I have totally outdone myself this year: Christmas presents, bought and wrapped, natch, thank you very much. Motivated by an any-minute house move, I figured it was best to get it all out of the way. I spent one evening last week wrapping them all up. I know.

I jazzed some red-and-white candy stripe and snowflake paper up with washi tape ordered from Papermash, making initials for the kids as labels (um, I ran out of tags).

I’ve never been this organised. It feels remarkably good.

Anyway, since the season of goodwill is fast approaching and all, here’s another little Christmas giveaway for you, this time by John Lewis. The good people over there have asked if I would like to give you a chance to win this gift pack bundle of fabric wrapping:

Fabric wrapping is one of those ideas that you’re like, huh, why didn’t I think of that before. You could just keep using the same fabric pieces to wrap presents again and again – reuse, recycle. Simples. Or… you could stitch them together and make a table runner, or a table cloth for a small Christmas table.

Pretty packaging is pretty awesome – so much better than handing over a present in a plastic bag (prompting the “er, I didn’t get time to wrap it” excuse). For some inspiration, the Christmas team at John Lewis have gone one step further and put together a gift wrap video with hints and tips which you can check out here and there’s plenty of ideas for gifts for everyone here too (I’ve got a few foodie gifts from JL this year for relatives – all wrapped up now).

So, as before, just leave a comment below this post with an email address so I can let you know if you’ve won, and I’ll pick a winner at random this time next week. Happy wrapping!

This is a sponsored competition

I’ve interviewed Emma Bridgewater a couple of times for magazines, and once for an article in the Observer, and she’s always been really great to talk to. She had some great stories to share about growing up in a big rambling house and her mother’s crockery collection.

I love that Emma Bridgewater is still flying the flag for British-made ceramics – especially at a time at which many British ceramics companies have been swallowed up by the recession – so I’m really pleased to be able to do a giveaway (just in time for Christmas!).

The giveaway, kindly offered by the Emma Bridgewater team, is for one of my blog readers to win a personalised half pint mug. Choose your own design, and add your own message to go on the front and the bottom. It’s the kind of thing that’s just perfect for a Christmas present or a birthday present – I got one for my mother-in-law (I hope she isn’t reading this – if you are, just act surprised!).

There are plenty of patterns/ designs to choose from- I went with the Starry Skies design although the tiny rose pattern is pretty, and if you are thinking for Christmas pressies, then the Joy design is perfect. There are also the trademark Emma Bridgewater polka dots and hearts too.

Just leave a comment on this blog post with your contact details (an email address, or a link to your blog; I’m afraid we can’t send out internationally, so UK readers only), or if you prefer, email me to my blog address (huma@herlittleplace.com) and I’ll pick a winner at random by the end of next Friday. You’ll then get a chance to pick out your design and personalised message and a half pint mug will be on its way to you!