Whenever I am gifted a handmade treasure, I think of the time, skill, effort and love that has gone into its creation. I imagine the maker deliberating over their choice of yarn or carefully painting a hand drawn image or choosing the most favourite of fruits for a jar of jam. Last year, my mother gave me a beautiful, peacock blue cardigan that she had knitted for me. Whenever I wear it, it is like wrapping her arms around me.
There is a warmth that spreads throughout one's own heart when presenting another with a handmade gift and seeing that the receiver appreciates all that is wrapped up under the paper and ribbon. I love to make simple gifts but the things I make always come together slowly. That is why I have begun making gifts for Christmas now ... because it will take me many months to finish them!
One completed gift ready to be wrapped up with fragrant soap.
A gift not quite finished...yet!
I find inspiration in the gifts I have received from others, in craft shops and in books from my local library. Over the weekend, I found these two books at my local library that have lots of ideas for handmade gift-giving.
Note the word EASY on both covers!
There is also lots of inspiration online. There are so many creative people out there! This year, I am going to make some beautiful, hand-stitched felt doves using this pattern. I would also love to roll out some soft clay and make these sweet keepsakes. I think both the doves and the keepsakes would be small and special additions to any Christmas parcel.
Are you crafting for Christmas yet? What are you making?
Meg
I love handmade gifts. I appreciate the time, effort and thoughtfulness that went into its creation.
ReplyDeleteHandmade gifts are just lovely, aren't they! Do you make any gifts for your family and friends, Jan?
DeleteHi Meg,
ReplyDeleteI am currently making a felt quiet book and a Harry Potter wand for a birthday coming up. I adore making homemade gifts! Your embroidered leaves are just lovely! x
Thanks, Mel. I love simple embroidery. I plan on stitching up a simple, lined bag with my leaf embroidery making up the front panel. Your quiet book will be make a lovely gift and I'm sure any Harry Potter enthusiast will love a wand of their very own! Meg:)
DeleteI usually start my Christmas gift making in the Autumn. Having said that I am going to cast on a pair of socks in the next week or so, they are a Christmas gift ;). I agree that homemade gifts are the best kind I too love to receive them.
ReplyDeleteHandmade socks for Christmas...what a warm and beautiful gift!
DeleteHello Meg, a lovely post. I feel the same about handmade gifts. I havn't started making anything yet, but I am well into planning. One thing is an afghan for my daughter at University and then wool felted mice for my mother and sister who love Brambley hedge and Beatrix Potter. Pam in Norway
ReplyDeleteHello, Pam! I love planning what to make friends and family for Christmas. Wool felted mice sound beautiful. Are they difficult to make? Meg:)
DeleteI love making and receiving hand made gifts for so many different reasons. It's lovely that hand made seems to be coming back into favour and yet at the same time (I'm going to sound very old here) many people just want money for gifts these days, not even shop bought items will do. I just have to hope that they will buy something hand made with the money!
ReplyDeleteHello, Lucy. I agree that the resurgence of handmade is a lovely thing. I think the love and time put into making something handmade makes those gifts particularly special and often treasured. I can understand why some people prefer receiving money, perhaps to put toward something special they have their hearts set on. For me though, giving money as a gift just doesn't feel the same for me as giving something crafted by my own hands. Meg:)
DeleteNo crafting for me this year but normally I do. You have some lucky recipients.
ReplyDeleteI love to make gifts, but these days it is hard to think of something that young people would like and use. Thanks for commenting on my blog - it is nice to find another like minded blogger to follow!
ReplyDeleteI love finding new blogs too because people have so many good ideas...things I haven't usually thought of or that I'd like to do too. Thanks for visiting here. Meg:)
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