Homemade Christmas Gifts...

By Sharon Stajda

Do you have a hard time finding the right gifts at Christmas? It can be difficult, and time consuming. It also can lead to over spending on Christmas gifts, that ultimately are not truly appreciated by the recipient.

It's Christmas, let's recapture the true spirit of gift giving...

Have you ever consider giving handcrafted items or antiques as gifts ?

With the holidays right around the corner, I have been putting considerable thought to the problems that come with choosing just the right gifts. For some years now I have found shopping tedious, and in some cases redundant. Pondering, how I have fallen into the rut of giving the same person, the same or similar gift yearly.

Being an antique enthusiast, and real arts and crafter, you would think I would be drawn to giving antiques or a wonderful hand made gifts to friends and loved one's? However, as a rule I have the tendency to purchase the newer fad item's of the moment. It certainly makes my shopping easier, I mean when it comes down to it, little thought or effort is actually involved in my gift purchases. Moreover, are my gift's really saying anything other than -" I didn't put much thought into your gift, but I did get you one"...

Somewhere along the line Christmas gift giving seems to have become a chore? Not to everyone, I am sure, but to many. Gift giving has lost some of it spark, so to say. I know myself, many of the gift's I purchase yearly are simply to fulfill an obligation or to express momentary affection.

In my heart, I believe a gift should be enduring, and given in the hope that the receiver will appreciate, and enjoy the gift. When it comes to choosing Christmas gifts' , I don't know when I became such a "Ba Humbug" sort of gal? However, I think it's time to change my ways.,,

As mentioned above, I love antiques, and love perusing antique shops. I also keep myself very busy crafting. So, I have decided to put some real thought into the gifts I choose to give my family, and friend's. I will be giving each of my gift recipients, a gift that is carefully thought out, and suitable to bring each person individual joy.

What could better express the true Christmas gift giving spirit, then a wonderful old antique or hand crafted item? Antiques possess fine old world craftsmanship, craftsmanship that through the years has been mainly lost. Due to mass production, and need for companies to show larger profits, craftsmanship can and does take a "back seat." Plus by giving an antique, you are recycling, doing your part to save the planet.

When giving an antique or hand made gift, one must keep the recipient that will be receiving the gift in mind. The gift should be appropriate to the person that will be receiving the gift. It's smart to give some serious thought to the recipients' lifestyle, home, job, and even flare for fashion. You will be surprised how a well chosen antique or hand made gift will not only fit the bill, but will give the person receiving the gift great pleasure, in just knowing you thought enough of them to search out or craft such a precious gift.

So, start making that Christmas list, and put some good long thought into who gets what this year for Christmas. Pamper the gal's at work with homemade soap. Give your Mom an antique frame, with a wonderful family photo. I guaranty , Mom will place that beautiful antique framed photo where she will enjoy it day after day, long after the holidays are over.... How about a great old beer stein for Dad or that special beer drinking friend?

Once you get started, it's very easy to think of gifts that will really show your family, and friends that you put a lot of time, and thought as well as love into choosing their very own personal gift.

I hope you will consider giving antiques' or hand made gifts' this year. Gifts that will not only represent your cheerful spirit of giving, but gifts that will represent wonderful craftsmanship, be it your craftsmanship or someone else's.

Let this be the year that you recapture the true spirit of Christmas gift giving.