The spirit of giving is alive and well.
Thank you all for how you care for others at Christmas and all throughout the year.
The winner of my Random.org drawing was Sherry from the blog "Adventures in Life". Check out her blog here! I hope the fun Christmas package will make it in time for her to put that ornament on her tree!
Best wishes, Blogging Friends.
See you in 2013!
As we prepare to receive more than two children can absorb or should be given (the nature of grandparents, aunts, and very generous family and friends), I am trying to help my children process how we give.
Above is a photo of my daughter's "Giving Tree." The ornaments are hand drawn with pictures of the following ways in which our family has given this past year:
- A gift box- for all those birthdays we've celebrated
- A cross- for our giving at church
- A "No Cancer" sign- for our donations to organizations
- A clock- for our gift of time to others
- A hug- for the most generous thing my children give
- Tuna Fish- for our donations to Concern for the Hungry and the church food pantry
- Clothing, hats and mittens- for the Hurricane victims and others
- Quilts- for my giving (NOTE: See the November 29th blog piece about "The Mitten" and our preschool teachers.)
- Finally, a blank ornament for the new ways in which we will give in the future.
As for you, my quilting and internet family, I am offering the following as part the Quilting Gallery's 2012 Blog Hop Party Give-Away:
The prize is six fat quarters of Christmas fabric to help replenish your stash and a Woven Snowflake Ornament from Penny Marble Quilt Design.
To enter the drawing please leave me a comment below about your favorite type of giving this holiday season and WHY it is your favorite.
The winner will be announced on Monday, December 17th, 2012 and yes, I will ship internationally.
Special thanks to Michele Foster for the idea, her awesome blog, and the encouragement to continue both our blogging and our giving.
Merry Christmas
&
a very Happy New Year!
from
This Quilting Mama
from
This Quilting Mama
P.S. My pastor passed this link on to me for those of us who want to give more. It is amazing the power of a sewing machine and all that it can provide. Check it out:
Give the gift of sewing
Give the gift of sewing
Love your giving tree - when my kids were little, always took them to a 'gift in need' tree to pick names for gift giving and then help with the shopping. And now they are grown and teaching their children the same thing.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite way to give is quietly under the radar by surprise annonomously [sp].
ReplyDeleteThe reason: the recipient[sp] doesn't know where the gift came from and if money is tight, they don't feel embarassed about not returning a gift to the giver...Extends the 'magic' of Christmas beyond childhood.
sowingstitches [at] gmail [dot] com
My favorite type of giving showing my girls that there is more to Christmas then toys. Giving them the ability to think of others and not be only thinking of themselves.
ReplyDeleteI tell friends who want to give gifts to me to instead give to the charity of their choice. I have many blessings, and fell great that others will benefit.
ReplyDeletei love to just give family friends chartities
ReplyDeleteI love to give when it's unexpected. We'll bring cookies we've made to an older neighbor or the ladies at the library. Every year we bring a turkey and all the fixings to the church, for a family in need. Last year our library adopted a family in need for Christmas and many of us bought gifts for them. We try to teach our son to care and be a giver. Merry! Merry!
ReplyDeleteI love snowmen and your fabrics are so cute! I love giving to families that our church helps during Christmas. It shows God's love to others. Thanks for the giveaway! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI love giving hand made items to those that appreciate it. Unfortunately most of my inlaws treat these as ho hum gifts.
ReplyDeleteWe give presents and christmas dinner to a family that cannot afford it, and keep in touch with them through the year.
ReplyDeleteI love to give (and receive) handmade gifts - so much love and care goes into them!
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends decided this winter to get everyone in the group to donate money to Heiffer International and send a girl to school instead of getting presents for each other. We all have too much stuff, and it felt like the best present to give rather than receive. Thanks for such a generous giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I save money every month for our charitable giving and get to give it all away at the end of the year -- it's so fun!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite type of giving is the type that you can not receive any specific tangible gift in return.
ReplyDeleteFor example...we'll be caroling at a local rest home...the children will play their instruments and we'll sing. Why? Because it brings joy to the hearts of those who cannot get out and enjoy the season. When they smile, it warms your heart. I think those are the best gifts...they only cost your time...and yet they mean so much to others.
Thanks for a chance to win.
I love giving homemade things. Especially when the gift was made with the recipient in mind.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite type of giving... tithing! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love your giving tree! I have 8 cute & colorful quilts ready to drop off for Project Linus - that's my way to serve. Thanks for your giveaway.
ReplyDeletewe give to cancer research because so many dies from it!
