nostalgic saturday - christmas gifts
Jul 19th, 2008 by indigo-daisy
My parents were not the wealthiest, but they were very crafty and often some of our best Christmas gifts were ones that they had spent long hours creating just for us. They were truly original gifts that none of our friends had.
This was taken on Christmas eve right after or close to midnight. They tried to make it like Santa came early, but we always knew it was them. (As long as we kept pretending we believed in Santa, he would keep coming back).
This year they had made us each a gift, me an easel to paint, Ruth a hutch to keep our toy dishes and Beth a stove with a cupboard for our toy pots and pans.
I don’t think I ever really appreciated the work and the joy they had in creating these and giving these until after I had my own children.
What beautiful parents - and it is special that you also got to share their joy (eventually) lol. I could start ranting about living in a very commercial world in which the hand-made gift is almost something of the past but, instead, I am just going to sit here with a smile and imagine all that you created with your easel
BTW Abbey has been visiting for the last few days but for some reason isn’t able to leave comments - the page keeps coming up as being unavailable. In any case, she says hi and will leave messages when she can.
I’ve always loved Christmas, but now that I have kids Ilove it 1000 times more.
Beautiful! We made gifts for our kids but not because we couldn’t afford but to make them special. That changed once they started highschool! They’ll realise one day how cool we are
Times truly have changed. I’d much rather have something that comes from the heart vs. something the giver spent lots of money on that I’ve no use for.
There were a few times not too many Christmas’ ago that I gave hand-made objects as gifts (I didn’t think they were hideous or impractical), but I know the objects were soon gotten rid of by the recipients. **sigh**, fine, they want store-bought gifts with little thought put into them, that’s what they’ll get.
A lovely memory and tribute to your parents, indigo-daisy.
MG, I did make beautiful things on my easel, one of which hung in my Grandma’s living room till the day she died.
Hi Abbey, I was having problems with the server but hopefully it is fixed now.
CoW, I too have found I love Christmas so much more with Children
Anon, High School does seem to change ones perspective doesn’t it.
Pita, I still enjoy receiving hand made gifts and appreciate the warm energy that comes along with it.
Thank you Welshcakes, It wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized how special they were.
Thats a gorgeous story Indigo, tis funny…nowadays you would pay a fortune for gorgeous hand made toys…. you were so lucky…love the stove…x
Lucky indeed Abz!