snowman

Every year I make ornaments to give as gifts. Ornament gifting has become a special tradition in our home. My children each get a new ornament every year in their stockings from *Santa* so that one day when they leave the nest they will have a good start on their own holiday decorations. My husband and I gift each other with an ornament instead of lavishing presents on one another. We buy what we want anyway, and this has always been a more meaningful gift that started when we had little money and a whole lot of love. But we keep it going because it is a fine tradition.

I love the idea of having something special and hand made to give to those that I cherish. I don’t always make the ornaments that I give, but I do like to support handmade if at all possible. Last year my ornament to my husband was a limited edition ornament from Kylie Parry with these sweet little initials carved in a ceramic tree.

{Check out the other offerings from Kylie Parry}

When I started making my Simple Truths line a few years ago, I knew that these adornments for your self would translate to adornments for your tree just as well! These pendants-turned-ornaments or ornaments-turned-pendants are limited edition each year, so you have to get them while you can!

In 2011, I had three Nutcrackers that were made to order, and snowflakes in soft pastel colors because they are my favorite winter theme.

{2011 – Snowflakes}

I also made snowmen. I have a collection of snowmen that I bring out every now and then. I like things that can make it through more than one month on the calendar and snow seems to fit the bill.

{2011 – Let It Snow}

The beauty of making your own ornaments is that you can tailor them to the recipient and you know that there will be nothing else like it in world. You can focus on their likes and interests or commemorate something special that happened in the past year. Although I do have several new limited edition holiday pendants/charms/ornaments in my Etsy shop, you don’t need to stick to holiday themes to make them festive. All you need are a few embellishments and some pretty ribbon and you can turn any pendant into a pretty – and meaningful – tree bauble. Here are some suggestions…

For the newlyweds…

{Get the last three of this pendant in my shop! I see this with a small brass circle stamped with the wedding date and dangling from that a large purple faceted crystal briolette. Finish with a regal burgundy ribbon for a sweet remembrance of a happy day.}

For the beach bum…

{My sea-themed pendants can be customized with your message or dates on the back. Maybe a reminder of a special trip, or just the year. I would take a small glass bottle and fill it with sand. Cork it up and wire wrap some shells and pearls and create a wire hanger for this pendant to swing from, topped with a little burlap ribbon for a hanger.}

For the nature lover…

{A Woodsy Owl (or a Motley) would look great hanging from a branch made from hammered copper wire and wrapped with little czech glass leaves and an acorn of course!}

For your favorite teacher…

{This small pendant with a quote from The Lorax is perfect for you favorite teacher. I would do a cascade of silvery leaf chain and add a few bright colored wire spirals in honor of Dr. Seuss.}

Of course, I have some new limited edition holiday pendants that have been popular this year, and I am still making them for Christmas delivery (hint, hint ;-).

Holiday Botanical Birds, available in Pine, Poinsettia, Holly & Mistletoe Reindeer Won’t You Guide My Sleigh Tonight?Frosted Flakes in both Ginger and Steel J-O-Y To the World Snowfolk, available in three styles: It’s Snow, Man;  Hooray for Snow ; Snow Much Fun

If you want some more ornament inspiration, come over to my blog Treasures Found as I am participating in a Holiday Ornament Swap Hop today hosted by Miss Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime and you can see a view of my brand new winter mantelscape as well! Whee! Let it snow!

The elves are working overtime in the Tesori Trovati workshop. But the Head Elf assures me that there are a lot of pendants and charms that are ready to ship, all with FREE gift wrap. Made to Order items (like these ornaments above) do take a little time, but if you hurry, there might still be time to get them to you by Christmas! If you order by Monday, December 17th, I think they will reach you with enough time for your gifting. To treat you this holiday season, I would like to extend a special discount in my Etsy shop:

So, what about you? Do you like to buy ornaments for gifts? Do you have any ornament traditions? What is your favorite ornament? Share something about ornaments in the comments and you can win this one of a kind snowflake pendant that you can turn into your own ornament!

{Leave a comment to win!}