Personalized Gift Boxes

Some of the personalized custom gift boxes available at ozark farms. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Personalized Gift Boxes

Several years ago, I started making personalized gift boxes for those late minute shoppers who still wanted a custom gift. These personalized gift boxes have been favorites of some of our customers for years, and given enough advance notice, are boxes we can pull together based on a particular theme and interest.

personalized gift boxes for teachers and embroidery lovers. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

To absolutely no one’s surprise, I made up personalized gift boxes for beekeepers, gardeners and quilters. I’m also a fan of gingerbread so I have one for gingerbread cookie lovers, teachers and embroidery lovers.

Access to these custom personalized gift boxes has been made easier by consigning them at Ozark Farms, 11600 Mo-72, Rolla, Mo., which will have a Christmas at the Farm event December 16, 2023.

personalized gift box for gardeners including gardening gloves and snips. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Make Your Own Personalized Gift Boxes

You can also make your own personalized gift box. Start with an interesting book. Your local book store should have a nice selection. Add a handmade soap, which most people won’t buy for themselves but usually love once they have them. Set a budget limit, then look for items to compliment the book subject.

Your office supply store should have nice boxes, cards and shipping supplies to package the items.

If you are shipping, don’t include perfumes, nail polish - anything flammable.

Remember to ship to US before December 15 to arrive by Christmas.

For more tips on gardening, beekeeping, cooking and easy home decor, subscribe to my weekly Garden Notes.

Happy shopping!

Charlotte

Personalized Book Gifts

local author books at rolla books and toys including my beekeeping books. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Personalized Book Gifts

Our family had the tradition of opening one gift at Christmas Eve - usually a book - and spending the rest of the evening reading. Then after the holidays, guess which gift is picked back up. That’s right, the books.

Over the decades, books have been a favorite personalized gift and one I like to bestow as well. Especially if one knows the author, or admires the author and would love an autographed copy.

There are several ways to personalize book gifts.

The most obvious way is to get the book autographed. Most authors I know will be glad to do that if you let them know the recipient’s name. Most of my books available for purchase are already autographed.

The second way is to add a book plate inside the front cover with the name’s recipient, date and dedication.

I am fond of adding a magnetic book mark, which can serve as a gift tag as well as keep book pages protected.

One of the gift books I received last year had a lovely surprise. The gift giver had added a photo of the two of us together as the gift tag.

To get inspired, check your local book stores for local author books. Some retailers will also provide autographed copies if you request them when you purchase the books.

For more tips on gardening, beekeeping, cooking and easy home decor, subscribe to my weekly Garden Notes.

Charlotte

Repurposed Nutcrackers

Two nutcrackers getting ready for their new careers as beekeepers. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Repurposed Nutcrackers

I know, it’s early fall and you’re wondering why I am posting about nutcrackers.

Here’s why. This is the best time to pick up old nutcrackers to repurpose into new careers. You can usually find them at thrift stores and consignment stores on sale through the year, or even brand new online in after holiday clearance sales. The prices tend to go up when the Christmas season rolls around.

That’s how I picked up two nutcrackers I turned into personalized gifts for beekeeping friends. I knew the smoker would be harder to locate so I started scrounging beekeeping conferences early. Luckily one vendor was selling key chains with a smoker that lights up that turned out to be a good scale for the larger nutcracker.

This beekeeping nutcracker is ready for giving! (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Now the little wooden cat showed up at a local thrift store a couple of weeks before Christmas. The black and white coloring was perfect for the personalized beekeeper who has a tuxedo cat so I snuck it into the base of the nutcracker along with some silk flowers.

Oh. And bees. All over the beekeeper!

I cut real socks to give the beekeeper socks to keep bees from going up his pant legs. Yes, it’s a beekeeping thing. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

With a little creativity you can repurpose traditional nutcrackers into all sorts of new careers and easily make holiday decor into personalized gifts!

For more tips on gardening, beekeeping, cooking and easy home decor, subscribe to my weekly Garden Notes.

Charlotte

November Gift Flowers

Red chrysanthemums keeping my kitchen Thanksgiving turkeys company. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Chrysanthemums

Now we are back to growing flowers in the USDA Hardiness zone 5 that match up with the traditional gift flowers.

