Christmas represents a unique challenge for families. Every year the season and the day seems to come around faster and faster, with the effect that planning seems to start just after New Year’s. In this way, making Christmas truly special is something that tends to elude most people as they get caught up in the rush and the stress of the holidays.

However, it is possible to enhance a Christmas in subtle ways, and without spending a lot of money to do so. Some of the key ways in which you can make your Christmas special include investing in personalised photo books, as well as by making sure that the simple things get done well. The following list represents five suggestions for to achieve this:

1 – Photo Books

A cheap and easy way to produce a high quality gift, photo books can be completed online and can showcase a range of different features. When completed, a photo book can include collections of family images, as well as special themes and commentary. Creating a photo book consequently becomes a recommended way to organise your favourite photographs into an attractive package. Possible ideas for putting the book together include sourcing old Christmas photographs, and adding captions and stories to them.

2 – Going Away for the Holiday

Although this option is one that should be researched and planned well in advance (places tend to sell out quickly), going away for Christmas can be a great way to create a memorable season. Ideas for trips might include everything from spending Christmas on the beach on a Caribbean island to celebrating the season in a traditional farmhouse or cottage. The cost of putting together a week or a few days away can also be offset by bringing together multiple family members and close friends.

3 – Simple Things

Sometimes it is possible to make Christmas unique by getting simple, more traditional details right. Examples of these details might include hanging up stockings over the fireplace, or taking children caroling. Getting children involved in Christmas Eve activities like leaving oranges out for Santa can also make the night and the season more memorable if you haven’t tried a traditional Christmas before.

4 – Getting Food Right

Another simple but important way to enhance Christmas, getting food right can lead to a unique and enjoyable season. You might want to experiment with bringing in some alternative dishes around Christmas Day itself, an approach that works particularly well on Christmas Eve. Stocking up on special hampers, or encouraging children to get involved in helping with Christmas dinner can also make a year stand out.

5 – Add Home Made Gifts

Investing the time and energy in making home made gifts can have significant rewards. These gifts don’t necessarily need to be expensive, but can simply involve putting together a photo book, knitting someone a scarf, or framing a picture. Personalised CDs and hand crafted or knitted toys can also be an excellent way of producing a special present for a younger child.

Sebastian is currently writing for Vistaprint – if you’re already planning for your Christmas gifts and are looking for photo books for friends of family then make sure you visit Vistaprint.

Buying someone an ornament as a gift is a difficult process and one that you need to think long and hard about. If you get this right, then you will be able to contribute to that person’s living space and give them something that will be permanently on display – a great feeling. At the same time though if you get them something that’s not right, they’ll feel obligated to display it and it can actually be pretty awkward.

The problem is that while many of us like our ornaments, we don’t always have lots of space to keep them. If you have too many objects on your surfaces you can risk your home becoming cluttered and this in turn makes it hard to clean and more claustrophobic. Thus we have to keep our ornaments to select few, and it’s painful when we’re forced to add something we don’t really want.

But it is possible to get this right if you know what you’re doing. Here are some tips to help you choose the right ornaments for your gifts.

Consider Their Interests and Hobbies

One great way to choose an ornament is to go with what you already know they like. If someone has a collection then you will be able to add to it, which is a great way to give an ornament and a way that you know will be well received. This might be diecast cars, or blue and white China, but whatever it is, make sure they don’t already have the item you’re looking at and then you can be fairly confident this will go down well.

Space

Of course another crucial consideration is simply – do they have space for what you’re about to give them? If they don’t, then you might want to reconsider it. Will they have to move something else to fit it in? That’s also a big no. If you happen to know of a space in their room though that is empty and could use a new item, then that’s a much better way to go about this – so have a little snoop next time you’re invited over. If there isn’t space, does the item you’re thinking about come in a bigger size?

Décor

You also need to think about whether your item matches the décor and style of what’s on display, and that’s a very crucial consideration. If they have a very modern looking home, then getting them something ornate and traditional just won’t work – and vice versa. You have to be able to imagine this item whatever it is fitting in with what they currently have on display and what you know to be their particular tastes in decorating.

Considering All Members Of The Home

What you may also need to consider is what other people might think of the item you’re buying -which is necessary if more than one person lives in the home. If you’re getting something for your friend and they’re married, then make sure that this is an ornament that the partner will also appreciate, as you don’t want to drive a wedge between them (I got you the perfect gift! Marital Troubles!).

