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I have a ritual I do every year about this time. I start dreaming of all the handmade gifts I’d like to make and give over the Holidays, every one made with love and care, and I imagine how fantastic they will all turn out. I imagine working on them during quiet evenings during the close of fall, while I watch great old movies or something wonderful.
I somehow forget that I will be dealing with school assignments and occasional head colds and Halloween and Thanksgiving and before I know it my list is half as long and all my projects twice as simple as originally planned. I do think I’m learning to plan more realistically, but I’ve also had a few friends through the years who’ve had another, brilliant solution.
Are you ready for it?
They all leave home for a weekend Handmade Gift Retreat.
These women are ingenious.
Imagine if you can, an entire weekend with no phone, no email, no kids’ homework projects. Just a few days surrounded by other friends busily working away at a basketful of handmade gifts. Everyone brings their own projects and supplies and just chats and creates.
I thought you’d like the idea.
So then, since I couldn’t logistically figure out how to have you all over to my house for a weekend, I decided to do the next best thing. I’m hosting a blog version of a Handmade Gift Retreat.
I’ve invited nine women to this Handmade Gift Retreat of mine. All of them are women you would love to have along if we all did spend the weekend together. I’ve invited each to mention a handmade gift she’s enjoyed making in the past and would bring to make again. A couple women will be making yummy things in the kitchen. Others will have their supplies spread out all over my giant, imaginary craft room table. But I’m sure you will love what each of them has to bring. You can join me in imagining that we’re all working away at our gifts and talking and admiring and having a little calm in the holiday rush.
So then, tune in Thursday to meet my first guest. I’m sure you’ll love what she’s brought along.
p.s. What would you bring to work on?
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I would bring this awesome calendar project. I’ve already started it.
wow. I hadn’t seen that calendar. it is gorgeous!
I would work on my wedding invitations. I’m going DIY as much as possible and that includes designing and making my own invitations.
Tough question! I have a number of projects, but the only one I get to work on regularly is knitting, since it is portable and most projects are small enough that I can play with my daughter at the same time. I might try sewing, or making cards, or embroidery… hard to choose!
Every year, I work like a crazy crafter around the clock to prepare for a craft fair. Every year, I’m reminded that people no longer actually SHOP at these fairs and that they’re more likely to buy their handmade crafts from Etsy.
THIS year, I’ve decided to channel that energy into making handmade Christmas gifts for 95% of my list. So far, my gifts run the range from pickles to jerky, from vanilla extract to mod podged frames, from candied citrus to puzzle blocks.
I’m looking forward to seeing what you have in store. Just in case I need another gift idea. :)
And I would give my last, hidden bar of emergency chocolate to be able to get away for a weekend of crafting!
I’m not sure I could carry all the things I need or want to work on for holiday gifts! But, my sisters and I will be getting together soon to make some clutches for the gals in the family. If all three of us give them, at least the ladies in the family will have a variety to choose from. Ha.
I still have ideas printed from last year that I hope to tackle this holiday [after camping and Halloween costumes and monster mash bash party and ... schoolwork]. I can’t wait for new ideas.
Oooh, I LOVE this idea. I think I’ll be making dessert sushi and making it prettier than last years…I can’t wait to see how these handmade gifts!
http://forgotmyhead.tumblr.com/post/322450241/dessert-sushi
I would bring a Mod Podge project, of course! I’ve got so many . . .
I would bring some sculpey finger print charms i am working on for the grandmamas, a little sewing and maybe some mod podge!
I would bring the afghan I am working on…I wanted to make one for each of our 4 daughters but I haven’t even finished the first one yet!
Wow, Pam. An afghan will be such a treasure. That is totally incredible. I’m here to cheer you on if you need me.
I cannot wait for this! So excited!
Gosh, I would love to have a crafty weekend away. Can you imagine hot spiced cider, friendly chatter, outbursts of laughter and getting A LOT done! Ahhhh….
I’m so inspired – I’m starting my list now! I can’t wait for Thursday ☺
Hi Amber, Love your latest post about gift ideas and I am enlisting your inspiration with mine.
I have a 4 year old and 1 year old and last year for all their best friends we made homemade crayons and put them in colorful chinese take out containers with coloring books attached as cute, practical and fun holiday gifts. This year I was thinking about putting together kits for these kit with DIY xmas tree decorating kits, including ornaments to paint, paper rings to make and string….. So I want your thoughtful thoughts I guess… Whatcha think? Ideas? Help?
I so need a retreat like this…I would bring all the stuff I need to finsih…lol..oh what a feeling that would be to have them all done…can I come too?