My mom regularly raids my jewelry stash. In fact, she's been known to call me on her way to an event to ask if I have anything made that compliments the occasion, and oh, can she swing by the studio for five minutes? I love that she's such a willing ambassador (did I mention she also carries my business cards with her at all times?), but it makes gift giving a bit of a challenge. When her birthday, or Mother's Day, or a just-because-day comes around, I don't want to give her more jewelry.
Which started me thinking about what other crafty folk do about gift giving. Do you usually make your gifts? Or do you keep a church and state relationship between what you make and what you buy/give? If you make things for a living, whether part-time or full-time, does buying something handmade by someone else feel like rare a treat? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.
In the meantime, the Thanks Mom treasury is chock full of alternative treats to give this Mother's Day. Of course, I couldn't resist adding a few pieces of jewelry (I am my mother's daughter after all), but mostly these handcrafted items are inspired by other traditional Mother's Day gifts -- like flowers, cards, and candy -- given their own {NewNew} twist.
Susan
persuede
I make bags for my shop and jewelry to give to friends and family as a present. This Christmas I ended up buying a lot of handmade items because I just didn't have the time to make things. It mixes up things a bit and allows me to shop guilt free because it's not for me, it's a present.
ReplyDeleteCrazy how we have to give ourselves permission -- or excuses -- to get gifts. I hear it all the time when I'm at the Flea. Customers have a hard time picking out something for themselves, but love shopping for others. And the funniest part is that I realize I have the exact same conversation with myself when I go shopping!
ReplyDeleteI have to say though that buying at the Flea, or the BIM, or on Etsy, feels like a treat cause I usually make my gifts and, if I'm already in high production mode, can hit a handmade overload, and not in a good way. Plus, I love telling the giftee the story of the hunt...how I found it, which artist I bought it from...
I love the telling the story part. When I buy things for people who don't live in the tri-state area, I try to find an etsy vendor from their neighborhood. That way they can discover an innovative maker who lives right around the corner
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love your necklace and just gave it a thumbs up!! Next I must say that anything that is hand made is ''heart made''. I love hand made items and I know gift giving a hand made item is by far the best thing to do. Keeping busy with our crafts is a great stress buster. Thanks for your GREAT blog.
ReplyDeleteFood Gift Baskets