With only a few more days until Christmas, I hope you’re not feeling any of the typical holiday pressure that builds up this time of year.

I generally avoid Holiday Burnout by putting things into perspective. I loathe the notion that Christmas is just about giving gifts for the sake of giving gifts.

A gift, in my mind, should always be something thoughtful, something tailored for the recipient, something that will delight, something given out of love, to make someone happy – and it doesn’t have to be complicated! If it’s none of the above, well…skip it. Giving your time, your friendship, a shoulder to lean on, cheerful encouragement, help when there’s need – those are the best gifts, anyway, and they can be given at any time.

Still – it’s fun to receive prezzies! A gift that delights, that surprises, a gift suited perfectly to you, with real thought behind it – who doesn’t like that?!

If you’re worried about giving a gift to a fellow needlework enthusiast – or if you know that your children, your husband, your wife, your parents, your loved ones are in a state of consternation over what to get you for Christmas – here are some excellent gift ideas for creative people that can’t miss the mark. They’re gifts that keep on giving, and that can still be had without paying overnight shipping – or, better yet, without going on some crazed hunting frenzy in crowded shops late into the night on the day before Christmas.

The Broder Box

Did you know that there are some pretty interesting subscription boxes out there for embroidery enthusiasts?

I love the idea of a subscription box. It’s one of those things I’ve wanted to do through Needle ‘n Thread for several years, but I don’t have the space or the means to make it happen yet.

Still, I love the fact that other embroidery businesses do them! The concept is simple – it’s like the fruit subscription boxes that have been around for eons! You pay for a year long subscription (or whatever the terms are), and receive once a month (or whatever the time frame is) a package in the mail with a collection of “treats” in it.

Embroidery treats. What could be better?!

Chocolate treats are always nice. And fruit is nice, too.

But they’re gone before you know it!

But embroidery treats last and last and last. They morph into amazing things that last and last and last. They inspire creativity! They give you something to do! They give you a springboard for making things! Embroidery treats lead to Wondrous Things.

One of my favorite subscription boxes – I think it’s well done, creatively thought through, and affordable – is the Broder Box from Nordic Needle. Their 2017 box subscription is still available for a short time for sign-up, and it would make a great gift!

In the photo above, you can see their last box of 2016 – the turquoise box. In 2016, the Broder Box theme was “birthstones,” and December’s was turquoise, so everything in the box revolves around that theme. In this case, it’s color, and there’s a nice selection of specialty threads in brilliant turquoises, some beads, and a cute little pair of turquoise scissors.

Each month, you’ll find different things in the box, from tools to threads to embellishments. And along with the treats, you’ll find a card with log-in information to the subscribers’ section of their website, where they feature projects and ideas for the box contents.

It’s so fun! Every month, there’s something new to look forward to, and something special that you’ve probably not seen before or tried before, to delight in.

In 2017, the theme is the Zodiac. While I’m not really into the Zodiac when it comes to horoscopes and the like, I do love the constellations and the starry skies. Next year’s boxes promise some sparkly wonders, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they are!

So, if you’re looking for that kind of knock-me-dead-with-the-perfect-fun-embroidery-gift-that-keeps-on-giving… you might check out the Broder Box from Nordic Needle. You can read all the delectable details here.

Online Classes

When it comes to giving the gift of creativity, there’s no greater way to do that than to give the gift of knowledge first. It’s hard to get creative when you don’t really know where to start, or you don’t have the skills to start!

Online classes make a terrific Christmas gift, and there are different approaches you can take to giving them as gifts.

For very affordable, solid instruction in embroidery, the classes on Craftsy are a wonderful option. Craftsy has made it very easy to gift online classes this year, and you can read how to do that here.

Craftsy offers a nice line-up of embroidery classes, so you’ll definitely find something there for most embroidery enthusiasts!

Ultimate Online Embroidery Classes

If you’re looking for something a little more involved, a little more challenging, or a gift that would fulfill someone’s dream, you might consider checking out the selection of online classes available through Thistle Threads.

Any one of them would make a very special gift for a very special someone…or for you! For fine needlework enthusiasts, skilled needleworkers, artists who enjoy a challenge, or historical embroiderers, they would be the dream gift!

Other Online Options…

You can always give the stitching people in your lives e-books for Christmas!

I have a little selection of them available in my online shop – and they’re fun!

Stitch Sampler Alphabet is the most popular ebook in my shop, probably because it covers such a variety of stitches. It’s a great springboard for all kinds of creative endeavors!

But there are other ebooks and digital embroidery patterns out there, too. Etsy is full of them!

Several that I like especially:

Trish Burr’s digital shop – you can find lots of Trish’s designs available here for instant download in PDF format.

mmmcrafts – check out her “Twelve Days of Christmas” felt ornaments – they’re adorable!

And of course, there’s The Floss Box, which is just packed full of adorable, beautiful, and downloadable embroidery patterns.

Gifting downloadable PDFs is easy. You can either use the recipient’s email address as the delivery address for the download link (in some cases you can put in a different email address), or you can simply transfer the file to the recipient and delete it from your device. You can also load the file on a cute flash drive and give it that way. Remember, you can’t keep a copy for yourself and gift it – that would be dishonest, a violation of copyright, and just downright mean.

Settle Down and Stitch!

With the last few days of the pre-Christmas rush upon us, I hope you get some quiet time to settle down and do some stitching. It’s the ultimate form of relaxation for people like us, isn’t it?

I’ve been working away on a few projects in quiet moments. I’ll be sharing progress with you after Christmas. One of the projects, I haven’t shown to you yet. I’m finding it horribly absorbing! It’s hard to tear myself away from it. This could be detrimental when it comes to getting anything else accomplished!

Tomorrow’s the last give-away in A Stitcher’s Christmas, featuring another nice set of books, so keep an eye out for that! I’ll also be announcing the winner of Trish Burr’s cardinal kit. There’s still time to join in on that one if you haven’t yet!

Hope the rest of your week is quietly splendid! See you tomorrow!