Due to the fact that we are in real estate limbo, I have decided that this Christmas will be a traditional Christmas. By traditional, I mean that I will make every gift that we hand out. It feels very christmasy this way and our wallets are celebrating too. I am really getting into the spirit of it so much more this year that I may make this a tradition to have a more traditional Christmas. it seems as though I am thinking about each person and what they would enjoy that much more. It is no longer about spending limits or quotas (If I spend $50 on your sister than we have to spend $50 on mine even if I found something perfect for $20). Since I am making everything, it seems more equal. There seems to be more love involved. I sit down and decide the perfect gift and since I will be spending alot of time making it, it must be perfect. There is no half-assing it. If I am going to give something that I made, I want to blush, shuffle my feet and humbly confess that the very wonderful gift that they can't believe that someone made was made by me--Just for them. While I may put a lower price on it because I didn't spend bug bucks or drive to the mall to get it, the receivers seem to feel so much more about getting something hand made. It seems in this day putting your time to good use is worth that much more than throwing cash around. So even though I may be tired and my feet might give up around 8 pm, I can't wait for Christmas morning not to see what I am getting, but to see everyone's reaction to my presents. Call me vain, but since I put so much thought, time and effort, I love to hear the praise and awe. I see nothing wrong in my pride of work (Hell it keeps me in business). But I think most of all, I like the gratification of proving how well I know my loved one. Nothing says 'I love you' like paying attention. Here is just a snippet of one of my presents....more to come later.
P.s. Garrett and I passed out 8 packages of our Peppermint Bark last night to our neighbors and it was a huge success. There is something to be said for tradition!
--Edit: This is a feather & fan Scarf that I made for MIL. It is knit from Rowan Cashsoft