Monday, December 24, 2012

Handmade Gifts for Hanukkah

Hanukkah has been over for a week now, but I'm just getting around to writing this post.  It has become one of our family Hanukkah traditions to exchange a small gift each of the eight nights.  I also like to send eight little gifts to my parents and my mother-in-law.  This year I had to send a box to our college girl, too, because we were only able to be with her for two of the nights of Hanukkah.  The gifts we exchange are small and thoughtful, especially chosen with the person in mind.  I like to make as many of the gifts as I can. Handmade gifts just seem so much more special, don't they?  Here are some of the gifts I made this year:

A reversible coffee cup cozy in two Star of David fabrics, and Star of David notecards for the gift exchange at the congregation Haley attends - Kehilath HaDerekh (Congregation of the Way) in Manhattan.  We were there for their Hanukkah celebration!


 I also made coffee cup cozies for Haley and her suite-mates at NYU Poly.

I made this apron for Haley and gave it to her with a little cookbook of recipes that she can make in her dorm room with a microwave and Foreman grill.

Another apron I made for my mother-in-law:

And coin purses like these for both her and my mom:

They (and Dad, too) also got peppermint sugar scrub:

...and pocket hand warmers.  These have rice inside. You put them in the microwave for 25 seconds and place them in your pockets to keep your hands warm:

Rebecca got a flower pillow:

...and I decorated this lampshade to match:

I also made her this cute bag.  Can you tell she loves giraffe print?

Haley requested a green Seattle Seahawks messenger style bag:

I made Robert a t-shirt quilt with shirts from Central Elementary, the school where he was principal for 6 years:

And, I forgot to take a photo, but I made some cute kitchen towels similar to these, using this tutorial.

I think that's all...I was busy this year!











4 comments:

  1. The T-shirt quilt is an awesome idea for a principal or teacher!!

    All great gifts :) I also sewed/made gifts this year...takes a lot of time/work but well worth it! :)

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    1. Thanks, Natalie! He really liked the quilt, and thought it was very special. Yes, the work is well worth it!

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  2. Wow, you have been busy. Great gifts! The flower pillow is beautiful! And I'm sure the t-shirt quilt was appreciated. Between Gma & us, we made my husband a quilt from my husband's old cycling & baseball t-shirts a while back. He really appreciates something that is just his and not so girly like everything else around here. :) Lovely job with everything!

    We were just discussing at breakfast sukkot (as we went shopping this morning for half-price christmas lights for next year's sukkah (it was fun seeing my husband getting into it). And discussing our possible alternatives to the regular christmas celebrations next year. Hope burns strong. :)

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    1. Thanks, Jane. I had fun making everything, and I can't believe I got it all done in time!

      We're planning to decorate our sukkah with lights next year, too :)

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