Kauna has Christmas Sweaters for men and women in all the holiday shades and patterns at faMESHed. Everyone needs a Christmas Sweater for holiday pictures, parties and holiday cheer.
Until glaucoma took away her ability to see the details, my mother knit a sweater for me every Christmas. I can remember most of them. My least favorite was a traditional Scandinavian pullover in red, white and blue she made for me when I was in 3rd grade, even then my color palette was subtler than that. My favorite was a longer tunic sweater she knit in a dark sienna with a Scandinavian knit border print from hip to mid thigh with sienna, pumpkin, cream and dark forest green. One of the most stunning was one she knit of variegated yarn that through serendipity happened to have the exact number of stitches so the yarn formed a gorgeous argyle plaid pattern on the front panel. She knit a gorgeous lacy shell one year that was so soft and made with such fine yarn I could squeeze it into a ball in one hand. The last one she made before her vision dimmed permanently was a soft dove gray, seashell pink and white Scandinavian cardigan with silver buttons. I loved my sweaters and their loss is one of the harder losses from our house fire.
That’s why I dislike the “Ugly Christmas Sweater” trope. How can a sweater made with love ever be ugly?
The plaid shoes from Nardcotix at Arcade Gacha are the perfect fun, casual choice for a Christmas sweater and jeans. Yes, these are the old jeans that were SLink’s first mesh offering. So what? They are gorgeous.
We didn’t give many gifts in my family. I would get one present from Santa, the sweater from my parents and two dollars from my uncle who lived with us. Amongst my siblings and nieces and nephews, we drew names so that on Christmas Day we each got one present. Most of those were homemade since the spending limit was $5 per present. I remember most of my presents from Santa, a bible, a quilt, a tea set, a rock collector’s kit, a microscope, an archeology kit and then as I grew older, a terry bathrobe, a coat, and other practical gifts. I remember the last Christmas present from my mother, dishtowels she sewed little button loops on so they can hang on the refrigerator handle and a pound of organic popcorn she bought direct from the farmer.
I love the casual good looks of this hair style from Truth. The earrings are part of the With Love Hunt. From U&R Dogs, they will look just as great with an elegant gown.
I was unaware of how “deprived” my Christmases were until I watched a new roommate inventory her “haul” the first winter we shared a house. Coming home from her family Christmas, she spent the morning unpacking three suitcases full of presents, almost all clothing from Eddie Bauer, Nordstroms and Meier & Frank. Sorting them into piles by store, she took a moment to ask what my parents had sent. I showed her the popcorn, homemade maple syrup that my dad had collected from the forest behind the house and my mother had cooked down, wild rice my niece’s husband had gathered and dried and a painted jewelry box my sister had decorated with rosemaling. She was nonplussed that someone would get so little. Then she packed up her take from her family and ran off to the three stores and traded everything in for store credit. Somehow, I think I valued my gifts far more than she valued hers.
Wow! Those earrings are fab! And the new Carolyn skin from Adam n Eve is out today, so get over there and try on the demos and find the one you love.
It never occurred to me to trade in a gift. It never occurred to me to judge a gift by any metric other than the love that sent it to me. I would love nothing more than Christmas after Christmas receiving only a bundle of hand-crocheted dish cloths if it meant my mother were still here to give them to me. Now, it’s true that my sister sometimes sends me wacky gifts, but when I see them, I see love.I see that they are things she loves and would like herself. They would fit in her home perfectly and she wants to share that with me. And really, if you can’t incorporate an antique doll carriage shaped like a pig into your home, you simply lack imagination.
Store info at Blogging Second Life
****SHOPPING LIST******
Poses: Reel Expressions (store has closed)
Skin: Adam n Eve Skins – Carolyn T2 Sorbet
Makeup Tattoos: Adam n Eve Eyebrow Tattoo Red T2
Adam n Eve – Freckles
Eyes: Insufferable Dastard
Lashes:Lelutka
Mani/Pedi: Leverocci
Hair: >TRUTH< Nyx w/Roots – quince
Clothing: Kauna – Winter Jumper: Snowflake Red Fameshed
Shoes: NX-Nardcotix Gacha Good Old Shoe Plaid (Arcade)
Jewelry: U&R Dogs :+*R*+: Snedronningen Pierced Earrings (With Love Hunt)
I love love love this blog to death,
I share the same opinions…my grandma every year gives me cheap jewelry from AVON, that I know I will never wear, but I keep it because one day she wont be around and I have something by her that I cherish, same with my other grandma who makes me Native American jewelry..I would never wear it but love it all the same.
Perhaps the old quote, “It’s the thought that counts.” should be reworded to “It’s the love that counts.” because that’s what makes gifts precious.
This post made me tear up and laugh out loud, I even read it out loud to Whimsy because it was just perfect. I have traded gifts, the ones that were last minute efforts to just be credited for remembering an event, or just been so horrifyingly awful. They weren’t love gifts though…I know my friends too well and can spot the difference.
My Mum has always been a card person, my whole life from the cards we got when I was born until now, I still have them…they mean the world to me, and when my Mum only gives me one I get so upset ( she tends to usually give me like 5 -7 ) one year she bought them early and hid them and couldn’t find them, I was a mess. The presents from my Mum are never the gift, the gift is her, every single day ♥
Your Mum gave us a special gift too, YOU ♥ thank you Cajsa for sharing your heart.
xoxSasyxox
Awwww, thank you. Yeah, I cried while writing this post, so much so my cat tried to eat my tissue – I think wanting all the salt. hahaha
That was such a special, moving post and it makes me extra proud that one of my products was mentioned in it! Thank you Cajsa!
Thank you, Sachi. The skin with its fresh-faced freckles and that touch of red in the cheeks that could be from the cold outside was what prompted me to wear the sweater.