Elizabeth’s Favorite Things 2018

In past years we have done some gift guides for sew-ers and quilters but this year we decided to do something a little bit different. We thought it might be fun to each do a gift guide that includes our favorite things that we use (and we PROMISE we use) and love in case you are looking for some gift ideas for a girlfriend, sister or maybe even just for yourself. So….here we go!

We’ve tried to keep the prices low, so most of my things are under $40 (I think only one of mine goes over that amount) so they are perfect for giving away or keeping! Please know that there are some links that are affiliate links in this list, but these are brands that we know and use and love–and pay for out of our own pockets.

So, with that in mind, let’s get to the gift giving!

First, something frivolous but something I love to decorate with—felt ball garlands! If you have ever been in my home you will see these everywhere, I have one in my sewing room, one in my daughter’s room and usually one up on the mantel for a holiday. And I LOVE this red, white and gold one because I can keep it up through Valentine’s Day. I just think they are so cute and add so much to some simple decor. I buy mine from this small business before and they are great quality. Find this one HERE (affiliate link) or she has lots of other colors available. I also have a black and white one in my sewing room and a blush, cream and light blue one in Hannie’s room.

Second thing about me is that I love to bake! And one thing that I think I have perfected over the years is the chocolate chip cookie. I had a hard time when I moved to Utah because of the altitude here but I am finding recipes and ways to make things still stay soft and fluffy–just how I like my cookies. Two things that I have found have made me a better baker I am linking to below–mostly because they make me look good.

First up, if you are not baking your cookies on parchment paper—you need to be! I LOVE them for how soft they keep the bottoms of my cookies. And when you pull a batch out of the oven, you can slide the whole parchment paper off the tray put a new one on and keep baking. I buy mine in a 100 pack from a local kitchen store in Salt Lake City, but I found a link to the similar pre-cut ones  HERE (affiliate link).

And going along with baking, another thing I love are cookie scoops!They make the best shaped cookies and are easy to use. I use mine all. the. time! If you have someone who loves to bake these would be the perfect gift! HERE (affiliate link) is the set I have. We did break one because someone used it for too hard of icecream (so warn your kids they are for cookies!) but the rest have held up for a good three years and are still great!

 

This next one was a present that I got for Christmas last year and I have worn it almost every single day. It is the perfect necklace to wear with both casual and even dressy outfits and it looks good layered with other necklaces because it a shorter length. And I love the fact that the back says “one in a million.” It’s been such a simple reminder for me this year to remember to take care of myself so that I can take of my family too. HERE (affiliate link) is the exact one I have and the quality is great. The gold is still perfect almost a year later.

My next item is actually something I WANT for Christmas this year. As you know if you’ve been around here for some time that both liZ and I are slow cooker fans (like we use them at least twice a week) and my slow cooker is on its last leg. I don’t blame it–it’s been used and abused for the last 18 years so it might be time to get a new one.  THIS i(affiliate link) s the one I am looking at getting….I love the programmable options. Mine doesn’t have that but I think that will be nice to be able to turn it on later in the day.

There have to be some sewing and quilting things added, but this year I have discovered extra fine quilting pins—and I am never going back–I LOVE them! There are lots of different brands but if you like fine pins these are great! HERE is an online resource (affiliate link) if you are wanting to buy some online.

 

Another quilting thing I love is Best Press Spray Starch. It’s great for when I need to stretch or shrink a fabric back into place with the iron. There are lots of scents of it and I haven’t tried many but I do like the lavender and then the clear one (I think it’s the original scent?). This product is great for those times fabric is not wanting to do what I say….ha!

 

Ok, this next thing you might be a little skeptical about—but I am here to tell you that they work and are fabulous! My mom got me started using them and I am a big fan. They are felted wool balls that are about as big as a baseball. They go in your dryer to help not only dry your clothes faster and keep clothes separated but then you don’t have to use dryer sheets (yay for saving money!). And I LOVE them for drying quilts because I swear the quilts come out fluffier. I keep them in the bottom of my dryer at all times and just put the clothes on top. Great for the environment and great for fluffy quilts! I bought mine HERE (affiliate link).

 

This next item is another one that I love and it seems like kind of a splurge for hand soap but I usually can find a good sale and stock up. I love the Bath and Body Works brand of gentle foaming soaps. They don’t dry my hands out (and I have a huge problem with that in the winter) and I love that they don’t leave a soapy mess all over the sink when my kids wash their hands. YAY for LESS soap clean up in the bathroom. My absolute favorite scent for year round is the kitchen lemon–but I always experiment with scents and some of their holiday ones smell so good!

And one more quilting gadget that I have discovered this year that I really like are these quilting clips. I have used them both on my regular sewing machine as well as on my baby lock coronet when I have been working on a big quilt. They help keep the rest of the quilt out of the way when you are quilting the section you are working on. They are so simple but they work so well! I bought mine HERE (affiliate link).

And one last thing about me. I LOVE cardigans. I think that is half of my closet, because I am always so cold, it’s a running joke in my house. And one cardigan that I love this year are these longer “grandpa” cardigans. These ones from Target are some of my favorites. They come in quite a few colors and are so cute on with jeans, and skirts and even dresses. HERE is the link to the ones that I bought (and I am buying the lilac one for myself for Christmas ;).

So, there’s my list for this year! Anything else I should put on my own list—a new favorite sewing tool, a favorite cardigan I should try? Tell me, tell me!

~elizabeth