I skipped home from work today to an afternoon of sewing.
The 6yr old has had a flurry of invites to parties recently. A few years ago I set myself the challenge to make all birthday cards and most of the gifts. With her friends being 6 and 7 I can still get away with homemade gifts.
Or can I?
Every time I make a birthday gift I have a quandary.
Do I make something that the child would like? Or something I know I would like my daughter to receive?
You see the mothers are mostly my friends as well. They know I make things and whenever I ask them they all say they like to have a handmade gift.
I love making the things, I get a kick out of making it from my stash. I begrudge paying out for a gift that may be a duplicate or miss the child's interests completely. It seems such a waste.
My back up is to but nice sets of felt tip pens and a notebook.
It is a nice gift to have and does not cost much.
In my eyes children can't have too many drawing materials
This is, however, being pushed by the number of times I find pens without lids on bedroom floors.
Am I just inflicting my handmade on my friends?
Do I keep "making" as I enjoy it so much or should I pay out for that plastic tat that 6 year olds love so much?
Ok so that was a leading question.
The trouble is that on a blog about making things is maybe not the best place to ask for an honest opinion on what it is like to receive a handmade gift when you are 6.
Today I made 4 cushions, adapted from a design from the delightful book by Kajsa Wikman. More on her blog here.
I am a happier person because I make things.
Monday 15 October 2012
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5 comments:
If t makes you happy, then that is an important part of it. I suspect that whatever we give, whether bought or handmade, tends to end up in a cupboard. I must confess I used to make all the presents my children took to parties but now they are older, I tend not to. I don't like buying plastic tat, so these days I head to Lush or the Body Shop which our 8 and 10 year olds seem to adore.
For the record, I would be, and have been, very touched when my children have received handmade gifts. I think they have been too.
I think handmade is perfect! Especially if it makes you happy too.
You are so right about pens and a notebook, that's what mine tend to buy every time we go to the town - AND a pencilcase. So it's a sensible back-up plan. And I too want to encourage the maker in you, they can get plastic from those who don't make things. And for older ones - a kit, something they can make, could work well.
I make as many gifts as I can, It makes me happy too, Its so much nicer than trawling the shops trying to find the right thing, and most people really do appreciate them :)
I think it is a lovely thing when someone makes an effort with a handmade gift. I must confess though that not every gift my children take to a friend's party is handmade by a long shot! What we do give, though, tends to have a creative bent, whether a kit or supplies, or even pretty stationery.
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