What About A Casserole Carrier!?!?

Okay, so you've seen the t-shirt quilt, but what I didn't show you yesterday was the shower gift from ME.  Before I show you, I must tell you that I really, really enjoy giving gifts.  For me, it starts with coming up with an idea or theme; then it's shopping for or making the item or items so the gift becomes tangible; then it's about seeing the recipient's reaction when they open it.  I just get a real thrill from it all.  When you really think about it, some of the best highlights of life are surprises - so I guess it's all about the surprise and the quest to make it happen.

I'm also known for giving cookbooks as gifts, which, by the way, is no surprise to my friends and family anymore. LOL.  Well we have to be known for something?  So I started with my usual search on the Internet and found an awesome cookbook entitled, What Can I Bring?  by Anne Byrn, which I reserved for pick-up at my local bookseller.  This book was rated pretty highly and thought it would be perfect for a young couple that entertains and socializes quite a bit.  I also thought to encourage them to use the cookbook, they would need something to carry their dish(es) in, so I did a search on casserole carriers and found the blog TAYLORMADE at http://www.itstaylormade.com/2011/10/casserole-carrier.html, which ultimately took me to the tutorial:  2 Little Hooligans at http://www.2littlehooligans.com/2010/10/24/casserole-carrier-tutorial/.  I then made my casserole carrier incorporating features from both of theirs.  Here it is:

And of course I picked up a casserole dish to put inside.  So my themed gift for potluck became a real gift--not just something I had in mind.   By the way, the gift-ee loved it! 

T-Shirt Quilt Reveal

Today was my friend's daughter's bridal shower.  And if you are a hopeless romantic like me, you'll agree there's nothing like getting together with family and friends on a special occasion like this--second best only to weddings.  (Yes I'm sappy.)  I do have to admit that it has been a little while since I've last attended one--a bridal shower that is.  This one was especially significant to me, aside from being a part of honoring the bride-to-be, who I watched grow up with my own kids, I had contributed indirectly to her "big" gift that was going to be from her mother and father and I couldn't wait to see her reaction.  You may remember a few weeks ago, I mentioned I was making a quilt for a customer and that I would be showing it to you when it was done.  Well I was finished with it several days ago but decided not to post it until now because of the off chance my friend's (also customer) daughter, Danielle, might visit my blog and see it before she was to receive it, and that would have been a bummer.   Here is a picture of it immediately after I finished it.

Anyway, back to the shower . . .  the package with her quilt in it was to be opened last, so Danielle's mother and I were patient yet anxious to see her reaction.  Talk about waiting for "the reveal!"  Ahhh, the moment finally came, and, of course, there were tears of joy and Danielle was deeply touched.  She was so surprised to find out that her mother had saved all of her t-shirts since the age of four participating in various sports all the way through her college years, AND to also have them made into a quilt brought on the waterworks!   Being there and knowing that this will be a quilt she'll cherish for the rest of her life was really pretty cool.  I was so happy to be able to witness that moment.  I took pictures!

Mother and Daughter

Great job mom (Rhonda)!  Rhonda and Ben, you two are awesome parents!