holiday & bathrobe nostalgia

Shhhhh, don't tell her, but this is a little Solstice present for my babe. (I figure she's the only one who can't read the blog. The rest of the gift-making will have to remain hush-hush!). We have a little tradition of mama-made pajamas each year, and this year - hers will come with a bathrobe. She highly covets the boys', made by their Nana last year. I might have to send this one with Steve to work until gift-giving time though, because I know I am going to be oh-so-tempted to give her the bathrobe every single morning and every single after-bath moment for the next two weeks. The temptation to put her in it NOW and squeeze up the adorableness is very, very difficult to ignore. Sigh. I shall try my best. This is not my strength - I nearly always give presents away too early because I'm terrible at waiting to give them.

I remember tucking this pattern away when she was just a little tiny thing. I'm so glad to have found it in time to fit this year. The fabric is a flannel by Michael Miller. I used rickrack instead of the called-for lace, because, well, it was 11pm and there was no lace to be found in my studio. Rick-rack - yes. Always plenty of that around. The fox print under the pattern -  an old Munki Munki print - will be the pajamas.

Growing up, we always had the tradition of new (usually matching) pajamas on Christmas Eve. I remember getting a new bathrobe to be a pretty big deal. I adored the one above - it was quilted and likely polyester, with tiny flower prints all over. Funny the tactile memories we have, isn't it?

While looking for the one above, I found this one too, which makes me so happy. There are so many photos of all of us in our matching clothes posed in front of the tree. But these seemingly random ones are my favorites and I'm so grateful to whoever decided to keep them. So much for me to love in here - my grandmother's apron (oh, what I wouldn't give to walk into her house to see her in that - I can still smell it), the matching red velvet clothes, my dad's crazy pants, and me - being the bossy little one that I was. We put on a Christmas pageant every year at my grandmothers big holiday party, and I was the director. Every. year. My cousins and sisters are just about now forgiving me.

Continuing my little trip down holiday memory lane, I'm very honored to be included in the Winter '07 issue of Small Magazine - the beautiful and inspiring online children's design magazine. In this issue, you'll find my Mama's recipe for the not-super-healthy, but oh-so-yummy ambrosia. Canned fruit and marshmallows? Good stuff. Like polyester bathrobes and plaid pants.

Comments

[bigbucketgirl]

Oh yes..new pj's on xmas eve! Something i'm doing with our little people. I remember mine and my sisters matched...all probably should have been kept away from naked flames! I can remember the 'itch' from one pair with a ruffled polyester neckline. Wish i'd had ric-rac!
In your photo with the tree..i immediately thought you were the one in the pink number? Is that not you? Are you a little one?
Happy pj's to you and yours..

[jean]

I'm sorry, is that you or Ezra putting that ornament on the tree. wow. love the rickrack. much better than lace. off to pop over to Small, then turning off. promise.

[alexandra]

Love the robe and the pattern for everything - takes me back too!
My Mom made my pj's and her Mom made hers before that. I had lots of plans for sewing for my kids but we were surprised with twins so the sewing went out the window for a while. But, they're 4 1/2 now and it's not too late to start. Excited to start!

I give gifts early too - just can't help myself. My kids were sick last month and I ended up giving them 1/2 of their Christmas presents in hopes that something would make them feel better!!

[Holly C]

Fruit-calcium and protein from the sour cream-ambrosia sounds like health food to me!

[Kristin]

Awesome robe, she is sure to love it! You really bring back my Christmas memories, one Christmas my Grandmother sent my sister and I satin nightgowns with matching satin robes. We loved them so much. Oh I think I must come up with something for my son...

[patricia]

dare i say...your mom's profile? what's eerie and cool for me is the photo i recently received of my maine gramma circa 1916 (she would've been about 17)...green eyes, widow's peak, spooky but lovely -- can't wait to learn more about her and in the process maybe me...families and history is so amazing...

[Alicia A.]

and harvest gold shag carpet, and holly hobby, and jello salad with carrots in it.

(the bathrobe is SO perfect. I can't wait to see her in it!)

[heather]

so much to comment on here! the bathrobe is perfect, and i know what you mean about giving gifts too soon... so hard. i remember those quilted bathrobes! they were so special and grown up feeling - and they also would melt if you got too close to the christmas candles... oops! i love the last photo - we used to perform with the cousins on holidays too, one year we made up dances to the kenny rogers "gambler" album - it must have been painful (yet hysterical) for the adults to sit through. and those pants of your dads... ack! my dad had similar ones with a brown corduroy sports coat to go with it. there may have been patch pockets on the front. snazzy.

and finally, congratulations on the magazine contribution! and what a nostalgic recipe too! my mom's anbrosia used cool whip (ugh) instead of sour cream but still had plenty of canned fruit and marshmallows. and yes, it appears on every holiday table as well.

