I am Lily - stitcher and part time bookseller. Mother to my gorgeous girl, Abigail and wife to Julian. I make time each day to let my imagination potter and add quirky prettiness and handmade comfort to our home and lives. You can email me at lily(at)blockaday(dot)com
making memories
It’s the eve of Father’s Day here in Australia and I am busy putting the last stitches into Julian’s Father’s Day gift from Abby and I. This time last week, there was not even an inkling of this present. I really did not have a clue what to give Julian - he’s not really into the quilty side of life, very appreciative and complimentary about all that appears around the house, but receiving some handcrafted textile is not really his cup of tea. Hmmm … what does he like - old push bikes, cameras, challenging non-fiction - but he seems to be able to garner plenty of that for himself. I want a present that sings of him as a dad, reminds him of the happiness and contentment that we find in our daily life, and will be something he can share with us. A game perhaps? We have quite a few.
And then I visited Reverse Garbage (a fabulous recycling centre down at West End) and found some lovely short lengths of wood, the edges nice and bevelled, and only $20 a kilo! I figured $2 worth could give me something to play with. At first, I was seeing little houses, lined up for Christmas or Halloween. Then I wondered about picture blocks for my nephew. Finally i realised - a memory game for Julian for Father’s Day, using some of our photos from this year.
I printed …
And sawed …
And sanded …
And mod podged …
And made a label for the back of each block.
Now, I’m finishing the ends on a wee bit of quilty-applique that adorns the front of the drawstring bag I’ve made to keep the blocks in - 27 pairs, that’s how old Julian was during his first year of fathering :-)
Hope he likes them! I do - I love them - and as I’ve been applying the coats of mod podge, I’ve been having little daydreams about playing Julian’s memory game with our grandchildren - and explaining the stories of each block. Ah, I’m such a romantic. :-)
5 September, 2009 at 12:34 pm
wonderful idea! I am sure Julian will play this with your grandchildren some day :) how could he not?!
5 September, 2009 at 2:44 pm
What a great and thoughtful gift. So sweet.
5 September, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Oh what a lovely and meaningful gift! I see you have a proof sheet of photos; how did you print that off? I am looking for a way to get that size photos to put in my girls’ backpacks (a different one each day) for preschool… How fun to revisit a year in photos with the ones you love most!
5 September, 2009 at 10:08 pm
What a wonderful gift! In a million years, I wouldn’t be able to come up with any of the thoughtful ways you create, Lily. Julian loves them, no?! Happy Father’s Day!
6 September, 2009 at 3:19 pm
What a delightful idea - a present to cherish for years to come. I only wish I had one small iota of your talent and resourcefulness. I have just spent the afternoon covering empty Illy coffee tins as per your blog of a couple of weeks ago. Delighted with the results!
7 September, 2009 at 1:11 am
This is just such a fantastic gift! It would be lovely for so many family members. Thanks for sharing it. :)
7 September, 2009 at 6:16 pm
What a fabulous idea! When things settle down here (Someday??) I want to make some of these!
8 September, 2009 at 12:45 am
oh my goodness!!!! what a lovely, lovely gift!!!
8 September, 2009 at 4:14 am
This is a great idea! How could it be to make memory game of fabrics???!