Chris believes that one should put in a lot of thought before buying a gift. He also recommends porcelain boxes and figurines as gifts they can go well with any occassion. Though you should buy heart figurines only on romantic occasions.

In all the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and keeping track of everything else important, family traditions can often get lost in the shuffle. Traditions provide a constant in the ever-changing world and help to build family identity and a sense of belonging for each member. This year why not try something new? Start some original and unique family traditions perfect for your unique and original family, something that each family member will look forward to every year. While it will take some work, the benefits will be more than worth it. 

Tree & Decorations

The weekend following Thanksgiving, as you are nursing your turkey hangover, is a great time to spend with the family preparing your home for Christmas. Visit the same tree farm or vendor each year and pick out the perfect tree as a family. Once you get home, turn on your favorite Christmas tunes or movie, make some hot cocoa or apple cider, and begin decorating your house and tree together. Add all your favorite ornaments and lights to the tree and countdown together as the lights are turned on for the first time of the year. Cut snowflakes from paper and hang them on the walls, paint some ornaments to hang on the tree, or decorate gingerbread houses. While working together, share your favorite childhood holiday memories with your kids.

Christmas Cards

Each year, send out the same kind of Christmas cards to friends and relatives. If you are even a bit crafty, take the time to create handcrafted cards to send out each year. When the kids are young, add a small crayon drawing or fingerprints to the front. As they get older, ask for opinions and input where design is concerned. If you don’t have the time or interest in creating your own cards, have some photo cards made with your family’s portrait. Make a day of going out with a photographer and capturing the perfect photo and finish up with a meal at your favorite family restaurant.

Make Time

Take some time out from the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season and really enjoy the Christmas atmosphere together as a family. Try going for evening walks or car rides to gaze at the beautiful light displays in your neighborhood. Purchase a Christmas themed puzzle to put together. Each night in December take about fifteen minutes to work on it piece by piece and by the time Christmas Eve comes around, it will be complete. 

Volunteer

The holidays provide an abundance of family bonding opportunities and are a great time to volunteer some time spreading cheer to others. If your children are young, consider baking goodies to bring to the service men and women in your town. As they get older, take them caroling at a local nursing home or children’s hospital. Once they are in their teens, think about volunteering at a soup kitchen or food pantry as a family. 

Week of Christmas

Christmas Eve tradition possibilities are endless. If you are planning a Christmas day meal with extended family, have each member make part of the meal. The week before Christmas make a plan about what to serve and who will be responsible for each part. That week you could also take a trip to your local bookstore together. Have each child pick a Christmas or holiday themed book to purchase and then read them as a family on Christmas Eve. That evening give each child an ornament that represents something significant in their life from that year. This provides a great way to encourage character development and celebrate accomplishments. Plus, it starts a meaningful ornament collection that each child can take when they start their own families. As your family wakes on Christmas morning, have a special signature breakfast warm and ready to eat.

Whatever traditions you decide to incorporate into the holiday season be sure to keep in mind the individual personalities of those involved and choose traditions that will be fun and cherished rather than an additional holiday headache. 

Andrea Boley is an Event Planner and writer for Storkie as well as a mom. She loves the holidays and likes to plan for them well in advance. 

I love to cook, so I appreciate getting the latest and greatest tools and products that are available on the market. So, I have come up with some ideas to help those who are looking for a little inspiration.

Better than Basic Kitchen Appliances

Most anyone who likes to cook and bake will already have the basic kitchen appliances such as hand mixers and blenders. The items they might be looking to get, if they are just starting to beef up their skills are things like food processors, pressure cookers, rotisserie ovens, or a vacuum sealer for marinating meats.

After deciding which product to give as a gift, the next step would be to find out which brand or style would be best for the recipient. You might be fortunate and have that information already, or you might need to do a little research.

I have found the best way to search is with online reviews. For example, reviewing food processors online will give you information on various processors, and you can then narrow it down from the list.

Serve It Up with Style

I know that when I spend time cooking or baking, I like to show off my hard work by serving it up in nice serve ware pieces to enhance what I have created.

Whether it’s a beautiful crystal bowl to serve color fruit in, or a contemporary ceramic platter to serve a carved beef tenderloin on, I always appreciate an attractive piece.

The nice thing about this is that it doesn’t have to have a high sticker price. I have found some great bargains online, or on clearance at the department stores. If you know their style, it’s a nice gift, without costing a fortune.

A Five Course Meal

Give them a course for Christmas, a cooking course that is. This is a wonderful gift for those who want to take their cooking up a notch. There are courses for beginner, as well as the advanced, so this could work for anyone.

