Last handmade gifts!

I have been on a major French press kick lately. My drip-coffee pot just wasn't giving me as deep a flavor as I wanted. And my mornings are slow and laid back these days, so it is nice to take the time to boil water and steep and press the coffee myself.

And look! My friend Jen made me this adorable sweater cozy for my press! It's made from a thrifted little girl's sweater. Isn't it adorable? And it serves a great function, too, keeping that precious coffee warm while you enjoy your first cup and wait for the second. What a sweet Christmas present!

We had breakfast out yesterday and exchanged our handmade gifts. For her, I made something near and dear to me -- a covered notebook! I love a brand new notebook, as I've said, and especially around the New Year when all sorts of resolutions, reflections and goals are bouncing around your head. You need to write that stuff down.

Now she has a place to do so! And I had to show it all wrapped up, because that donut wrapping paper is my favorite.

Happy New Year everyone! I might be back later to share my favorite photos of 2011. It will be a most self-indulgant post. And I'm not going to apologize for it at all. Cheers!

P.S. Also, I changed my header. Thoughts?

P.S.S. I really love this article: 12 Things Happy People Do Differently. I hope to do all those things more often in 2012. Especially No. 1. And No. 8 -- experience the flow -- that's sewing for me. So more sewing in 2012, too!