Holiday Gift Baskets For Customers

[Shelby]

Oh no, I am the queen of Christmas grump.  Trust me.  I breathe a sigh of relief when it's all over.

[Darienne]

Well, my first commitment is finished.  24 boxes of Enstrom copycat toffee.  It's the world's best.  Trust me.  I never even like toffee until I tasted this one.  But 4 batches for an old lady trying at the same time to settle into a strange house is just too much.  You will notice that the boxes sport NO ribbons, bows or other furbellows. 

 

 

[Shelby]

I think they look GREAT!

[Smithy]

I think you're both awesome!

[Shelby]

Eleven baskets finished and loaded in the car.  

 

O M G.  I'm tired.

 

I announced my retirement from the baskets tonight.  They wrote back "you said that last year".   I wrote back "I mean it this year"........so we'll see .....

 

 

The bows (as I showed earlier) were all hand made by me out of wired burlap.

 

I bought the tags from a person on Etsy--they were plain.  I wrote and stamped them myself.  I also stamped the bread wraps.

 

Baskets bought on Amazon.

 

Close up of bread

 

 

Breads all wrapped

 

 

Items that go inside each basket.

 

Summer sausage, candies, cheese, crackers, cookies, homemade zucchini bread, cotton candy

 

 

Close up

 

 

Eleven ready to go

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't added up total cost.  I'll do that when I get a chance and post.  

 

Time for a large refill of wine......I'm gonna go prop up in bed, drink and relax.

 

Thanks again all for helping me.  

Edited December 17, 2014 by Shelby (log)

[Smithy]

Those are beautiful! I'm very surprised that the bows are made of burlap - wired or not, that fabric looks like a finer weave and pattern than any burlap I've ever seen.  I must say, your handwriting is LOVELY - you could decorate/write a card for me any day!  The contents look wonderful, and every recipient should feel honored.  Congratulations!

[Darienne]

Hooray for you Shelby!!!  Have a good rest.  You deserve it.

[Mmmpomps]

Shelby these are just fabulous! The bows look awesome with the apple baskets!!!

[IowaDee]

Those are just fantastic.  I'm sure those 11 people will be honored to be given your gift.  

[Shelby]

Thanks everyone!  I'm glad they are finished.

 

I forgot to mention that the cotton candy flavors are cinnamon stick, candy cane and gingerbread.  They taste very good and I think they add a fun "pop" to the baskets.

[suzilightning]

FABULOUS to both of you....

[Deryn]

The baskets are absolutely beautiful, Shelby! You definitely deserved that top up on the wine and now, a long winter's rest!

Next year, can you supervise the making of the baskets (if you do them at all) and just hire a couple of young neighbourhood teens to assemble them? Or perhaps you can just buy a few things to go in a 'basket' of some kind and call it a 'make it yourself' kit? And the following year, just give out gift cards for Costco baskets.

I trailed a few people around Costco the other day who were obviously picking out 'baskets' for their 'customers' or employees - definitely not of the quality (nor made with the love you add) yours are, but, maybe it IS time for you to retire and rest on your laurels. At Christmas, just post pictures of all your past baskets around your office and savour the memories.

[ElainaA]

I finally finished my yearly candymania and am giving out my candy bags. I packed 38 bags - some to people important to our business, most to friends and family. The first picture (I hope - i am not good at these attachments) is of the contents of a typical bag. I am an absolute amateur and only make candy once a year so it is always another learning curve - but so much fun and everyone seems to enjoy receiving them. 

Not exactly FROM the kitchen but very much FOR the kitchen - for my daughter and nieces this year I also made aprons  

Elaina

Edited December 23, 2014 by ElainaA (log)

[Darienne]

That's one generous bag, ElaineA.

[suzilightning]

ELAINAA, is it too late to adopt me?

[ElainaA]

Darienne - I really have no excuse for making candy any other time of year and I love doing it. It is with great difficulty that i restrain myself from making twice as much. Of course the cost of materials is a restraining factor. 

Elaina