Halloween Gift Basketry

Gift Baskets for Halloween

Being a married adult now, I understand that the sending of gifts on occasion is somewhat requisite. It never occurred to me, though, that I could use the internet to gift Halloween baskets both near and far!

Even without the intent to order online, these make some great inspiration for gift baskets you could make up inexpensively yourself:

Halloween Bucket Planters (ProPlants)

Mrs. Fields Pumpkin Tote

Halloween Dipped Strawberries?!
I must make some

Simple, yet effective

Wine Country

The last of all these borrowed pictures is particularly inspiring to me -- you could make a gourmet Halloween treat basket, themed after spooky spirits or vampires or whatever strikes your fancy. If you couldn't find a suitably spooky wine on your own, there are always printable labels:

• My Wedding Labels (re-worked from Martha's)*
• Clean and Proper labels (For the less spooky among you)*
• Love Manor (if you haven't visited this photostream yet, please know you'll love it. That's why I'm not taking you straight to the labels)

Sewing: A Gift in Black and White

I'm so excited: I just made my first gift with my newly acquired (okay, newly just-starting-to-be-acquired) sewing skills!

This is from BurdaStyle's Marcel Eye Mask pattern, which now costs a dollar. Not a bad price if you're not into drafting the pattern yourself (I downloaded it ages ago, before sewing was something I took seriously... lucky me, because lady-shaped people love this).

The back and the front are two different patterns from the same bit of fabric I got at Whipstitch. I promised to post the skirt I made in the same fabric, and as soon as my husband is around to take pictures for me I really, really will. 

The ties are a sheer, black ribbon. It's filled with lentils, scented with rosemary (one of my favorites!) and can be used hot or cold as an eye press. 

The two sides really make me want to try this pattern again in a Jekyll/Hyde theme. What do you think?