December Gift Flowers

Poinsettias are a traditional December gift flower. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Poinsettia

Several plants represent December birthdays, including narcissus (think forced bulbs), green hollies and the traditional Christmas potted flower, poinsettias.

Hollies show a desire for a happy home, while poinsettias stand for good cheer.

Narcissus signifies modesty and faithfulness. They are usually offered for sale this time of year as Paper White Narcissus, easy to grow from bulbs.

Charlotte

Flower Pens

Silk flowers dressing up pens that can be borrowed at our local post office. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Flower Pens

If you’ve ever “borrowed” a pen at a business, you know a percentage of them walk off, either by mistake or deliberately. To try to discourage that disappearing act, some of our local businesses have come up with creative ways to keep the writing pens close. One business taped plastic spoons to their pens; another one had cardboard pieces attached. I prefer what our local post office is doing, taping silk flowers to pens.

The process is relatively simple. You can use any hardy tape you have; in this case they used black electrical tape.

This pen has a silk daffodil taped to it. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

These fun pens do work, they prevent the pens from walking off at least by mistake.

I also heard one customer was so enamored of the pens, she grabbed a whole bouquet of them and tried to walk out with a handful.

They were successfully recovered.

These flower pens would make great Easter and Mother’s Day gifts, especially when using flowers appropriate for the received. Easter lilies, tulips and daffodils would work well for Easter. For Mother’s Day, pick out Mom’s favorite flowers.

You can find silk flowers and pens at craft stores and big box stores. Usually in the flower department they also have green floral tape, which I am told is not as hardy as electrical tape.

Pick pens that don’t need lids to keep the ink from drying out and you should be all set.

Each post office window offers a nice selection of flower. I mean pens! (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I have been lucky enough to be gifted a flower pen or two over the years. I can tell you they definitely made me feel special!

Charlotte

Mother In Law Personalized Gift

Sweet personalized message for this special new relative. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Mother In Law Personalized Gift

In the midst of wedding planning, a groom called to see if I could help him make a very special personalized gift.

For his bride, i asked.

No, he said. For the bride’s mother.

The handmade lap quilt he chose was a personal favorite, one with a bluebird theme. We have several bluebird-themed custom handmade quilts - bluebirds stand for happiness, I told him. He liked that. His mother-in-law brought him much happiness in the form of the bride.

This marriage, i thought, has a good chance of success.

I was trying to imagine what this family looked like as I sewed our label onto the back of the custom lap quilt. it is the last step before gift-wrapping to ship our custom quilts, a wonderful step for me. I know the custom quilt is headed to a new life giving warmth and generating smiles.

The last step before shipping, adding a label to the custom handmade quilt. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Once the custom lap quilt was wrapped, I added a quilt care guide and gift tag. It was scheduled to arrive close to the wedding date so I wanted them to have everything in hand to present this.

Each handmade quilt is shipped with a free gift card and care guide. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Over the years, my goal is to hear that the recipient “loved it to tears.” It’s a high mark and one we don’t always reach but I like to think it’s still an admirable goal.

I suspect there was at least a tear when this custom quilt was opened, and a new family started.

Charlotte