Gorgeous Quilts

I'm probably a little biased because I think a baby sweater is just about the most perfect gift for a new baby or expecting parent.  But I also think handmade quilts are really great presents.  I know more than one new parent who has received a beautiful, colorful quilt and has designed the baby's nursery around the quilt, with spectacular results.  As with baby sweaters, these gorgeous quilts become wonderful heirloom items, to be treasured for years to come. 

Here are a few quilts that I think are particularly spectacular.  They're all available on Etsy.  Click on the title to link to the Etsy listing. 

Blue and lime quilt by Quilts of Color

Chevron baby quilt from Dreamy Vintage Streets

Blue and green baby quilt from b/perrino Quilts

 

Gypsy bandana patchwork quilt from Now and Then Quilts

Gypsy girl quilt from Carlene Westberg

 Orange bright blocks from Tannei Casey

Teal, aqua, and green quilt by Peace Love & Quilts

The Gift of YHK

Can't decide between a pink or a yellow sweater?  A cardigan or a pullover?  Size 12 or 24 months?  Give the gift of a Yellow House Knits gift certificate instead, and let the recipient (or the recipient's mom or dad) make all of the hard choices.

We can send the gift certificate to you to wrap up and present in person or to the recipient directly.  Gift certificates are available in any amount, can be applied toward any Yellow House Knits sweater, including custom orders, and can be combined with other discounts and offers.  Email yellowhouseknits@gmail.com with questions about gift certificates or to redeem the gift certificate. 

Big Sis T

One of my dear friends just had a baby, her second daughter.  I of course took the new baby a welcome-to-the-world present, but I wanted to get something for my friend's first child so she wouldn't feel left out.

I know Big Sister and Big Brother T-shirts are all the rage right now, but I do think they're a sweet gift to give to a child who needs to feel special now that Mom and Dad are preoccupied with someone new in the house.  I love these personalized T-shirts from Smitten & Company.  I ordered one for my friend's daughter and was not disappointed.  The T-shirt itself is heavy-duty cotton, with gentle shaping and capped sleeves.  The printing is adorable, and the colors vibrant and fresh.

My friend tells me that Eve is "so proud" of her shirt, so I think this may be my new go-to present.

Adorable Initial Note Cards

I just wanted to give a shout out to Michelle at Oodles of Color.  I bought these note cards for my best friend to thank her for putting up with my death cough while we were in Memphis this weekend.  I had some pretty specific requests:  My friend is something of a jock, so they couldn't be too fussy or too girly.  But she knows how much I like pink, so she often wears a lovely pink sweater when we hang out (how's THAT for a good friend!?).  This weekend, she had paired the pink sweater with a pair of grey walking shorts and looked very chic--I teased her mercilessly about it!!  So I needed cards that were pink and gray . . . but still pretty simple.  Michelle's cards fit the bill perfectly.

The cards arrived last night (making their way from St. Paul to D.C. in only three days!), sweetly packaged with a matching ribbon and paper band.  They were as adorable as they looked in the picture, and the paper was very high quality.  I was thrilled with them--and my friend was too.  Thanks Michelle!

When Pigs Fly

I pride myself on giving pretty good presents (handknit baby sweaters, anyone?), but this one may be the best.  Last year for Christmas, riding high on my cheese-of-the-month club success the previous year, I gave my brother and sister-in-law a membership in the bacon-of-the-month club.  Yes, bacon, delivered right to their door once a month.  This is not your Oscar Mayer grocery store bacon (although bacon is good stuff no matter where it comes from!); this is high-quality, thick cut bacon--applewood smoked bacon, Kentucky dry cured bacon, and so on.

This gem of an idea, comes from Zingerman's, an Ann Arbor institution, which I have missed terribly since I moved from Ann Arbor six years ago now.  (Every time I go back to A2, I go straight to Zingerman's for a loaf of their Parmesan pepper bread--so good!)

Anyway, the March shipment arrived while I was visiting my brother and his family this weekend, and I can confirm the reports that the bacon is awesome.  So I get credit for being the coolest sister in the world, which I think is an honor I rightly deserve!