i know you’ve seen them. my boys even have them. but i firmly believe you can never have too many blankets + ways to snuggle in the cold winter months. and, as my boys get bigger, bigger blankets are needed! so, i set out to make them some comfy fleece blankets in themes that they love! 

for little mr. re-nest #1, i went with a cream, crimson, and black theme, as a nod to his love for all things indiana university. and, for little mr. re-nest #2, i had to go with his total affection for mickey mouse 

there are all sorts of instructions online about how to make these, but here’s the one i used! enjoy!

gift #2: favorite college team string art from hello sunshine home decor

i discovered tammy with hello sunshine home decor over on instagram….and, what i love about social media is how she’d become a friend via such a cool social network. well, she happened to share a really cool pic of some college sports team string art she was offering….so i jumped + asked her if she’d create a special indiana university one for my #1 hoosier fan! and, what she did was perfection! be sure to check her out on etsy and instagram for all of her amazing string art + wreaths!

gift #3: i-spy busy bags from the crafting corner on etsy

i confess: i did not know a thing about these amazing busy bags, until one sunday at church. my great friend (who has three little ones) had a couple of these in her diaper bag, and i had to know what in the world it was. turns out, these are the bestest things ever! a little hand-sewn bag, filled with beads + little trinkets, for the littles to find. isn’t that genius??

gift #4: monogram pillow

this was one of my crafty endeavors from the holidays. i came across a bright green throw pillow cover + thought “hmmmm, this would be just perfect for little mr. re-nest #2’s room!” and, everyone knows how much i love a monogram, so i set to work and came up with this little modern twist on the monogram! 

gift #5: “joy” handmade shirt from lois pearl designs

okay, i have to do a little gushing about this gift….this is one that i gave to a dear, dear friend of mine for Christmas. and, it came from a lovely handmade shop right near my hometown in indiana. and, what makes this story even cooler is that i have quite a few childhood memories with this amazing artist + mama, as our mamas worked together when we were littles. (isn’t that cool?) 

i’m so in love with this “joy” tee, with it’s hand-sewn lettering + the cute little heart on the back! 

i love, love, love giving handmade gifts, no matter what the occasion! and, of course, i love supporting my fellow handmade friends.

tell me: what are some of your favorite handmade gifts to give (and get)??