Handmade Holiday 2013 -- Received

We did very well in the "received" department of handmade gifts this year.

First this bright and cheerful quilt, made by my mom.

And, of course, the requisite grammy jammies.

For E, my dad made this lap desk.

The impetus was a story E was writing a couple of months ago, and a brother battle over a similar, but not nearly as nice item that Z had already claimed. Right now it's being used as a Lego desk, but I expect (or hope) the writing bug will grab E again soon.

For Z, my dad put together all of the pieces and parts necessary for building a screech owl nesting box.

Which he and I put together this weekend.

My mother-in-law painted this edible plate, which is really a big gingerbread cookie.

C's stepmother's husband (it's a long, complicated story), turned this cherry burl bowl on the lathe for us,

And made this mortar and pestle for Z, who is currently obsessed with herbs.

And finally, M made these t-shirts for C and me, each with our sandwich preferences. He also made a mix CD for his brothers (lots of Van Halen, Weird Al, AC/DC, and Cake. Boys!). This is where I've been hoping all of these years of holiday making would get us--where the boys take their own initiative and make something great with whatever talents and materials they can get their hands on.