I think I’ll be doing this in several parts, but it looks like fun. I can’t wait to read what others have to say!

Gifts

• Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give?

No, actually, I don’t. I have a fairly steady list of people to whom I give gifts, so I try to make new things every year. The funnest thing to make to date has been last year’s bath and body goodies. (link)

• If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making? (Post photos if you have some!)

This year, I’m making pillowcase sets for the adults (one for each holiday/season) and hoodies for the kids. Pictures will come when I get them done!!

• Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received?

Gosh, I think generally, people roll their eyes a bit that I’m giving homemade stuff yet again this year, toss whatever I’ve spent hours creating into the closet, and forget about it, lol. Our families don’t have a great appreciation for handmade goodness. I did hear that the sugar scrub from last year was a hit with my mom’s dog.

I do have in my possession some pillowcases and table linens that were hand-embroidered by my great-grandmother. She made them as a wedding gift to my parents, and my mom kept them in a drawer all these years. We found them at my dad’s house when he died, and learned the story behind them when I asked my mom about them several years later. Knowing my great-grandmother, she would have been horrified that all her handiwork had been kept in a drawer - she made things to be used! (She also used her good China - and she had some seriously nice stuff - on a regular basis…because it’s meant to be used.) So we pulled them out and have started using them now, much to my mom’s horror, but I’m sure my great-grandmother is smiling on us. (link)