Sponsor Feature & 12 Giveaways

I love making and receiving handmade gifts... they're extra special and so exciting!! So this month, I've asked my Sponsors to share about their favorite handmade Christmas gift they've received or given and each Sponsor has also generously contributed to a big giveaway here on Freckled Nest! To enter the big giveaway, leave an encouraging comment on each sponsors blog, then write your name and email address in the comments of this post and we will draw one person who wins everything! ps. We'll confirm that the winner has left a comment on every blog below ;) NOTE: Giveaway closed, Nicole Renee was the Big Winner! :)

Jari's Shop & Blog "The best handmade Christmas gift I've ever received was this cuuutie bag that my grandma made me for my knitting supplies... last year! I had told her that I'd been wanting to learn to knit - and she remembered and made this bag to hold my yarn by my chair. I JUST figured out how to knit in the past few weeks, and it really meant a lot to have this bag next to me = she believed in me! yays!"

Giveaway... 6 Braid Eggplant Jersey Knit Scarf

Amy's Shop & Blog "Every year I give my family a little cardboard glittered house that I've modeled after those sold in the dime stores after the war. My grandmother, Nelly Marlene, used to decorate under the tree with these houses so it is a nice reminder of Christmases past. My parents and aunts and uncles now have little villages that make them think of childhood!" Giveaway... Handmade Stocking, 6pack of vintage Christmas Party Invitations and a 1967 Cookies & Candies Cookbook Rachel's Shop & Blog "My favorite handmade gift was not a Christmas gift but it was handmade none-the-less, by my mother when she was pregnant with me. It hung in my room growing up...I don't ever remember a time when it wasn't hanging on my wall. Just this past year she passed on this beauty so I could hang it in my own home. I had this gorgeous piece of arts professionally framed so it would be preserved forever."

Giveaway... "This Little Pig" made from thrifted gloves and vintage notions Kyla's Shop & Blog "This wreath was a handmade Christmas gift for my mom. At this point of time in the year we were having a lot of trouble with our dog jersey and this was a nice distraction from it all. This year as we put it up it was a nice reminder of how much better everything seems and how we get to see her a little bit longer :) Plus it's one of the cutest Christmas decorations ever!! If you have the time to set aside and create one for yourself it's absolutely worth it!" Giveaway... "Love Each Day" Post Card 10 Pack! Jill's Shop & Blog & Website "Every year I gift my mom with vintage things I know she'll love. Last year I gave her 2 cameras from my collection to add to hers. Another year she received a robins egg blue desk fan that I saved for 5 months to gift to her. She's also received a pink rotary phone, a pillow I made of of a cute embroidered tea towel, a seaside oil painting, and a collection of milk glass vases. I know she'll really appreciate it, so I make the wrapping something special. Her favorite wrap is thrifted vintage wallpaper. At studiolune.com, if you let us know your purchase is a holiday gift, we'll wrap your purchase in vintage wallpaper too! When you give a thoughtful vintage or handmade gift, you make a special connection with the people you love where in they know you were truly thinking of them." Giveaway... $10 Holiday Gift Certificate for Studio Lune Michelle's Shop & Blog "My favorite handmade Christmas gift was a purple-and-white handmade quilt that my mom made for me when I was 8 or so - it was very appropriate for my new-room-having young self, and it was loving cut, sewn, quilted, and even hand-tied/finished! I carried it around with me for years and years - in fact, it still sits in my linen closet, loved but literally falling apart at the seams because I wore it out so much over the years!" Giveaway... "The Anxious Woodsman" a set of 8 Illustrated Paper Tags from Bubbly Shnooks

Marcy's Shop & Blog "My favorite handmade Christmas gift was a gratitude journal I made my sister last year. Everyone needs a little reminder now and then about what makes them special!"

Giveaway... Mini Composition Book and Paper Flowers

Diana's Shop & Blog "About 10 years ago, my friend got me a matted 8x10 from a project in her photography class. She not only took the photo herself, but developed the photo as well. That photo has been looked at everyday, and it reminds me of how photography can really change a person’s home." Giveaway... Set of 10 Library Themed Christmas Cards Megan's Blog

"So in this story take Graduation and insert Christmas to make it holiday spirited :) I am the artist/crafter in the family, and when my graduation was near, I was wondering about the traditional graduation scrapbook for the senior. I usually take care of making the scrapbooks, but it was kinda weird to scrapbook about myself [I'm getting better at it now]. It was to my great surprise and delight when my mom presented my graduation scrapbook, made by her. It was so special that she tried her hardest to make it [she is not as crafty as her daughter :) ] and it filled my heart with love. I look at that scrapbook almost weekly and I can still feel her love in every page. Handmade gifts given to me, as a crafter, are the greatest gifts I could ever get. I can see and feel the love put into it and that is what makes it so special.

Giveaway... Crocheted Scarf with Vintage Buttons & Mini Safety Pins Haley's Shop & Blog "Well, the most *important* handmade Christmas gift I've ever given has to be the set of hand-drawn greeting cards and stationery that I gave my now Mother-in-Law.. I had so much fun designing them that I decided to start up a stationery business! The birth of Bread of Many!" Giveaway... 3 "Scott's Narwhal" Greeting Cards Hannah's Shop & Blog "I *love* handmade Christmas gifts, both giving and receiving them! Last year, I got the bestest gift ever... My mom had been out of town for month's taking care of my grandmother (who I was *very* close to). While she was gone, she hand-stitched her very first quilt out of special old clothes of mine, my dad's and her's (even some old maternity clothes!). Then, when she couldn't come home for Christmas, she sent it with my dad for me to open on Christmas morning. Making things by hand means that you can make them extra special!" Giveaway... Ozzy the Owl & 2 mini doodle books Jaelynn's Shop & Blog "Handmade presents always seem to hold a special place in my heart. Its so much more personal! Every year during the holiday season, I make it a point to crochet as many beanies, scarves, etc to give to the people around me. There is always a need for them, so why not make it something special- right?! One of my favorite handmade gifts I have received was an amazing necklace my mom made for me. She knew how much I love Beethoven (A LOT) and surprised me with this awesome piece! I love it so much and it is one of my most prized necklaces!

Giveaway... I spend countless hours every week reading the many blogs I follow, and I know I'm not the only one! So, to share the love i'm giving away an AWESOME vintage mug with a great floral design on it and a variety pack of TAZO brand tea! So now, you too can enjoy a great cup of tea as you read all of your favorite blogs!

Decembers a great month for online advertising, it's the top shopping month of the year! If you'd like to be a sponsor in December, please email FreckledNest@gmail.com to reserve your spot :)

Good luck everyone and a huge thank you to my sponsors, supporters and readers!! xoxo! Love Leigh-Ann :) ps. Style School Update: We'll start selling the class on Monday with sneak peeks starting tomorrow! Thanks for such a great response about the online class, we're so excited!!