To find cooking courses, check with the grocery market to see if they provide any, the local YMCA, or the community college.

Make the gift extra special by asking if it could be a chef that would come to the home for a one on one session.  

Spice It Up

A great gift for the gourmet cook is a basket of exotic spices, yet are popular in higher end cooking. Of course this means that the cost is a little bit more than salt and pepper. Some spices that I recommend are:

• Saffron – It’s the most expensive spice, due to the time involved in harvesting. The flavor is slightly salty and bitter.
• Vanilla – Real vanilla is the second most expensive spice, due to the time and cost involved in harvesting. When the orchid’s pod is dried, it delivers a delicate, sweet flavor often added to sweet treats.
• Cardamom – This spice is the third costliest to produce. Its intense and pungent flavor is often used in curry dishes, coffee, and baked treats.

These are the most expensive spices around. But, you could also give flavorful spice blends and rubs as a gift as well. These are typically less expensive, yet welcomed by most chefs.

Basket of unique kitchen gadgets

There are some very unique and clever small kitchen gadgets that most gourmet chefs…even the amateur, would love to have in their collection.

A microplane grater/zester, similar to what a carpenter uses, makes grating cheeses, and zesting citrus so much easier. Or, an infrared thermometer uses laser technology when checking temperatures of boiling water, deep fryer oil, or other dishes when baking and cooking.

These are just a couple examples of what is out there now for the home chef. A quick search online will give you several ideas, which are low in cost (under $10), and could be added to a nice gift basket with a new cookbook.

Software to the Rescue

Gone are the days of saving recipes, or looking for recipes in old fashioned recipe boxes. There are wonderful software products available to help chefs produce, organize, and save their recipes.

If this is something you are going to consider, I would check with them, or their spouse, first to make sure their computer is compatible with the program you are considering.

To Sum it Up

Typically the people, who love to spend time cooking and baking, also love to add to their kitchen when they are able to do so. Don’t hesitate to help them in their ventures of honing their skills.

Hopefully I was able to help you with some ideas on what to get the chef in your life. Of course these are just some ideas, but maybe they can inspire you, and help you check one more off your Christmas list.

Happy Holidays, from our home to yours!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Melissa Cameron lives in Texas with her husband Dave and their 2 young children. As a freelance writer she writes about most anything to do with helping the household from parenting, to the latest Cuisinart toaster on sale. When she is not spending time with her family, or writing, she can be found searching for information and deals to help others.

Shirt Shuffle

The Shirt Shuffle is a fabulous product, perfect for the busy commuter who has many meetings to attend. Quite simply, you place an ironed shirt in the carrier and it will ensure that it remains crease free, so you can look fresh for any business or clinet meeting. It is very easy to use and has a wonderfully elegant design.

Scratch Map

For those who like to travel extensively, this fun map is perfect for any traveller who likes a little compeition: to use, just rub a coin over the Scratch Map to show the countries that you’ve visited.

Moshi Moshi

The Moshi Moshi POP handset is a must have gift for anyone with a quirky sense of themselves.  Inspired by the classic 1950s Bakelite-style telephone, all you have to do is plug it into your mobile phone and make those calls.

Picasso Cushion Cover Portrait of a Woman with a Hat

Made on Jaquard looms and in collaboration with the Picasso foundation, these traditional cusions are made in Flanders and have necome a must have item for all homes.

Chocolate Bomb

Braquier’s Chocolate Bomb really does explode: the dark chocolate shell is filled with almond dragees and gifts for 15 people, an excellent gift for those with a large family.

Edison Vases

If you ar elooking for an unusaul gift for someone who really cares about the environment, then an Edison Vase may just be the present you are looking for. Designed by Catherine Grandidier, the vases are manufactured from old incandescent bulbs, They are available in medium 16cm and small 11cm.

Barcelona Chair

The Knoll Barcelona Chair was designed by Mies van der Rohe when he was at the Bauhaus school. The barcelona chair was designed for the King of Spain in 1929. The chair takes exquisite skill to make, with over 100 individual leather patches which are sewn togther by hand, giving it both strength and durability as well as looking fabulous. It is extremely comfortable and has becoem a design classic. Due to its popularity the Barcelona Chair has become one of the most imitated designs of all time. When looking to purchase, make sure you ensure that it is authentic by checking out the company logo engraved on the right leg.

So there you have it. Maybe you agree with the list or maybe not. However, we hope it has given you food for thought and maybe that touch of inspiration.

