Handmade Happiness: Homemade Gifts for the Holidays

EMBROIDER. Senior Delilah Spence holding up her work in progress embroidery. There are lots of homemade gift ideas for the holidays. Photo courtesy of Ava Coombs.

Finding a gift for everyone can be a difficult task. Not only is it hard to find the perfect gift for someone, but it is also difficult to find affordable options. It can be almost painful to buy lots of gifts for lots of friends and family, so making a gift can be a much cheaper and personal alternative.

I spoke with a couple of the members of the VHS community who I thought would have some useful insights into the world of homemade gifts. Delilah Spence, an AP art student at VHS, felt like a good choice to ask about crafting and homemade gifts. Many students choose to make gifts because of saving money, and this is one of the reasons why Spence does it.

“When I’m in spending mode versus saving mode.” Was Spence’s response when asked when she decides when she’s going to make a gift rather than buy one. Some of her gift making tendencies are fueled by money, or lack-there-of, which can be an easy draw for any penny pinchers.

“Sometimes saving a little is making homemade gifts so you can spend a lot on gifts later.” Spence stated. Homemade gifts could be the perfect balance that saves your bank account, so you’re not spending lots of money on every gift and you have to weigh what gifts you’d rather spend money on.

Spence has made many kinds of homemade gifts, including earrings, cookies, embroidery, and even a story. She personalized the story by making it a comedic fiction about the person she gifted it to. She reassures that you do not have to try something out of your comfort zone, and even if you do, as long as it’s heartfelt, that is what matters.

“Play to your strengths. If you have a good idea, don’t think it’s going to be bad because it’s homemade. Purge that thinking from your head. It’s homemade, it’ll be great. Even if it’s a little rough around the edges, it has character because it is made with love. It’s the thought that counts,” Spence said.

Playing to your strengths, not worrying about perfection, and ensuring it is thoughtful are Spence’s main recommendations for a successful homemade gift.

Ms. Dwyer, one of the science teachers at VHS, also believes that this is one of the most important characteristics about a homemade gift. Dwyer is another member of the VHS community that is an avid maker of homemade gifts. She finds it difficult to know what someone may already have so she instead makes a personal gift herself.

“I personally find it hard to think of what somebody would want that they don’t already have, so if I’m making it, I know that they’re not going to already have it. I can then personalize it to them with colors or themes and things like that. I think it’s just a more personal gift,” Dwyer said.

Personalization and long lasting memories are what Dwyer finds most important in her gifts. Something that is specific to that person and memorable is what makes it most thoughtful.

“One of the things that I like to do is planning an experience, and so rather than giving a physical gift… I’ll buy the snacks and we will go on a road trip together or something like that. And I do cookie boxes each year once the sad times roll in,” Dwyer said.

The saving and personalization possibilities with homemade gifts may lead more individuals to pursue them. While buying gifts can also be lovely and thoughtful, maybe it’s time to take some time and make something a little more personal for someone you care about.