ideas for a homemade/handmade christmas #2

Home made preserves

I am very lucky to have a man who makes jam. we have enjoyed many different jams from blackcurrant to gooseberry made by his fair butch hands over the years.

one year we gave some strawberry jam to family as presents. I found a gorgeous  tutorial by Amy from Lucy Kate Crafts for this felt strawberry pot cover so made a few up for our gifts. Amy has some great free tutorials on her blog as well as patterns for sale too so it's well worth a visit.

We coupled the pot of jam for my sister with the River cottage preserves book. Simple useful and edible.  The kind of gifts we love : )

As strawberry jam is out of season now to make,  it got me thinking. Perhaps some apple jam or apple sauce would be nice with the cover adapted and finished with tiny apples? Or maybe an apple chutney. This recipe from one of my new favourite blogs looks delicious. One year my OH made cranberry sauce to take over to family at christmas too, not sure if a cranberry would translate but if he wants to do this again maybe a plain hand written label and simple hessian fabric cover tied with twine would suffice?

Have you ever made or received preserves as a gift?  I'd  love to hear your  preserve gift giving  ideas

Gx

Comments

[Dottycookie]

My husband is always particularly happy when we receive gifs of homemade jam :-)

[Dragonfly]

I made some blackcurrant jam this year from the spoils of the PYO farm. I gave a fair few jars away and I think they were very appreciated.
I usually make the mincemeat from the RC book too although I've never given it a gift. Give it a go, it's delicious : )

[Lou]

I love the felt strawberries, I use the same book as you, such a great series, well written and fantastic recipes x

[Helen]

The felt strawberries are lovely - what a pretty gift! I've never tried my hand at jam, though I did give jars of pickled onions to family one year as gifts, ended up with stained hands for what seemed like weeks!

[Vanessa]

Last year there was a decision by all the adults in my family not to buy presents due to money etc! But me & my sister decided to make up hampers from homemade items. There was Sloe Gin, Elderflower Champagne, Jam, pickles, bouquet garni, some eggs and homemade bread. They were well received to the point they gave back the wicker hampers for refilling this year!

Loving the inspiration.

Vanessa x

[Jo]

Right, I think I am going to have strict words with you! I am having a slow week and finding it hard enough to get myself going and then you post a link to your Pinterest boards and now I have spent hours going through them. Will you please stop finding interesting beautiful things that distract me too easily? My children need food each night, not interesting links!

[Michelle]

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon your blog, but it's just beautiful! I, too, love to give & receive handmade gifts. Those covers are just lovely. We recently moved, so our garden didn't produce quite enough to make preserves to give, but I should still be able to do homemade hot cocoa mix & granola, and these pot covers would be just perfect for those.

Nice to "meet" you, I will enjoy looking around your space:-)
~Michelle