The Tradition
Welcome to Bauble Stockings™! I’m Kate Stice Stewart, and I’m excited to share a cherished tradition with you. Each family makes it their own, but the result is always the same: a special moment that wraps up the holiday season and leaves lasting memories.
A Bauble Stocking holds—or holds a clue to—the final gift of Christmas, a memorable grand finale to the holiday season.
The Bauble Stockings tradition has two special impacts:
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A Thoughtful Finale: The last gift, which is either put, or a clue to it is put, in your Bauble Stocking. This gift is chosen with extra care, making the recipient feel truly seen and valued. This is a beautiful way to strengthen connections, reminding loved ones how deeply they are appreciated.
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Bringing Givers Together: The entire family dreams up the gift for the recipient together. Personally, I love that my husband schedules a "family day" with our kids to talk about me beyond me just being their mom, and then they brainstorm a special gift based on my interests. The kids and he are just as excited as me when I open their gift! These moments of thoughtfulness and appreciation bring a special warmth into our home.
So, "save the best for last" with your loved ones and make Bauble Stockings a part of your holiday tradition. Bauble Stockings, a family tradition that matters!
The History
Growing up, my mom always received the last gift of Christmas as a special thank you for all she did for us throughout the year. Each holiday season, my dad would take my big brothers and me to lunch and we'd talk about her as a person- not just as our mom. We'd then pick out an extra special gift just for her.
This gift—or a clue to it—was hidden in her ornament-sized needlepoint stocking that hung on our tree.
My dad called it her "Bauble Stocking" because, on a good year, it might contain a bauble—which is a piece of jewelry. The tradition of brainstorming the perfect gift with my dad and brothers was a highlight of the season, and seeing my mom’s joy made it all the more special.
When we got engaged, I asked my fiancé Peter, “When do I get my Bauble Stocking?” His confused look and my fruitless Google search led to a realization—this tradition wasn’t a universal tradition. And so, I decided to share it.
Every year is different: jewelry, concert tickets, art lessons, scavenger hunts, love notes, riddles, trips, heirlooms, even puppies!
Since launching, I’ve heard of families creating their own versions, like newlyweds in Raleigh who alternate years planning surprise trips and grandparents using the stocking as a special envelope for handwritten checks.
Every Bauble Stocking is crafted with care—hand-stitched needlepoint made through fair trade in Jacmel, Haiti. Our partner, Good Threads Needlepoint, is BCorp Certified, ensuring ethical practices. When you bring this tradition into your home, you support meaningful work in another.
Our original artwork comes from Sarah Watson, a SCAD graduate and Alabama native. Each year, we also collaborate with select Guest Artists, in exchange for donating 10% of the profits to their charity of choice.
Since our launch in June 2018, we've donated over $127,000 to organizations making a difference in the world.
Finally, none of this would be possible without your support. Thank you for bringing this tradition into your home and for helping us create opportunities for families around the world.