Welcome to my creative space. Or, as it is currently called, My “Just How Many Christmas Gifts Can Gretchen Make in the Very Short Time Left Before Christmas?” Space.
(Unfortunately I can’t tell you what any of these photos are because they are gifts in the works. You’ll just have to use your imagination!)
Last year we decided to have a mostly handmade Christmas. I had found a renewed love for making things, our wallets were rather slim, and we wanted to be more simple overall. I started in September and made at least one gift for every person on our list.
You have to know that we love giving gifts, so we generally give more than one to each person and our list of recipients is long. I made a lot of things last year, some quite gigantic in production. And we did manage to save money, I had a blast making everything, and we truly enjoyed the giving all the more. I’d say it was a success.
Even starting in September, though, it wasn’t until four days before Christmas that I finished the last gift. (That was also the night my son was born; if you haven’t read that story, maybe you want to check it out. I happen to think it’s sort of fun.)
And with that realization is where the panic begins to set in. This year, even more than others, has just sort of slipped by me, and here I am, days before Thanksgiving, and I have yet to even finalize a list of gifts, let alone really get started making them. Oops.
Needless to say, out of necessity I am keeping the gifts for this year simple. I’m happy, though, that I was able to come up with ideas that still have a nice impact, even if the production of them is less time-intensive. I truly think everyone will love what we give them, and I will still be just as pleased with my finished products.
To fill in the few holes on my list, I’ve already hit Etsy and ordered a few goodies there, but I’ve a lot of things to make in so very little time!
So now the rush is on. Can she do it? Better, can she do it while still keeping a small stock running in the new shop and tending to two smalls and keeping up with the holiday madness and, oh, finding some time in there to enjoy it all? Can she get it all done before her head implodes? Only time will tell!
More less frantic creative spaces here.
(Oh, and if you missed the last giveaway winner’s announcement earlier today, you can find it here.)
I reckon you can do it. Hooray for you & the handmade gifting.
written on November 25th, 2009, at 6:37 pmI am on a similar adventure…My first crafty Christmas and I am slowly getting there…
Good luck with yours, you can do it!
written on November 25th, 2009, at 6:47 pmCan she do it? Can you do it and maintain some level of sanity? OF COURSE SHE CAN…!!
written on November 25th, 2009, at 6:53 pmTake comfort from the fact that there is not a single recorded medical case of head implosion (I did just make that up though…) Good luck with your quest!
written on November 25th, 2009, at 7:33 pmIt’s an incredible goal you have set yourself, but I’m sure you can do it. Handmade gifts are the best but so time consuming – I hope all your family and friends enjoy and appreciate them.
written on November 25th, 2009, at 8:19 pmglad to know i’m not the only one that hasn’t started homemade stitchy gifts yet. i started in sept of last year and finished up the 1st week in dec. 3+ months of stitching for all the peeps on our list. i haven’t started yet!!!!! i just haven’t felt motivated, but i seriously need to find my stitchy mojo and get started!!!!!!
written on November 25th, 2009, at 8:55 pmLove the purple and pink colours… whatever they are. Good luck getting it all done- you can do it! Rah Rah! xo m.
written on November 25th, 2009, at 9:13 pmI think simple is a great way to go :). I hope that you’ll share pics after the holidays of the goodies you’re making.
I finally went by the p.o. today to pick up the “button girls” embroideries — very pretty!! I can’t wait to give them to my mom for Christmas :).
written on November 25th, 2009, at 9:29 pmYah for you! I think it’s a wonderful thing to do and I try to do it as often as I can too. Do what you can and wing the rest – people understand :) K
written on November 25th, 2009, at 10:42 pmwow ~ such an enormous list of things to do + make, can understand/almost feel the panic. good luck, it’ll be worth it :)
written on November 26th, 2009, at 12:50 amI hope you are successful, I’m sure you will be. I seem to work best under monstrous pressure myself.
written on November 26th, 2009, at 3:12 amI bet you’ll make a great job Gretchen! I’m hoping to make some of my gifts this year too – credit crunch and all that! People always appreciate soemthing handmade, however small or simple it is :)
written on November 26th, 2009, at 11:38 amHandmade gifts are the very best. And I’ll bet yours are gorgeous.
written on November 26th, 2009, at 6:23 pmCongrats on your new shop too.
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