I was reading this morning about a soaper whose family complained about getting her product as a gift. Apparently they preferred Bath&Body products, without ever having tried hers. Whereupon she wonders if giving handmade is tacky. Huh?
I thought of all the marvelous handmade things I've received over the years. And all the love built into them.
When sistermine and I were little, my aunt and mothermine made most of our clothes. I look at all the snapshots in our family albums and think of all that time and energy and love that went into those clothes. And baby quilts.
Mothermine doesn't sew anymore, and it got to be too much for my aunt as well. She did do alot of crochet and knitting though. I still have some of those things, and cherish them.
When she passed it was spring and till that fall I slept on top of all my bedclothes and under this cotton afghan she made.
A poncho and a cape.
Scarves, some made by my aunt, others by friends.
A friend of the family made this for me. I *adore* the appliques! King sized, hand-quilted.
Sistermine bought this for me. I wear it to RenFaires, and once, to the mall! (That was back when I worked at the mall, although I didn't wear it while I was on the clock.)
This came from a friend out west. We've only met once, but we had a good time!
Pieces of handmade jewelry that loved ones have bought for me.
My cousin made this for me! Love it!
My Dad brought these back from overseas.
My newest handmade labors of love, from a friend I've never met!
This is by no means a comprehensive list. I only shared things others have given me, nothing I've made or bought or traded for myself, and not even everything that I've been given. There's too much.
But I wanted to share the import of a handmade gift. The effect it can have. The specialness. Each piece has a story, and with each use of a piece I think of that story. It's a story of love-- one of the greatest human stories that exists.
--
dragon by
jcarpolymer, felted scarf by
ingermaaike, peyote earrings by
Sand Fibers
