Giving Handmade Gifts

Part of living on a budget is exercising restraint when it comes to gift giving. Of course this holiday season I would have loved to have spent a bunch of money on friends and family, but that just wasn't in the cards this year. And probably not next year either. But that's okay! I'm totally not gonna sweat it, because making gifts this year turned out to be a really wonderful experience and one that I want to make a tradition from here on out. I love the idea of ornaments as gifts -- they are fun to make and pack a big punch of love and memories in a tiny package. Plus, I got to watch a whole lot of Little House on the Prairie while I worked on them!

I based my ornaments off a pattern by chez sucre chez and only changed the date and the finishing. I decided instead of tiny hoops that I would stuff them and add ribbon and a gingham back. I'm really happy with how they turned out and I think the recipients enjoyed them too. This year was a bit of a learning experience, but I am so ready to do it again. I've already designed a pattern that is my own for next year and I have every intention to begin them earlier to avoid a mad dash in December.

How about you? Do you enjoy hand making gifts or do you find it too labor intensive? Did you make anyone anything this holiday season? 

Monticello Bookmark

I think it turned out pretty darned good --

but that just may be the very flattering photo

James took of it. 

As I promised to elaborate on in my last post, the Monticello Bookmark pattern from the Posy Collection was the first cross stitching I've done in my adult life (but definitely not the last). When I took the kit out of the box it had been stored in for far too long, within the first few stitches, I knew magic was going to happen. Right out the gate, I also knew it probably wouldn't be perfect. But, I would have tried, and that was the important thing.

The first few stitches.

Before even starting it, I knew who it was for -- avid reader, fellow history nerd, and boyfriend extraordinaire, James. I knew he would appreciate it, and as his birthday was coming up, I figured it would make a unique and heartfelt gift. I kept it all secret from him, which was part of the fun, admittedly. From experience, I highly recommend not telling anyone when you are crafting something for them. Otherwise, the pressure usually becomes far too much, and often (at least for me), the project never sees completion. Anyway, I finished stitching it and sewed some grayish blue plaid backing on it for a little polish, and voilà! Along with a book I knew he'd love, he was delighted, and so was I. I had finished my first cross stitch project.