crafts & knitting · general stuff

gifts

Sorry not to have posted sooner. Poor old Toby is unwell yet again and has been off school since last thursday. He's just been lying in my bed and wants me to sit with him every waking moment – which is actually rather lovely as I get to look after my boy and have the perfect excuse for doing nothing but knitting and reading. H has been doing all the cooking and housework and keeping Amy occupied – I'm very lucky as he's great at stepping in at times like this and is my perfect team-mate in the parenting game!

Anyway, I wanted to show off the beautiful gifts that were hidden inside those lovely delicate packages in my 7 days of specialness swap.

Swap gifts from Japan

Chloe Patricia was so thoughtful and chose such lovely items: a beautiful Japanese handkerchief, delicate note-lets and postcards, 3 little packets of aburatorigami (I had to look that up – they're incredibly efficient, tissue thin sheets of paper for gently absorbing oils from your skin. I've never come across them before but they were invented in Kyoto over a thousand years ago and they work brilliantly) and lastly I was thrilled to find four of Chloe Patricia's exquisite handmade silk thimble pincushions.

Pincushions

Each one has a different complex and beautiful design and when you hold these in your hand you are staggered by the perfection of the intricate and tiny stitches. I love all of my gifts, especially as they represent a culture very diverse from my own and I will treasure them, thanks so very much Chloe Patricia.

25 thoughts on “gifts

  1. Ah, Toby. It’s funny how someone who breaks your heart is also the thing that holds it together. I hope he mends soon – it’s no fun to be sick. Maybe at first. But it soon palls. Lovely when they want you, though – I remember that I was relieved sometimes that they were holding still. So I could too. Still and warm and close. Bless him.
    I hope the gifts were like little lights for you. February should always be about little gifts and promises of hope and spring.

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  2. Ooh, what wonderful loot!
    I love face paper/aburatorigami too! It’s so handy, and doesn’t make your skin feel all yucky like powder can do.
    Those pincushions are really beautiful.

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  3. Those thimbles really are gorgeous – wish I could have a go at making one – I found a website sort of showing how they were done -separating the area into sections and then putting the detail in – but it’s the actual “ring” they are sewn on which I assume would be hard to come by.
    Hope your little boy is better soon – boys always want their mums for a cuddle when porly – mine are the same – the little one is like a limpet when he’s sick.

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  4. I hope Toby is feeling better….it’s so hard to see your children sick. Although it sounds like you have a few benefits on the side if you get to snuggle up and knit! The glass has to be half full sometimes doesn’t it? Your swap gifts look wonderful. Lucky Ducky!

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  5. Those pin cushions are like little gorgeous little chocolates 🙂
    Hi – I have been inspired by you and Little Cotton Rabbits to pick up my knitting needles after a good 8 years absence – it was the photo of the circle of stocking ornaments that finally did it 🙂 I am slowly working up to knitting a rabbit egg cosy…
    With the stockings, I have been having a bit of trouble picking up the stitches – Row 32, photo steps 3 & 4 – would you be able to give some hints on how you make yours look so neat.
    Thank you – I enjoy reading your blog a lot and hope Toby is feeling better with all that mummy love 🙂

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  6. Poor Toby. Thank goodness for husbands at times like that, eh?
    And I was addicted to those face papers when we lived in Japan – they are great in hot weather when you feel your face is melting!

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  7. what lovely gifs you received, especially those pin cushions. I hope Toby id feeling better soon – it must be tough for you all when he is poorly. We are both home from hospital now and Evie is doing well – haven’t got the knitting out quite yet as I’ve overdone it already and need to rest! Lesah loves her baby sister and can’t stop kissing her. Was Amy like that when Toby was born? Thanks for the well wishes on my blog.
    Kind wishes to you all
    Esther x

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  8. Hope that Toby feels better soon. Hope that you are ok too – know how stressful it can be having poorly kids – Jake was ill so much as a little one.
    Hope you all have a good half term.
    Alison

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  9. I hope Toby is feeling better today.
    I invite you to enter my Valentine giveaway. You could win a pink, bead-knitted purse, hand-knit by me, with a chocolate bar charm.
    S.W.A.K.

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  10. Sorry your lad’s still not feeling good. I do hope he’s on the mend now.
    Your parcel looks wonderful and those little pincushions will look lovely together, all in a row.

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  11. Hope as I am a little late to this post that Toby is now feeling much mire himself. You have some very special treats there much deserved Julie
    luv kat xxx

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