2012 - The Year of Handmade Gifts!
12-29-2011, 07:42 PM
#51
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SW Ontario, Canada
Posts: 185
Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, it is observed in Canada, UK and other Commonwealth countries. It originally was when wealthy landowners in England gave their servants gifts in boxes. Now it is a holiday and almost like Black Friday in the U.S. Canadians flock to malls to shop and spent their gift cards. Personally I steer clear of malls on Boxing Day. I agree with the original poster. I gave my nephews quilts for Christmas this year, they were thrilled and they are teenagers! I made my sister a table runner and I also sewed a few things for co-workers. I am already planning what I can sew for next year. I have only been quilting for about 6 months and I love it, there is something about giving a homemade gift that I enjoy. Tomorrow I'm off to a new to me quilt shop which is having 30% off all stock, so I hoping to get some fabric to start a new quilt.
12-29-2011, 08:10 PM
#52
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: So. Fla now, Va orig
Posts: 1,565
You have reached the crossroads that I reached the year after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I took a really hard look at everything I was doing, spending and etc. Even though I am fine (4years later) I enjoy the freedom that those insidghful reviews gave me. My christmas gifts are mostly made for my family, and in our neighborhood we remember about 14 different families with home made food goodies. It is after all the thought and not the money!
12-29-2011, 08:14 PM
#53
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Running Springs, Ca
Posts: 1,568
No, your not losing it, I feel the same way, Christmas is about the Birth of Jesus, I guess as we get older we think differently, I suppose.
It seems many stores can not say Merry Christmas, instead they say Happy Holidays, yet, they seem to take money in the name of Jesus if that makes any sence.
I find it refreshing to have handmade gifts, they have so much more meaning.
It seems many stores can not say Merry Christmas, instead they say Happy Holidays, yet, they seem to take money in the name of Jesus if that makes any sence.
I find it refreshing to have handmade gifts, they have so much more meaning.
12-29-2011, 09:51 PM
#55
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: DFW / Texas
Posts: 1,254
Originally Posted by Becky Crafts
We have handmade all our gifts given for the past 39 years, because we have always felt the same as you. Too much commercialism. Our family looks forward to seeing what we've made for them each year. They all love it!!
Can you give us some ideas as to what kind of homemade/handmade presents you have made/given over the years? I know for myself and perhas others this would help jump start our thinking for next year.
Thanks
Last edited by LAQUITA; 12-29-2011 at 09:57 PM.
12-29-2011, 11:55 PM
#56
Super Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 6,764
Originally Posted by IAmCatOwned
I think you are just being reactionary. It will pass. I AGREE with you in part. We stopped exchanging gifts when my youngest sibling was 18 and out of high school. Only children in the extended family receive any kind of gift. We do more for each other during the rest of the year (I don't work well to deadlines). However, homemade food or sewn gifts are welcome by everybody except one.
I think it's a fine thing to teach your granddaughter sewing skills. But, lets remember she still deserves to get some new things, even packaged in plastic!
As far as the retreats, if you get little value from them, then pick the ones that you particularly enjoy. I never went on retreats due to health problems. I feel a bit of an outsider (and very envious) since nearly every other quilter I know goes to them. But, that's the way it is.
I think it's a fine thing to teach your granddaughter sewing skills. But, lets remember she still deserves to get some new things, even packaged in plastic!
As far as the retreats, if you get little value from them, then pick the ones that you particularly enjoy. I never went on retreats due to health problems. I feel a bit of an outsider (and very envious) since nearly every other quilter I know goes to them. But, that's the way it is.
12-30-2011, 03:21 AM
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: central indiana
Posts: 686
The things i remember from childhood were the lessons I learned from the personal attention of an adult or something made specially for me. I dont remember the plastic presents or any excess.
Dad's special stuffing
A woman's handmade and lined Barbie clothes
Sewing with mom and playing with her scraps
Playing board games with Mom and Grandma (or just watching them play and "helping")
Building anything with Dad (even the boat he could not get out of the basement when finished)
Santa cookies each year with Mom
It left me with the great feeling that doing something was so much better than buying something.
Dad's special stuffing
A woman's handmade and lined Barbie clothes
Sewing with mom and playing with her scraps
Playing board games with Mom and Grandma (or just watching them play and "helping")
Building anything with Dad (even the boat he could not get out of the basement when finished)
Santa cookies each year with Mom
It left me with the great feeling that doing something was so much better than buying something.
