After Christmas my mom and I are going to embark on a project. This is all going to take some explaining, so bear with me please.
Three years ago, when I was packing up to move to North Carolina and start at Duke, I asked my mom what you get for graduating from graduate school in our family. For high school we've each gotten a laptop to take to college, and for college we each get a car (used, but it's a car) and a bedroom set (because my mom has an obsession with buying furniture) all with the idea that we're set to go make it out in the scary, big world. Generous doesn't even begin to describe it. So of course I was excited to hear what comes with another degree.
My mom snorted, "We take you out to dinner."
Thwarted, I suggested maybe a cedar chest, "Then I can put fun things in it like a dowry for someday when I get married."
"I let you read too many historical romance novels." Was my mother's reply and the subject was dropped.
Fast forward to this summer when my mom was down in North Carolina visiting. My mother is sewing fiend. She's made every bedspread I've ever slept under, my prom dresses, and even her own wedding dress. She isn't making mine because she lives too far away, but we are going to make my veil. Naturally she wants to pass these skills along to her daughters. My sister's interest level is in the negatives and mine has remained neutral until recently. She gave me a sewing machine one Christmas which I've lugged with me to every house or apartment for four years. Finally this summer I decided it was time to learn how to use it (I wanted new throw pillows). So her visit coincided with 1) Mike proposing 2) Me learning how to sew on my machine.
And thus the idea for my graduation present reasserted itself. The deal was she and I would work together to make the things we put in the cedar chest - the things being my linens. Of course the first part of the business is to decide on a chest.
The original idea is the simplicity of a blanket chest:
But I really like this Shaker style too:
Or this chest-like media center: 
Here is the issue - I don't need anymore heavy wood furniture. I have lots - a sleigh bed, wardrobe, dresser with mirror, night stand, desk, table for eight, two coffee tables, and a wood frame futon. Poor Mike.
I have thought of asking my mom for something else that I might actually need or want.
Like this mirror:
Or this rug, neither of which I need. 
Or this chair that I tell myself I need but I really just want: 
We do actually need bookshelves... 
And some table lamps...
But I think I'm getting ahead of myself. I think the point is that I sew with my Mom. We might end up going with just the linens for simplicity sake. We'll buy some things and make others. My mom's machine can embroider letters so some fun monogramming might go on. The actual stuff we're going to do this Christmas...
And a button monogram throw pillow like this one to put somewhere:
Stripped dish towels:
Fun yellow sheets:
A duvet like this one (thanks to Lettered Cottage) for a guest bedroom:
A table runner with velvet or ribbon trim (blue or a silver one for the holidays):
A neutral table cloth like this one for everyday use: 
A fun bright runner for more casual settings: 
My mom made me a quilt a few years so she'll include that and some other family heirlooms, some china and books that belonged to my grandfather. And last but not least on our list is my veil, of which I have lots of pictures but you'll all have to wait alongside Mike.
Off to sew!
love,
Katie
