Hand-making Christmas gifts

We love to make and receive handmade gifts, so this Christmas we hoped to make something for all our family. It can be tricky not only to find the time, but also to work out what to make. This year my husband has been really getting into painting, especially icons, and I have started learning to mosaic. So that was what we did. He was really organised and got his painting done in good time. I was still up to my wrists in grout after lunch on Christmas day! Everything we made was well received and such a joy to give that it was all worth the work.

My husband cut the shapes out of MDF, then I put mosaic on them and made hooks to hang them out of thick copper wire.
I think the handmade hook finished them well and I love the effect you get when you flatten wire slightly with a planishing hammer and anvil, as you can see on the loop at the top. This week I've made some more of these small mosaics, which are now available from my Acanthus Jewellery Web site. I'm looking forward to taking on some bigger mosaic projects this year. Any good ideas?