Chrysanthemums, plants especially prized by Japanese gardeners, stand for November birthdays. Also known as “mums,” these long-lasting in a vase flowers come in a variety of shapes and colors.

White mums signify innocence and purity, while yellow ones indicate that a loved one feels slighted. Too bad because yellow mums are a favorite bright fall flower in the garden.

If you are adding mums to your garden, make sure to pick up hardy garden mums. With a little care over winter, they will return for many years helping to not only add color but also as a natural bug deterrent.

Charlotte

September Gift Flowers

New England Asters are usually available at garden centers late winter for fall planting. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Asters

Traditional September gift flowers are a hardy family of flowers that include white and purple daisy-like flowers.

You may have heard of New England Asters, a favorite pollinator plant. These perennials are also a hardy addition to any garden because once they start blooming, they bloom until frost.

Fall-blooming asters symbolize a strong and powerful love. They also indicate faith and wisdom.

Charlotte

July Gift Flowers

Light pink surprise lilies have the texture of water lilies and make great gift flowers. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

July Gift Flowers

Larkspur and water lilies are the traditional July gift flowers.

While pink larkspurs can symbolize a fickle love, purple ones mean first love, and white indicates a happy spirit.

Waterlilies, which stand for a pure and open heart, or majesty, also represent this month.

Neither are easy to find where I live in July so I would be tempted to substitute something in the same color family such as surprise lilies. These North American cousins to tropical Amaryllis make lovely bouquets with a delightful scent.

Charlotte

June Gift Flowers

Climbing roses from a neighbor’s garden now is growing between windows. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

June Gift Flowers

Like carnations, roses, which represent June birthdays, have different meanings for different colors. During the Victorian Era, flowers played a role in communication between the sexes. “The Language of Flowers” outlined what each flower represented. In those days, flowers were the equivalent of a text today.

Red roses have represented passion and love. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Red roses signify passion and love. They have long been a favorite Valentine’s Day gift in the US as well as birthdays and anniversaries.

Yellow roses indicate anything from jealousy to friendship.

Sally Holmes roses growing over a garden arbor. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

White roses represent loyalty, purity and innocence. They are popular flowers for wedding bouquets.

Orange or apricot roses mean desire and enthusiasm.

And nothing says the gifts have to be cut flowers. Consider giving a rose bush so the gift keeps on giving.

Regardless of the color, roses are a special gift for any day of the year.

Charlotte

January Flower: Carnations

Red dianthus growing in my Missouri hillside garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

January Flower: Carnations

When I hear the word “carnation,” I often think of a flower I have to pick up at a florist or floral section of a grocery store. But there is a more common garden flower in the same family, Dianthus, also called Pinks and Sweet William.

Dianthus plants may be found as a hardy annual, biennial or perennial. They are most often used in borders or potted displays. The plants are small and usually between 6 and 18 inches (15-46 cm.) tall. They were a very popular garden flower in the US in the 1950s and 1960s, it’s featured in this 1961 Complete Guide of Garden Flowers.

Dianthus flowers are most often in pink, salmon, red and white hues. The foliage is slender and sparsely spread on thick stems.

Dianthus had a short blooming season until 1971, when a breeder learned how to grow forms that did not set seed and, therefore, have a prolonged bloom period. Modern varieties will typically bloom from May to October.

Love the splash of red these spicy-scented Dianthus provide. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

.Different colors convey different meanings according to the “Language of Flowers.”

White carnations symbolize pure love, while yellow means “wish you were here.”

Pink says, “you’re unforgettable.”

A pale red denotes admiration and the idea that “my heart aches for you,” while dark red conveys feelings of deep love and affection.

Snowdrops, which indicate hope and beauty, are also flowers for this month but neither one is growing where I live. If I want to gift carnations, it’s off to a florist!

Charlotte

Sharing Tea

The lovely table my neighbor Elaine set for our tea after a walk through her garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Sharing Tea

Over the years, friends have mentioned in passing how nice it would be to sit down for a long conversation over a pot of tea. Last week, on what happened to be my anniversary of moving to this mid-Missouri community several decades ago, my neighbor Elaine did just that - invited me over for tea.

