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| Graphic by Little Birdie Blessings |
When I read Myra's post, The Legacy of Handmade, my heart was touched, because her words about handmade gifts she had received just summed up how I feel about handmade gifts for family, especially grandchildren. Sure, not everything I make for them is heirloom quality -- felt food is a case in point -- but some of the things I've made, like the birthday banners, are already heirlooms.
And sometimes I want to make things, like the felt food and superhero capes, that they can just plain have fun with! I just want them all to know they have a Grammy who loves them enough to make them special things with her own hands. (And I do recognize that not all grandmothers can do that. There are many other special ways to show love to grandchildren -- probably as many ways as there are grandmothers. This just happens to be something I can do and that I love doing.)
Abby's post, A Handmade Christmas, was even more of a blessing because Abby shares a list of wonderful, "think-outside-the box" ideas for handmade gifts.
Abby's post reminded me of a neighbor lady when I was growing up. She made many small, handmade gifts with an old treadle sewing machine -- little felt stockings with a child's name on them, into which she tucked a dollar bill; little sachets made from interesting fabric scraps and filled with balsam needles to give off a lovely fragrance of the forest; and many more things. I had a great-aunt who pieced pot holders from scraps of flannel in crazy-quilt fashion. Sets of her flannel pot holders were a hoped-for gift on many occasions. My grandmother made many doll blankets and baby blankets for gifts. Making handmade gifts is a dear old tradition I will continue for as long as I possibly can!
What a great reminder! Homemade is so much more special than store bought. I have been giving to a few family members some of the vintage things we get at auction that I know they would enjoy (not all family members have a an appreciation for vintage, can't even imagine).
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat idea to give away some of your vintage finds to family members. I know what you mean -- not all family members do appreciate vintage. With some people it seems a gift has to be new. I'm blessed in that my kids all appreciate homemade and my daughters particularly enjoy vintage things.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my Christmas kitchen. Please drop in anytime!