Jonathan is a freelance writer who just wishes that he could relax on a Barcelona Chair

It’s that time of year… again. The Christmas holiday will be upon the world soon. And with so much to wrap-up at the end of the year, Christmas shopping can be even more of a hassle. With scores of shoppers crowding the malls and tens of thousands logging onto the Internet, there are many things to look out for when Christmas shopping.

The New Normal

In the past, Christmas shopping was done by reading circulars and flyers; then braving the lines at the local department store. It evolved into ordering from catalogs, namely for the sake of convenience. In 1991, the Internet became accessible to the average consumer. But it wasn’t until years later that online shopping became a reality.

Today, retailers embrace both in-store marketing and online marketing, attempting to drive consumers to their brick-and-mortar location as well as online presence.

But with every new solution comes new problems. Diverting customers away from the physical location only causes a serious server workload. Virtual shopping carts and check-out problems arise with an influx of new traffic. All the while, customers are trampling each others’ toes in the stores.

Tips for Online Shopping

• Order early. Just because a website’s in-stock availability appears while picking out your gift doesn’t mean it is actually in the warehouse. Account for possible delays in shipping as well as the item being out-of-stock.
• Look out for scams. Fraudsters don’t take the holidays off to get in the spirit of the season. Instead, they are hard at work sending out phishing emails. Phishing is the practice of sending out authentic-looking emails ostensibly from legitimate sources to capture personal information.
• Shop only on reputable websites. After finding the perfect gift at the perfect price, be sure you are dealing with the real McCoy. Shoppers will find the most security in protecting their personal information by using e-commerce sites with notable credentials. In the instance a little or unknown site has the exact gift being sought, check the URL for the characters "https". The "s" denotes a secure checkout site.
• Read online descriptions carefully. It’s easy to overlook details when shopping online. Brilliant images and the ease of browsing can lull a shopper into complacency. Read the product descriptions, as well as the terms, carefully. This will help a shopper avoid paying extra fees such as handling. It also will lessen the chance of buying a used or damaged item.

Tips for Offline Shopping

• Start early. Contrary to all the advice consumers receive about when to get the best deals, retailers are always offering discounts. It’s only the advertising that is more ubiquitous during the holidays–not necessarily the deals.
• Lock your gifts in the trunk. Every year, hundreds of thefts occur right in mall parking lots. Shoppers leaving newly bought items in plain view for all to see is too much temptation for some. Others actually welcome stuffed car seats as an opportunity.
• Examine items carefully to ensure they are genuine. Knock-offs become more prevalent during the holiday season.
• Be courteous. Traffic will be heavy. And with so many cars on the road filled with stressed drivers, road rage is a real possibility. Mind your driving manners and leave plenty of time to get out and back on schedule.
• Most of all, use common sense while doing your Christmas shopping. Doing so will make your holiday less stressful and more merry.

This articles was contributed by Moose Mountain Trading Company. A secure online retailer of Norwegian Sweaters and Tasha Polizzi.

1. The Christmas Tree

People in Germany decorated trees as far back as the 16th century. They would adorn them with coloured paper, candy, apples and roses. The first person to put lights on a tree was protestant reformer Martin Luther. It is believed he wanted to recreate the sparkling delight of stars shining through a fir tree that he witnessed while returning home one night. As for reaching the UK, it was Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert who brought a tree from his native homeland of Germany. There was an etching published in the Illustrated News of 1848 that showed the royal family sat about their tree and the tradition was instantly popularised in Victorian England.

2. The Christmas Stocking

Born of legend this one. A nobleman squandered his fortune in despondency after the death of his wife. This left his young daughters without dowries, a serious fate in ye olde times. However, generous St. Nicholas stepped up to the proverbial plate. He anonymously gifted the girls with pouches of gold coins by hurling them down their chimney. As they fell they were caught in the stockings that had been hung out to dry.

3. Mistletoe

Druids began the interest in mistletoe, though nothing to do with a peck on the cheek at the office party. They instead marvelled at the plant, as without roots it remained evergreen through the winter, and as such it was used in many of their seasonal celebrations. The tradition of kissing is thought to have come from Scandinavia where the plant was linked closely with Frigga, the goddess of love.

4. Candy Cane

Many food substances were used in the past to decorate trees, cookies and sweets alike. Among these was the white Candy Cane stick, originally straight. The curved version is believed to be the work of a 17th century choirmaster from Cologne Cathedral in Germany, who thought it might be nice if they resembled shepherds crooks. The white and red colours, it is often muted, represent Christ’s purity and his blood, yet there is no real evidence for this.

