it’s so pretty!
These were her two sketches she did…
It’s the light of heaven shining down on earth.
It’s the Solstice fire lit to bring light on the darkest day of the year.
We combined the two ideas into this:
It is roughly 15×13 including the frame! ( which T hand made), and will have 2 eye hooks to hang it in a window as soon as I get to the hardware store.
#3 Has a very funny story that goes with it. T hand made the frame , he also is the photographer of the collard lizard. I had matted the Photo and was waiting for the polyurethane to dry when the youngest sat on it and totally trashed the photo and matte. You will not be getting the ruined version.
It is a 5×7 photo matted up to a 8×10, the finished frame dimensions are 13×11 The frame is made of a rustic cedar.
#4 Was a simple and fun project, it is homemade soap and a homemade crocheted washcloth. The soap is made from olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, sodium hydroxide and peppermint essential oil. This is a staple at my house since more than one of us can not handle the artificial ingredients in store bought soaps! The crocheted cloth is made from preshrunk 100% organic cotton, and even though it says preshrunk on the package, they always manage to shrink…go figure.
#5 The last and final gift is a piece of pottery made by yours truly. It is a wall hanging that is 11×8.5 leaf
the caption reads “Live with intention” .
These are 5 gifts made with love and laughter.
They are for YOU.
To restate, We have made these gifts for anyone who wants them. There is no charge. We will ship them any where in the world. ( so feel free to spread the word where ever) Our only request is that you pay this forward and do some good where ever you are . Please feel free to either leave a comment telling which one you would like or email me at over the next few days. We will take all the names, put them in bowls for the corresponding number item and on Saturday December 15th we will draw names and I will contact you so that you can send me the address you would like the item shipped to.
I can not thank you enough for participating in this, it has been so much fun for all of us.
If you would please let as many folks as you can know about this so that they might participate it will make it even more fun for my kids! ( and me too!)
Blessings in Abundance to all
If you would like to read the back story please go here: X
Hi. You don’t know me, but I am fellow artist. I like the idea that you and your family took the time to make artwork and to give them out for the holidays. It is a great idea!
I’m interested in the “Live with Intention” piece. This is a striking piece and love the caption. If it is still available, I’d love to hang it in my art studio at home. It is a very inspirational piece to look at.
Your post has made me want to give some handmade items on my blog or website as well. I’m planning on working on some jewelry items in the next week and want to give them away.
-Jessica
I think they are all wonderful. How could anyone choose?
They’re all just wonderful and I would feel honoured to have any one of them!…but the leaf with it’s quote really speaks to me! How generous of you and your family to do this. Your son’s pillow is so beautiful…love those soft blues…and the stained glass celebration of solstice…Wow! What a great idea to pair a crocheted cloth with a bar of soap and the frame with photograph of nature is so beautiful too. Love all your creations.
What a talented family!
I love everything you have here, Sorrow, but the Live With Intentions spoke the loudest to me.
If it isn’t spoken for, that is
I promise to pay it forward, for sure
Jessica~ I am so glad you stopped by and thank you so much for your kind words, It brings a smile to know that our efforts to give love this year are well received. I have put your name in the bowl for the leaf ! The kids will be drawing a name on Saturday! Abundance of Thanks!
Terra~ I have put your name in every bowl!
Kate~ A big Hug to you! My son was tickled to read some one liked his color choices! We have put your name in the bowl for the leaf!
Dearest Grace~ Thank you sweet for coming by! I have put your name in the bowl for the leaf! I know you pay it forward every day !
HEY!!! You mean I can have my name in for ALL of them??? Count me in! I didn’t read all the other remarks, and I see the Leaf as very popular…but I LOVE the stained glass and the soap, too.
(hummmm you could call me a greedy wench if you want, but I’ll deny it
…)
Of course i will put you in for all of them, It increases your odds, right? giggle, it’s not greed when it makes kids feel good is it?
Holy crap! Those are all fantastic! You are a most talented family and each thing is beautiful. Could you put me in for the pillow, stained glass and the leaf?
Gees. I just looked over all of them again and you all are really great artists. Thanks so much for doing this. I’m glad it was fun for you, because it sure is fun for “us” too!
((((Hugs to all of you!))))
Wow, I just came here from reading your comment on my blog, and I was thinking that what you and your family were doing was so fantastic. It captured to me what the holiday stuff is supposed to be about (but rarely is, at least in my experience), and I want to point my mom to this and say “see, this is what it is supposed to be, and this is why I think we should stop the gratuitous gifting!” (we have to give each other lists, you see, and it is altogether meaningless!)
I saw the beautiful pillow that your son created, and I wanted to assure him that anyone would be thrilled to get it. I kept reading, and realized that you were giving these beautiful gifts away! And that really just blew my mind. You are such a creative family!
I’d love to have my name put in the hat for the stained glass and the pillow.
You know, this was exactly what I needed to read today. Maybe there’s hope for this global community thing after all!
