Let's Get Crafty!

 RHYS BOWEN:  Yesterday I talked about everyone madly shopping and scoring bargains on Black Friday. I remember my youth when Christmas presents were smaller and simpler. IN those post war years in England everything was still very austere so some of my presents were often home made. I had stuffed toys, dolls, a wooden train all home made.  When I got older a gift was sometimes a hand knitted sweater. I never thought they were less perfect because of this and I have to confess that I still love receiving home made presents.

To me they mean that someone thought about me, got an idea and then took

 time to create something for me. Our son Dominic is the king of home made gifts. Many of his have to do with cooking as he loves experimenting in the kitchen. Last year was lavender lemon curd and limoncello (from our more than bountiful lemon trees). He has created home made beer, other condiments, a lethal spray that kills cold germs.  Also during Covid he made everyone wooden lap desks so we didn't work with our laptops on our knees.  And when the grandkids were small he did audio discs of fairy tales. (He's an actor and they were excellent. I keep telling him to read for Audible).

Last year my granddaughter Mary Clare knitted me a fabulous scarf. It took more time than she had imagined and she sat up until three am on Christmas morning to finish it. I love it, especially because of the time she put into it.

I haven't made anything recently except family photo albums after big events and anniversaries. I love having them myself and glancing through them in spare moments. I also made an album of my sketches that I do when I travel. 

No creative ideas this year yet, but I do find the moment the evenings get longer that my thoughts turn to crafts.

Last year some of you will remember that I made gnomes. This year I have a kit for a holly fairy. I'll show you when it's finished. I also have patterns for caroling mice but that might be a bridge too far as I'm the one who writes all the cards, buys and wraps all the gifts and makes enough food for the family for a week. But I do enjoy the simplicity and quiet of knitting, sewing, with carols being played.

How about you? Who likes to craft? Knitters? Crochet? Anything else?