Handmade gift ideas

I like the idea of personal handmade gifts, giving and receiving, there is something more personal about it. I don't have the time or resources to make as much myself this year, but I thought I would post about some things I made last year (while I was pregnant and had some spare time) and some new ideas I have this year.


Jewellery I often make jewellery for the girls in my life using beads in thier favourite colours (earrings pictured above).

Artwork last year I bought small square canvases and did paintings for the kids of thier favourite things (pictured above). This year I'll be decorating moleskine notebooks with drawings and collages. I'm also hoping to find time to do some drawings of dancers for my niece, she has always loved to dance.

Food is always good as a stocking filler or for people you are not sure what to give. Last year I made some dukkah and put in little Ikea spice bottles (pictured above). In hindsight it was quite expensive to buy the ingredients - so don't try this one if you want to save money! You could also make vanilla sugar by blending up a vanilla bean and mixing it in sugar (an idea from Jamie Oliver). This year Steve and I are planning to make this walnut fudge or maybe this bailey's rocky road fudge.


Photography by Ben Dearnley

Gift Wrapping Pia Jane Bijkerk has some lovely ideas for gift wrapping. And Earth Greetings has some beautiful giftwrap and greeting cards.