{ Handmake or Buy Handmade }

Tic tac tic tac … we sure all know that time goes by too quickly. So it’s probably time to start handmaking your Christmas presents, if you have planned to do so this year. That’s what I do. Yep. But what on earth to make this year, that’s a good question, isn’t it uh ?!

Well, of course it depends on the lucky recipient !
Is it for a man ? a woman ? a male teen ? a female teen ? your mama or your grandma ? your dad or grandpa ? your best friend ? a child ? a newborn ?

And it also depends on their interests !
Gardening ? Sewing ? Knitting ? Reading ? Cooking ? Being outdoors ? .... the list may just be endless, right ?

I’m going to “send ideas in the air” ... feel free to get inspired by the ones that seem appropriate for the person(s) you want to make something for this holiday season ...
(all links open in a new window, some of them are tutorials, some are just for giving you some sort of inspiration)

Homespun checkers
a rice pillow
pot handle cozies
raggy ribbon flowers
homemade jam
placemats + matching napkins
handkerchiefs
French press cozy
a classic record bowl
a table runner
fireside (filled) bucket
a gratitude wrap
a covered tape measure
a felted brooch
a felted pomander
another table runner
a tin can cover
a post office bag
a book bag
silhouette pictures
a clay robin ornament
a felt travel frame
a child adjustable apron
a peg bag
a burlap adventure pouch
a handmade notebook
a family board
an Iphone felt cover
elf slippers
a (child's) travel pillow
(first aid kit) envelope purse
coffee sack covered cork board
a doily covered embroidery hoop earrings display
a holey stone pendant
a vintage hankies bunting
a beeswax hearts garland
knitted scarfette
knitted and felted coffee cozy
felted stones
a stenciled retro ustensils print
a doggie leash
a kitty doll
recycled paper
embroidered linen bookmarks
homemade bath salts
a paper wreath
teacup lights
a knitted scarf
knitted socks
knitted dishtowels
another knitted scarf
cashmere fingerless gloves
a jewlery pouch
a sashiko embroidered pillow
a kit of bookplates
.... and so on ... and so on ...

Of course you can prepare cakes-in-a-jar, like you find in all Gooseberry Patch books, or wrap beautifully your homemade jam, jelly, fruit pastes or chocolate truffles.

You can also re-use, embellish and fill an egg box with (little) goodies ...

And of course, if you manage to re-use, recycle or repurpose a material you already have on hand (like old wool sweater that you can felt) or that you can thrift or buy second hand (so that you don't enter the mass production system to buy totally new once more), it'll be all the better for the planet, and for your wallet too, specially if you're on a budget.

But, yes, I know, we're only humans, but we can do our best to do a little (or bigger, much bigger) step in the right direction.

And what if you're not crafty at all yourself but would love to buy handmade ? Well {Etsy}, {Folksy} or {Dawanda} may be quite helpful.
If you can not handmake yourself, then try at least to buy handmade & support other families, and more particularly other women, mostly working from home.


Just to prove you that necessity is mother of invention, I'm going to show what I sewed for a teen girl, this morning. I'm doing a private swap with her mom. I wanted to include something for the kids as well. (two boys & a teen girl) I asked her mom & she told me that she liked black & red, but no no no ... no flowers and such for a teen. (don't you understand ?! she's a teen !) It had to be ... um, graphic then. What should I do, what should I do ? I really wondered most morning, but then I had a moment of brilliance (um), and went for a wrist cuff, with her favorite colors, and made with salvaged black corduroy (from a pair of trousers) and red cord for tying. I just sewed red ribbon and did some basic stitching, and ta da, the wrist cuff is there !There you have it, a handmade gift, unique and made from salvaged materials. I'm very happy about it !

OK ... now I'm a bit short on time (that was a time consuming post, I admitt), so I'll leave you for now, wishing you a cozy week. Sending you all my love. Please take good care, and hug the ones you love a little tighter today.
♥Just because ♥