ReplyDeleteI give to the pompiers (fire brigade) because they are volunteers and you never know when you'll need them :O)
ReplyDeleteI love to give (and receive) handmade gifts - so much love and care goes into them!Plus my family is growing I have 2 new daughter n laws and they are setting up house and a new grandson and I am helping with the nursery. I love christmas, my family lives close to me and seeing them grow and celebrating it makes me so joyful
ReplyDeleteI love to give quilts. It just makes me feel good to know that someone will be kept warm and feel loved when they receive a quilt.
ReplyDeleteWe love to give to those that are having a tough time providing for family. We send them a gift certificate for groceries just before Christmas. It is enough to provide a complete meal that will also provide lots of leftovers.
ReplyDeleteLove the Christams fabrics. Thanks for the giveaway.
Good Lucj to all.
I love to give to a needy family without embarrassing them in the form of food or clothing, we have all had times when we need help in some form and at times it is just a shoulder to lean on .
ReplyDeleteI love to give acts of service because I've been given so many myself.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part is making gifts, then it is from the heart.
ReplyDeleteI volunteer a lot of my time for Girl Scouts and the elementary school. I love to be around the kids and help where it is needed.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I always volunteer at the soup kitchen and we also pick Christmas angels and buy gifts for them. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite type of giving would be giving homemade and handcrafted things - even cookies!! I think at our age we do not need 'stuff' anymore - but food or something usable and handmade is much more appreciated and thought out.
ReplyDeleteI love giving homemade gifts to people that appreciate it. And knowing that it was made especially for them makes it extra special! :)
ReplyDeleteI like to just offer a hand with something going on that someone needs help with!
ReplyDeletehulseybg at gmail dot com
We always try to do something at Christmas for those who are less fortunate than us - invite them to our house, or take round food to share etc. It is a great way of teaching our kids that the one whose birth we are celebrating came as a servant.
ReplyDeleteI love to give plates of home-baked goodies to our neighbours and friends and service people. Afraid it won't happen this year, as we have had two months and going strong of sickness, hospital stays and recuperation at home in our family.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of a Giving Tree! I'm trying to help our boys (5 and 3) get past the "I want ___ for Christmas" and understand what it's really about and how to give to others.
I like giving my time to my local animal shelter. During the holiday season, a lot of dogs come into the shelter, so volunteers are desperately needed.
ReplyDeleteThe giving tree is a wonderful idea! I give to many charities and donate food and quilts here and there. One year I'd like to work at a shelter or a dinner for the hungry, but for now my family wants me to celebrate with them. Thanks for a lovely giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI gave my time to special needs teens. I helped them sew a Christmas stocking and to see the smiles on their faces was so rewarding. A great gift for all of us.
ReplyDeletektreve (at) hotmail (dot) com
I love making mug rugs and give to my friends. That is a special gift to show my appreciation :D
ReplyDeleteMy favourite type of giving is choosing gifts with my 2 young children to leave under the K Mart wishing tree - never knowing who will receive them but knowing they will help to make someones Christmas really special :)
ReplyDeleteMy fav gifting is giving from the heart
ReplyDeleteMy favourite giving is the ones that I make myself and I am encouraging my children to hand make gifts too. I think that handprint pictures, and salt dough jewellery from children is a wonderful gift.
ReplyDeleteThe school I work for identifies families that need help. We then make arrangements to give to those families that need help. I like this because the donations of the gifts are made anonymously and the families are just happy without being indebted to the givers.
ReplyDeleteAll my life I have made things for family and friends. One can put love and caring into each gift. Sometimes being poor is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteI volunteer at my animal shelter all year but during Christmas not many people stop by because they are busy so I give the pups extra love. Vivian
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of the tree. We help with gifts for seniors in our area. They are always so grateful and seem to be neglected during this time of the year.
ReplyDeleteThe giving tree was a great idea! I love to give handmade gifts made just for that person. We also give money to different charities.
ReplyDeleteI love giving gifts I have made even small things for a few reasons Christmas has become way to commercial I refuse to feed into that by doing massive amounts of shopping. Second I thing that people really think you have given some thought to them when you craft a gift suited to them.
ReplyDeleteI like to give homemade gifts. thank you for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteI really love the Christmas tree and thoughts behind the ornaments. It is so refreshing to see this and bring back the essence of Christmas rather than perpetuate the commericalism. I love giving hand made gifts. People realize you have put time, thought and effort as well as love into the gift. That's what Christmas is all about.
ReplyDeletelove that giving tree! Thanks for being part of the hop.
