As you know, I've been busy for several months making Christmas presents to give to our family and close friends on behalf if the whole family. I finished the very last gift on Tuesday while watching a Christmas movie (ironically, this gift was the first gift to be started this year and also the idea that started this homemade gift frenzy). The underneath of our Christmas tree is jam packed with wrapped parcels, and we've already delivered quite a few gifts. So I was already feeling very satisfied before yesterdays advent activity, but it just tipped the scales to thrilled!
The calendar said:
"make Christmas presents for your baby cousin and your pets"
Twelve months ago, I think the boys would've groaned at the idea. It was them afterall who were concerned about homemade gifts when we took on the challenge last year. Back then, they thought homemade meant dodgy gifts. But after a year of giving homemade, this challenge excited then, and when I explained that I would also be teaching them to use my sewing machine, they were delighted.
I have no photos of them sewing - sewing machines, irons, dressmaking scissors and pins are dangerous enough without me zipping off to photograph the event! But the boys did cut, pin and sew (with my help) beautiful gifts. They each made a bib for the baby, a fabric gift bag to wrap it in and a toy mouse for their cats which involved both machine and hand sewing. They wrote gift cards and proudly put their quality, homemade gifts under the tree. Then, being 8 year old boys, they nicked all the fabric scraps and tied them to their bodies as armour before running off to play some complicated wrestling game, leaving me to tidy up!
As well as these gifts, they also made each other a present. They had chosen to buy for each other, and they did, but then they had homemade ideas too! J is the bossiest of the twins, and came up with the idea if making his brother a 'permission pass'. It looks like a backstage pass, but has a few things that L can choose, like what game they are going to play, or permission to borrow a book from J. It's pretty cute (if a tad dominant). L made a bookmark for his bat and book loving brother that has an origami bat on the top.
It is lovely to see the whole family embracing the homemade idea. We're all exciting to give and recieve homemade presents this year. The boys have learnt that a gift made by the hands of someone who loves you is so much more than the sum of its parts. It is a token of time spent thinking about the recipient, love and care poured into a useful and thoughtful item. It is an eco-friendly alternative with less travel miles, no packaging, often made with recycled materials and with only a little bit of child labour ;) It is a gift to be proud of giving and a gift to cherish recieving. And (most if the time) the giver gets to have fun making it!
I had wondered if I would continue this challenge next year, afterall, it is a lot of work. But with all the benefits of doing it, I couldn't just stop now. So next year will be another homemade gift year, and then maybe, many more after.
The calendar said:
"make Christmas presents for your baby cousin and your pets"
Twelve months ago, I think the boys would've groaned at the idea. It was them afterall who were concerned about homemade gifts when we took on the challenge last year. Back then, they thought homemade meant dodgy gifts. But after a year of giving homemade, this challenge excited then, and when I explained that I would also be teaching them to use my sewing machine, they were delighted.
I have no photos of them sewing - sewing machines, irons, dressmaking scissors and pins are dangerous enough without me zipping off to photograph the event! But the boys did cut, pin and sew (with my help) beautiful gifts. They each made a bib for the baby, a fabric gift bag to wrap it in and a toy mouse for their cats which involved both machine and hand sewing. They wrote gift cards and proudly put their quality, homemade gifts under the tree. Then, being 8 year old boys, they nicked all the fabric scraps and tied them to their bodies as armour before running off to play some complicated wrestling game, leaving me to tidy up!
As well as these gifts, they also made each other a present. They had chosen to buy for each other, and they did, but then they had homemade ideas too! J is the bossiest of the twins, and came up with the idea if making his brother a 'permission pass'. It looks like a backstage pass, but has a few things that L can choose, like what game they are going to play, or permission to borrow a book from J. It's pretty cute (if a tad dominant). L made a bookmark for his bat and book loving brother that has an origami bat on the top.
It is lovely to see the whole family embracing the homemade idea. We're all exciting to give and recieve homemade presents this year. The boys have learnt that a gift made by the hands of someone who loves you is so much more than the sum of its parts. It is a token of time spent thinking about the recipient, love and care poured into a useful and thoughtful item. It is an eco-friendly alternative with less travel miles, no packaging, often made with recycled materials and with only a little bit of child labour ;) It is a gift to be proud of giving and a gift to cherish recieving. And (most if the time) the giver gets to have fun making it!
I had wondered if I would continue this challenge next year, afterall, it is a lot of work. But with all the benefits of doing it, I couldn't just stop now. So next year will be another homemade gift year, and then maybe, many more after.
Sounds like you've done a great job, can't wait to see all the other treasures you made! Karen
ReplyDeleteWe did home made gifts too and the kids loved being involved. I am going to aim to make next year 100% home made (this year was only part). I've already started planning so that I am hopefully not ruefully behind again :( I read a very interesting article on home made presents and how sometimes they cost (both financially and environmentally) more than a bought gift and that it is not enough to make at home but to repurpose in the process....I was so close to sending a link to your blog but thought you might be alarmed lol
ReplyDeleteMany blessings to you all :)