Handmade gifts are awesome!
I truly believe this statement. They show that you care about someone enough to pick them something that has been handcrafted either by yourself or by someone else. Handmade gifts (in my opinion) are often timeless and can have an heirloom status about them.
Why you shouldn’t give a handmade gift
Some people would tell you ‘never, you should always give handmade’ but I think that is unrealistic and frankly silly. Sometimes handmade just isn’t right for this person, especially where you are making things.
Why should you spend hours and hours making a handmade gift for someone who sees handmade as a cheap way of not buying them the gift they want? Why should you buy them a handmade gift you know they are going to throw out because they aren’t interested?
It’s not worth the heartache that you will feel when they ask why you didn’t get them something ‘real’ from KMart. And heartache is what you feel, because you put your heart into handmade, buying or making.
The holiday season is hard and stressful. And for many people it becomes so built up that it ends in a harsh disappointment that you are expected to smile through ‘because it’s Christmas and it’s a happy time’.
The one reason you should give a handmade gift
If it is perfect for the recipient and you think that they will love it, then that’s ace. Get them that!
I love handmade and I think it’s a movement that should be shared.
What I don’t believe in is staying up until 3am working on something that you know won’t be appreciated. Sometimes we creatives need to think about US when we are making and buying as well as the receivers of the gifts.
If it takes the pressure off to buy something that isn’t handmade, there should be no guilt. We are not perfect and sometimes we need to think about what is most important.
Be kind to yourself this holiday season and make the best decision for you and for your loved ones. And if it isn’t the handmade Christmas you thought it would be, remember that there’s always next year.
Things don’t have to be perfect, sometimes ‘nice’ is all that we need.
What do you think? Am I misguided? Tell me in the comments.
Agreed. If I know someone isn’t going to appreciate a gift I handmake for them, I won’t bother making it. As much as I prefer making gifts than buying them, I’d rather not waste hourse of my time for someone who would rather I buy them something ‘real’ from a shop.
Thanks Krystal! It’s not worth the stress is it?!
I completely agree with you. There have been times when I’ve given my handmade jewellery as a gift and put so much money, time and effort into it and then never see the people I’ve given it to wear it. Or I’ve given my photography which I honestly believe is a great, timeless gift only to be made to feel I’m being a cheapskate. Maybe it’s a poor choice of recipient on my part but yeah, I agree, it hurts. Especially when you’ve made something you’d like them to keep.
I always used to have a rule where I would only buy people things that were going to last or be a nice memento, but after 8 years of seeing things I’ve bought my hubby collecting dust in his room, I think it’s finally time to give in and buy him the t-shirts and shoes he keeps asking for *sigh*
This year people are only getting bikkies out of me. At least I’ll get to photograph and eat them and not just feel dejected at the end of it.
Thanks for sharing Kell. I love the bikkies idea, can’t really go wrong with them :)
I agree with you Dannielle.
I strive to give as much handmade as possible, but there are just some people in my life you do not appreciate it. And rather than stress about it, I buy them a mass-produced product that will bring a smile to their face.
Because at the end of the day, Christmas is really not about the gift, it’s about spending time with the ones you love…
So true Tasha! It really is about the times spent and the memories made :)
Great post Dannielle!
I agree… pretty much.
I don’t think we have to handmake everything, but I also try to be mindful in my shopping, particularly at Christmas, when we are talking about Peace on Earth and goodwill and stuff.
For this reason, I handmake a bit of stuff, but the rest I either buy from local artists/crafters, or from shops like Oxfam that have Fair Trade and ethical products.
Thanks to people’s increasing awareness, every year it gets easier to find an ethical alternative to the sweat-shop products that people might flippantly request.
Anyway, that’s my little rant :)
That’s a great point Lucy! Thanks for adding to the discussion. :)