1) The dipped candles from Martha Stewart. OK, I haven’t tried this yet myself, but it looks easy enough and not that expensive. Customize the candles to your hostess’ color pallete and purchase some decorative match boxes and you have a ready made hostess gift that will work well no matter who your hostess is.
2) Custom Wine Stoppers from Chic to the Nines. You can make these from decorative drawer pulls and door knobs (easily found at stores like Hobby Lobby or Anthropologie) and pair them with a nice bottle of wine. The wine can be used at dinner but the corks will last for years.
3) Bread, Jam, Tea Towel. This is a classic gift, but one that can feel overwhelming if you think you have to make the bread and the jam yourself. Often you can find really yummy artisan breads and locally made jams at smaller grocery stores or neighborhood markets. Pair the store bought-but-handmade foods with a beautiful tea towel or two. Practical and yummy, everyone is sure to love this gift.
4) Herb infused oils and salts from Mountain Rose. These require a little forethought in that they take a week or so to “cure.” But they are easy to make in bulk. You can purchase the ingredients at Sams Club or Whole Foods and the bottles and jars are easily snagged at craft  or dollar stores. Make several of each  all at once and you will always have a yummy and unique ready to go at a moments notice.
5) A Jar Sewing Kit from BHG. Everyone needs a small mending kit – for their office, car, kitchen, etc. This is a small but thoughtful gift that you can customize with fabrics and colors that will suit your hostess. Make it as big or as small as you like – use vintage jars or new ones, and add buttons and  small bits of colorful bakers twine for those “you never know” moments.
I am sure there are many more clever hostess gifts out there, these are just a few of my current favorites. I would love to know – do you have a standard, no fail hostess gift?