BRAVO…WOO….WOO…TOOT…TOOT…APPLAUSE….APPLAUSE!!!!!!
Do you what so “special” about ALL these pieces?
The LOVE ENERGY that you can feel radiating from them!
Each and everyone of them is a masterpiece of it’s own.
They ALL in some special way, speak to me. And being a Libra…I can’t make up my mind. So if you would, please select anyone you feel drawn to…and place my my name in that bowl. I’d be grateful to have any of these treasures!
What a freaking fabulous thing for you to do, Sorrow!
Love and Blessings to you and your children,
Ron
Okay, we both know I’m a hypercritical, self-absorbed, elitist snob… and so this coming from me is no B.S. because I don’t give unwarranted praise…
Please tell your tall-kid that I looked at the pictures *before* reading the entry – and scrolled down to the bottom of the page to get caught up on you…
But my thought scrolling past those pictures was to stop for a moment and glance at that pillow and think “How lovely! That doesn’t look anything like her usual work – but wow, I love that! Okay, now don’t look at that, you know you can’t have it… scroll on, quit coveting.”
Then I read up, and got to that post and realized that those were the pay-it-forward gifts you were talking about – and that while ALL of them are absolutely gorgeous – that one? I’m in love with it. I’m going to hate desperately anyone else that gets it. I detest getting attached to works of art I can’t have.
I believe in paying it forward – there’s a meme like this on LJ – but I haven’t committed because right now, I can’t find my own feet, let alone commit to something.
So don’t put my name in the bowl, because I’ll give, but I can’t accept right now. But tell him I’m madly covetous of it – and he should keep doing more of those!
Beautiful things, Sis.
You all are the best.
Peace Love & Light,
=RD=
Sorrow, if you saw me now, you’d see a woman with mascara-smeared tears running down her cheeks. You’d see a woman humbled by the amount of LOVE that each of you have put into these gits. You’d also see a big grin that appeared after reading each story that went along with your adventures. But mostly, you’d see a mom who knows that the mom in you will treasure each moment of what you’ve just created with your family…awareness, compassion, hope and humanity. There are no better gifts to pass it forward…Goddess bless you all Sorrow.
peace and shakin’the tree,
Lil xo
ps. Please don’t put my name in the pot, I just wanted to let your know I see your LOVE.
pps. Your gift is on it’s way next week!
Sorrow…would you pass on these words to your children for me…
Dear Son & Daughter, through each of your gifts…through each stitch and each stroke of your brush, you’ve created something out of the LOVE and COMPASSION that is anchored in your soul. These aren’t just objects to be put on a wall or shelve to be admired for their artistic beauty, through them you’re letting your heart speak to other’s hearts.
T H E R E A R E N O B I G G E R G I F T S I N T H E W O R L D.
from my heart to yours,
Lil
Jasmine~Thanks for the ray of sunshine! Can’t tell you how much the kids are digging on the “very talented!” Your name is in the bowls!
DEB~I am so glad you stopped in, been reading you for a while, but your last post caught me enough to comment, Technology is another double edged sword of humanity isn’t it? We here have had to create our own holiday experience because of the diverse religious backgrounds that we come from, but I think anyone who needs to create there own celebration can do this. many blessings for a love filled Holiday! Your name is in the bowls! Thanks for playing!
Ron~ My kids are bowing…Can you see them? what goof balls! They are thrilled you like their offerings and that you know how much Love and Fun went into these! We have put your name in a bowl! Thanks so much!
Geekmommy~ so glad to see you hon! Tall one was tickled with your comments, but bummed that you didn’t want your name in the bowl for his pillow. (I’ll continue to try and explain this to him, it’s hard to relate this to kids, especially when they are pumped up to give!)I know you pay it forward every day! Give Mr. wonderful and your short person our love!
Brother Rainbow!~ good to see you! Thanks for the love, do I put your name in every bowl my friend?
I have to bow out, Sis…
Thank you – I love everything, but I can’t do it this year. My life is just too messed up at the moment. I have to see where I’m going from here.
You have such a great family and so talented. I’m sure that all these wonderful gifts will find an excellent home.
Peace and Bright Blessings,
=RD=
Sorry to hear bro, but I completely understand!
Lil~ My daughter wanted me to tell you that she thought your words were beautiful and thank you for sharing them with her! She thinks you would make a good friend!
Everything is so pretty, I love it all. I smiled the entire way through, while also reading and drooling (over the gorgeous creations) of the post. I would like my name in for the pillow if I may. I would be more expressive if I had the energy…I was up most of the night baking and spent the entire day manning the bake sale table at the Imp’s school…I’m tired, but overjoyed by how amazing you and your kids are. *hugs*
Thanks Radiant One, Go get some rest! Your name is in the bowl!
How could one ever pay forward such an enormous gift? You have an extremely talented and giving family that I wouldn’t know how to match something so extraordinary. I firmly believe in the “pay it forward” mentality and challenge every reader of your blog to follow suit. I know MHQ has the talent, and I’d bet everyone has some special spark withn them that they could share. That said, I would like to put my name in the bowl for the stained glass piece because in my mind it combines the two different forms of spirituality that reside in my home. I promise to do my absolute best to truly pay it forward. You are amazing!
