A little packaging makes a big difference.....

Do you remember these little round blobs I made? They are hand-warmers - fleece circles filled with rice, which you nuke in the microwave and then tuck into pockets or gloves to keep you warm. 

 But they looked a little uninspiring. So I decided to do a little fiddling with the instructions for heating them, and that led to me playing with Wordart, and that led to clipart, and that led to an internet message to daughter in NZ (the graphic artist) to request help. But she was in bed, as I said yesterday.

 So David and I came up with the basic design. I called them "Warm'nCosy" because it sounded sweet and warm. I did not have a clue how to flip half the words so they both faced the right way up, or how to re-size them, but David did.  And so did Diana.

This arrived last night, for me to use. Isn't it great??? A special design! For ME!

And then I decided that I should make some more blobs and machine embroider "Warm" and Cosy" onto each of them, because...well, I could, and that would make them look more special, and I like my embroidery machine......

See? They are really cute.....

 I have some cellophane bags which I always buy in Switzerland for packing up cookies. Perfect size.

 And when the headers are cut and folded like this.......

 And stapled in place.....

Voila!! This is what I ended up with! 

 And I was dancing about here in delight. I use the term dancing lightly.

Sigh. It is all in the detail. They are so sweet, and make me grin, and I have had such fun. You know, they have cost almost nothing to make. The fleece, the rice, the thread, the bags and the card. 

And they look quite professional now. The time spent .....well, that is what a gift is all about in the end, isn't it? Taking time to think of a friend, or loved one, and using MY time for their benefit or enjoyment. That is why I love home-made Christmases so much. Time. Thought. Love. 

And I am ignoring the Autumn Budget being delivered live in TV as I am writing this. I do not want any more doom and gloom. It is Christmas soon, and I am going to be celebrating. 

Day 29: Sausage rolls straight out of the oven. Enough money to pay the bills. Roses still blooming. Ideas clamouring for attention in my head. A pile of Warm'nCosy bags, Smiles. Hot coffee. Red. Snuggly blankets.