Originally Posted by The Creative Seamstress
Pardon the rant, but...
I didn't copy all your "rant" here, but I gotta say that I find totally appalling the apparent "commercialism - buy ... buy ... buy". This has always been my feeling and we've always had fairly inexpensive hassle-free Christmases in the nearly half-century that I've been married. We are a small family and, for the last several years, gather here for Christmas dinner and to spend the day; for us, it is perfect; no gifts to worry about buying or returning.
The above is a prelude to a little story. A few years ago, I got a free pattern for a fleece poncho. Knowing that my 2 daughters who share a small brick house get cold indoors in winter weather, I made them (for t.v. watching & reading) each a reversible, ankle-length hooded poncho of the heaviest fleece I could buy. The fleece was a monster to work with, especially back-to-back layers of it AND, to add to my woes, one side of each poncho had a directional pattern. To condense this story, I thought the end results were a bit weird (not to mention hugely bulky) and as I handed their gifts to them on Christmas morning, I apologized. However, when they opened the gifts, it was love at first sight. They still rave about their ponchos that keep them warm every winter.
There's nothing worse than having your gifting unappreciated or scorned and nothing better than having something you've made (or even a bought, but well chosen gift) appreciated. I hope the recipients are thrilled with the gifts you are giviing them.