The tea table was set on her lovely back deck with a pretty printed table cloth and fresh roses in a small vase inspired, she said, by my posts about small flower bouquets brightening up a room.

There was a lot of talk of plants and gardening, raising grandchildren and how our other neighbors are doing. Together Elaine and I manage our small Neighborhood Watch program, looking out for any unusual neighborhood activity and keeping an eye out on vehicle traffic to keep the kids safe.

As we tasted two different kinds of tea, it struck me that the biggest gift of sharing tea was the gift of time, and of listening. We can walk to each other’s houses and frequently catch up on neighborhood developments but this was the first time we sat down to just share a cup of tea.

As I headed home, I thought there couldn’t have been a better way to mark this very personal anniversary. Thank you, Elaine, my turn next month!

Charlotte

Glass Baskets

Footed glass basket found at a Salvation Army, perfect desk size. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Glass Baskets

One of my favorite go-to personalized gift ideas is to give flower vases with something special in them. And not just any flower vase, it has to be something unusual, multi-purpose and interesting.

For years, baskets were popular as gifts. I enjoyed making gift baskets combining something old, something new, something edible and something fun. Baskets were also a popular quilt theme like these patchwork baskets on this 1981 quilt.

My latest finds are small glass baskets. They not only can hold flowers but can serve as storage for other items such as office supplies, candies and little collections. That’s my motto, pretty and practical.

The small glass baskets are handy because they can look full with a few flowers and easily sit on a desk. Fresh flowers are uplifting so it’s good to encourage having them around.

Mikasa cut glass basket on the left, a smaller basket in the center. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

If allergies are an issue, glass baskets serve as a sweet display and storage item. Paper clips and rubber bands sit in a tiny glass basket in my office. A tape measure has a home in another glass basket. When they are not used for storage, I can fill them with flowers in water.

This little glass vase moonlights as storage when not holding flowers. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

You can also use these baskets to easily personalize them, such as filling them up with catnip gift toys.

Glass baskets can work as personalized gifts, here with catnip mice. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Another option is to make a glass basket out of less breakable items. I found this silver plated glass basket and separate bowl that nicely fit each other.

Make your own basket by combining a dish with a basket. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Not only are the items now repurposed but they make for a nice decorative storage spot.

These look like they belong together! (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

You will find glass vases at resale shops, antique stores, yard sales and thrift shops. They may take a little time to find them but they are worth the effort. In other words, pick them up when you see them.

I like to give glass baskets with a variety of items from candy, chocolates and homemade treats to flowers. Flowers are my first choice but I don’t always have options mid-winter. I have been known to buy flowers but I prefer to grow my own.

I also have several glass vases around my house, mostly with garden flowers.

This little footed glass basket welcomes me at my house entrance, today holding gooseneck loosetripfe and white rose buds. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Maybe not the most practical items with rambunctious cats but they’ve managed not to break mine so far. And there’s something quite elegant about having these pops of color brightening our rooms.

Charlotte

Personalize Gifts with Books

Our custom Peter Rabbit quilt with a Beatrix Potter book. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Personalize Gifts with Books

There are few better ways to personalize a gift than to add a book. That’s why we offer a number of baby quilts with books to make your shopping easier and to inspire if you are making your own personalized gifts.

We may be more online these days but books are still a favorite treat, especially in summertime. Summertime is a good time to indulge in reading, whether it’s a favorite how to guide to classic stories.

You can find books at most large retailers. If you don’t know what children’s book to buy, pick a book that reflects the interests of the parents.

If you don’t know the parents, then share one of your favorites and mention that in the gift card. In this baby quilt example, a book about tomatoes is a good choice for a Vegetables baby quilt.

We offer a number of favorite themed baby quilts with books because the combination fo a quilt and a book is a favorite personal gift of ours. What better way to enjoy a book than to be curled up in a blanket?

Charlotte

Valentine's Day Gift Idea

Do you recognize this iconic US comedian? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Valentine’s Day Gift Idea

Recent surveys show people want experiences to mark special occasions so here is one for Valentine’s Day that provides an excellent experience for a good cause. Saturday, February 15, 2020 will be the 35th annual Rolla Cancer Gala, a yearly charity event to raise funds to help local cancer patients with costs associated with their care.

