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

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