Hand Made Things...

Yesterday, I mentioned I had nothing to post about.

Then, I read Barb's post today, and thought... "Yeah! She is so right! I should follow up on this post!!" Actually ... it was posted yesterday, but I read it today.

Barb post is: Apparently, "hand made" is a rare thing these days...

Barb... I TOTALLY agree. Hand made things ARE rare these days. And it is really sad!

This past Saturday, I went to my cousin's bridal shower (she's getting married this coming Saturday). I debated over whether I should go ahead and make something or not... I am, after all, busy. Very. So I compromised. I purchased a few things, and made a few things for her.

It was so easy, and really, just took a couple hours out of my time, but it was received with many oohs and ahhs, and comments like ... "GiBee MADE this!" and "This is HOME MADE!" and "This is in her own handwriting!"

All I made was a wire-wrapped serving spoon with glass beads and crystals to match a bowl I bought her at Target, and I hand-wrote about 10-12 recipes out of my own collection onto index-sized recipe cards, and put them in a 3-ring recipe-keeper notebook I got at Hallmark. So easy and simple, yet you would have thought I went to Mars and back to get it.

Why?

Because it was home made. It was full of love, time, and effort. I took the time to make something that reflected my cousin's personality.

Time.

A commodity not many people can spare. Yet when you do, it means the world to the recipient.

The other gifts? Almost all the other gifts were gift cards, with the exception of sheets, a few nighties, and a pasta set. While gift cards are nice... in my humble opinion, gift cards (and cash) do have a time and a place (like maybe the wedding gift)... but when a young woman is starting off her life as a new bride, she really looks forward to opening beautiful things that she can use to decorate her new home, to cook for her and her husband, or to entertain friends and family. That's all part of the excitement! And, I really felt like she got cheated. It broke my heart. I was sad FOR her that she didn't get to rip packages open, ooohhh, and aaahhh over pretties, and dream of how she would use them. In fact, there were so few "wrapped packages" that they couldn't make a traditional plate with the ribbons and bows for her to walk down the aisle with at her rehearsal.

Friends, it is SO easy to share something homemade. It doesn't have to be as elaborate or intricate as the serving spoon I gave her -- it can be as simple as the recipe album I gave her with your own special recipes handwritten on the pages inside... those special recipes that everyone loves and begs for. Or in Barb's case, she made some diaper cloths, bibs, and a blanket -- how precious is that??? I promise that homemade gifts will be cherished long after the gift cards are cashed in and spent.

Let's keep the old tradition of making something going!!!

What kinds of things do you think YOU could make for either a bridal shower or a baby shower? Take a few minutes to think about it, and jump in the comment section with some ideas for those who have a tougher time coming up with homemade gift ideas!!

And for those of you at a TOTAL loss for ideas or thing you have no talent... tune back in here on October 27-ish for my annual "Homemade with Love" series where we feature homemade gift ideas for ALL budgets and ALL skill sets.
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On the serving spoon, I selected a stone to match the bowl I purchased at Target (to the right) as a focal point, and used colorful beads and crystals to decorate the remainder of the spoon.