A hand-made, home-grown Christmas: this month’s challenge

November. How did that happen? As it does every year I guess. Every year I feign surprise over its arrival – speculating that it’s come more quickly this year. No doubt November shakes his head and thinks “there are exactly the same number of days in October as there were last year, and the year before, and the year before that – why are you people always so surprised to see me?
Home made Christmas
November means Melbourne cup and fancy dresses. It means the promise of holidays. It means long, hot days are coming. It means I had better start to get organised for Christmas.

This year I am going to focus on hand-made presents and shopping locally. I want to support local crafts people and businesses. I want to be as ethical as possible with what I buy and make.

Homegrown Christmas

I’ll admit that I used to be a bit embarrassed giving hand-made things. They meant a lot to me, but I worried people would perceive me as a tight-arse. (Well, I AM a tight-arse, but that’s beside the point). But as time becomes more and more precious, and all the mass-produced things lose their sparkle, I am no longer embarrassed. Home made presents are gorgeous.

How wonderful when someone takes time and care, not just to create something, but to create something specifically for you? I have done the Christmas shop were you hurriedly work your way through long list, relieved when you finally find something and completely exhausted by the experience. Lost in a sea of neon lights, shopping centre stress and hundreds of other harried shoppers. Somewhere in all that, the tradition of giving something meaningful to people I love got lost. I am going to reclaim it.

This month I intend to share with you a few different handmade ideas that might sneak their way under your tree. I’ll also share some of my favourite local places and I hope you will do the same. If you have your own shop, online or otherwise, please let me know as I’d love to promote the wares of the creatives in my community. Likewise, if you have any top craft ideas that would make great presents, comment away.

I am looking forward to a month of Christmassy creating.

Arrow 2

Do you make things for Christmas?
What’s you favourite local shop?

12 thoughts on “A hand-made, home-grown Christmas: this month’s challenge

  1. Clare says:

    I am looking forward to some lovely ideas from you! My Aunty often gave me handmade gifts as a teen and I turned my nose up at them (I know, I was an obnoxious teen!!), so now I think no-one would want anything handmade. Times have also changed along with this teenager and I think people are much more open to hand made gifts now.
    Clare recently posted…Bharta. Aubergine/Eggplant curry.My Profile

    • Robyna says:

      I was a bit the same and it does stay with you doesn’t it? My mum was queen of the homemade things but I didn’t always appreciate them as much as I should have.

  2. Claire (Pillarboxblue) says:

    I love a handmade Christmas. That’s my favourite bit of Christmas is the crafting and gift making. I find edible gifts go down well such as Sloe Gin and Sloe Gin truffles. I also make bags, purses, soft toys etc I find as long as you think about the recipient carefully you can’t go wrong. I love to receive handmade gifts as well especially edible treats.
    Claire (Pillarboxblue) recently posted…Christmas Elf on the Shelf TutorialMy Profile

  3. dani @ sand has no home says:

    This is a great idea Robyna. I have a facebook friend who is an amazing seamstress (I met her recently at Clare Bowditch’s Sing Song Showtime, and we got chatting and she happens to live where I do) who make s gorgeous toys and is currently in the local media lot for spearheading a campaign to get local crafty people to make toys for Geeong Mums, a charity that gives to needy families,so a bit like Pip’s toys for Mirabel project. Anyway, she posted pictures of the most lovely christmas stockings yesterday and I thought, I’m not that great at sewing, I have a lot on, but I’m doing that for my little ones!

  4. Carly Findlay says:

    I love giving handmade gifts, but like you, I worry how they’ll be received. I always want to give them to those who will appreciate them!

    I won’t be making stuff but will be shopping local. And NOVEMBER!!! Eeeek!

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