1 hostess with the mostest hostess gifts
I
am always thrilled when the need for a hostess gift arises. It means that someone is going to cook for me (or put clean sheets on their guest bed for me!), so I’m only too happy to bring a
gift! And not only is bringing a hostess gift the nice thing to do, it’s the right thing to do. According to Emily Post, the doyenne of etiquette, when going to dinner at someone else’s house you should come bearing a small token of appreciation, ideally something that doesn’t take too much of the hostess’s time or attention. (For example, if you bring flowers, Post suggests that they’re already cut and in a vase.)
The projects in this chapter range in difficulty from “it’s a snap” easy to “keep you on your toes” challenging, but all of them will help you say thank you in style. And although these gifts are organized with the hostess in mind, you’ll probably find a lot of other willing recipients for the projects in this chapter. So even if you’re without a dinner invite at the moment, don’t wait to start making these presents—when word gets out about what you’re cooking up, the invitations are sure to pour in!