Sillygeuse~ Thanks so much for stopping in, your name is in the bowl! My kids are so Amazing! They put up with their Bohemian Mom who tries so hard! Many thanks for helping us make magic this year!
This is such a great idea and they are all wonderful gifts! The whole concept is a great gift to us all, thanks for sharing your talents and the talents of your familys.
What wonderful gifts.
What a great way to teach your family the meaning of giving.
It feels very hard to say I want any of the beautiful items. Which feels churlish when so much efort has gone into making them, I know. I don’t mean it to be, just not in the right place to be able to do it.
Or maybe it’s my English reserve.
whatever… don’t know.
Love
pix x
Pixie dust,
Now what pray tell is English Reserve? Sounds like a cologne or maybe a high priced bottle of wine.
snort.
Don’t sweat it love, it seems a lot of folks are put off by the idea. If you perused the comments more folks stopped in to say something nice than to give us the opportunity to give! LOL
Can’t say I understand it, but then I’ve been told a time or two that i don’t have a clue about the ‘real’ world…
Thank you though, for coming for a visit and giving the gift of kindness through your words1
The kids and I appreciate it!
To be me~ You are so welcome, It’s been an interesting attempt!Thanks for stopping in !
I had to giggle! My kiddos don’t really know what to do with their momma either. Darn Crazy Lot of Us! Hey thanks for the add. I’ve been reading your posts for quite a while as MHQ mentions things from time to time. She’s my absolute best friend and I am lucky to have her and now be added to your blogroll! I suppose slowly but surely we all find members of our tribe! Many Hugs! ~SG
**So who’s going to win???????
** ( no idea..:)
If we are a tribe, What do we get to name ourselves? something catchy I hope?? ~Gins~ My kids saving grace is that they have been exposed to so much weird, normal will probably seem weird to them too!
They are wonderful gifts, Sorrow – and the joy is evident !
This is fantastic!!! count me in! It seems to add so much more to any holiday to surprise people. Actually any of the items would find a place in our home. Thanks for thinking of this and sharing it here. If my name gets to go in a bowl, close your eyes and let the bowl pick. … don’t think about it too much. It is always perfect!
Mikaelah
Hello!!! I’m making it in just under the wire, pheww! I humbly ask that you put my name in for all of the gifts….I think they are marvelous and beautiful, all of them. But it’s your whole idea, this whole concept that’s intrigued me and made me think think think. The giving of our Selves, sustained throughout our lives….you are teaching your children well, Sorrow. And you inspire me to be a true presence for my children.
All of you are peace workers…
Chantal
You know that pillow has all the colors I love, blue is my favorite color and it would fit so well on my blue sofa.
Those are all such beautiful gifts, but the blue pillow is my favorite.
[...] Sorrow and her children has made some beautiful gifts they are giving away for free to anyone who pays the thought forward and does some good where they are. This is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is not tinsel and glitter and buying more than you can afford, it is about making someone happy by doing something good. [...]
I, too, would be honored to have any of these beautiful items. I so especially love the handmade piece your son made. How gorgeous! The stained glass is stunning! If my name makes the bowl in time, I will love participating. Either way, I am going to pay it forward based on y’all’s gracious example alone.
Shu
Loving Annie~ A heartfelt Thank you!
Mikaelah~ Thank you so much for stopping and playing!
Chantel~ Never ever to late for you!Thanks for the kind words and supporting our fun!
Susie~ what a sweetheart! thanks for spreading the word ! I can not express enough How much fun it is for all of us! Your name is in the bowl!!
shussmallworld~I read your words to my kids and The 15 year old said ” She gets it.” Swet boy, and now so does he!
Thank you so much, abundance of blessings to you!
They are all wonderful gifts! Could you put me in for the stained glass please? And if I should be so lucky to win it, I would like it to be sent to a woman who is having some family difficulties right now. Actually, if I don’t win it, is there anyway I could commission you to make another one for me? Thanks for sharing your gifts!
Miu~ Your name is in the bowl, and we will gladly send it any where if you win. That piece is a one of a kind, I made it with my daughter sorta on the fly~ I don’t think I could make it again.
[...] magic of love Last month Sorrow posted on her blog about five gifts that she and her family made that she was giving away in a drawing where anyone could enter. The [...]
[...] gift. Thank you… If your interested, here are the posts from last year, The idea and the gifts… Published [...]
I love your gift giving idea! The pillow is my very favorite! I will pass the idea and giving forward whether I win the bea-u-t-ful pillow or not. Love and Light to you and your circle of family and friends!
Deanna
[...] Sorrow, awesome woman and mother that she is, announced that she was pulling names from a hat and giving away five wonderful family-made gifts to people who signed up to have their names put in the hat. The only catch was that the winners had [...]