More on May Baskets, Making Gift Tags, Giveaway

Hope you all had a wonderful May Day!  I was surprised to see that many of you had not heard of May Day or celebrated May Day with giving May baskets.  Isn't it funny how your family/culture can have a tradition, and you just assume everyone else has it, too?  :-)  If you are interested in learning more about May Day and its origins, click here to visit the wikipedia site.  Basically, it is a pagan holiday that celebrates spring, fertility, and the like.  The wikipedia page says that the tradition of leaving a May basket has been fading since the early 20th century.  I forgot that if one gets caught giving a May basket, a kiss must be given!  Good thing I forgot about that, because as you will see, Sweet Pea got busted a few times!

We went to one of Sweet Pea's friend's house and hung their baskets on the mailbox.  She rang the bell while I hid behind a bush.

Sweet Pea ran and hid behind a bush.

And quick as a wink, she came out, because she could hardly stand it!

Her friend seemed happy to receive her little gift.

Baby brother liked his a lot, too. How cute is he?

Couldn't get a decent photo of middle brother.  He's one of my favorite kids....and he's ALL BOY!  He was either moving too fast or had his mouth stuffed with candy and made faces at me!  LOL.  Good thing I had forgotten about the kissing rule, or Sweet Pea would have owed some kisses!

We made a few more deliveries, too.  She came out of the bushes at the next house, too.  But we did have them fooled for a while!  At the last two houses, no one was home.  So, their's was definitely a surprise.  It was a lot of fun!

Did you notice the cute gift tags we made?  They were also fun to make.  I do a little consulting each year, and my rule for myself is I can spend about a third of it on a little splurge for myself...something I wouldn't otherwise spend so much money on.  The rest I put into savings for that long arm.  (I like spending it on something for myself, though.  It helps me feel like my extra work was worth something!) 

Image from http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/

With my extra moola, I bought some new embroidery software, and it came with a really nice new cutter called a Silhouette Cameo.  Sweet Pea and I designed these tags, printed them on our printer, and then had the machine cut them all out.  We also had it cut out the orange piece of cardstoc and taped the flower to it.   The machine even cut the hole for the string.  I used this wonderful video tutorial at Under a Cherry Tree blog to make the tag.  I'm going to have fun with this cutter.  I am going to use it to design and cut applique shapes, too.  You'll probably hear more about it in the not-too-distant future.

I found these nice perle cottons that matched the fabric to tie the gift tags on.  Don't you just love this color combination?  I will tuck these away to use fo rmore projects in the near future.

Before I leave you, I need to share one more May Day idea with you...  You know how I am participating in the Aurifil Designer of the Month sitcheries?  Well, check out the May stitchery:

Photo used with permission from Thimbleanna.

Look at this adorabe May pole stitchery!  I just love it!  It was designed by Thimbleanna, and the free pattern for the stitchery can be found on the Aurifil website.  But if you go to Thimbleanna's blog post about it, you can see that she made the little stitchery into a May basket and filled it with flowers.  May baskets are traditionally filled with flowers and/or sweets.  So, if you prefer, you can make a May basket and fill it with pretty flowers to give away.  I think this May basket is adroable and will definitely be making one as a May day decoration for our house.  I love it!  Thank you, Thimbleanna for this beautiful design and for allowing me to show your photograph!

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY....

Because I ordered three kits for the Heart Cone project, I have three copies of the pattern.  I am giving one to a friend.  But, I'm going to hold a giveaway for the other.  If you would like to win the Heart Cone pattern that I used to make my May baskets, just leave a comment.  I'll draw a name on Monday, May 7 and send the winner a copy of the pattern.  Good luck!

EDIT:  THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.  THE WINNER WAS LYNN!  CONGRATUATIONS LYNN!

Well, tomorrow I'm off to Wisconsin for the big Sewing Weekend at Nancy's Notions.  I will be staying with my SIL, Linda (SisLH).  I probably won't have a post for you until I get back.  Have a great weekend!

Until next time,

 

Comments

[Thimbleanna]

Thanks for the shout out Girlfriend! And how stinkin' cute are those pictures of the kids??? Sweet Pea looks like she's so excited -- what a fun tradition that you are continuing!

[Myra]

Sweet Pea is so cute! Love the excited look on her face while hiding behind the bushes!

[Donna]

Sweet Pea is adorable delivering the baskets. The children are adorable also!
I have a Silhouette cutter too but an older version. Amber and I had the best time with it and I still use it ... so many things you can do with it!
I would love to win a pattern of the baskets ... so cute!
Now I am off to download the embroidery pattern!
Hugs,
Donna

[Deb]

Looks like Sweet Pea had a wonderful time surprising her friends! She's adorable! have a fun fun time away this weekend at the sewing retreat! I'd love to be entered for the pattern.

[Lynn]

Sweet Pea looks like she had a great time delivering the May baskets! My P. would really enjoy that too. Maybe next year so sign me up for the giveaway.

[Allie]

How adorable is your girl, waiting for the door to open - the kids look so happy!
Don't enter me in the give-away girl, I need to make some of the stuff I've already won, lol!

[jenclair]

The faces of the kids with their May baskets are just too cute! What a joyful post this is! Sweet Pea and Mama Pea make a great pair.

[terriaw]

Looks like a fun day! Love those baskets and those tags too. You two are so generous and sweet.

You're going to be so close to my house this weekend! Nancy's Notions is about 30-40 minutes away. But I'm going to Door County for the weekend. Darn. Have a fabulous weekend!

[Terri]

I need another project like I need a hole in the head, but what the heck: I'm in! You inspire me!

[Deb]

How cute are they? One really nice thing about doing a blog is that you always think to take pictures and have something to jog your memory when it gets fuzzy. Thanks for the link to the Maypole pattern!

[Jodi G.]

Cute little May baskets! What a great thing for you and your daughter to do together.

Thank you for a cute giveaway and a chance to win.

usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

[Gill]

What a great post! it looks like you all had a great time!
I would love to win a copy of the pattern!

[carolld]

I've heard of May Day but have never given gifts. What a cute idea. I love the ones you made. Sweet Pea is adorable! Great post! Have fun with your new toy!

[Hueisei]

I'd love to win the pattern. So kind of you. :)
Thanks.

[Maggie Szafranski]

Have fun this weekend!

[Susan]

What a wonderful tradition to revive! I love the baskets, and would love to have the pattern to make them for any occasion. Your cutter-helped tags are marvelous, too.

[Jane Pennala]

Loved your post about the May Basket experience! Looks like you and Sweet Pea had a great time with the deliveries! I would love a copyof the pattern!

[Doris]

I had a May Day party at my house last week, someone tried to tell me that May Day was an Iowa/Midwest thing which I don't believe is true... I'll have to follow your link to Wikipedia to confirm!

So cute, count me in for the giveaway!

[sheri (berry) mcculley]

When fabric and paper crafting come together, I'm in my element, and I see that you are too. Love seeing the two working together so cutely on your May Day baskets. Very fun! Very cute!