5. Rudolph the Reindeer

Rudolph was created in 1939 by a copywriter working for the department store operators Montgomery Ward. It was a colouring book, featuring rhyming couplets about a red nosed reindeer based on the ugly duckling premise. The rest, as they say, is history.

6. The Holly Bush

Branches of Holly were, very similarly to Mistletoe, believed to hold special powers due to the way they managed to stay a rich green throughout the winter. In Northern Europe winter was particularly cold and bleak, which fostered the feeling that evil was never far away. To guard against this holly was placed over doors and inside homes to keep any spiritual threats at bay.

And there we have it, the origins of six Christmas traditions, born from legend, religion and common practices…

David James researches and writes about everything Christmas related for the novelty Christmas gifts retailer Find Me A Gift.

The holidays are approaching and I’m cool as a cucumber. In years past, I stressed about having enough money for gifts, decorations, food, you name it and I was anxious about it. Last year, I decided that my days of worrying about the holidays were over. Everyone on my gift list got a handmade present, I reused old decorations and through a potluck dinner. Follow these tips for the holidays and you, too, can have a relaxing Christmas full of joy rather than angst.

• Decorations

Christmas decorating doesn’t have to break the bank. Recycle decorations from last year or make new ones out of things you have around the house. Popcorn garlands add a festive touch to your tree, stockings are simply made with felt, glue and yarn and wreaths can be redecorated for the season. If you make decorations this year, put them in a box or tote and use them again next year; you’ll save even more money!



• Dinner

Rather than spending hundreds of dollars to feed your entire extended family, host a potluck dinner. Provide the main course, whether it’s turkey, ham, duck or roast, and ask everyone to bring a side or dessert to share. It may sound tacky but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how your family jumps on board.

• Plan a Gift Budget

Whether you’re buying for 1 or 100, create a gift list and set a budget for each person. You aren’t going to want to buy as elaborate a gift for your neighbor as you will for your parents so plan accordingly. Most importantly, stick to the budget you create! Make the most of coupons and sales to make your money stretch farther. It can be tempting to pick up that one extra item but stop yourself. There’s a reason that you made a list!



• Make Your Own Gifts

Making gifts is not only cheaper, it’s more personal. Are you a great baker? Do you have a favorite crafty pastime? Make small gifts for everyone on your list, package them beautifully and watch your friends and family enjoy what you’ve made. I love to crochet so last year I made scarves for all of my cold weather relatives. Those scarves were the hit of the party and only cost me a grand total of about $30!

• Comparison Shop

Even if you have an unlimited budget, a good bargain is hard to pass up. If you’re purchasing a game system for your child, for instance, look at several stores for the best deal. You may even find a store offering a gaming bundle complete with system, games and accessories.

Equating a budget holiday with a cheap holiday is all in your head. You can still have a great Christmas even if it’s a frugal one. The holidays are about good times with friends and family, not how expensive a gift you can give or how expensively decked out your home is. Try your hand at a low-budget Christmas this year. I think you’ll be impressed with how well it turns out!

Photo credits: christmas tree by Laura Bittner/flickr; Erster Weihnachtsfeiertag by Theresa N/flickr; Sales Bags by I See Modern Britain/flickr.

Mary Blanchard is a self diagnosed coupon addict! She loves to find the best deals, share her advice and investigate options. As an addict, she provides information for other addicts or just those who want to find the best buy for their dollar. One of her favorite sites to shop around for deals is the couponcroc.co.uk in the UK, check them out to see why.

TIPS                                                                                                                                              Fabric and notions

• While most sites recommend using felt for the body of the stocking, at around £5.50 per metre, polyester fleece makes an economical alternative and comes in a variety of widths (ideal for larger stockings).  It looks and handles much the same and in some cases it’s almost reversible, just like felt.
• For the stocking cuffs, choose a complimentary fabric in a seasonal print; depending on the dimensions, around half a metre will be enough for one or two stocking cuffs.  Alternatively, raid your sewing box for remnants; as well as being durable, leftover upholstery fabric can add a modern, funky feel.
• Appliqué is a great way to customise and at the same time give a damaged or discarded article a new lease of life, especially one of sentimental value.  Hankies, scarves, table linen, pyjamas, and even outgrown children’s clothes (especially those with conspicuous wear and tear) can all be recycled in this way.
• When it comes to adding a finishing flourish, check your needlework basket for buttons, ribbons and rickrack.   As well as giving free rein to your creativity, this is a great way to use up leftover notions and add a personal touch.  Try spelling out a child’s name in buttons, adding dainty rosebuds for a feminine feel or sequins for seasonal glamour.

