You Should Definitely Make: Pomanders

My grandmother taught me how to make pomanders – clove studded oranges – when I was in elementary school. I remember making my first one so that literally no bit of orange was peeking out between the cloves! And of course she let me. That pomander had some ribbon attached and hung in the doorway to her hallway for years to come. No, they aren’t really supposed to be around for that long, but it was nice she found it so special.

So, making a pomander is quite simple. All you need is an orange, some whole cloves, and a poking device (like a toothpick or fork). The design possibilities are endless – I like to keep mine a little more simple these days. Just poke your design into the orange rind to make inserting the cloves a little more easy and you’re off! Sometimes I like to use the back of a spoon to help push the cloves into the orange if the skin is especially thick. You can either add a ribbon like my Grandma did and hang somewhere, or pile a few in a bowl.

A few weeks after making your pomanders you’ll start to notice the fruit drying out around the areas you’ve cloved, it will discolor slightly but that doesn’t mean they’re going bad! In fact they’ll last all season and then some.

Happy Pomandering!

10 Awesome Handmade Hostess Gifts

We’ve all been there, a holiday party pops up or escapes your mind until the last minute and you’re left without a hostess gift. Of course it’s not a requirement to bring one, but it’s especially nice during the holiday season to thank the person/people welcoming you into their home with a little something special. Extra points for it not being a bottle of wine or bouquet you picked up at the gas station on the way over. Here are ten I’d still be smiling about the day after receiving, just click on the image to go to the project source.

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