ReplyDeleteHi: I like making things and giving them....food, sewn objects, especially. I like to have people in, listen to good Christmas music (choirs) and burn candles. I like giving more than getting at Christmas time.
ReplyDeleteI like making gifts that are useable and appreciated. I also volunteer year round.
ReplyDeleteour church has a giving tree and we pick a name. Then the kids all decide what part of that gift they would like to take care of.
ReplyDeleteToys for tots. Children deserve to get a gift from santa, even if their parents can't provide one.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of giving this Christmas will be seeing my two daughters, my mother and my sister all opening their throw quilts that I have cut, pieced, sewn, and quilted. It's been a year long labor of love!
ReplyDeletelisamcgriff (at) hotmail (dot) com
Every year our church does a giving tree from families in need. We have our children help buy and wrap the presents. Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet giveaway! My favorite Christmas giving is packing up gifts (usually basic stuff like clothes, with a small handmade something thrown in) for nursing home residents without family/friends. Our church gathers up names and delivers presents, and it makes me happy to think that somewhere someone will actually get a surprise present that might brighten their day.
ReplyDeleteI love giving homemade gifts. I usually volunteer to work on Christmas so that one of my co-workers with little kids can stay home and have Christmas with them.
ReplyDeleteWe do 12 days of Christmas, just little gifts for 12 day to a few neighbors. It works better than an advent calender for a count down to Christmas. Thanks for chance to win.
ReplyDeleteOur family likes to "adopt" a less fortunate family at Christmas time and make their Christmas a little bit merrier by providing some things that they otherwise would not be able to afford. I always include one of my quilts as a gift.
ReplyDeleteLove your giving tree. I bring homemade goodies to the firehouse, they are all volunteers. I make placemats for a youth care home. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletejbechosend at sbcglobal dot net
My favourite was completed today. We have a small office at work and every year we adopt a family who is having a hard time. We have a food hamper set up and collect $$ to purchase toys and clothes for the children. I went today with one of my coworkers and bought new clothes....pyjamas and jeans, sweat pants and hoodies, new socks and underwear and a fun tshirt for every day of the week!!! Tomorrow, the toys and clothes and extras will be wrapped up and dropped off. It doesn't take much to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance.
My giving is almost solely handmade. I like to let the ones i love know that I thought enough of them to invest time and materials into something wonderful for them. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI used to do the 12 days of Christmas for several families but for the last 5 years I do Christmas jars filled with quarters. I like to give anonymously. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI love handmade gifts simply because more thought and effort goes into them, that being said we put a lot of thought into getting youngest a bigger trampoline this year and he loves it!
ReplyDeleteHandmade gifts are my favorite because you can put so much love into each one!
ReplyDeleteDeborah
pinkscissorsdesign @gmail .com
I like to make small handmade things for my colleagues at school. I love your giving tree - it is a great idea to share with my young students.
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating in the blog hop.
Regards from Western Canada,
Anna
I do a 12 days of christmas each year we give gifts to some one we know delivering them each night for 12 nights.
ReplyDeleteI like giving and receiving handmade items.
ReplyDeleteI love giving handmade items. :) Thanks so much for such an awesome giveaway! Happy Holidays to You! :)
ReplyDeleteI love to give handmade, but only to people I know will appreciate them!! I also love to give surprises it's such a relief when I find out what people want and they don't think they are going to get it.... and then they do!!! Hugs x
ReplyDeleteAnonymous giving! I like it better when people don't know what I'm doing.
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! Like the commenter above me, I love giving anonymously. It's so fun to watch people get excited and wonder who the giver was. :) Thanks for the chance to win and Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI like giving to some one not expecting a gift.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance :)
I like giving things I ave made and I like surprising people with things they really want or need.
ReplyDeleteKris
I like to give away things I don´t need, to people who needs it. Clothes I don´t use, but still looks nice for example.
ReplyDeleteGun, Sweden
gun@lapp.se
Your giving tree is a lovely idea! It's so easy to forget about giving, and this is a nice reminder.
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas I like to give things I made and things the others would love to have but would never buy themselves.
I love your giving tree. We adopt families for Christmas thru our Church. Merry Christmas. Patty
ReplyDeletepaweis at yahoo dot com
My favourite part of giving is making things for others. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI love your giving tree. What an excellent idea. I like making gifts that come directly from you instead of buying expensive gifts. It is better to give then to receive. It just seems that nobody wants to spend the time to make a gift; it is just easier if you have the money to go out and buy a gift. All of us can find a way to use those fat quarters. Thank you for making this Party one to remember. Happy Holidays.
