Ever since I was a little girl I have made things.

If I wasn't cutting up fabric and gluing it together to make clothes for my Barbie dolls, whose hair I had carefully cut and styled myself, I was coloring pictures or making mix tapes, or folding notes into creative shapes before I sneakily passed them in class.

My mom taught me to crochet when I was young and it is one of my favorite crafts. I absolutely love yarn. I love the versatility. It comes in all different shapes and sizes and any possible color I might dream up. With yarn, I can make a million different things. Yarn takes up half of my apartment and I leave a little trail of yarn tidbits everywhere I go. I am pretty sure my vacuum hates me.

A few years ago I made a vow to only give gifts I had made. This became a fun and sometimes daunting adventure. I have made all sorts of things. Some better than others, but I learned something really fantastic:. No matter the gift, handmade items are received with a special appreciation.

I made my first cozy for a friend who loves coffee. It was simple; red with a big flower and it was a BIG hit. Not only did she love it, but I immediately received requests from people who had seen it and wanted to buy one.

At first I sold them from a bag I carried with me everywhere I went. Once I got the guts to take a bigger step, I took the cozies to the world wide web. I absolutely love having an Etsy shop and I feel lucky and special to get to be a part of this amazing community where I am surrounded by tons of talented people. I feel honored when people choose me to make their handmade gifts.

A reusable cozy is environmentally friendly. It can be stashed in a pocket, purse, or glove box and reused every day . One size fits most. They fit on a paper coffee cup, a can, a bottle, a jar. I also make cozies for mugs and French Presses. They are sturdy and keep your hot drink toasty while protecting your fingers from heat. They also work well on cold drinks absorbing condensation and reducing that ring of water that wants to linger wherever you set your cup. Not to mention they are a fun little way to add something happy to your day.