My husband, Brett, gave me one of the sweetest gifts of all time this Christmas. I’ve come to realize that you do not need to spend a lot of money to have an extraordinary gift. My two most favorite gifts from my husband (aside from our children and my wedding/engagement rings) have been handmade and truly from the heart. The first was when he wrote 100 things he loved about me. He put this list into my Christmas stocking and I unrolled it like a scroll…….the whole thing was so poetic and was just perfect. And the other favorite gift from him came this last Christmas and I’m excited to share it with you today!
Fabric Silhouette Art
I wasn’t sure what Brett was going to get me for Christmas this year because I really hadn’t asked for anything but a new robe (exciting, right?). I just had mentioned that I didn’t want any generic gifts and to be honest, at this point in my life, there isn’t a lot that I need. So I was absolutely blown away when I opened the Fabric Silhouette Art that Brett had created of our four children. First of all, I couldn’t believe he had gotten so crafty and I was just so impressed that he thought to use fabric in this project. Secondly, he had REALLY listened to me……..I had mentioned these wooden silhouettes that I really loved, but I didn’t purchase because I couldn’t stomach the price for all four.
This gift was incredibly thrifty. He used a manila folder as the cardstock for the art. He traced a silhouette of each child onto the manila folder and used an exacto knife to cut out each child. Then he backed each silhouette with fabric. Brett said he let the kids pick out a fabric that they liked for their silhouette and I think their choices are so fitting. He found this frame that I had picked up at a thrift store several years ago in our attic. I hadn’t used it for anything, so it fit the art perfectly. I may clean the frame up a tad eventually, but I was pretty impressed that he found a frame to use that we already owned.
Each one of the kids is captured so perfectly in this silhouette. Savannah’s tall sophistication, Matilda’s sweet little hands clasped in front of her, Caspian’s distinctive profile and Josephine with her little sprout on top of her head. My sweet babies.
This Fabric Silhouette Art picture is now one of my very favorite possessions. It’s in my studio right now. I haven’t decided exactly where I will hang it, but I’m going to keep it with me, so I can look at it while I work and remember why I do all I do………for this precious, precious family of mine!
Lindsay Wilkes is the owner and designer behind The Cottage Mama. She creates timeless, vintage inspired sewing patterns for children’s clothes. She is also a fabric designer for Riley Black Designers / Penny Rose Fabrics, author of the book ‘Sew Classic Clothes for Girls’ and can be seen teaching nationwide and online in her video series ‘Lessons with Lindsay’ sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing and Embroidery machines.
I love what thought your husband put into this gift. So much more valuable than $$$$. I think he must be related to my terrific husband.
He’s a keeper Lindsay! LOVE it.