I love bead stores. I love the colors, all the sparkly, glittery, glowy bits and pieces. I love the sense of endless possibility.
Usually, I know exactly where I’ll gravitate: Oh! that cobalt! Mmmm, this glows like a ruby. Ahhh, sparkly crystals like snowflakes! And… this looks exactly like the necklace I made last year. Oh.
Listening to My Intuition
Something different happens when I’m making a gift. Before I go into the store, I’ll pause to think of my friend: the last chat we had, that long night in college when we drank too much wine, the way she walks down the street, the flea market finds she ogles but won’t let herself buy. As I walk around the store, I try to hold her gently in my mind. And then I see what jumps out at me.
Huh. Funny. I never noticed those cloisonné beads before. And this Venetian glass pulls out the turquoise in the cloisonné. I wonder if she likes turquoise. I can’t stand turquoise. Wait, aren’t her eyes turquoise?
Why are those frosted flowers singing at me? Those must be the palest pink I’ve ever seen. They look spectacular with the glass. Does this hematite work? NO! Maybe add some gold spacers, and… Wow. That looks like Rebecca.
Give a little peace and eco-love this holiday season with beautiful, earth-friendly, peaceful-minded gifts.
For a peaceful foodie, the perfect gift is, what else; an olive tree! The olive tree has been a symbol of peaceful tidings for years and the Small Olive Tree Gourmet Peace Gift from Growing Gifts shares this symbol. The lucky recipient of this gift gets a small olive tree presented in a waterproof jute gift bag ready for planting. Also included in this peaceful gift is a 240ml bottle of Miller & Brown Extra Virgin Olive oil, 50g jar of Miller & Brown Olive & Tomato Dukkah, a 280g jar of Gourmet Back Olives flavored with herbs & black pepper, a 185g jar of Black Olive Paste, a ceramic Dipping Dish, a ceramic Olive Boat, and a peace pebble.
For a more subtle foodie peace treat give the yummy organic Peace Cookie Tin. Certified organic iced peace sugar cookies with lots of pretty sparkles. What could be tastier?
I have been asked to join a friend for some holiday cheer this week. He and his wife live out of town and have invited us over every December for the past few years, and this year I’m not letting any excuse stop us from visiting. Typically I bring a bottle of wine as a hostess gift, but this year I’m dead broke and stocking up on $40 bottles of wine for family and friends’ parties might just break the bank. So I’ve been trying out different ways to give a frugal thank-you without looking too cheap.
The One Dollar Game Night Gift
My favorite idea is one that I often opt for when I give a “family” gift. Find your neighborhood dollar store, select a popcorn bowl and fill it with movie theater candy and some family games such as Uno, playing cards, or a board game. If it’s for a regular gift, I often add a video store gift certificate, but in either case, the filled bowl as a nice way for someone to unwind from the stress of the holidays.
Very Charming Wine Charms
How about beautiful wine charms? If you come across some on sale, you may want to grab them and store away for a future hostess gift. They can even be used the night of the party to help guests differentiate their glasses.
Gifts form a bridge between the giver and the givee—truly inspired gifts contain a bit of both. When you’re thinking about Style Statements, try this approach: let your Style Statement affect how you give, let your friend’s affect what you give.
You may be noticing a trend in these holiday posts: as Creative Joy, I like to make stuff. Holiday gifts are no exception. I knit scarves and purses, I create necklaces and earrings, and every year I bead a comb for my mother-in-law and make an ornament for each of my nieces and nephews.
My Joy side wants to watch people open my gifts—I hope to see the joy in their faces. That’s what I picture as I’m making the stuff, and that’s one of the best parts of the holidays for me.
How does your Style Statement speak to how you love to give?
Dramatic wants to make a big impression! No gift cards in an envelope from her. The spectacle of the giving is part of the gift.
Cultivated has spent a long time mulling over your gift. She seeds ideas all year long, lets them germinate, and gently brings forth the perfect gesture when the time is right.
Understated is likely to slip a little something into your palm—a little something that makes your throat catch with its thoughtful simplicity.
What does your Style Statement say about what you want to get?
Have you considered not chopping down a Christmas tree this year? Or giving time rather than things? Whether you are a small-town parent looking to purchase a few gifts for your immediate family or an L.A. jet setter who needs to buy for a staff of 50, consider some of the following options to help make the holidays more meaningful and less of a disaster on the environment.
Recycling is Your Friend
Cut up old holiday cards and use them for decoupage projects, gift tags, scrap booking, making new cards, or kids crafts.
Give an herb garden kit to a favorite gardener friend, family member, or employee. If that person happens to live in a northern climate, the ground will be frozen in December, so be certain not to include anything that needs immediate planting.
Use and give rechargeable batteries. You can use them many times before taking them to your nearest battery recycling center.
Newspaper, old gift bags, comics and magazines make great wrapping paper. Think about using the comic section as wrapping for your child’s gift, or old Martha Stewart magazine pages to wrap that herb kit. In our family we just recycle gift bags every year. Sure, I might receive this year’s gift in the bag I put my nephew’s gift in last Christmas, but who cares?
Have you considered not chopping down a Christmas tree this year? Or giving time rather than things? Whether you are a small-town parent looking to purchase a few gifts for your immediate family or an L.A. jet setter who needs to buy for a staff of 50, consider some of the following options to help make the holidays 
