That’s it. I had to have it. If I had to go to 10 different stores, line up at 4 AM on “Black Friday” or go online and bid far more than my pocketbook would allow, the hot toy of the season was going to be mine. I pictured my daughter’s face opening it up. It would be the picture-perfect moment when at last she would tear open the toy she had begged for all season. A year has now passed. Now what was that toy? I honestly can’t remember… and I’m sure she can’t either.
Now rewind to that same Christmas. I also made her a pillow with her own name on it. I do remember carefully selecting the fabrics. I remember feeling so “gitty” when I found just the right color choices that would coordinate with her bedroom so perfectly. Everything that made her room hers, I found! I remember the night I put her to bed and ran to my sewing room so excited to get started on my project. I would hope she’d love it as much as I loved making it for her. Watching her elation as she opened that gift was 10 times more enchanting than seeing her set aside the “had-to-have” toy a few short hours later. She was captivated by the pillow, and happy to ask, “Mommy! Mommy! Did you make this for ME?”
The “D-I-Y” phenomenon is here and more and more people are choosing to give handmade gifts to those on their gift-giving lists! So why give handmade this holiday season?
1.Because It’s Cost-Effective
More often th@gmail.coman not, you can make something for less. Of course there are exceptions, but this works well when you have a holiday budget to stick to. I recently made some chalk-board mats for my nieces and nephews. Can you believe I was able to make 9 of them out of 1 yard of fabric? Talk about a bargain! Another friend of mine made purses for all of her girlfriends for their gift exchange. I also like to write down my gift-giving list early, and then think of how I can make several of the same gifts for a group of people- such as favorite teachers. In assembly-line fashion, I can purchase all I need at once, lay out my materials, and thrust into the project at hand. Before you know it, I’m finished with something that was not only enjoyable for me to do, but cost very little in relation to purchasing something at a store.
2.Because It Can Be Personalized
When I make a gift for someone, I always keep in mind what is important to them or about them. Whether it’s a name on the gift, remembering their favorite colors, or making something of a sentimental nature, a handmade gift is one way of showing you care. Handmade gifts can be very unique and different. Countless times I’ve been so impressed with those who can create the same project, yet individualize each one to make them special to the one they are giving it to. Whether it’s something that has been knit, sewn, painted, or glued, you can make the right gift for just the right person.
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3.Because It Can Become a Treasure
I still have a crocheted blanket my grandmother made for me when I was a child. Seeing this reminds me of her love and dedication to our family. I can imagine the excitement she must have felt while making it. In retrospect, I don’t know if I ever showed my full extent of gratitude when that gift was given. Oftentimes, that may be the case. But looking back, my heart is filled with thanksgiving as I recognize the hours that must have gone into something so extraordinary.
Do I still purchase gifts for family and friends from the stores? Of course I do. But while acknowledging that making handmade gifts does take more time, for me giving a gift that is handmade is very fulfilling to both the giver and receiver.

Is making gifts, instead of buying gifts, a waste of time? In today’s society, Christmas (and other gift-giving holidays) has become so commercialized that we are constantly inundated with the latest “hot” products to buy and give. Television, radio, print and web advertisements present a world of merchandise that our loved ones “cannot live without”. Call me old-fashioned, or just call me old, but I prefer the hand-crafted gift, the gift conceived of love. Unfortunately, the rest of the world does not agree…

Over the years, I have created hand-made crafts and given them as gifts. And, alas, over the years, most of the gifts vanish to that place unknown to most humans, “the island of misfit gifts”. The island of misfit gifts is also known as the closet, attic or basic storage area that exists in most homes. This is where unwanted gifts are sent, never to be seen again (until spring cleaning and yard sale days…). Yes, I admit it. I am one of those nasty people who actually check to see if a gift that I have given is being displayed or used. I am pondering the possibility of forming a group to combat this gift-wasting phenomenon. I will call it “The Society for Rescuing Unwanted and Discarded Presents from the Island of Misfit Gifts”, or “TSFRUADPFTIOMG” for short. As the future founder of TSFRUADPFTIOMG, I have bravely ventured into the island of misfit gifts (the occasional closet or storage area) and found some shocking treasures. For example, the ceramic chess set I made in 1983 (homemade ceramic chess board included) for my sister. Broken pieces of this set and a partial chess board were all that remained in her back bedroom closet. This set took six weeks of ceramics classes to create, plus the green ware, paint and firing costs. On the bottom of each piece you would have found the initials, CAM 1983. Why carve my initials and date into the bottom of each piece? Because an unsigned masterpiece will never gain in value. This is a piece of wisdom my ceramics teacher passed on to me, at no charge. Now, of course, this lost chess set (homemade ceramic board included) will never gain in value…

In previous years I have also ventured into the world of painting, only to find the paintings that I have given as gifts did not “match the décor” of the home to which the painting was given. Although never spoken aloud, this fact became obvious to me when year after year none of my paintings could be found on any walls in the home. To date, none of these original masterpieces have been located in the island of misfit gifts. I can only conclude that they may have been accidentally included in a yard sale of some kind. So, if you should ever happen across paintings signed by CAM 1989, CAM 1990, CAM 1991 or CAM 1992, be sure to keep them somewhere safe, where they will increase in value…

Currently, I have been working in needlecrafts. Actually, I have enjoyed needlepoint for about twenty years or more. Instead of working from store-bought kits, I choose to design my own pieces. I have a few projects that are consistently praised, followed by the question, “will you make one for me?” My answer is always, “sorry, I do not have the time”. Translated, this means “sorry, but I have no intention of wasting my valuable time and money creating a gift of love that will be discarded the day after it is given. My time is better spent updating my needlepoint site, stitchopedia.com …an encyclopedia of stitches.” So, anyone out there anxiously awaiting a gift of needlework from me would be advised to visit my needlepoint site and learn the stitches needed to create their own needlepoint project. Just be sure to sign it with your initials and the date so that it will increase in value…

In conclusion, as the future founder of TSFRUADPFTIOMG, I believe it is my duty to prevent the further over population of gifts on the island of misfit gifts. Therefore, I will not be giving hand-made gifts this year. Wal-Mart, Sears, Amazon.com, here I come…