It has been a real pleasure for me watching this book

evolve from an idea to reality. The "homemade," the

handcrafted," the "heirloom," and the "keepsake"

have always been for me the real essence of the holiday

season. I personally would rather receive something

fashioned by hand than anything store-

bought, and I have always tried to give presentsto my loved ones that I have made myself. My tradition of homemade gifts goes all

the way back to my childhood, when cookie and cake baking were essential to celebrating

the holidays in our home. We packaged noel

in hand-p

ribbons. I

nut balls, Vienna tarts, and springerle cookies

ainted tins, and wrapped Mrs. Maus s fruitcakes in cellophane with colorful

knitted scarves and mittens for my brothers and sisters, and one year I spent nine

months knitting a

socks--in the most

very special herringbone scarf for my father. I even recall knitting argyle

difficult pattern--for a friend! When I got married I started a "plum

pudding" tradition, steaming dozens and dozens of puddings in specially designed handmade

bowls. I still make them--only fewer, because the tradition had gotten out of hand. But no

one has forgotten the fragrant pudding with the handwritten labels and the recipe for brandied

hard sauce. I have also baked hundreds of panettone in brown-paper sacks, giant sugar

cookies, and shortbreads to

myself,~reating more craft g

give

ifts.

as gifts. In addition to the baked goods, I have found

One year I made silk-velvet scarves for my women friends

and silk-lined fine-woolen mufflers for the men in my life. Just this past year I sewed several

dozen stockings from remnants of antique ingrain carpeting. I got a lot of pleasure from

making these gifts, and the enthusiasm with which they were received made me start

thinking right away of the following year s presents. -)~ In this book we have assembled so

many wonderful projects that have lasting and memorable qualities. The entire editorial

staff of MARTHA STEWART LIVING contributed to the creation of these ideas, and we are

proud to take you through all of them, step by step, so that your personal gifts will be

successful and gratifying, not only to receive, but to make