After locking myself in the craftroom all day, I've emerged with mother's day cards and gifts (breathing a huge sigh of relief here). Of course, in the case of my mom, I still need to get to the post office to mail her her package—and therein lies the problem because I absolutely hate going to the post office!—but at least I have a package to mail to her now!
Experiencing a shortage of money-bearing trees in our yard, I needed a cute and inexpensive project to make. And since grandmothers seem to like nothing more than even more pictures of their grandkids to share, I decided to make some fabric-covered brag books for them. I already had some older, but still very cute, Alexander Henry fabrics as well as a few of those cheapy-plastic photo albums. I just needed to sit down and think about how to make covers for them. And, honestly, that took me about an hour. Or more. Okay, definitely more! :P My mom—who is an excellent seamstress, by the way—can just make sewing projects up as she goes along. Me? I'd end up stitching my hands closed into something (with no way of ever retrieving them back out!) if I wasn't careful. So I definitely had to think and plan a bit before.
Anyhow, by the time I finished two "trial" ones, I got the hang of it. And you know what? I totally love them! I made a set of three for each of our moms and then a few extra just because. Towards the end, I fooled around with adding some ribbon along the spine and even sewing ribbon onto one to use as a tie. They make me so happy with their fruity prints! :)
As for the cards, I usually make a little mini-album every year ("from the grandkids") with some recent pictures and drawings in it along with a coordinating card from Jack and I. Lacking inspiration & motivation, though, I was seriously going to pass on making them this year...but somehow I let Jack talk me back into it. And in the end I'm glad he did simply because I know our moms will appreciate it. :)
I have to get going anyhow because we're supposed to be putting in the paddleboat this afternoon and Matthew is about to pee in his pants if I don't get off the computer and get outside already. You know how it is with eight-year olds, don't you?
Hope everyone is having a nice week! :)
oh, could you please share with ud how you did the fabric covers for the little albums?! {do the albums just slip inside the fabric covers?}. And those little tag albums with the kids artwork etc are just gorgeous! Thanks for sharing - and glad to see you are back bloggin! Have missed you!
Posted by: Sharon | May 07, 2009 at 06:54 PM
i love these! they're so cute! they make me happy looking at them too. lucky harlmuni!
Posted by: jean | May 07, 2009 at 07:19 PM
very cool, margaret!
love the mini too...
Posted by: moon | May 07, 2009 at 07:28 PM
Look at you, talented girl. Gorgeous as always!
Posted by: Candice | May 07, 2009 at 09:41 PM
WOW these are amazing!! i wish i knew how to sew so i could come up with these creative gifts. i love craft projects but the one thing i can't do is sew or use a sewing machine :T awesome job...i especially LOVE the cards! so creative!
Posted by: sarah cho | May 07, 2009 at 11:47 PM
hi~ it's not so much a business as it is a hobby. well that's how it started out anyway, and then we started getting lots of orders and couldn't afford to make them for free anymore :( anyhoo, next time there's a Chung Clan gathering (maybe for the holidays again??) i will bring some! although, the chung clan already has pastry chefs that could probably whip up something even more delish! ;)
Posted by: sarah cho | May 08, 2009 at 01:53 AM
does everything you touch turn to gold or what?! the album covers are adorable & the mini-albums are just precious. aren't you glad jack talked you into it?!
happy mother's day!!
Posted by: amber | May 08, 2009 at 04:45 AM
CUTE! CUTE! CUTE!!!!
you've some secret mad skills!
Posted by: Stacy | May 08, 2009 at 07:19 AM
what lovely gifts to give :), I really do love the little tag books are superb - I love the colour choices.
Can we see inside the mini albums? just to be nosey on how you constructed them? :)
Posted by: Toni-Ann | May 08, 2009 at 09:45 AM
having looked closer I now understand!!! really, i should pay more attention. Your sewing is awesome, esp the topstitching - am very impressed.
Posted by: Toni-Ann | May 08, 2009 at 09:47 AM
you don't have to go to the post office - have the post office come to you with free carrier pickup
http://www.usps.com/pickup/welcome.htm?from=home_shipstartfinish&page=requestfreepickup
I use it all the time. Print the postage at home, pack the box and leave it on the front step! Love it!!!
Posted by: Christi | May 08, 2009 at 09:58 AM
oh.my.word.
these are amazing!
you are so incredibly talented.
i must ask for the dimensions if you get a chance. i have wanted to make these forever for my mom and myself, but i am too lazy to figure it out.
that is some of my most favorite Alexander Henry fabric and i love the touch of ribbon.
the photo tag books are amazing. you are such a wonderful daughter and daughter-in-law.
happy mother's day, my friend!
Posted by: melissa deakin | May 08, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Oh wow, your sewing project is VERY impressive. And your mini tag album... I love it. I so want to make one now. :)
Posted by: Barb | May 08, 2009 at 05:01 PM
Is there anything you CAN'T do?! Lovely lovely lovely gifties! Your mom is a lucky lady!
Posted by: Cheryl | May 09, 2009 at 09:48 AM
it's not bragging, i looove all of it. The albums are so useful and cute and I really love the ring with the cards of pics and drawing the kids did. How cute is that. Please post more of your beautiful projects. Really really cute rita. Hope hoonie has a happy b-day...I remember he and Celine were pretty close. :)
Posted by: anne kim | May 10, 2009 at 06:23 PM
You are SO awesome!! I love, love, love the books and cards:) Wish we lived closer. The kids could play and we could make stuff (or at least you could teach me). Happy Late Mother's Day to you!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 11, 2009 at 09:15 PM
Beautiful!!! thanks for sharing your ideas.
Posted by: JennieB | May 13, 2009 at 07:48 AM
hi rita, those are BEAUTIFUL!!! i wish i was creative enough to give something like that to my mom...
Posted by: gina | May 21, 2009 at 03:22 PM
OH my heavens, those are adorable!
Posted by: Angie Lucas | July 14, 2009 at 04:11 PM