15 Comments
User's avatar
Jenna O'Brien's avatar

GROUP PROJECT:

☎️ Share a time someone got you a meaningful creativity-inducing gift!

I’d love to share your stories with readers in an upcoming edition of Feeling!

Expand full comment
Skye's avatar

It's so hard to choose just one time! I guess I'll have to share both times I was given creativity-inducing gifts XD

The first time I ever celebrated my birthday with my best friend, she gave me a gift basket. She knew how much I enjoyed crocheting, so she filled it with goodies related to my favorite craft. She gave me sparkly yarn, a wooden yarn bowl, a kit to crochet a cute bear in overalls (I wish I was able to figure out how to make him lol!), and a handful of free blanket patterns from Michael's. It meant so much that she remembered how I loved to crochet, and I simply loved the excitement of a gift basket; there is nothing more fun than knowing there are still more gifts to discover :D (Side note, my friend bought me a cupcake too!)

Fast forward to my most recent birthday, the same friend bought me an apron. Not just any apron, though. It was the apron I had swooned over when we were together a few months before. I was too frugal to buy it myself, so she surprised me with it! It was so sweet that she remembered that I liked it, and it meant a lot that she drove 30 minutes to buy it for me, especially since she doesn't like driving lol! (The apron is so beautiful. The fabric feels wonderful, and the design consists of blue-gray gingham, rust-colored scallops that are crocheted, and pretty embroidery. It makes cooking feel extra special!)

Expand full comment
Jenna O'Brien's avatar

This is so so sweet!!

Expand full comment
danniby's avatar

my grandma once spent the thanksgiving break with me teaching me (very patiently) how to sew! she took me to joann's (rip) and let me pick out fabric and a pattern and so generously covered the bill. she gave me so much of her time and wisdom, and after I had gotten home and splurged on a sewing machine of my own, she mailed me a box with a nice pair of quilting scissors and hand written notes over patterns. then that christmas, my aunt gave me a worn and well-loved reader's digest sewing book that her great grandma had annotated and gifted to her!!

Expand full comment
Nancy's avatar

The illustrations for each item!! This has soothed my mind so much - what a refreshing change from being constantly bombarded with product photos (especially in gift guides). That was so clever of you, what a unique idea. I loved it!

Expand full comment
Jenna O'Brien's avatar

Thank you! That’s so kind! It was fun to re-interpret them in my own style!

Expand full comment
Rachel's avatar

Love my Martina's Tiny Store ribbon journal!

Expand full comment
mimi🌺's avatar

I'm so happy to have suscribed to FEELING! magazine. Your content is so so good, soothing, fun. Thanks you Jenna and Substack ! x

Expand full comment
Leatherology's avatar

I recently got a gift that has a handwritten letter debossed into it. I work for a brand called Leatherology so I'm a little bias towards the gift but I got a leather snap journal that had a handwritten note from my mom on the front of the leather journal! It's the perfect gift when it comes to sentimental but also functional and I'll keep it forever because I can keep buying refills!

Expand full comment
Anna's avatar

Once a friend gave me some kind of creativity workbook with little challenges for each day of the year. I really liked to look forward to it every day😍

Expand full comment
Jenna O'Brien's avatar

That’s a sweet friend!

Expand full comment
Brittany Viklund's avatar

Moglea journals are a long-time favorite, and I love the surprise of the unique design on each one!

Expand full comment
Jenna O'Brien's avatar

Yes! Moglea is truly a stand-out in the stationery space! I’ve always admired them.

Expand full comment
Serria Thomas's avatar

I am a writer! One year my family gave me a bunch of personalized stationary, notebooks and pens — my brother even got me a feather quill! It was simple and useful but ultimately was such a nice gift that showed how much they really *see* me (even if creativity isn't their jam!). 🫶🏽Sometimes it's easier to create when you feel supported, in my experience.

Expand full comment
Jenna O'Brien's avatar

Yes yes yes. Love this story!

Expand full comment