Handmade gifts 4: family and ornaments

 It has been awhile since I sewed a book. I was so excited about this project. I actually had the idea for it at the beginning of the summer. It is actually one reason our summer was so fun. I kept thinking about the book, so we did super fun things and took lots of pictures all summer, because I knew it would end up in the book.
After binding the book, I put pictures in. One event/outing/vacation per page, then labled it.
The kids weren't very excited about it, but at least I can get it out and prove to them what a fun summer we had if they ever doubt :)

Also, I put all of the Christmas stuff up in the attic today, WITHOUT GETTING PICTURES OF THEIR ORNAMENTS! I also didn't get pictures of the ornaments the kids made for us.
I make them an ornament each year and now it will have to wait until next year to document it. I made Zoe and orange Converse shoe. She loves orange and Converse shoes. I made Liam a dove to signify his baptism this year. I made Lydia an apple to signify her starting Kindergarten. Felix got the alphabet embroidered on some felt because he is OBSESSED with the alphabet. He carried it around for days naming all the letters on it.

Books! Also 100th post!

A few months before I got married I took a bookbinding class with my Dad, my friend Amy, and some of my siblings. It was super fun and just the kind of thing we enjoy.

I am so glad that I learned this art and while I am far from proficient I can still throw together a pretty cool book.

I sewed all of my kids baby books. I have made several photo albums and all of my journals since I learned how. There is something really special about having those personal memories in a book that you made.

I made Liam a book for Christmas in which to write his stories. Ever since then he has been asking to learn how to make a book.

So I put it on our list of projects for summer.

 Here is Austin with his book that we made covered with the paste paper we had made a few days earlier.

 Liam with his book that we made. Also bound using the paste paper that we had made.

It turned out really neat. I am thinking that I need to get an inside shot of the book, this could be any old book!
It has been ages since I have made any books, so I was really glad that Liam pushed me into it. Now I have several projects that I am excited about that include bookbinding.