I can remember when this was a dinner and dance around Valentine’s Day for a hundred people or so at a local restaurant. If you remember Zeno’s Restaurant, they would cover the inside swimming pool to make the dance floor and spread paper hearts around the room for decor.

The annual charity event now calls for almost year of advance planning by a group of dedicated volunteers; seats 600 and is held at Missouri S&T’s Havener Center, the largest event venue in our town. They have a yearly fund-raising goal which now is more than $220,000.

The theme changes every year. I look forward to the mailed invitations that mark the event theme and Cancer Gala details since they are so creative. This year’s theme is based on an iconic US comedian still found in reruns on cable. Have you seen any of her shows?

Now do you recognize the theme of this charity dinner and dance? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

In addition to being a charity benefit, the Cancer Gala offers an amazing gourmet dinner. This is the menu for this year’s Cancer Gala thanks to donations from US Foods and Price Chopper. The Havener Center staff go out of their way to make it memorable.

Here’s the menu, courtesy of US Foods and Price Chopper donations. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

You can reserve a table for up to 8 people, which can be fun if you’re a business and want to treat your employees to a special evening. This year they also have a new special event, limited edition Rumba Room passes for VIP access to a cash bar, which will be located in the Mark Twain room of Havener Center.

For the more adventurous attendees, tickets are currently being sold for a drawing for a trip for two to Aruba, underwritten by Andrew and Angela Miller. Tickets are $50 each. Winners will be announced the night of the Cancer Gala.

Make sure to pick up a couple of chances on trip tickets! (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

For those who want to pick up a memento or two, local businesses donate gift baskets, services and sometimes baseball tickets to the charity auction associated with the Cancer Gala. They make it easy to bid by having Give Smart, an online auction service running the tally and making winning items available for you to take home after you pay and before you leave.

And after all of that fun, there is dancing to live music from “Push the Limit” so you can treat your sweetheart to a lovely dinner and dance while supporting a good cause that keeps the donated funds local.

No special sweetheart this year? Not a problem, I have attended these dinners for years by myself and enjoyed seeing old friends. Dress is formal; black tie optional. I would not recommend this for children.

Tickets are $200/couple or $100 per person. Tickets sell fast, first come first served so if you’re interested, send your reservations as soon as you can to P. O. Box 1382 Rolla, Mo. 65402. You can also contact a Cancer Gala & Co. team through their Facebook page.

For you gentlemen who usually struggle with Valentine’s Day gift ideas - you’re welcome!

Charlotte

Angel Trees

Angel Tree Personalized Gifts

Some communities where I have worked have had these for a variety of situations, not just Christmas. The idea is to provide personalized information to help people who could use a little help. Maybe they lost all of their belongings in a fire, or were caught up in some of life’s more challenging developments.

Local welfare agencies usually step in to help. But this time of year, Angel Trees offer information about individuals - without divulging their name - so that people can pitch in and help them.

Over the years that I have participated in an Angel Tree out of our local chamber of commerce office, I can’t remember the last time I read a request for something outrageous. The listed items tend to be clothing, shoes and socks, maybe a coat. The younger-aged postings have been for the typical toy requests - dolls, bears, book, maybe a piece of sports equipment.

When I think of Angel trees, I often think of the Precious Moment Angels with their large eyes, such as the Angel in this baby quilt. Over the years, several of our custom baby quilts have made their way under the Christmas tree for a newborn child or two.

Here is the kind of personalized information that you will normally find on an Angel Tree:

Personalized gift information so that “angels” can lend a hand. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

You can usually find Angel Trees at your local banks, hospitals, chambers of commerce and welfare organization main offices. The one thing they all seem to ask is if you pick up items for someone, return them with the recipient’s information. I usually attach the paper angel to the gift-wrapped box tucked under the ribbon with a little piece of tape securing it to the box.

One year, I was involved in a project where I inadvertently ran into someone I had helped. I know because it was something I made for them and they happened to be wearing it the day we met.

I struggled with telling them and decided not to. Part of the spirit of this season is to help others without strings attached, even if in this case they were sewing machine strings.

Charlotte