My mom made a little (2.5 x 2.5") accordian fold book of snapshots from my wedding. The ends are squares of white polymer clay edged in gold.

It's a lovely keepsake of a wonderful day.

This first year that my husband and I shared Christmas,as an engaged couple, I put together a little memory box with a book. Inside the box, I placed a couple of pictures of us, roses dried and saved from a bouquet he sent, sand and shells from our visit to the ocean, and the box that had my engagement ring. The book included some of our shared moments such as our first date, the first meal that he cooked for me, the original piece of paper I wrote my personal ad that he responded to, and all sorts of spaces that he could write in about first kiss, favorite gift, romantic getaways. It has meant as much to me giving it to him as it does for him.

Thanks for the inspirational thoughts and ideas!!
I checked out the site because I saw SARK mentioned and I own almost all of her books and love her.

Casey

These are really great gifts! And I can see there are some power (and powerful) gift givers around here.

You might get a kick out of my latest blog post: "Jeff Gates' Patented Seven Step Gift Giving System"
(http://outtacontext.com/life/archive/000278.shtml)

a,

i just love traveling mercies. i am so adding this to my christmas list.

jenn

great ideas- I have a hard bound book of letters to my son for him to read when he gets older. This list gave me the idea of making one for my husband-he is such a romantic! (maybe I will write all year and let him read it next Chirstmas Eve)

In March 2003, my brother passed away just before my birthday. In an attempt to lift my spirit, my wonderful husband wrote to the OPRAH show requesting a hook up between me and Mick Jagger. I have always wanted to meet him. In support of his letter and request, he had emailed a whole lot of my friends. He asked them to send him letters that would reflect how long they had known me, what value their friendship with me created in their lives, and how knowing me had perhaps changed them. The Jagger hook up didn't happen. However, Daniel took the letters, put them in a beautiful album and at my birthday meal, surprised me with this gift. With my family and some new friends here in the USA, he gave me the greatest gift - he sat and read me every letter! They were so heartfelt and moving, that I cried from beginning to end of the whole event. I thought this was just the most romantic gesture on his part as it would have been just as easy for him to explain what he had done and hand me the album. Your ideas have inspired me to post the letters on my blog as I think this will be a wonderful way to honor my friends in reciprocation for all their love and kindness. Thanks, Andrea!

Wow! thanks :)
For my husband, I like to write poetry or things I am thankful for that he does. The list ends up being never ending.

What a wonderful post!

The best gift I ever received was my great-grandmother's two diamond rings. They were legendary in my family, and since I was about 13 I knew that one day my mother would give them to me. She always said she would give them to me when I was old enough to protect them until I could pass them on to the next generation. She gave them to me on my 21st birthday, and in addition to getting such wonderful, precious family heirlooms, my mother gave me the gift of believing in me. That is as precious as the rings.

andrea,

thanks so much for all the wonderful ideas. i could spend days going through all of these links. i just love them.

i have two gifts that tie for best gifts ever. th first one i received when i was 22. it was my SARK playbook and journal. what a wonderful gift. it's full of so many pages of self discovery. i treasure my playbook dearly. i give it as a gift a lot too. the second gift was simple but touched me greatly. while away at a siminar my partner made a list of the top 17 reasons she loves me. (she said 17 wasn't too many or not enough, just the right number)She took black alphabet stickers and posted the list on pink construction paper. I loved it. It's now posted in my closet so I can see it every day.

jenn

Thank you for posting all these great ideas, A! I love the postcard painting one especially. What a great treat to find in your mailbox!

ps thanks for giving me a great idea for a to me form me present - I'm going to give myself a holga!

I like making survive winter kits, cocoa, book, plant, mug whatever takes your fancy

so awesome..
really...
you inspired me...

the puzzle painting .. I ALWAYS LOVE THAT

i went upstairs to get something
and then.. tada..
i tore up 2 old paintings i didn't like
and finish 15 gratitude gifts that were due
for tomorrow...

i was strugglin.. then .. boom.. read you
all good... made them with my son...
and i'm tickled...

thanks girl...
d

Today I got an email from your mailing list and I feel like it was fate. I lost all my bookmarks back in April, your site being one of them, so until today I had not read your journal in months.
I read what you write and you show me the beauty in every little thing around me. I don't know you but I feel you are one of the most beautiful people on this earth, your strength, compassion and your eye for the good in the world is inspiring.
Thank you for waking me up from my self pitying duldrums and giving me a little spring in my step.
I hope all turns out well for you, I think there must be a thousand good wishes floating in the cosmos for you tonight :)

P.S I started making my boyfriend a handmade book of "50 reasons why I love you" I would recommend making these kinds of things to anyone, not only is it sweet for them, it reconnects the person making the book, thinking about the person, with their heart.

I love this list - I can't stop coming back to it and reading it over and over. How wonderful - thanks for sharing.

Thanks so much for posting your gift ideas Andrea... I love making gifts for friends, and these ideas have my brain percolating! :)

finding your journal was a great gift to me, and each piece of your jewelry I add from your collection makes me smile... you are a true treasure to us all. Thank you for sharing bits of your life with us.

What a huge help this is going to be!!! I can't wait to look through all your links later. Thanks, Andrea. :)

- Carrie

Love, love, love your book recommendations :) - just ordered a couple to put in my own stocking!

I know you're asking for specific things, but what comes to mind as the best gift I ever received was from my parents-to get to be here on this planet now...second best is the unconditional love I get from the husband. I suppose the best things would be our wedding huppah which was made from squares decorated by family and friends, and the wampum bracelets I have received over years from a dear friend (wampum is beads made from quahog shells, found on Martha's Vineyard, magical place for me).

Ohhh! I was so needing those great ideas! Thank you so much!