[christina]

that bathrobe is soooo cute, and the little fox pjs? Wow, you are so talented Amanda! I wish I knew how to sew like you. I only crochet blankets. Wanna trade?
My sewing machine makes pillows, and small things, but Im not sure a pj and robe set would turn out too well. I cant wait to see the babe in her outfit. Know all about giving gifts early, Im the same!
Christina Gomez

[christina]

that bathrobe is soooo cute, and the little fox pjs? Wow, you are so talented Amanda! I wish I knew how to sew like you. I only crochet blankets. Wanna trade?
My sewing machine makes pillows, and small things, but Im not sure a pj and robe set would turn out too well. I cant wait to see the babe in her outfit. Know all about giving gifts early, Im the same!
Christina Gomez

[Tere]

It's beautiful, Amanda. I love that your kids get excited about these kinds of things, as opposed to gizmos and gadgets. It reflects what thoughtful little people they are.

[Jill]

You look like your mother. I always find resemblances so amazing.

[Natalie]

My little girl could use a bathrobe just like that... she's "Chilly." I gotta get my hands on a pattern. Early gifts and Christmas past... all good stuff. Thank you for another sweet post.

[amanda]

The bathrobe is so sweet! As are your thoughts on holiday memories. Thanks for sharing.

[kirsten]

i adore your blog!
and we make ambrosia every holiday - Thanksgiving AND Christmas! though i don't usually use a recipe...more by sight! =)

[Heather]

Yes, a new bathrobe or pj's for Christmas every year! I have many fond memories of this. My Grandma used to make them for us each year. I can still "feel" the yellow velour robe (with lace around the yoke!) Thanks for bring back good memories!

Ambrosia....a tradition here too!

[jan]

Oh My God. The picture of that bathrobe came up and I almost cried out loud, even though it's just 6:30 in the morning and the rest of my family is asleep. "What has she done this time," I said to myself. I don't sew much, but I just might have to make myself one of those. I'm a rick rack lover myself, it's way cooler than lace. Nice work, mama, very nice work.

[julia]

i LOVE that bathrobe- can't wait to see photos of lady a wearing it (hopefully not until after solstice, though). and i saw that "interview" with you in small magazine- what a nice surprise for me. i love holding on to those old recipes, even though they may not be part of our normal (i.e. more healthy and natural) repertoire- it's so important to keep those traditions alive.

[Amber]

What an absolutely beautiful bathrobe!! I want one myself!

Growing up, my Mom made us pajamas for Christmas, too. There is a rather famous photo of my bro & I in our matching red pjs around the Christmas tree.

I forgot this tradition until my children's preschool teacher told me that she present her children with a basket of flannel pjs each Christmas morn. They then don their pjs and wear them all Christmas day! I have been following this tradition each year, too... I love it! Now, I think I need to make a bathrobe, too. Thank you for the inspiration, as always.

[Liz]

My grandparents had that same rug!! I used to curl up under the coffee table and pretend I was a cat. :-) Probably at least once or twice in Christmas pajamas... we got those too!

[melissa]

Are you sure that isn't my family in the bottom photo?? Looks just like a picture I have of Christmas time, we must be really close in age!

[annette]

We love new pjs on christmas eve, too (i do wish someone would make me some ). sometimes with socks or slippers too. is that your mom in profile? quite a resemblance.

[Marcia]

Oh! I want a "big girls" bathrobe like that for me! It is truely wonderful. She is going to love it. How fun to have a child that will look so forward to waking up to be wrapped in her momma's love. Cudos!

[Anne]

Ah the memories...polyester and plaid. Thank you for sharing these photos-they brought back memories of my own holidays as a child.

I would get the bathrobe out of the house, it's too cute and tempting.

[DeeDee]

The bathrobe is beautiful, I'm sure she will love it.

But I really want to say how happy I am about your recipe. I was thinking, just this morning before turning on my computer, I need a recipe for the mandarin and marshmellow salad this year for an 'end of exams' treat, since no one else in my family makes it.

Have a great holiday!

[Kristy]

Flashback! We always got lovely matching flannel nighties from my grama - I distinctly remember creeping around their house on Christmas morning in them. And now grama has made Olive a sweet little flannel nightie. Love it! I LOVE Adelaide's robe. Rick rack rules.

[cloudscome]

I love this! My favorite Christmas presents are always flannel and cozy. I tagged you for a meme today: http://awrungsponge.blogspot.com/2007/12/seven-things-crossed-off-my-todo-list.html

[erin]

A - Just checking in. Could you look more like your mom?! xo

[abbyjane]

Could your mom look more like you? Wow.

I love the big wide gingham on the robe. So lovely!

