Keep the Handmade Going

Even though this blog is done, you can keep up with the homemade spirit with the projects at these websites. I would also like to thank them for providing ideas that kept this blog going throughout the year:

Craftzine
Evil Mad Scientist
Ikat Bag
Instructables
Knitty
Martha Stewart
One Pretty Thing
Sunset Magazine
Woodworkers Workshop

I'd also like to thank a couple people for their help and encouragement.

Mark F: Who brainstormed and sent links and was curious to see if there were 365 gift ideas that didn't repeat themselves.

The subscribers and folks who left comments about the various project ideas over the year. Thank you for your interest and participation!

My Mom: Who is far more talented than she thinks she is and who got me interested in making stuff in the first place.

My Mom-In-Law: Who lent me a beautiful sewing machine when mine choked and died.

And last but never least my Husband and little Buttercup who were patient, encouraging and provided both ideas and inspiration for gifts.

To see the continuing adventures in my world of handmade stuff, check out my ongoing blog Wife Soup.

Thank you for reading, and I hope that the posts here continue to inspire you to feats of handmade glory.

Photo used without permission from What-ever's Blog.

My personal Homemade Holiday Roundup

So after a year of planning what to make for people on my holiday list, this is what I settled on.

The Stocking Stuffers:

Everyone got a goodie basket which included mint meringues, peanut butter buckeyes, peppermint bark (made by Husband), and pretzel pops.

I also made Christmas Crackers for everyone.

All of our gifts were put into homemade grocery bags.

My mother-in-law, Kronk- Got a photo book filled with pictures of my little Buttercup throughout the year. Husband made her a chalkboard pot.

My brother-in-law - Got handmade pajamas in black fleece.

My aunt-in-law - Also got a chalkboard pot.

The dogs - I made dog cookies for The Pack. Bacon flavored. Mmmm.

My mother - Got a photo book of her and Buttercup throughout the year and a chalkboard pot.

My father - Got homemade pajamas in blue fleece and a board game.

My sister - Got a knit sweater with bookend mock sleeves and the newest Bloody Jack book.

My niece - I made her a doll for her birthday and so for Christmas I made a colonial boy outfit. There is quite a story behind the doll and the outfits and maybe one day, you'll be able to read the whole story. She also got a pair of fingerless mitts in Gryffindor colors.

My Aunt & Cousins in the south - Got a boardgame with a homemade instructional DVD on how to play the game.

Husband - Got pajamas in green and a new mini wallet.

My little Buttercup - There were so many cool projects that I wanted to make for Buttercup. I settled on this very fun stuffed toy.

How did you do with your handmade projects?

365: A Merry Christmas

Here we are back at the beginning!

This is definitely one of the odder gifts on the list and it's something that you'll give to people you don't even know. It's inspired by my sister's boyfriend, affectionately named The Man-Bot. He works in the service industry and can't join us for Christmas because he has to work. There are a lot of people out there that can't be with their families tonight for just this reason.

Gift idea 365 is to stay at home and enjoy time with your family. It's shocking how many businesses - restaurants, movie theaters, ski resorts - are open on Christmas. Of course they are open because people willing to pay to be entertained. Someone has to man concession stands and cook food and such and you know it's not the president of the company.

So, stay home. Play a boardgame with the family. Eat some leftovers. Pop some corn and watch a movie. If enough folks just stay home during the holidays, maybe some day it won't be worth it for business to be open on certain days and then the folks who are working to make sure your family has a good time can be off entertaining their own family instead.

Merry Christmas everyone and for those of you who celebrate something else, Happy Holidays to you as well.

364: Forgiveness

Joking aside, the holidays are a good time to forgive and forget. Whether it's a family member you've cut out of your life or simply a friend that you're mad at, forgiveness can be a great gift not only for the giftee, but for you as well.

Photo used without permission from CartoonStock.

363: Push & Pull Toys

Toys that are pushed or pulled have always been a favorite with kids and there are dozens of plans out there on the web. Some of my favorites are projects like the runner duck. I had one of these when I was younger and I loved the flapping feet. Check out the penguin variation.

This pull-along dog has joints to make it bend and wiggle and this push seal has a ball on its nose that bounces up and down.

Perhaps the coolest of the push and pull toys is the lawnmower. It makes a clacking sound and looks like a lot of fun to play with.

Photo used without permission from Canadian Home Workshop.

362: Time

The gift of time. For many folks, there is no better present. Drive someone who doesn't drive. Teach someone a skill they've always wanted to have. Gather 'round the table for a boardgame. Help someone stack their wood. Or weed. Or shovel their snow. Get together and cook some meals for the week. Sit and visit.

You get the idea and it doesn't have to cost you anything but your time.

Photo used without permission from Kenyon Review.

361: Rocking Horse

Alright, the Giddyup N' Go Pony from Little Tykes is pretty cool. It's also $200 and although the reviews give it credit for being well built, there are some challenges with the breaking system. And it needs batteries. Is it worth the hassle?

Handmade horses on the other hand don't need any batteries. They can be customized to the taste of your little giftee. They can have hair for brushing and felt carrots and apples for pretend feeding. Yes, a handmade horse can be just as good as the fancy manufactured kind.

I had a rocking horse with springs when I was little. This was a good time because the springs give a range of movement for little riders. The more classic rocking horse is also an option and is sure to be passed down as an heirloom. Check out these handmade rocking horses for inspiration.

Lacking the time and tools to make a rocking horse? Try making a hobby horse instead. Sure, it's a head on a stick, but it isn't stationary and encourage imaginative play.

Photo used without permission from Mother Earth News.