It's nearly the new year, and it got me thinking about New Year's resolutions and STUFF!!!!!!
I have the same problem every year........ someone’s birthday rocks around and I am TOTALLY unprepared for it and end up making something and sending it weeks (and sometimes months!!!) later.....or offering some feeble excuse and feeling exceptionally bad!!!!! I am known as the ultimate procrastinator...... So for 2013, I thought I’d try something a little bit different and thought, if you're like me, you might just want to join me!
Each month I will round up a number of different free patterns off the web, just simple but very lovely things, to make for birthday gifts....and each month I WILL COMMIT to making something (because I’ll be prepared!), and stashing them away for when the time is right to parcel them up and send them off so they arrive ON TIME for some lucky birthday gal or guy!
So, are you in the same boat as me??? Are you itching to join me in creating your own Birthday Love Stash???
Then here we go.....
1. grab a small calendar diary from the ‘cheap’ shop where you can list all the birthdays of the people you want to make gifts for in 2013 and do just that....add their birthdays in so you can see at a glance who you need to make for in the following month (an probably even the first week of the next month!) ...or add dates to your Outlook or other platform diary if that's easier
2. Grab my button and put it up on your sidebar, linking back to me, and on the last weekend of the month, I’ll post some birthday links.
3. Make a post on your blog - letting all your readers know about your birthday love stash plans....you know it’s a commitment we all need, and the encouragement doesn’t go astray either!!!!!
4. sign up using with Mr Linky (just use your blog name and don't forget to add where you live) so that we know who to come and visit to see the cool gifts you’ve made (remember, you don’t have to tell who they’re for, so even if they’re for another blogger, it will still be a surprise and you don’t HAVE to use the ideas I suggest, they’re pure motivators......we’d love to visit you to get more inspiration!!!)
5. Create, create, create, over the weekend and the following
week MONTH (what WAS I thinking???!!!)....and don’t forget to post about what you’ve been making either so we can all come and visit, give encouragement and get inspiration from you too!
6. Then, on the
first THIRD weekend LAST DAY of the month, ( see??? I'm modifying as we go along!!!!...a work in progress!!! ) there just might be a little giveaway for some hardworking birthday stashers!!!!!
So......are you beginning to get a little bit interested???
Here are my first few ideas for gorgeous birthday gifts for January....
.........a lovely, simple table runner designed by
Dawn Hay that can be made from and fabric to suit your ‘giftee’ despite it saying it’s a Christmas runner can be downloaded from
HERE.
And this cute little purse that I found
HERE.... (thanks Khris!!! ) and you can find the English tutorial if you click on the picture...
A needlecase for a stitching friend.....you know you can never have too many needlecases...and with Fiona’s great tutorial
HERE, you’ll have lots made in a flash!
...
An oldie, but a goodie.......
Fee has a tutorial on her blog to make some
gorgeous shabby gloves.....and if you’re like me and HATE housework, these just might make it seem a bit more bearable!!!!
....and
a gorgeous tea towel design from my lovely friend
Jen...
...
you can find it
HERENow there’s a few to start you off! Don’t forget to go and visit each of the designers and thank them for their generosity......they make our life so much easier....and they always love to hear it when their ideas spring to life in someone else’s hands !
AND.....
don’t forget to link up and join in on the Birthday Love Stash 2013 for January!
Sugary Hugs xox :O)
Can you tell we don’t get rain very often here in the dry tropics???? hee hee 
Well, what perfect weather for some last minute finishes for the year…..pity they’re not UFO’s I could claim for our Sew It’s Finished blog, which, by the way, is open for new members for 2013 if you have a stack of UFO’s and your goal is to get them done!!!! (hint, hint!) But here are two finishes I managed to sneak in for the OPAM count for December, and for 2012…and for our Birthday-Love Stash 2013….ooh how I love multi-purposing!!!!! 
This one was from the tutorial and pattern Fee had on her blog a little while back. You can even buy the coin purse frames at Fee’s Shabby Shack …such a bargain and so quick and easy! (another goodie for the Birthday stash!) 
I made this for my SIL’s birthday which I missed………in August!!!! Now you can see why I need to organise myself a little better with the Birthday-Love Stash!!! You can join with me too….just click on the link to find out more! ….and yes….she loved it! My other finish is a hot pad……. 
my very first go at hexies…I love ‘em! 
And I just adore that fabric…….”Odds & Ends” by Julie Comstock for Moda….I’ve just ordered some more from HERE I love the quotes…..practice twirling…, Find beauty in the everyday, Dare to dream big, fall in love with life, overcome, own your talent…….the list goes on!!!! 
Things I need to definitely keep in mind for 2013, which is just around the corner. 
Hubby and I are going out on the town this year, off for a full seafood banquet for tea and then to see in the new year. Can’t wait! So I’ll wish you a very happy New Year…..may it bring you all that you wish for - and some; may it exceed all our expectations with hope, love, faith, health and happiness for our world, our friends and our families. May your bobbin always be full, may your stitching never unravel and… “may the warmth and love you give, return to you all year, to brighten your days in so many ways, and fill your life with cheer!” – Helen Steiner-Rice 
Sugary ‘ding-a-ling, ringing-in-the-new-year’ hugs xox 