ReplyDeleteSandi T.
sandit1@sbcglobal.net
Sonora, CA
I like giving quilts to Wrap a Smile and knitted items to Mittens for Akkol. I think you can find either with a goodle search if you are interested.
ReplyDeleteI love to give charity quilts to foster children -- they often have nothing but the clothes on their backs. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway....I tell my sons to save their money; all I need is their company. But you know how that goes...lol.
ReplyDeleteWe support several missionaries throughout the year, and at Christmas when we may have extra we always include that money with their regular support. Especially at Christmas they are always so surprised and grateful.
ReplyDeleteI don't have much myself, but I give of my time. And I do donate clothes, shoes, small appliances, and coats to the local senior citizen group for them to distribute to those that need help.
ReplyDeleteI so love your giving tree. I like to surprise someone with a handmade card and gift who don't expect it...this makes it special, please enter me in your fabulous competition
ReplyDeleteacrylicss @aol.com
I'm a retired teacher and live in a very poor, rural community. We have always had an angel tree at school with needy children on it. I send the people in charge a check every Christmas and I know it will all go to the kids.
ReplyDeleteWe live on a road that has some very poor families living on it too. Every year I put an anonymous Christmas card in their mailboxes with a gift card to our local Wal Mart. Makes me feel really good. Thanks for the chance to win the Christmas fabric & Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the giving of unwrapped new toys to our local shelters.
ReplyDeleteI like to come up with a unique idea for something to make for my sister. Now, at the chance she is reading this, I can't disclose. She has sent me a bag and a beautiful Christmas Tree quilt for the wall. Hers should arrive soon. We have done this exchange for years and it's always fun to see what new thing she is up to!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy giving to those that don't expect a thing...those alone this holiday season or those who I see just in their working position.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win
I enjoy giving to those I love and who may not be expecting a gift. Thanks for the opportunity on a great draw and have a Merry Christmas. bonnielarson58(at)gmail(dot)com.
ReplyDeleteWe like baking Christmas cookies, and remembering family and our neighbors, who may not be expecting cookies. Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteI think handcrafted gifts or those that are specific for the person are the most meaningful.
ReplyDeletenicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like to give gifts that people don't necessarily ask for but suit them perfectly.
ReplyDeleteGreat tree! This year we decided to give each other no gifts but to make an special day out together and just spend time enjoying each other. I love to give handmade items like hommade jam or small quilted gifts.
ReplyDeleteEvery year we sponsor two needy family's with children for Christmas. We go out and buy all kinds of toys and cloths for the children. We enjoy giving and to us, it is our Christmas gift...buying for the children.
ReplyDeleteEvery year we choose some gift tags from the Giving Tree. My girls are out of the house now, so my husband and I miss buying gifts for younger children. This year we bought gifts for an 11 year old boy and a 9 year old girl. It was fun figuring what to get for them! :)
ReplyDeleteI love to go out and buy Christmas dinner groceries and I do this at thanksgiving also and deliver them to some dsabled and elderly people that I know. It makes me feel good to know they will be able to cook a nice Holiday meal that their family can sit down and enjoy and it.
ReplyDeleteconn_and_vans_mom(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite type of giving this holiday season is handmade because I picked each fabric and item with the intended receipient (grandnieces) in mind, and each stitch had love in it.
ReplyDeleteSince I cannot get out and about to shop, I decided on handmade and it was such fun.
well I give gifts, small ones big ones ... but I would say what I give most is time. Visiting family and friends during and after christmas does take a lot of time.
ReplyDeleteI just love to give gifts in general. This Year I am making my gifts...all of them!
ReplyDeleteI love the ideas on here. Every year we give gifts in honor of family members to help out people in countries that have so much need. It is fun to pick out chickens or goats or sewing machines to give in honor of each member of our family.
ReplyDeleteMy kids and I give angel tree gifts...I feel very good after.thanks and merry christmas. I follow via GFC vickise@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for being in this fun blog hop. Merry Christmas. Lovely 'gift' giveaway. The most I can do is give people a nice smile. You never know what kind of day they are having and just maybe a smile will brighten their day a bit.
ReplyDeleteI love to give handmade gifts and receive also) love your tree! thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love to give home made baked cookies and cakes- sweet and comes from the heart :) Thanks for the chance to win this great givaway...
