For this Holiday Season our family decided we would all make our gifts to each other.Homemade gifts, sincere movement? maybe... anyway:
Some rules:
it can't be a regift of a bought item
it can be something new that you create on, modify and make into something else
it should be something the person might actually want ( I added that rule)
We have had a tradition for years of making a "family gift" each year that we produced ourselves, and gave to the extended family. When the kids were small we did a lot of painting of items like umbrellas, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc. But we also created works of art culminating in a mosaic yard glass ball" for each family from old bowling balls. It was a great family project each year, even when we were crazy busy, we all would look forward to it, and create something for about 25 people.
When my oldest went off to college we decided it was just too hard when she got home on the 23rd of December, to continue the practice, but we all loved the experience and talk about the various gifts often, especially this time of year.
Since this year some of us are not making much money, we decided making homemade gifts was a good alternative. What I have discovered is that Pinterest is an amazing place to find great ideas- some even have instructions of how to do things, and I have actually seen some of the items we did listed as cool christmas gifts! So, I think the trend to make christmas gifts is a national movement, and if any of you are also making some, if not all of your gifts, let me know.
I am excited about the gifts I have decided to make, I just wish I had another month! I will take pictures when they are complete and maybe put them on pinterest too! ( although I am not quite sure how to do that...) Here's to the Homemade craft movement!
Over the years I really enjoyed the many family gifts we made, and so did all the recipients. Although the last one we made, the bowling ball covered with mirrors and glass beads, was a bust, because yours truly bought interior grout to keep it all together, and guess what, the next couple of months all those gorgeous balls in the gardens all over started shedding their baubles. I believe that was the last family gift we gave. Guilty!
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite were the painted parasols. That same year the boys got hand painted ties, with sparkles. I wore them to business meetings with pride, and I was offered money for it. I still have it. Maybe it has appreciated in value. I still have the painted apron. We bought white chef's apron in bulk, and hand painted each one. Also another one that's still in use after many years are the hand painted tiles set in a wood frame, to be used as trivets. I just found a box in the basement full of pre-cut frame components. Guess time to make a few more? I'll give Kath photos of past family gifts as I find them around the house so she can post them.
I am looking forward to continuing the family tradition again, still hand-made but this time we each make our own gifts to give to others. More to come.