[Heather]

Isn't it wonderful to have such holiday memories? The things that I remember are also the food (my Gramma made the same ambrosia but without the coconut), the smells (baking and greenery), the songs, the decorations, and the special simple traditions. I think when we look back on our own memories it really becomes clear that it is so much about the traditions and really, not so much about the gifts. Lovely to hear about your way of living with your children - making life-long wonderful memories for them.

[peanut]

That bathrobe looks lovely - and so festive too. I checked out your recipe and am planning to make it as soon as I've collected all the ingredients (oddly I think I have everything but the mandarin oranges). I've always liked ambrosia salad.

I was wondering does your family celebrate Christmas (on the 25th) or the winter solstice (on the 21st)? It seems like some people forget that there are all sorts of midwinter festivals and traditions not connected to Christianity (though aspects of many of them have been borrowed). I love to learn about them - I think they enrich each other.

[Lori K]

I began reading your blog just before Adelaide's birth. I think it was a google search for Amy Butler that first directed me your way. Thanks for keeping up the blog and so much more. Your little girl always looks like a little red riding hood to me, or a drawing from an Elsa Beskow book (our favorites). This robe and jammy combo is definitely adorable.

[Aimee]

We also did the PJs on christmas eve, though pjs on Christmas solstice sound great too. We are starting to do the PJs tradition again since there are new cousins in the family, my son included. Family traditions are the best. Thanks for sharing yours.

[jennifer at pink ric rac]

that is the most precious robe ever!! love the red and blue!! squeal!!!!

[nancy]

I love everything about that robe and the fabric for the pj's is perfect. Can't wait to see her in them!!

[tony(a) lemos]

Oh my gosh Amanda, that bathrobe has to be the cutest one I have EVER seen. So much talent! I hope Adelaide treasures it for many many years.

[lina]

Oh my goodness you are the spitting image of the woman in the first picture, I'm assuming she's your mum?!! Love the pictures.

[Jami]

Hi! I'm not a blogger myself but i, in search of something or another, stumbled upon yours and just love seeing the wonderful clothing and crafts that you create!

All things Crafty, Jami

[kendra]

Oh my goodness Amanda, that robe is unbelieveably cute! It reminds me how my grandma used to always make my mom a new bathrobe or 'housecoat' as she called it for Christmas....even when my mom was in her 40's she received new handmade housecoats.

[cate]

Thankyou! i only discovered your blog yesterday and am so inspired by your creative acts and family life... i've been rummaging around for things to make stuff with, and am weirdly less afraid of the idea of having children. thankyou for sharing so much, and the dressing gown is lovely. thankyou.

[Yelena]

I have often wanted to comment but with so many already, I stop short. This beautiful bath robe is just too adorable not to say anything. I really can't get over how cute it is, very inspiring.

[colleen]

i love that bathrobe and can't wait to see your little one in it. is that your mother in that picture? you look just like her! (and she's really beautiful).

[SOULEMAMA]

Yes, that's my sweet Mama = and my little sister. We look very much alike!

[Caren]

OK, I could have sworn that was me and my two sibs in the random photo - then I read the ambrosia recipe and that cinched it! Same thing my mom made (I remember the first year she found the recipe), and I've made it, too, every year. Yum. You're my crafty long-lost twin, I just know it. ;)

We also have a picture of my two sisters and me in matching granny dresses! I'll need to dig that one up.

[Mama Urchin]

Wow, you look like your mom don't you. An elf delivers jammies under the pillows at our house on Christmas Eve and this year the plan is for bathrobes. My sister and I wore matching clothes when we were little too. Don't you love the old photos?

[Nancy Cook]

right now i am wishing you were my mama because i want that bathrobe and those fox jammies so much
i totally understand the urge to put that robe on her. i'm due with my second babe in february- a girl. my 1st is a boy! i know i'm just going to go gaga over all the girly stuff because well i'm super girly myself.

[Sarah]

My G'ma made her kids matching flannel jammies every Xmas, and my mom made us (two brothers and me) matching flannel jammies for Xmas. We always got them after a bath on Xmas eve. The next morning there would be slippers under the tree. Now my mom makes her grandbabies (4 at last count) all matching jammies. I can't wait to start the tradition when we have chilren.

[Chris]

My Mom made my sister, myself and my two brothers pj's every Christmas. There are pictures of us every year posing in front of the blackboard that was in the kitchen with the year written on it. I love seeing those pictures and wish I had a blackboard in my kitchen now.

[Kristy]

Super cute as always! Just wondering do you evr get to read all your comments?!!!

[Margot]

I love the bathrobe! What a cute little thing she'll be! Those holiday memories are great, my mom used to make us matching pajamas for Christmas too, and we always got them on Christmas Eve so we could have them on in the morning!