The Newfound Art of Gift Giving
Let’s kick off this week’s entry with a dose of vulnerability and honesty. Completing this blog piece has not been easy, nor has it been at the top of my list of fun things to do. Unfortunately, I’m racing against the clock on a few other projects that are, to be honest, a bit more enjoyable right now. So, what could possibly be more fun than blogging?
The Plan
This year, as a newly minted retiree, I thought I would have more time on my hands. However, I feel like I haven’t quite found that extra time yet; there’s always something to occupy my schedule, just different things that I’ve always wished I had time to do. Back to my grand idea as a newly minted retiree: in October, I developed a plan that evolved over time, ultimately leading me to try to make as many Christmas gifts as possible this year. Yes, handmade! So, what exactly will I be hand-making? Why did I come up with this idea?
The Why
Let’s start with the “Why.” The inspiration for this plan; my son and his girlfriend, who developed their own special gift-giving tradition last Christmas. They decided to buy each other only one gift, with a price limit of under $10. Seriously, it’s one of the best ideas I’ve ever heard for a young couple. It forced them to get creative and put a lot of thought into how they would spend that $10 on each other. I loved this concept and felt our family could benefit from a similar approach.
Why did we need a good dose of gift-giving limits? Christmas can be overwhelming when it comes to gifts. In my house, it can quickly spiral out of control in terms of both the number of gifts and the amount of money spent. My mom and I are self-proclaimed holiday shopping queens. Our holiday celebrations tend to be over the top every year. No matter how many times I tell Grandma that her granddaughter doesn’t need a lot, we still end up with an overload of gifts. Ultimately, this excess leads to some gifts being stuffed into the back of the closet or, worse, never used. The waste can drive me bananas.
So, when our favorite young couple comes to visit, we decided to draw names and set a $25 limit on our gifts.
Playing by the Rules
If everyone follows the rules, we’ll only be purchasing one gift and spending no more than $25. In today’s environment, it’s nearly impossible to go to the grocery store and spend only $25 on a single bag of groceries. So, unless I wanted to get my selectee a gallon of milk and a bag of cookies, I needed to get creative. After some thought, I decided to embellish a jacket I bought on deep clearance with her favorite sports team. Using my previous experience as a skating mom, I carefully applied a rhinestone design to the jacket. Conveniently, I had a stash of rhinestones on hand, and I placed her favorite sports team mascot on the back of the jacket. When I finished, I was pleasantly surprised by my creative skills, which led me to complete two additional rhinestone-decorated jean jackets as gifts.
From there, I began exploring my other crafting supplies for additional gifts. Almost 25 years ago, I learned to make quilts, and a few years ago, I picked it up again to keep busy and stress-free during my monthly cancer treatments. Life got busy, and I stopped again, but those previous quilting experiences led to a collection of beautiful fabrics stuffed away for future use. In the last few weeks, I’ve completed four additional quilting projects that will become Christmas gifts for dear friends and family.
Those rhinestone and quilting projects led to a “quick” trip to Michaels for additional supplies. However, that “quick” trip turned into two more crafting expeditions involving embroidery and jewelry making, along with grand plans for even more gifts for my loved ones.
The Current Status
With that background on the initiation of Operation BECOME AN ELF, you can probably visualize how our basement has transformed into a mini version of the North Pole Elf Shop. I’m literally running out of table space; there are fabric pieces scattered across the carpet, the couch regularly serves as my quilting and planning area, and the TV is almost always on for some good background noise. For further context, I consider shows like The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and the Hallmark Channel to be perfect background entertainment. Let’s just say I have a modernized version of an Elf Shop.
I’ve also found myself regularly ordering small items from Amazon Https://www.amazon.com because another trip to Michaels https://www.michaels.commight wipe out my monthly retirement budget in one fell swoop. For a crafter or creative artist, Michaels is akin to a fashionista’s TJ Maxx. Unfortunately, I’m both a crafter and a fashionista, and there happens to be a TJ Maxx and a Michaels in the same shopping plaza just five miles from my house. So, while Amazon can be dangerous, it’s not nearly as perilous as a visit to that shopping plaza.
The Potential Downfall
In my mind, making gifts for people is a wonderful way to show that you’ve thought specifically about them. A handmade gift is personalized, one-of-a-kind, and serves as a lasting reminder of your friendship or love. However, as a self-proclaimed perfectionist, the process of creating gifts can be stressful and lead to harsh self-critique. One of the gifts I made didn’t turn out as expected; you can see the mistakes, and it wasn’t “perfect.” After completing it, I had to remind myself that nothing is perfect, and the recipient is unlikely to be upset by my imperfections. In fact, they may even appreciate the handmade quality of the gift.
I also had to reflect on the homemade gifts I’ve received. I don’t scrutinize the stitching on quilts or table runners given to me; instead, I think fondly of the gift-giver each time I see, use, or wear those items. That feeling is precisely why I’m making my gifts.
Another challenge is time. Every project I’ve worked on takes much longer than anticipated, and as Christmas approaches, I realize that deadlines—both self-imposed and those dictated by USPS—are looming closer. I approach this elf escapade like my previous work projects: I organize and complete each task in a well-sequenced manner. Tackling one step or one project at a time is far less overwhelming than trying to manage the entire elf plan all at once.
The Overall Benefit
The excitement and sense of accomplishment I feel with each completed project is invaluable. More importantly, I know that, if nothing else, the recipient will understand how much I care about them and how special they are to me, as evidenced by the personalized gift crafted by my middle-aged hands and newly purchased reading glasses on. Side note: I discovered during these creative sessions: placing a rhinestone, threading a needle, or pulling a stitch is so much easier with a pair of reading glasses.
The Charge
I understand that not everyone has the same time or approach to Christmas that I do, and I truly appreciate that. However, I encourage you to consider making something special for a friend or loved one. It doesn’t have to be elaborate; even a small gesture that takes just five minutes can be cherished for a lifetime. It could even be the gift of time, such as a lunch date or a hike in a special place.
Let’s shift the focus of the holiday season from commercialization to love, sacrifice, and meaningful gift-giving. Let’s return to the true essence of the season: gratitude, love, hope, joy, salvation, and compassion.
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