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Gifts from the Heart: Creative Gifts to Buy or Make

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The best gifts aren’t always the most expensive. If you have money you can buy anything, right? None of us want to be guilty of a poorly thought-out, last minute gift (I know we all have been there) Handmade or even “well shopped” gifts require a little more effort but in the end are much more meaningful. Let’s chat about gifts from the heart: creative gifts to buy or make.

Something from your Kitchen

As you know, I am not a baker so you will not likely be getting any home baked goodies from me this Christmas. I do usually make english toffee, (you can find the recipe here) which I hope to make next week after our party. This year we harvested the olives on our property. Our olive oil will not be ready in time to gift this Christmas, but I am working on the labels now. I need to edit the picture to get rid of the light issue, but you can get the general idea. Hopefully, the olive oil will make wonderful homemade gifts down the road. If you haven’t tried Canva, I highly recommend it. It is an online graphic design tool that’s free. I can’t imagine how I survived pre-canva.

Hattersley’s Extra Vergin olive oil label

Handmade Stockings or Tea Towels

Trish from Cottage by Design is my go to for anything monogrammed. She has done pillows, stockings, tea towels, bedding and even my dining room chairs. You can see the pillow shams she did for my current bedroom in my post ,How to Achieve a Collected Look in your Bedroom here, and her work she did in my former bedroom here. Anything personalized makes a great gift. Trish has lots of examples for inspiration if you need ideas. Any recipient on your list will love one of Trish’s creations.

If she doesn’t have time to complete what you want before Christmas, I am sure Trish will provide a picture that you can wrap up. I bought some of her tea towels for friends. She wrapped them beautifully and I got them way before the deadline. Oh and did I mention I oredered two for my own kitchen?

Monogrammed Tea Towels from Cottage by Design

I had Trish make new stockings when we moved into our fixer upper.

Natural Linen Monogrammed Christmas Stockings

You can see them in my Collected Christmas Tour post here. Last year I hung them on the mantel. This year I thought they deserved their own place of honor in the entry.

Linen Christmas stockings hanging above and antique bench

You can see the black and white stockings that Trish made for our former Chualar home here. I will pass these on to one of our children when they have the space.

Make Your Own Gift Tags or Place Cards (or some for a friend)

Every year I create a theme for my christmas decor, and I craft my gift tags according to that years particular theme. Every family member’s gift tag is unique. The giftee can find his or her gift (or Summer Santa can) This year Summer’s has her pal “Deucey” on her tag. Last years was a tiger. It is really simple on Canva. Use your creativity, it just takes a little practice. This year I used a lot of magnolia and feathers. Here is the link to this years gift tags. You can trim the names off the bottoms and use as you wish.

personalized gift tags christmas

You can find other gift tags that I have made in the past here in this post Nature Inspired Christmas Decor in my Home. and My Christmas Tree Simple Gift Tags and More,

MAKE SIMPLE GIFTS FOR FRIENDS

Making simple unique gifts like this is the closest I get to diy Christmas gift giving. This year I decided to make some simple gifts that I could give to friends and take as hostess gifts. The gift consists of a dish brush found here, a soap rest found here, and the solid dish block found here. I wrapped it up in plastic with a bit of greenery and a homemade tag. You could include a pretty dish towel from Trish if you wanted to make the gift even more special.

natural dish soap, brush and scrubbr gift

You can find a couple more ideas for handmade gifts in my post Stylish Handmade Gifts and Gift Tags Your Friends Will Love.

Books are Always Appreciated

I know Amazon is not who you think of when thinking of personalized gifts. If you have a local bookstore, by all means support them. However, many of us live where there are no local book sellers. Everyone loves a good book. I am sure you know my favorite design book for gift giving this year is Sense of Place. Another fun book that is great for gift giving is John Derian’s picture book. In it you can find many prints suitable for framing or just to enjoy. Many wonderful design books debuted this year. You can find my favorites and my entire list of all time favorite design related books in my Amazon store here.

Shop Most Lovely Things

My friend Annie has a shop on her website called Shop Most Lovely Things. Annie travels to France a couple of times a year and sources vintage and “oh so french” items that you can’t find everywhere. She wraps each package beautifully as well. That is the beauty of shopping small. They get it.

Most Lovely Things Packages

Shop Local

Your local small boutiques know you and know what you like. Locally we can find plenty of unique gift ideas, from candles to uncommon goods that you can’t find everywhere. That is what I love about our town. Shop them, they will make the extra effort for any special occasion. If you have no idea what to buy, purchase a gift card from one of your favorite shops. If you live in the Paso area, some of my favorites are:

Bijou Paso-on trend and classic attire for women

Sole Tree Paso Robles-great stylish comfortable shoes

We Olive

Firefly– a little bit of everything

Ambiance-Margaret O’leary and other favorite designers

Haley and Co-my favorite Kut from the Kloth jeans and more

Hotel Cheval Jewelry-handmade jewelry designed by my friend Tova

The General Store-locally sourced goods & ingredients

Atrium Mercantile Atascadero-(love these kids and all that they are doing) vintage furniture and home decor

MY ETSY FAVORITES LIST

My favorites list is normally private, but I am making it available to you until the end of the weekend when I will make it private again. Here is the link to all my favorites on Etsy. You will find scarves, native american bracelets, necklaces and earrings, unique apparel and much more. Try not to get into too much trouble and have fun.

