Saturday 11 December 2010

2010 teacher gifts completed!

My last post generated plenty of comment, much of it empathy and encouragement that I am not the only one to leave things until the last minute at this time of year! The 'pencil roll' gifts were completed and delivered to respective teachers. At least I know that they won't 'double-up' with this gift!
Teacher gifts 2010
Kirsty at You Had Me at Bonjour rather cheekily commented on my last post: "Ha, ha, yes I seem to remember a post like this last year??" Hmmm, well yes :), last year, and the year before and the year before! You have a good memory Kirsty! Each year, they vary just a little depending what pens/pencils I can source. The thing that doesn't vary is my last-minute stitching! The pens I have used this year are Stabilo fineliners, in lots of colours, perfect for easing the drudgery of marking for primary teachers. 
'Pencil' roll
Cherry Red Quilter asked how long it took me to find just the right colours to match the pens. Dare I say, they are all from my rather extensive stash?! I have been quilting in some form or another for 15 years, and have a fabric collection to match!
Teacher gifts 2010
Quiltilicious of Little Island Quilting has excellent eyesight, particularly when it comes to fabric! She said, "Great to see someone with fabric that goes back as old as my collection...I can spot some Jinny Beyer '2000' fabric in there ;-)" Great spotting! There is a piece of bright blue Jinny Beyer 'Millenium'. And there is a story that goes with this fabric. It was purchased originally for this quilt. Never again will I purchase fabric with a date on it, in this case '2000' printed all over. When I presented the quilt to my son in 2004, he quick as a wink calculated just exactly how long it had taken me to make it!
Teacher gifts 2010
I had two pencil rolls to make this year, the 'cow print' version being for a man, the spotted one for a woman. I recently had an email from someone lovely hoping that I would be writing up a pattern for 'my' pencil rolls.  While I would absolutely love to be able to do a pattern for these, they are unfortunately not my original idea. I would be treading on thin ice from a copyright point of view. I can point you in the right direction though. The idea originally came from the lovely Kathy Mack at Pink Chalk Studio and she has some simple instructions on this post.
Teacher gifts 2010
I jazzed the pencil rolls up with some very cute downloadable tags by Amy Moss at Eat, Drink, Chic.

Naturally Carol commented on the amazing job that teachers do, 'teaching all those kids, day in day out'! Absolutely!! I am married to one, and I know the inordinate number of hours devoted to this most admirable of professions. A pencil roll at the end of the year is small recompense really, but given with sincere gratitude! 

25 comments:

  1. I too am married to a teacher (used to be one myself in fact),so it is nice to read comments that appreciate the work they do.
    Love those pencil rolls.

    ReplyDelete
  2. They really are gorgeous - well done on getting them finished in time ;). I imagine at the start of the school year there is some tussling in the staff room over who gets the Bloom kids in their class - all the teachers will fight for them, wanting a fantastic Christmas gift! (Plus I'm sure they are lovely kids!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for addressing my comment! My mother was a primary school teacher and my brother is presently a high school teacher and I know how much both of them pour their energies into the profession. I was just thinking that if there has to be a date on a fabric, the year of the millenium at least is a memorable one, don't you think...it will be a very interesting date in generations to come!

    ReplyDelete
  4. As a former educator, I would have loved to receive such a gift!! My pencils, which I still use extensively, continue to be housed in a ziplock baggie! I would never have thought to make one, let alone for myself. (Who makes things to keep?) I love them, esp. how well the fabrics match the pencils. ~karen

    ReplyDelete
  5. "A+" from this retired teacher!! What an incredible gift!
    Take care!
    Paulette

    ReplyDelete
  6. These look great! Something I have been meaning to attempt , maybe next year - I have said 2011 is going to be both productive and creative!! School finished on Thursday for us but luckily the teachers are there for another week so I can drop their gifts off!

    ReplyDelete
  7. don't we all leave things til the last minute to get them done..........LOL.........they look great........

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would love one of these pencil rolls myself, just because they are such beautiful eye candy!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh wow, I hadn't noticed the colour coordinated and pieced inside before! These must have taken you ages!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh my goodness! I've been teaching special ed in elementry school for 33 years and have never received such a wondrous gift! Your child's teachers are sooooo lucky! They are pure eye candy! Polly

    ReplyDelete
  11. great idea for a gift. Wish I had the time.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I want to be one of your children's Teachers ;) I shouldn't be greedy though, not with the GORGEOUS Frilly Dilly bag recently arriving at my house! Thank you sweetie.
    love Janelle xx
    PS Extensive Stash - LOL

    ReplyDelete
  13. I agree Kirsty (@Bonjour)! I wish your kids were in MY class! Much as I love chocolate I have to admit I would love to receive one of your pencil rolls! Maybe I should add one to my 'to-do' list!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Those pencil rolls are so adorable. I loved your post....us quilters who have been quilting a long time can appreciate a stash that goes way back. It's pretty bad when we remember the name of the collection..who it was by and the date. Sigh! Is there any hope for us?

    ReplyDelete
  15. You do a Beautiful Job matching the Fabrics with the Pencils...I Love these as Gifts..I'm sure the Teachers do Too...
    cheers

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a creative idea - I love them!

    ReplyDelete
  17. As a teacher, this is one of the best gifts I could get. The teachers who get these gifts are lucky indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love your website. I haven't been here before. Looking forward to the book.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love the sewing mat and thread catcher! I always leave a trail of thread everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Couldn't decide which looked better - the recipes or the projects!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I enjoy your recipes...good luck with the horrible floods in your country.
    Good luck with your book!

    ReplyDelete
  22. What an amazing gift! I love this! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. wow that is stunning! just found your blog and so glad i did! count me in as your newest follower!

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Blogging tips