The Handmade Gifts
Our girls tell us that the handmade gifts on Christmas Eve is their most cherished Christmas tradition. We save the gift opening for the very end of the evening.
I made the girls snuggies (or snuglets). Did you know there are enough snuggies in our country for 1 in every 12 people to have one? One day I was at the fabric store trying to come up with fabric to make Helen a quilt, when Liz suggested a snuggie for her (of course Liz wanted one too). It was a brilliant idea and a huge hit for both girls--somehow I managed to surprise Liz.
It seemed like everything Liz wanted for Christmas had a treble clef on it. Her list for Santa included a treble clef hat, treble clef chocolate, and a bumper sticker that said "If you can read this, thank a music teacher." Nels obliged by making her this treble clef to hang on her wall.
Helen followed up on the music theme by making her a silk and velvet blanket for her violin. Liz was just stunned.
Helen took all the old photocopies of recipes we have collected off the web and all our favorite recipes from the family card file and created a recipe book on Lulu as a gift for her Dad. She even included photos of the family and friends who had shared recipes.
Nelson made me this bird feeder. We have already had as many as 8 birds at a time feeding on it.
Liz made me this dear elephant out of clay. I am in love.
Helen had been wanting a Yin-Yang poster for her room, so Liz painted her one.
She also painted this for Nels. We need to get a frame.
Nels made Helen this "Village Harmony" wall plaque. This is the group she toured with this summer.
Helen made me this sterling silver ring in her jewelry class at school.
I truly can't express how special this Christmas Eve tradition is to each of us.We ended our evening so full of gratefulness for the love we all share.
The homemade gifts are the best aren't they? We were done with opening gifts by late morning, and though the rest of the day was nice, we were left feeling a bit empty. Not sure exactly how to explain the feeling...a bit of wishing it wasn't all over I guess. We decided next year we will spread the joy and anticipation out. We'll begin the morning with friend gifts, grandparent gifts later on, odds and ends gifts even later on, and homemade gifts from each other to each other at the end of the day. With the tree lit, the hustle and bustle of company over, and just us.
Loves to you and your family. I think we'd love living near each other. :)
Such wonderful gifts! And a really lovely tradition.
Making trumps buying any day, especially when the giver has paid attention and knows what the receiver wants. What a sweet, satisfying (well crafted!) tradition.
I love that there is such intention and meaningfulness in your gift making! And that ring is truly stunning! You thought I was ahead of you this year.. well I only got 3 things on my list done. (Not including the Advent calendar though.) And I never make anything for poor husband! Unless cinnamon rolls for Christmas breakfast counts?
These gifts are beautiful, and so thoughtful. And just think, no one had to wait in line at the mall at 4am on Black Friday (makes me shudder just to think of it!).