I hope Gifts from the Heart: Creative Gifts to Buy or Make may give you some last minute gift ideas. I Enjoy your weekend. Today is my birthday. I am entering the last year of my 60’s woo hoo! We will be dining at one of my favorite restaurants Les Petit Canailles tonight courtesy of our kids. I will be in party prep mode as we are having a little get together on Sunday. I will share more on that next week.

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Comments

  2. Karen B. says

    Hi Cindy,
    I loved this post. Filled with great ideas, thank you. My daughter in law recommended Canva and I hope to get started on the learning curve in the new year.
    Have a jolly holiday.
    xo,
    Karen B

  3. Elizabeth@pineconesandacorns says

    Happy Birthday Cindy! I hope that you birthday was as amazing as you!
    Love your olive oil label, how fun to make your own oil. Next up maybe honey!
    Homemade gifts are my love language, I make jam, chutney, granola, candy, cookies, bread, and ice cream toppings as well as cranberry cordial and Irish cream. All easy to make and delicious(if I do say so myself). People always appreciate things they like and don’t like to make.
    Your gift tags are beautiful! What a fun idea.
    Thank you for sharing so many wonderful shops.
    Have a wonderful Christmas.

  4. Diana says

    Happy Birthday from someone in her sassy seventies! Thank you for taking the time to do this most informative post! , Especially love the link to your Etsy favorites!
    Happy Holidays!

  6. Diane E Ruebel says

    Cindy!

    A footnote! Love the gorgeous direction you’re going with. your olive oil label. And, I agree that Annie’s Shop, MLT is an ideal “cottage shop” for thoughtful gifts. My orders arrived with her charming signature wrapping which will make the gifts all the more intriguing.

    Enjoy your birthday dinner,
    Diney

  7. Diane E Ruebel says

    Dear Cindy,

    May your birthday be filled with simple pleasures and unexpected treasures.

    With gratefulness for. you,
    Diney

  9. Kathryn Wisdom says

    You are so creative and lovely and gracious in all that you do. And it would seem that you have boundless energy as well! You know, the kind of woman we could envy or resent! But I love your generous spirit and cannot thank you enough for the inspiration and attitude adjustments you have given me. I discovered your blog this spring and have enjoyed a real treat three times a week since then. Merry Christmas and apparently Happy Birthday!!si

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Hi Rhonda

      Thank you so much! The first day of the last year in my 60’s and I couldn’t be happier!

  11. Judy Castor says

    Happy Birthday, Cindy! You are an amazing woman and look great! We wish you and Steve could attend a Christmas dinner we are having tomorrow with four couples who have been friends for 30 to 58 years. (Before Covid it would have been 30+ people!) Lots of stories and memories will be shared. I can think of a few with you and Steve in those days of antiquing! Have a relaxing and lovely birthday dinner!

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Hi Judy and Bill

      Oh we wish we could be there as well! I bet the Davies will be in attendance!!

  12. Sydney H says

    Happy Birthday Cindy! I turned 79 yesterday! I love your style and all you do on your blog. I read it regularly even if I don’t comment often.

  13. Barb L says

    Happy Birthday Cindy!!! I have been enjoying all your recent posts! Your holiday decor is always so beautiful and I am always inspired. I cannot wait to hear how your olive oil turns out. I usually try some type of homemade gift but you have set the bar high. Beautiful tags, love the personalization. (Couldn’t get the soap rest link either) Cavana sounds amazing. Enjoy your celebration and festivities.

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Hi Barb

      I emailed you the link but it is fixed now as well. Let me know if you are still having problems please.

  14. Lori says

    What about the link to homemade gift ideas? It’s headed straight to your Amazon page….ooops..help.
    I bet your olive oil is wonderful and that would be a great gift for anyone. Beautiful labels too.

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Hi Lori

      I think all of the links are fixed now. I emailed it to you as well. Let me know if you have further problems.

  15. Slt says

    Link to soap rest is not working – goes to soap brushes instead. Sorry to bother you but i have one and was looking for more to give with gifts.

  20. Annie Diamond says

    Cindy! You are the most thoughtful gift giver!! And your handmade tags! I love how you shop local and you know everyone by name! Thank you for including my shop!!! That’s so sweet of you!
    Xoxo
    Annie

  21. Bette says

    I think you are a creative genius, but I LOL’d at this: “As you know, I am not a baker so you will not likely be getting any home baked goodies from me this Christmas.” Your talents are well-used elsewhere!

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