ReplyDeleteI love participating in secret santa exchanges. Kind of fun to put something together for someone like that.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite kind of giving is to make all the special people in my family at least one handmade by me item. It must be something simple and useful. This tradition was passed to me by my grandmother who never failed to make all 16 of her grandchildren either a new pair of mitts or socks, depending on the need, every year for Christmas. It wasn't Christmas if I didn't get that one handmade thing from her. As the girls in the family got older, she made us hand embroidered dishtowels, tableclothes or pillowcases for our "hoping" chests. Thanks for the memories:)
ReplyDeleteOur family has a u-pick tree farm and we donate some trees to the local church and a single parent family. I love the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holiday!
thank you for this great chance. hugs
ReplyDeleteThanks a million for the wonderful and generous giveaway. Every year, I handmake all my gifts for family, friends, my chidrens' teachers and their friends too...it fills my heart with such joy when I give these gifts to them.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year. May the coming year bless you and your family with everything that your hearts desire.
Usha
usharaneem@yahoo.com
My favorite giving is : every year our church adopts families who have needs, from our community. My girlfriend and I buy coats, hats, gloves, outfits, and toys for the family and split the cost. We even bought 2 bikes for the little kids this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
Susie
legato1958@aol.com
I belong to a online charity group whose members cross stitch squares and send to me to be made into quilts. They are then given to ill children, seniors in nursing homes and a abuse center to bring comfort to those who need a touch of love. I am also so proud of my 10 year old grand daughter..last year she raised $ 1,000.00 for JDRF by folding 1,000 cranes.. she heard that if youfold 1,000 cranes and made a wish you wish would come true... her wish is to find a cure
ReplyDeleteMy favorite giving is the giving tree we have at work. It is for Senior Citizens in Nursing homes and they have so little is is fun to give to them. Probably because they are so appreciate of what we do for them each year. God Bless you this Holiday season.
ReplyDeleteLove your Giving Tree! Waht a coool idea! We don't do alot of buying, usually I make things for friends & family. Sewn & baked things. I crochet dishcloths & try to keep a supply for giving...but make Jamma's for the Kiddo's & Grankiddo's, every CHRISTmas....has become Tradition! lol Love finding flannel the matches each person's personality, likes, hobbie's (we have 2 son's that are Chef's)jobs, etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks for chance to win your drawing! :)
The giving tree is a lovely idea, and thank you for the giveaway too. My favourite kind of giving is handmade because it takes time and effort and shows that you have really thought about someone. I have kept everyhting anyone has ever made me but all those sets of toiletries and chocolates are lonng gone.
ReplyDeleteks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk
I think today that giving love is the best thing one can give. Please give all those around you love and hug those little ones and keep them all safe.
ReplyDeleteI love giving anything I have made myself and especially when it is made to suit a particular person. I also like to spend time with my family and friends over the holidays. Giving my time costs nothing but is so rewarding.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved to give handmade presents and since I began quilting I make personal gifts for my friends and family. I really enjoy doing it!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas.
I love your giving tree. That's a great thing to teach children. I love giving anything handmade and I try very hard to give something each person I am sewing for might need the item I chose for them. I don't like making the same thing for everyone because then I feel they just don't feel as special.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite type of giving is to bake, followed by sewing (but baking is SO much quicker, and consumable, so I can gift the same thing next year *grin*)
ReplyDeleteI love to make little sweet treats to give to those people who are always working in the background at my school - the office manager, the cleaner, the teacher aide). I also take a christmas decoration for each baby that is spending xmas in the neo-natal unit of our local hospital (my son was three months premature himself, but luckily we were home in time for his first Christmas.) Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI always get excited about the names we pick from our church's Giving Tree. My husband just wants to get the one item they ask for, but I know these are kids that don't have much and like to spoil them (versus the small gifts I give my great-nieces and nephews who get dozens of gifts) Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI love to give to kids who otherwise get very little. My husband give 2 BMX bikes with the guys on his shift. And I love to send dolls to orphans in the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteI love your giving tree. What a wonderful idea! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI love to pack food at Feed My Starving Children. I really like your giving tree.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is to pick the 'right" gift for that person. It doesn't matter what it is, or how much it costs, it just has to be person and thoughtful. That's what I love the most.
ReplyDeleteI love giving homemade gifts. I also like to buy gifts for less fortunate children and their families thriugh our FT. Logan Ministries program. I like your giving tree.
ReplyDeleteLove your giving tree, great idea! I love giving handmade items as I think it shows the receiver how much they are loved. They know that the giver has thought of them, picked their favorite colors, made the item they really wanted and to know they also took the time to make the item, especially for them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a great giveaway and a chance to win.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
Love your tree! I love giving gifts made with my hands to those I love. Whether it's something I've sewn or quilted, or someone's favourite cookies or a loaf of homemade bread,,there's no better feeling than giving something from the heart. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDelete