It’s not very often that I use the word brilliant when talking about myself. But, in this case, someone else said it first so I’m just agreeing. (Don’t tell my mother.)
Does your family spend lots of time thinking up thoughtful and surprising gifts for one another? My family gave up on that long ago. Of course, we want to give things the recipient would like, so we send our wish lists to one another in the form of links about specific online items. But, at Christmas, my husband said he needed ideas for some small stocking stuffers for me. Coincidentally, I was in the local quilt store, when I noticed all the inexpensive items that would fit the purpose. But, how could I properly describe a particular glue, a particular pen, and specific fabric bundles in a way that my husband could ever find them? And then it hit me: photos!
So, I started taking photos of the things I’d like. First: blue-green fat quarters.
Favorite glues and pens:
Warning: These Frixion pens leave a ghost shadow on dark fabrics. I use them only on light fabrics or where the line will be cut off or covered.
Finally, a fabric bundle. I suggested that each fabric could be an individual gift and I was rewarded with lots of soft squishy packages in my stocking!
I sent these photos to my husband and he took his ipod to the quilt store. He’d show the sales ladies a photo and say “Where’s this?” Then, the next one, with “Where’s this?” and so on. They would excitedly show him – all the while exclaiming “Your wife is brilliant! Your wife is brilliant!”
My mother taught me not to argue.
Especially with logic like that.
Ellen Lindner
P.S. I got lots of wonderful gifts for Christmas, including plenty of fabric!
