Handmade Christmas

Especially since having a family, I have wanted to give hand made gifts at Christmas. I have made a few gifts in the past, but this year, I really went for it! I think that I gave at least one handmade gift to everyone on my Christmas list, whether they appreciated it or not!

Not everyone 'gets' the idea of handmade when everything can be sourced so easily (OK, not handmade versions). For instance, there are members of my family who probably think I am crazy spending two whole evenings knitting up fingerless mohair mittens when they can be bought for a fraction of the amount I spent on the yarn. They are WRONG!! How can you compare something made lovingly for you from great quality, luxurious natural materials to a bargain pair of acrylic gloves popped in a shopping basket without a second thought? To me, handmade is about the care and love that goes into making an item. To use the mittens example, the two evenings making them is two evenings thinking about the person they are for. You can't say that about mass-produced shop bought items! If you don't enjoy making things yourself, the next best option is to buy handmade - there are lots of us out there willing to provide such a service. After all, we run out of reasons to make things for our own families after a while!

My only regret is tht I am so bad at taking the time to photograph the things that I have made. As so many of the gifts made this Christmas were only ready at the last minute, I only just about got the time to wrap them before it was time for them to be unwrapped again! Many of the gifts were also given in handmade packaging (shown in the picture) or in handpainted gift wrap, made on snowy afternoon by my two eldest children. We also made all of the gift tags and Christmas cards, only finishing late into the night on Christmas Eve.

I WILL start earlier this year! With three children to occupy, finding time to craft is hard. If it is for someone else, I get the excuse that the item MUST be made, so therfeore I can justify taking the time to indulge myself in 'making'. If it is just for me, it isn't so easy to mke tht justification and housework has to take priority (doh!). Oh well, 341 days until Christmas.....