our home is so very different this year than last. the stockings have yet to be hung & i still have a few gifts hidden in the closet to be wrapped. our home is not perfectly festive this year with everything complete weeks ahead of time, but we’re sharing it with others. our home is open to parties, knitting groups & dinners this year. our table is decorated with delicious foods & is just the right spot for good conversation. we’re celebrating among friends & family & it feels wonderful.

last night i hosted a handmade holiday gift swap with a small group of crafty friends. we knitted together while sipping on red wine & cocoa. laughter, knitting & drinks really are the perfect combination for a festive night. we exchanged gifts & i received such a beautiful hand knit head wrap from a dear friend. i had so much fun creating a little goodie bag full of homemade potions & lotions. i wish i would have taken a photo, but inside included a glass jar of homegrown herbal tea, my favorite homemade lip balm, homegrown lavender milk bath salts, a tin of hand salve & a pretty thrifted mug.

i still have a few tins of lavender hand salves from my merry making this week. in the spirt of this giving season, i would love to gift one to you. please leave a comment sharing your favorite handmade gift idea & your email address. a winner will be chosen this friday at 8 a.m. & announced on my blog.

happy winning, friends!

love,

natalie

these days we are staying close to home, enjoying the warmth of family & this magical season. i want 

to share with you a few bits of our home & the simple pleasures we so much enjoy this time of year.

i have found so much pleasure in knitting this year- more so than ever really. almost-completed knitted hats, cowls, coffee cup cozies & an assortment of other hand knits wait on the needles until a spare moment comes when i can finish them just in time for various gift exchanges. i hope to share some of my projects with you after the holidays!

this book is one of my absolute favorites, gifted to me by a dear friend. stephanie tourles does such a good job of making you feel comfortable in the kitchen with a handful of natural ingredients. i’ve successfully made several recipes & plan to work on a few more to tuck into stockings & add to holiday baskets. 

dreaming of soapmaking & hoping santa slips a few soapmaking supplies under the tree. looking forward to oatmeal blends & handmade lavender soaps, but challenging myself to remain thankful for what i do have & can create right now.

absolutely loving my handmade envelope wallet by sarah of miss money bags. i nervously messaged her several months back with a request to trade one of her wallets for a bundle of my photography. she warmly said yes & soon sent a little package with this beauty inside. it is perfect for managing our spending throughout the year, but i especially love how useful it has been during the holidays. luke & i set aside a specific amount of cash for gifts & i have tucked it away in the “gifts” envelope until that special something for a sweet someone catches my eye. i just love that we can support vibrant artists during this gifting season.