Well-heeled stockings. Download the fancy boot pattern at http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/ Photo: MtK

Making up

• Before you begin, assemble all the materials you’re likely to need.  Take care to familiarise yourself with the on line instructions but feel free to adapt them to suit your requirements.  The traditional sock style stocking and the hand sewn method should be easy enough for anyone to follow.  Remember: children should always be properly supervised when using sharp objects or items that can be easily swallowed.
• If you do decide to go it alone, bear in mind that the boots can face either way, and if you’re going to make several – from different fabrics particularly – take care to cut out pairs of one front and one back facing the correct way (that’s to say whichever way you like, but be consistent!)
• When making up either the classic sock style or the fancy boot version, iron-on interfacing will help make the fabric stiffer and give more shape to the finished stocking.  To do this, make a second pattern of each boot and then trim off ¼”/1cm all round.  This way, the interfacing when ironed onto the fabric won’t bulk up the seams when you join the front and back together.
• Most online instructions suggest making an inner stocking and then folding down the two layers to make a traditional cuff.  For economy you can elect not to use a full lining, but instead make cuffs using a contrasting fabric and then attach them to the stocking like a sleeve.  This is a little trickier, but uses less fabric which is handy if you have a limited budget or just a small piece of fabric which may be valuable or old.
• If you choose not to make a lining, remember your stockings will be longer than those where the cuff is created by rolling the whole stocking down.  In this instance you can either cut down the patterns before you begin or create deeper, more capacious stockings with which to delight your family or friends!

To make an appliquéd stocking

Cut out one stocking front from an old sheet or other plain fabric and iron the interfacing onto the reverse.  Cut strips from your appliqué fabric and arrange them on top of the stocking front, overlapping the pieces slightly and extending them beyond the edge of the stocking front underneath.  Keep the neatest edges of the fabric on the body of the stocking with the ragged edges hanging over the edge or hidden under a neat edge.  Pin the pieces on and then run decorative stitches over the joins; this can either be done by hand or machine.  When all the pieces are in place, remove the pins, flip the fabric over and trim away all the excess keeping to the edges of the stocking front.  Carry on from this point with your chosen technique to join the back and add a cuff.  As an alternative, simply turn down the top edge and create a decorative frill from scraps of the appliquéd material on the front edge near the hanging cord.

Whether you choose to coordinate your stockings with the rest of your Christmas decorations or create designs as individual as their recipients, the sky’s the limit when it comes to embellishment.  Experiment with eye-catching badges, silk flowers or feathers.  If embroidery is your forté, personalise the stocking with a monogram or nickname.  Also, think about signing and dating the stocking on the inside and if time allows, stitch a little label or name-tag inside.  At the very least you’re creating a unique keepsake… and maybe even a future family heirloom!

Festive Furzedown's fancy boot stockings: a stylish spin on a Yuletide favourite. Photo: MtK

Drawing upon traditional American folk art and quilting techniques, South London-based Festive Furzedown offers a charming array of bespoke Christmas stockings and handmade hanging decorations.  Inspired by cheerful vintage prints that hark back to Christmases of yore,  Connecticut-raised Marianne ten Kate founded Festive Furzedown using remnants from her sewing box.  All-too aware that Christmas can be an expensive time of year, ten Kate initially began making decorations for family and friends but this has lately blossomed into a nifty sideline for the keen crafter and former charity exec.  “I like the idea of using materials I already have such as fabric scraps, ribbons and buttons, or recycling items that hold sentimental value and creating unique, handmade objects that can be used year after year.” In this respect ten Kate’s creations owe much to the quilting tradition where necessity proved the mother of invention, and family heirlooms were inadvertently created by women using material left over from dress-making.

Have a heart: hanging decorations for the tree or mantlepiece add a homespun touch. Photo: MtK

With an eye on value and using what’s to hand, Festive Furzedown is the perfect antidote to those suffering tinsel-fatigue.  “When it comes to personalising the stockings or giving the hanging decorations a quirky spin, you can really go to town with embroidery, buttons, badge, zips or appliqué – the challenge for me is always to try using what I have rather than resort to buying in new” – a recession-savvy sentiment that’s sure to chime in with many this holiday season.  For further information including a price list please email: festivefurzedown@yahoo.com

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