A Gift to Love and Remember

Chers Amis,

Everyone has that special gift that fulfilled a dream or ignited their imaginations. A gift you never forget and just recalling it brings the child in you rushing to the surface in a bubble of joy and elation. The very best of these gifts are made by the hands of someone who loves you.

When I was a little girl, my Mama and Papa (gramma and granpa) made my sisters and I the most beautiful handmade gifts you can imagine. Mama was an artist who designed crafts for major ladies magazines in the 50's an 60's. She was a veritable Martha Stewart of her day and Papa was a retired doctor who loved to woodwork. Together, they were Santa's North American elves and their handiwork, extrodinary. There were wooden puzzles, pull- along camel's and horses with a real fur manes, jointed, painted wooden dolls in matching outfits, a fully-furnished Barbie doll house with a bathtub that drained, custom cabinets, upholstered couch, and even mini framed artwork on the walls. One year they lead us blindfolded into a tiny oak grove on the hillside where we found a wooden deer with leather ears and a tiny tea table and chairs shaped from old logs for outdoor parties. It was amazing.

My very favorite Christmas gift came in a pink cardboard carton. It was a box of dress-up clothes, marvelous, ridiculous, fabulous clothes that Mama had carefully selected, sewn, hemmed, tightened, clipped and fitted for my sister and me. I can't even remember if I was 7 or 8 when we received them because they were used for so many years of fantasy and play of all sorts. Here are some of the things she included:

• long calico wrap-around aprons with matching sun bonnets
• bouquets of plastic flowers
• a bridal veil
• a white dress
• petticoats and crinolins
• a shawl
• a mink stole - with a head!
• a fur cape
• a purse
• gloves - white, long purple, mittens
• high heel shoes - probably size 4 or 5
• a dressing robe
• a blazer
• dresses
• bracelets and necklaces, pins
  
• a lei
• wigs
  
• hats for tea parties
• assorted blouses and skirts
• glasses
  

If you have little ones who love to play dress up and act out scenes from their favorite books, this is one gift that they will treasure and that will hold a special place in their memories. The key is to tailor the pieces to their size and to include a variety of items that will allow them to become a whole host of magical personalities.

1. Make a list of themes/characters/books that they would like to explore and list clothing items or accessories that would bring it to life. This is your consignment store, Salvation Army, garage sale shopping list.
   
2. Measure the arm and leg lengths and waist measurements of their current size. Keep these measurements with you as you shop so you can determine if a piece can be resized easily.
   
3. Go shopping. Have fun and never rule out a funky item if the size and price is right. Look for props too - a cracked tea cup and saucer, plastic house plants, gardening gloves, rope, lunch boxes, lace curtains, etc.
   
4. The hard part - hem sleeves and skirts to a comfortable length allowing a wide hem that can be let out as they grow. Adding velcro or hook and eye clasps in place of broken zippers can make them easier to get in an out of which can be very important to Moms. This does not have to be expert sewing, Ladies.
   
5. Collect the sundries that make play convincing - old monopoly money in a worn wallet, a small spiral notebook and pen, broken calculator or camera in a bag can help a reporter or business person. Old place mats or table cloths and a votive candle, a restaurant make. Be creative!
   
6. Fold and arrange the pieces in a durable box that will survive the adventures.
   

Voila! A handmade gift to love and remember.

-- Marjorie

PS - I will be sharing more homemade gift ideas later this week, check back.