Summertime is the season for hostess gifts. Whether you’re heading to your friend’s beach house, visiting relatives in another country, or just going to hang out at a backyard barbeque, it’s always in style to show up with a little something for the hostess. Not only is it just plain nice and an indication of good manners, but it’s also a chance for you to show off a bit—especially if you come bearing a cool homemade gift. In fact, in Simply Sublime Gifts: High-Style, Low-Sew Projects to Make in a Snap, author Jodi Kahn devotes a whole chapter to hostess gifts. CrafterNews asked her about the niftiest of them (some in the book, some not)—the inspiration behind them, and the special memories she has of giving and receiving them.

CrafterNews: Okay, we know you make great hostess gifts, but has anyone ever made one for you?

Jodi Kahn: Just the other night we had some friends over for dinner, and my girlfriend brought me some beautiful hydrangeas cut from her yard. She arranged them in a pretty, white vintage vase, so not only did I get to enjoy the flowers, I now also have a beautiful piece of pottery. Although my friend didn’t whip the gift up on her sewing machine, she put it together herself, so it felt very personal. To me, that’s the whole idea of giving something handmade or done by hand. It feels special.

CN: In your opinion, why is a homemade gift so appealing?

JK: By its very nature, a handmade gift is going to be unique. That’s one of the main reasons. But I think there are other reasons, too. When someone takes the time to make something by hand, the gift feels very special—and so does the recipient! The gift doesn’t have to be elaborate or cost a lot of money. If it’s handmade, there’s an element of thoughtfulness that goes along with it, and I think that’s one of the nicest things you can “give” when you give a gift.

CN: Out of the many hostess gifts you’ve made and given, which elicited the most memorable response from its recipient?

JK: When I started working on this new book, I tried out a lot of my ideas on friends and family—they were my gift guinea pigs! I brought one of them a box filled with cupcake pincushions, which is a project from the book. I put the cupcakes in a cardboard bakery box and tied the box with bakery twine. At first, my friend thought I had picked up a cake or something, but on second glance she realized that the confections were made out of felt. She truly let out an “Wowww!” when she opened the box. They were such a big hit, and I must admit, I think I was even more delighted than she was—it was so much fun to make them for her and to get that response!

CN: In the book, you’ve got a project in the hostess gifts chapter for hand towels that actually look like they have silk-screened designs on them. Tell us how those intricate patterns are really made.

JK: The towels are my favorite kind of project! They are so easy, but they look very elegant. The patterns are actually made using wrapping paper. You start with a blank linen hand towel, which you can get online, or at a craft store. All you do is scan or copy the wrapping paper onto a T-shirt transfer sheet, then iron the transfer onto the towel. It only takes a half hour.

CN: You’re a big believer in repurposing materials for your gifts. Since it’s summer, are there certain season-specific things that inspire you?

JK: I have been fixated lately on plastic buckets and colorful beach balls. I really love the shine and the bright colors. I’ve been wondering about making something from a deflated beach ball—I’ll keep you posted! And I like anything to do with picnics. Red-and-white checkered fabrics, grassy green Astroturf, even ants! I found some plastic ants at a little corner store. I don’t know what I’m going to do with them, or how they will work their way into a project, but I had to have them! I also love the graphics on bottle caps and candy wrappers, and have been working those into some new designs.

CN: Your book has a chapter devoted to gifts for men. Seriously, do men really like homemade gifts?

JK: You’re right! Men are hard to shop for, and they are even harder to make something for—either way it’s a challenge. One thing I have made for several of the guys in my life are the recycled notebooks that are featured in the book. I made my brother one using a Wheaties cereal box. He uses it to keep his last minute “to-do” lists, and my husband uses one as diary, where he writes funny things that our kids say or do. The notebooks have a very retro feel, so I think the guys kind of get a kick out of them.

CN: What’s a fail-safe hostess gift no matter the season or the event?

JK: You might laugh at this, but I love giving (and getting!) pretty soaps. You can’t go wrong! Whenever I have people over, I like putting out new soaps in my guest bathroom, so you can never have too many. You can wrap up ordinary soaps using beautiful fabrics and personalized labels.

Categories: Crafternews Gift Guide | Holiday Gift Guide | Sewing |

Tags: gifts, high-style, hostess, Jodi Kahn, low-cost, Sewing, Simply Sublime Gifts

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