By Amy Notarius

Rowan Public Library

Last year a friend of mine who makes stained-glass creations gave me an absolutely beautiful one as a gift.

A handmade gift is a one-of-a-kind, priceless treasure. You can be that special person this year who takes gift-giving to another level when you make something of your own. Rowan Public Library has the perfect books to help you get creative this holiday season.

“Fa La La La Felt,” by Amanda Carestio, is a new book that contains patterns and instructions to create more than 40 handmade holiday decorations. Carestio writes that if you sew at all (that lets me out already), then you probably already have most of what you need to make the projects in this book.

Carestio describes the different types of felt, which vary by cost and composition, making some better suited than others for certain projects. She reviews basic techniques that involve using templates and finishing edges, and basic embroidery stitches that embellish many of the projects.

The book is divided into three sections, with illustrations and instructions for creating ornaments, decorations and stockings. Ornaments such as mini gingerbread houses, Christmas cones, and matryoshka dolls are pretty and fun. The variety of decorations is fascinating — from unique gift tags to snowflake coasters.

I’ve saved the best tip for last — believe it or not, some of the projects require no sewing at all. These are indicated by a “no-sew” icon, and the snowflake coasters mentioned above fall into this category. So even I have no excuse not to try.

You can’t write about the holidays, (at least I can’t) without writing about cookies, and Rowan Public Library has you covered here as well.

The new book from Taste of Home, “365 Days of Cookies,” is a fun and beautifully photographed cookbook with a bit of a twist. It is divided into sections by season, and within seasons offers cookies in honor of special days of the month. Who knew May 11 is National Eat What You Want Day? Taste of Home does, and they have a recipe for kitchen-sink cookies — packed with chocolate, Reese’s Pieces, coconut, walnuts, and M&Ms — to go along with it. I can’t begin to describe how cute the cookies for Hedgehog Day, Feb. 2, are, or the cookie that looks like a hamburger for April Fool’s Day.

Of course, cookies play a starring role in December, and a bonus chapter covers all your holiday cookie needs. The helpful index is not just alphabetical, but it also lists options to search by cookie type (sandwich, slice and bake, etc.) or major ingredient.

Whatever you decide to create this holiday season, Rowan Public Library has the books you need to delight and enjoy. Check them out today.

Chapter Chats: Weekly book club for teens 14-17, primarily for participants with developmental or intellectual disabilities, though all are welcome. Mondays, 5 p.m. at East Branch, Rockwell. Contact Tammie Foster at 704-216-7842. This program goes on hiatus after Dec. 18.

The Write Stuff: Lessons in and practice with creative writing, led by Jenny Hubbard, young adult novelist, author of “Paper Covers Rock” and “And We Stay.” Headquarters, Dec. 5, 4:30 p.m. Questions? Contact Hope at Hope.Loman@rowancountync.gov or 704-216-8258.

Let’s Make a Playlist: Headquarters, Dec. 16, 2 p.m. RPL’s makerspace, known as the Cooperative Lab or “The Coop,” will host this teen program. Participants will curate and prepare the playlist of period-specific music that will be featured at the Welcome Home celebration on Dec. 30.

Winter Traditions: Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m. Come learn about winter traditions from around the world. This program is geared towards children younger than 11 and is sponsored by Smart Start Rowan.

Cards for a Cause: Headquarters, East and South, through Dec. 18. Create holiday cards that will be delivered to active service members in the U.S. Armed Forces and to veterans at the Hefner VAMC in Salisbury. Questions? Call Laurie at 704-216-7732.

‘The Vietnam War” Film Screening: Headquarters, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. The library hosts free weekly screenings of “The Vietnam War,” a 10-part documentary film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that aired on PBS. Episode 8: “History of the World (April 1969-May 1970)” will be shown. Adults (17 and up) only.

Through a Soldier’s Eyes: An oral history project at headquarters, East and South. Through Dec. 30, brochures explaining the oral history project, outlining prompts for questions, and offering the contact information for two librarians who can record stories will be distributed at all branches and throughout the community.  These brochures are intended for teens and adults.Nonveterans, particularly teens with friends or family members who served in Vietnam or remember the time period well, are encouraged to use these brochures as guides to engage in conversations that can then be recorded, either on their own or with a librarian’s assistance.

Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.