Gift Making

The making has been so enjoyable this season, filled with later then normal movie nights while I have stitched and knitted and crafted away.  Dreaming of collections of gifts to gift to friends and family has been so lovely this year.  I started this fall to give myself plenty of time to finish and no last minute rushing.  Cross stitching is something that I could do all day.  I just want to stitch and stitch and stitch. It has been years since I have indulged in this favorite craft and I have found this time of  year a perfect excuse to do so.

I collected favorites to gift to my mom this year.  Lots of neutrals, handmade items, pretties, warm and comforting items.  A glittered H ornament from Pottery Barn Kids, a handmade cross stitched H and reindeer (more on these later), a blanket from Ikea, a scarf from Forever 21, a handmade yarn wreath (like this one, but smaller), A Year of Mornings, a scrabble H (my mom loves scrabble), some salted covered cashews, and some lemon curd from Trader Joe's.

I also participated in a gift swap and packaged up a little collection of items to a new to me friend in London, England.  The gift swap was through Oh Comely and is called The Perfect Strangers Project.  This was so fun to participate in.   In my package I included another yarn wreath and a couple cross stiched items, some dark chocolate, some festive clothes spins and wooden dessert spoons, a collection of gift tags, a knitted cowl in my current favorite yarn, Dan in Real Life, a bottle brush, a little crocheted lace, and some grey and white notebook. She sent back some fun candies, some gorgeous Santa napkins, some dishcloths, some herbal tea, and a list of her favorites books.  

Tis' the season for gift giving and the like.  I have loved putting together some of my favorites things with some handmade items and gifting them.  A recipe for fun and festivity.  Hopefully the recipients feels the love that has gone into these little bundles.