Kathy Nimmer's Tactile Christmas Gift

I made a table runner for my friend, Kathy, for Christmas. Since she is blind, I wanted it to be as tactile as possible. I was so pleased with how it turned out.

I love fabrics designed by Michael Miller and had bought this bird fabric with my mother in mind. Fabric.com had it included in its holiday fabrics, and while unusual, I could see why. It also seemed to me that it could also be a year-round fabric, too.

Pairing it with a mint green polka dot fabric (which could also go year-round), I got busy.

 I was so pleased with the finished sewn piece! But how to make it tactile for Kathy?

At first I explored adding tiny jingle bells placed around the inside border of the two fabrics, but I rejected that idea - since she could not see them, there was a high likelihood that she might inadvertently set something on them causing whatever that was to fall over. Then I had a great idea, remembering my own adage to my students that often "less is more."

I added a nice fluffy tassel to the point at each end of the table runner with a large jingle bell right above it. Perfect! Still tactile but not something she would have to worry about!

Kathy loved the table runner (and the crocheted bell ornament with a fabric flower and jingle bell, also tactile, that I gave her.) She sent me this text later that evening.

When I was little, I did not understand the saying, "It is better to give than to receive." I do now, and it is so very true.