What do you keep in your holiday boxes?

Just like pulling out my woolens each autumn when the temperature dips, each November I retrieve my holiday storage boxes. It’s a fun, annual activity to reunite myself with an assortment of personal treasures – it’s like the comfort of meeting up with old friends I haven’t seen in a while. 

In my holiday boxes I have all manner of items: family heirlooms that instantly evoke happy memories, and decorations that I’ve purchased, made, and received as gifts. There are wrapping supplies – pretty patterned papers, festive gift bags and a collection of cotton ribbons in an assortment of colours. I also have paper gift tags and special gift toppers that inspire me. As I pull out each of these, I can’t help but start visualizing the gifts I intend to give and wrap this season. Perhaps fittingly for a stationery & gifts shop owner, I enjoy wrapping presents immensely.

My holiday boxes get life breathed into them each year: the vintage items have their chance to shine and be appreciated. Some of the items get used when wrapping or while creating new ornaments, decorations or gifts. New items are added each year as I discover beautiful items from around the world, locally and sometimes in my own garden. I like to mix things up and try out new themes, colours and designs each year.

What do you keep in your holiday storage boxes and toolkit? Do you have any favourite keepsakes you especially appreciate seeing (or hearing) again? Maybe there’s a particular scent that draws you in. Are there any new items you’ll be adding this year? Perhaps some handmade items, too, that you intend to make? We love creativity and seeing and hearing about your magical moments at this time of year. 

Here are a few items from the shop to consider adding to your holiday collection:

Wherever you are in your holiday planning process, we hope you enjoy all the moments. Unpacking, reuniting, making, listening, seeing, and admiring. Sometimes these seemingly small activities can connect us across time and space and birth a feeling of joy. Happy creating!