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Monday, November 13, 2017

Elegant Little Gifts




We get an early start to Thanksgiving with a dinner for ten on Sunday, so this week has me busy preparing and cleaning up my act! It's a good chance to count napkins and forks and such while making sure everything is clean and ready.




It's also a big time of reflection for me. Touching again items that have been gifted or bequeathed to me. Remembering certain possessions that a particular family member admires. Thinking about Christmas ahead. And, of course, musing on those now absent from our celebrations.




My thoughts are often full as I stand at the ironing board pressing fresh linens. This time I am thinking "my daughter would love this," and "my sister would love that," and other such related considerations.




It got me thinking of stories I love, like "The Gift of the Magi" by O'Henry. It's the one where a newly married couple with little money want to buy gifts for each other. On Christmas Eve the husband sells his watch to buy his wife combs for her beautiful long hair, while she cuts her hair off and sells it to buy a watch fob for his precious watch. A lovely old story of meaningful gift-giving.




It seems that our times call for a return to simple gifts. Where even the sharing of a sentimental story can be a memorable offering. Hearing stories has always been a key part of my love of Christmas.





But little elegant gifts are going to be included in my gifting this year too. The kind that have no on or off switch, or that are strictly practical. It will be my bit of old-fashioned storybook gift giving.




This sweet and creamy net lace table square is the sort of thing I am talking about.




Or these adorable floral teaspoons from Holland that came from my mother in law, now gone. I could gift them as a set, or give one tiny spoon to my granddaughters to remind them of our tea parties together. 




(The larger spoon is for sugar.)





I also enjoy dressing up pretty vintage frames with nice papers or special photos.
Even a handwritten quote or message.









A single serving utensil of any kind can make a sweet present.




Especially paired with a pretty linen towel.




I also present treats and food gifts on the small bits of china or silver that I am ready to pass along. These are the sorts of things that I collect for very little money all year long.









And then it will be so much fun wrapping elegant little packages to match!





I think that I have shared before how this early part of the season is what I enjoy the most. Before too many carols and commercials. While there's still time to see all the movies and read those stories, and fit in all the parts of what makes Christmas special. I hope it happens for you too!





Wishing you an enjoyable week ahead!

Jacqueline





20 comments:

  1. I truly love your gift ideas. To share the spoons with the granddaughters, yes, each should have a sweet memory of the tea parties. Blessings to you and yours, xoxo, Susie

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  2. What a wonderful and very sweet post you have made. I know how you feel because I do it the same way. I hope all you wonderful and beautiful presents will give joy. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post with us.
    Hugs from Lina

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  3. Thank you, Jacqueline, for the sweet and thoughtful reminders.
    Paired with your beautiful photo's; I've been gently reminded of some very 'key' things~ Blessings, Karen O

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  4. Gorgeous linens and other pretties. Most of all I loved your thoughts on gifting. I think my mind is along that idea too. Simple things. For my husband I had his dna checked at ancestry.com and will put the results in a frame. A picture of my grandson was printed on canvas to his parents to hang in their new home. I just know they will treasure your gifts.

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  5. I think you nailed it when you said "a time of reflection." This season is certainly the time I most miss my parents as well as the cousins who are still "with us" but far away. For the first time, I won't be cooking Thanksgiving but dining with friends (they will let me bring my turkey plates! Like when Miguel comes to Ina Garten's and does her table!). I know they are inviting us partly because we are good friends but partly because I haven't been well and don't want me to have the stress, except I like the stress of having people and I'll miss that. We don't know about second TG -- might go to the kids, might be at Rick's -- either way, not here, though I'll have a bigger prep-and-decorate role if it's at Rick's.

    Your photos are beautiful. I've been thinking of passing some of my pretty things that I like on to friends as part of their gift this year. Your post is making me think about that even more. They will love the beautiful things you share with them.

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  6. Oh Jacqueline I want to be on your gift list. All of these are special and sweet. Love those spoons and those salt and peppers are gorgeous. Just beautiful. These gifts coming from your heart and home will be treasured.
    xoxo
    Kris

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  7. Jacqueline, this was the most enjoyable part of my week. Thank you.

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  8. Those were my favorite kind of gifts from my Grandmother and Mother, even my sister in law has done the same. I keep the notes they wrote with them next to the item. I have those Holland teaspoons too! I bought them many many moons ago!

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  9. I love your thoughts on gift giving. And those spoons are amazing! I love this time of year while there is still time to enjoy and anticipate... Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts and words. I'm sure this coming gathering will be so special and memorable...

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  10. Thank you for the lovely, thoughtful post. All those little personal touches, make the Thanksgiving holiday, my favorite, may you and your family have a lovely weekend and dinner. Sandi

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  11. What a beautiful, sweet post!! It really is the small things that are so precious to us that make the holidays so special.

    I hope you have a blessed, wonderful week. xo Diana

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  12. I love this idea of gifts. My husband and I end to spend far too much for Christmas gifts. Unfortunately neither one of our girls have appreciation for beautiful old pieces. I am afraid I didn't either as a young woman. Now I certainly would appreciate a gift like this.

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  13. Oh my!How Wonderful!Sweet treasures...Hugs.

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  14. Love all your silver and linens. So cosy looking. I also love the story of the Gift of the Magi because of the sacrificial love it demonstrates (at least that was my childhood remembrance of it). I wish you a very happy occasion with your friends and loved ones at Thanksgiving Dinner.

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  15. The salt and pepper shakers are so lovely.

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  16. Every thing is so beautiful. I LOVE the plate and silver bowl it is in.

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  17. Those are mine kind of gifts!
    Love all your beautiful photos.

    Carolyn

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  18. These are such lovely ideas for sentimental gift-giving. The best kind of gifts, I think! So pretty! x K

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  19. Jacqueline, your beautiful post is such an inspiration! These gift ideas are wonderful.

    Several years ago my mother gave my sister and I a few recipe cards handwritten by my grandmother back in the day. She only had a handful that had survived, but we were happy to share those. It seems like your ideas for gifts are similar.

    This really is the best time of year -- full of anticipation and secrets. Enjoy!

    Karen T.

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  20. The flower spoons and S&P shakers are adorable!

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