The Studio

It ‘s Christmas time.  The family is all gathered together.  The gifts are beginning to be passed around.  And you see it…there it is…. right there… all wrapped up…a gift from Grandma or Papa or Aunt Noreen or Cousin Virgil.  You know exactly what it is before you open it.  It’s a handmade something  ________ (you insert the item here….a knitted hat, a crocheted scarf, a painting, a bowl cozy, a quilt, a vest, a pottery mug, etc.) They always “make” you something for Christmas.  Well, this year when you open that handmade gift hope you will think of this.

You should consider yourself extremely special and loved….and here is why. 

First, making the gift requires much consideration and thought to choose just the right project and design for you.  The giver wants it to be something special that is specific just for you.  Often this takes hours of research and thought to find the right design and colors.  A handmade gift is NOT an afterthought. 

Next, the materials must be assembled.  Sometimes they are easily found but other projects like quilts require that the designs are drawn, yardage is figured and fabric is ordered and purchased. Again, this can take many hours and quite a bit of expense.  Based on the size of the quilt a conservative estimate of the supplies alone is at least $125.

Then the actual project begins to be made. Depending on what the object is this could take a few hours to several weeks. What you need to know and remember is that the giver is willing to give up this much of their life for you….to make something special for you! And while they are making it they are often thinking of you and the fun times you have had together. Again, in the case of a quilt a conservative estimate for an small quilt is 25-30 hours.

So when you consider the time plus the cost of supplies that goes into a handmade gift you begin to see the real value.  It would be so much easier for the giver to go online to Amazon or Walmart and order a cheaply made object that would cost less in money and time.  But because they obviously love and care for you they gave you their time and made you something that is one of a kind…just like you!

So this holiday season when you receive a special handmade gift from your creative family and friends whether it’s a quilted banner, knitted mittens or crocheted sweater or scarf or a painting, a table runner, a wooden bowl, a pottery mug, etc. be grateful to the person who cares enough for you to give you hours of their time and thought to make something special just for you!  Be grateful for something handmade!

Merry “Handmade” Christmas!

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