We went on our annual tree-getting expedition over the Thanksgiving break. It was our most sodden one ever. We took about 30 seconds to choose a tree, so that we could quickly escape the downpour. That said, I am quite happy with this guy. I always string the lights, but wait at least a week to decorate it. I like it simple and bright best.

Holiday decorating is about bringing the outside in for me. And creating light—whether by flame or bulb—to get us through the short days of December.

I have a lot on my plate this month and am doing my best to think ahead with gift-giving. This week I wanted to share some links for some handmade gift ideas from our archives. These are all relatively low-fuss. Just as I would need them to be right now.

From the kitchen:

• Caramel sauce with a bag of local apples for a favorite family to slice and dip
• Quick pickles in a pretty jar for a hostess.
• Granola (add dried cherries and pistachios for a red and green touch)

 

Textiles:

• Selvedge pillow cases in a beautiful linen
• Add stripes to a tea towel or set of napkins
• Create a frayed edge kerchief or scarf
• Use the same fraying technique to create a set of napkins in cotton or linen
• Try your hand at shibori dying a scarf (instructions in the 3191Q Issue No. 3 PDF)

 

Handmade touches for store-bought gifts:

• Spoon oil with a hand-carved wooden spoon or cutting board
• A loomed face cloth and one of MAV’s botanical bath steeps (instructions in the 3191Q Issue No. 3 PDF)
• A colorful bundle of embroidery floss and the instructions for friendship bracelets in the 3191Q Issue No. 1 PDF
• Block-printed giftwrap

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Happy Holidays!

—SCB