Handmade gifts, that is. I ordered most everything on Amazon this year because I am driving back to Colorado Saturday. A lot of the things I ordered were smaller than they looked or worse, not good at all. 

We went to the Tennessee Valley Art Museum last weekend where they were holding their month-long winter’s market with their artist’s guild member’s juried work for sale. Oh, my. I could have bought everyone on my list something so special and unique and not made in China if I had just taken the time to go shop in person. The prices in Alabama are less expensive than Colorado and online, so there would have been no reason why I couldn’t have bought all of their presents here at shows and also supported local artists. Next year, that is what I am going to do.

As an artist myself, I appreciate so much when someone chooses my art to give as a gift. I feel like my pieces are infused with love and care and sustainably made to last. They are also relatively inexpensive. In fact, my prices went down while the rest of the world’s prices went up! This is the first year that I did not make all my children and grandchildren something. They pretty well have everything I could make by now, but surely I could have come up with another idea. Next year, that is what I am going to do. 

I did make a few pieces for unsuspecting elders in my life. I worry over whether they will like the shawls. Will they appreciate them? Will they know that I was thinking of them specifically when I wove them? Will they wear them?

We artists worry whether people will appreciate the gifts we make. We put so many hours of our life into these gifts. Somewhere along the line, homemade gifts fell out of vogue, even going so far as becoming a joke. This must change, I believe. And I have hopes that more and more handmade gifts will become the norm. I watch the next generation partaking in this age-old history of handmaking gifts. My youngest daughter, Emily, has been sewing non-stop for a month and has created the most spectacular and unique gifts. I can think of something each person in my family is talented at and could use to make gifts. 

I think more and more, we are all reverting back to the old ways. Telephone calls over social media. Perhaps letter writing will make a come back. Homemade gifts wrapped with care. Having folks over for dinner instead of going out. Board games instead of endless hours staring at our phones. Yes, the past is calling and is bringing peace as it rushes to the present.

So, should you receive a homemade gift this year, please know how many hours of care went into it. The gift giver’s spirit included in its making. Treasure it, show gratitude, and wear it, use it, and know that you must be very loved indeed.  

And may the coming year be filled with old fashioned pleasures. Happy Yuletide, my friends!