SILVER SPIRAL PILLOW

Several years ago, at my birthday party, my young friend Lizzy gave me a pillow that she made herself. The pillow is fashioned from light aqua corduroy and embellished with a silver sequin spiral.

The pillow lives on my bed and is one of my favorite gifts of all time. Why? Because it's personal, hand-made, and reminds me of the giver.

Even if you are not an "artsy-craftsy" person, there are always things you can make by hand for people - like cookies, or a collage - that they will treasure because you made it.