12-30-2011, 08:05 AM
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 462
Lynda, What a great thread you've started!
I stopped giving store-bought gifts about 15 years ago. My reason for doing this is a similar reaction to materialism. ENOUGH is ENOUGH! Since then I've made and given quilted gifts, gifts inspired by scrapbooking, and things from the kitchen. The hardest part of this project is to find a gift to make for the year, but it keeps me on my toes to be creative and come up with something that most people on my list will like. This year, I made 6 quilts!
Interestingly, when I started this "new trend", the reaction from my family was not favorable. My parents grew up dirt poor, and to them, handmade means cheap. My siblings are very wealthy and enjoy shopping and spending money--that is their way of showing love. They did NOT like my new approach to gift-giving, but they have stopped complaining about it. Now that my parents are in their 80s, they are changing their attitude to see there are more important things in life than stuff.
Personally, I love to receive handmade gifts of any type. I cherish those items long after the STUFF has gone into the Goodwill bag.
To all of you who make, rather than buy, Christmas gifts: May your tribe increase!
I stopped giving store-bought gifts about 15 years ago. My reason for doing this is a similar reaction to materialism. ENOUGH is ENOUGH! Since then I've made and given quilted gifts, gifts inspired by scrapbooking, and things from the kitchen. The hardest part of this project is to find a gift to make for the year, but it keeps me on my toes to be creative and come up with something that most people on my list will like. This year, I made 6 quilts!
Interestingly, when I started this "new trend", the reaction from my family was not favorable. My parents grew up dirt poor, and to them, handmade means cheap. My siblings are very wealthy and enjoy shopping and spending money--that is their way of showing love. They did NOT like my new approach to gift-giving, but they have stopped complaining about it. Now that my parents are in their 80s, they are changing their attitude to see there are more important things in life than stuff.
Personally, I love to receive handmade gifts of any type. I cherish those items long after the STUFF has gone into the Goodwill bag.
To all of you who make, rather than buy, Christmas gifts: May your tribe increase!
12-30-2011, 08:13 AM
#59
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,904
Originally Posted by IAmCatOwned
I think you are just being reactionary. It will pass. I AGREE with you in part. We stopped exchanging gifts when my youngest sibling was 18 and out of high school. Only children in the extended family receive any kind of gift. We do more for each other during the rest of the year (I don't work well to deadlines). However, homemade food or sewn gifts are welcome by everybody except one.
I think it's a fine thing to teach your granddaughter sewing skills. But, lets remember she still deserves to get some new things, even packaged in plastic!
As far as the retreats, if you get little value from them, then pick the ones that you particularly enjoy. I never went on retreats due to health problems. I feel a bit of an outsider (and very envious) since nearly every other quilter I know goes to them. But, that's the way it is.
I think it's a fine thing to teach your granddaughter sewing skills. But, lets remember she still deserves to get some new things, even packaged in plastic!
As far as the retreats, if you get little value from them, then pick the ones that you particularly enjoy. I never went on retreats due to health problems. I feel a bit of an outsider (and very envious) since nearly every other quilter I know goes to them. But, that's the way it is.
12-30-2011, 08:15 AM
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 462
Originally Posted by LAQUITA
For those of you that have made your gifts over the years:
Can you give us some ideas as to what kind of homemade/handmade presents you have made/given over the years? I know for myself and perhas others this would help jump start our thinking for next year.
Thanks
Can you give us some ideas as to what kind of homemade/handmade presents you have made/given over the years? I know for myself and perhas others this would help jump start our thinking for next year.
Thanks
Quilts
Quilted stockings personalized with name
Quilted place mats
Quilted tablerunner
Calendar, with photos of my dogs on each month -- each date is hand stamped so these took a long time to make.
Perpetual calendar with scenic photos I have taken
"Cheese dollars," similar to cheese straws. A Southern tradition.
Pepper jelly -- this is very popular here in Texas
Christmas pickles made from an old family recipe. It takes 5 days to make so no one has carried on the tradition.
Bread & butter pickles.
Peppermint bark; I had to learn how to temper chocolate to do this. It ain't easy!
Gingerbread biscotti. I make these ahead of time, seal with my FoodSaver, and freeze.
Chocolate Meringue Cake. This is an old recipe from my grandmother who has passed away. It takes 2 days to make and is a lot of trouble. Everyone likes to eat it, but no one wants to make it. ha!
Last edited by MomtoBostonTerriers; 12-30-2011 at 08:18 AM.
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